30,000 Dragon Ball fans gathered for a giant tribute to Akira Toriyama

Tributes are pouring in from around the world for Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, who died in early March. And one of the most notable comes from Argentina, where thousands of fans gathered to celebrate the iconic work.

Dragon Ball’s influence and legacy are difficult to quantify. The original anime and its sequel, Dragon Ball Z, introduced millions to the medium, and have continued to fascinate viewers. The children of yesteryear have become adults, and will not have failed to introduce the youngest to the iconic work of Akira Toriyama.

The death of the author at the age of 68 has left the anime fan community in mourning. And very quickly, the tributes began to pour in. Spectators, readers and other authors mourn the one who will have consolidated and affirmed the bases of the shonen genre, and whose heroes will have toured the planet.

And precisely, it is on the other side of the Earth that the most resounding tribute was created for Akira Toriyama: very far from Japan, in Argentina, a crowd of several thousand fans gathered at the honor of the mangaka.

30,000 Argentinian fans together create one last Genki Dama for Akira Toriyama

On social networks and in particular X/Twitter, images of an impressive gathering of around 30,000 people have circulated: we discover Dragon Ball fans making a last Genki Dama together in memory of Akira Toriyama.

More than 30,000 Dragon Ball fans report to the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, Argentina 🇦🇷 to perform a genkidama and send their ki to the sky in honor of Akira Toriyama 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4IaARRKiPA

— Dragon Ball Super (@DBS_MX2015) March 10, 2024

“More than 30,000 Dragon Ball fans gather at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to perform a genkidama and send their ki skyward in honor of Akira Toriyama.”

Thousands of people gather at the Argentine Obelisk to pay tribute to AKIRA TORIYAMA. ✨From @RugeLaLibertad #DragonBallZ pic.twitter.com/fPqGWOS1YD

— Animetrends (@AnimetrendsLA) March 10, 2024

“Thousands gather at the Obelisk in Argentina to pay homage to AKIRA TORIYAMA.”

People of all ages are present to raise their hands to the sky, reminiscent of the characters from Dragon Ball Z as they transmit their energy to Goku. The name “Akira” is chanted by the crowd, the mangaka obviously being the target of the meeting.

The announcement of Akira Toriyama’s death came on March 8, a week after the official date of his death on March 1. Among the many tributes, we can also cite that of the authors of One Piece and Naruto, Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto.