Don't you get excited by the Scouter going 'pop'?

The great manga artist, who could be called a national treasure of Japan, Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024.

Standard phrases like 'I pray for his soul' are not enough to express my condolences.

As 'former children' who are now fully grown adults, having 'grown up reading your works,' I think former children all looked up to the heavens the moment we learned this fact.we all looked up to the heavens.

At the same time, how many tens, no, hundreds of millions of people around the world must have thought from the bottom of their hearts, 'Thank you so much, Sensei'?

I'm writing this now on a packed train on my way to work.

Remembering the reading experience of excitedly getting the latest issue of Jump on release day and devouring it, I'm holding back the tears as I try to accept the fact that he is no longer in this world.

Damn it! Should I just cry? Should I stop suppressing my emotions and just cry out loud right here?

Recalling our own personal 'Akira Toriyama and me' moments, there might be tears in your eyes as you read this too.

It's okay to cry, you know? Let's cry.

Sensei, what you left behind in this world might have been called 'manga,' something adults looked down on at first, but I think it was a philosophy book that was easy for children to understand. We grew up reading it. It's no exaggeration to say it's etched into our DNA.

The Scouter is an invention of the manga world.

The world of Dragon Ball is meticulously constructed. When the item known as the 'Hoi-Poi Capsule' (it's a secret that I always thought it was 'Poi-Poi Capsule'...) appeared—a bike with an advanced design that appeared after Bulma threw away a small container—how exciting it was. And it felt completely natural within the world of the manga.Poi-Poi capsule'...) appeared—a bike with an advanced design that appeared after Bulma threw away a small container—how exciting it was. And it felt completely natural within the world of the manga.

We also can't forget the 'Scouter,' the glass-type device worn over one eye that is said to have been brought by Frieza's army.

I mean, this is the 'light bulb' invented by the genius Edison. The 'light bulb of the manga world'! Wait, that's a bit weak... Then, it's an 'automobile'! No, still weak? How about a 'space rocket'!

Anyway, it meant that the opponent's combat power was quantified and visible to the wearer.

Oh crap, they're stronger than me, you could tell in an instant.

And what Akira Toriyama calculated perfectly was visualizing 'stronger than me' to leave an impression on the readers.

Naturally, the protagonist Goku and his friends would be at a 'disadvantage' according to their combat power. A desperate situation, a pinch, yet they still manage to win—that kind of development.

This is the excitement that only happened because of the Scouter.

Furthermore, when it exceeds the maximum power level the Scouter can measure, it goes 'pop' and explodes in a puff of smoke!?

Do you get it? The machine on the eye goes 'pop' even though it's dangerous and 'doesn't need to explode'.

Oh man... a really dangerous one has arrived...

That's something that's immediately obvious to us, too.

The excitement we readers felt the moment we read this scene just exploded. It went 'boom'.

In honor of Akira Toriyama-sensei, who could make us excited even with just a single item, I'd like to end this by sending a 'Spirit Bomb' from this world.

Everyone, lend me your strength!

Reach him! Reach Akira Toriyama-sensei!!

This is a bit of an aside, but...

On March 22nd, I found on X that a Dragon Ball theme park construction plan of an incredible scale has been announced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With an area equivalent to 10 Tokyo Domes, exactly 7 Dragon Ball-themed areas, and over 30 roller coasters. The scale is so ridiculously huge that this song crossed my mind.

I wish Akira Toriyama-sensei could have lived to visit the completed theme park, but please watch over its construction and operation from heaven.

It is the 19th day

since I started the 66-day writing run.


*If you are interested, you can get up to speed quickly by reading the beginning of the article below☆

#66DayWritingRun
#Day19