Dragon Ball Screenwriter Takao Koyama Reveals Akira Toriyama Was Ill Since Last Year

Following the sudden passing of Akira Toriyama on March 1, 2024, Dragon Ball scriptwriter Takao Koyama, has offered some insight into Toriyama’s health on his personal Twitter account.

In a series of tweets, Koyama first expressed concern regarding the cause of death, a subdural hematoma, which often results from a serious head injury, questioning whether Toriyama had experienced a head injury.

He questioned, “Subdural hematoma. I wonder if you hit your head?“

In a follow-up tweet, he revealed that Toriyama had been ill since last year, acknowledging the challenges he may have faced during his illness.

“It seems you’ve been suffering from illness since last year. That’s unfortunate. It must have been quite difficult for you. I was also hospitalized for 100 days last year, so I can empathize with you.“

Koyama went on to credit Toriyama for giving his career as a screenwriter a significant boost, thanks to his inclusion in both Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball.

He expressed his deepest respect and indebtedness to Toriyama, saying that he never thought the Dragon Ball author would pass away before him. Koyama then revealed his own health battle from last year, which involved a grueling 100-day hospitalization after having his toe amputated due to gangrene. This gruelling experience made him sympathize with what Toriyama might have gone through.

“My life as a screenwriter has been greatly improved by the fact that I was included among the screenwriters for Dr. Slump Arale-chan.
It is also thanks to “Dragon Ball” that the organization I later formed, “Brother Noppo”, became involved.
Mr. Akira Toriyama was one of my greatest benefactors, to whom I can never turn my back.
I never imagined that he would pass away before me.
Last year, I also had my right toe amputated due to gangrene in April, and I barely survived and was hospitalized for 100 days until the end of July. Even now, there is still one place where the wound has not healed, and I am unable to wear shoes.
It seems that Mr. Toriyama was also in a difficult situation last year, and I have no words of comfort for him. And to think that he would pass away…
If I had not met Mr. Toriyama’s works, my life as a screenwriter, and the lives of my students as screenwriters, would have been greatly changed.“

Koyama ended his message with a heartfelt gratitude and prayers for Toriyama’s soul.

Takao Koyama is a Japanese screenwriter and novelist focusing on anime productions.

Koyama authored a remake of Akira Toriyama’s Soldier of Savings Cashman manga, that was illustrated by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru and serialized in V Jump from June 1997 to December 1998.

In parallel with works as screenwriter, he is endeavoring to bring up young talents. In 1986, he found “Anime Scenario House” to train the young anime scenario writers. By 1987, young screenwriters such as Satoru Akahori, Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Keiko Nobumoto and Aya Matsui graduated from Koyama’s school. The school became Brother Noppo, company to support screenwriters, in 1988.

Some of his notable works as a chief writer include Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Urusei Yatsura, Saint Seiya, among others.

Source: Twitter