On any given server, hundreds of Final Fantasy XIV players line up in the in-game city of Ul’dah, home of the Pugilist guild, to mourn the loss of the late Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. The players, dressed from head to toe in Toriyama-inspired outfits, span across the city’s main walkway. Some servers host so many players that they’re unable to be shown on-screen due to the game’s technical limitations.
On March 7, 2024, a statement was made on X (Twitter) by the official Dragon Ball account regarding Toriyama’s passing.
Akira Toriyama’s contributions to anime, manga, and video games are hard to overstate. The Dragon Ball series helped introduce the medium to millions, impacting generations of fans and inspiring countless other mangaka in creating some of the most recognized series to date. His work in iconic video games like Chrono Trigger and the Dragon Quest series has been cited as directly influencing many beloved franchises, including Final Fantasy.
Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi commented on Toriyama’s passing: “Toriyama-san taught me what it means to be a ‘professional’ and what ‘work’ is. I deeply respected him from the bottom of my heart. I sincerely pray that his soul may rest in peace” (Translation by @Genki_JPN on X).
Players holding vigils in Final Fantasy XIV has become tradition in recent years, as hundreds often gather to mourn the loss of those who have influenced or contributed to the series in some way. In 2021, a similar memorial was hosted for Kentaro Miura, with FFXIV producer Naoki Yoshida citing Berserk’s direct influence on various aspects of the game. That same year, another vigil was hosted for Stephen Critchlow, who lent his iconic voicework for Heavensward character Edmont de Fortemps.
Toriyama’s latest contributions are scheduled to be released this fall with the premiere of Dragon Ball Daima.
