On March 1st, 2024, mangaka Akira Toriyama passed away at age 68 due to an acute subdural hematoma. He left a near-unprecedented impact on Japanese pop culture, producing artwork for best-selling video games Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, as well as the hit manga-turned-anime series Dragon Ball in the 1980s. Since its first chapter published in 1984, the Dragon Ball manga has sold over 260 million copies worldwide, receiving several sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations via film, TV, and video games. Its continued legacy can be felt in the creations of contemporary mangaka behind such works as Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece (who credit Toriyama for their inspirations), as well as events of worldwide renown. The lead character of Dragon Ball, Goku, became an official Olympics Ambassador in 2020, has appeared in the Macy’s Day Parade streamed by millions of viewers across the USA, and is arguably the most recognized anime character in the world. Consolation can be found in that we can celebrate his legacy as fanboys/fangirls while also freely researching and discussing his life's work academically.