Current Status Report20240315 (Patreon)

Hi, This is Muchi.

It's with a heavy heart that I must address the unfortunate news of the sudden passing of Mr. Akira Toriyama.

Interestingly, Mr. Toriyama resided in the neighboring town to ours, which, truth be told, is quite rural. Typically, manga artists tend to migrate to Tokyo, the largest city in Japan, drawn by its myriad opportunities. (In that regard, our decision to remain in the countryside might seem unusual.)

While many renowned manga artists relocate to Tokyo, the exact reasons why Mr. Toriyama didn't are unclear. It's said that he faced considerable challenges, especially during times when data exchange methods were severely limited. Nonetheless, as a result, the town of Kiyosu, where Mr. Toriyama lived, enjoys an influx of tax revenue akin to attracting a major corporation. There's even a local legend now about a direct road being constructed from Mr. Toriyama's residence to the airport.

It's particularly regrettable, especially after just discussing Dragon Quest in one of the recent articles, to think we won't see any more of Mr. Toriyama's designs. However, such sadness can be alleviated by creating joyous and provocative manga.

We'll continue our work, doing what only we can do!