Dragon Ballis an evergreen anime and manga title that has thrilled and inspired audiences ever since it first appeared inShonen Jumpin February 1986. Akira Toriyama’s revolutionary mix of comedy, action, and drama has been embraced by multiple generations of fans, some of whom have become manga creators themselves.One such fan-turned-pro is Takeru Hokazono,the author ofKagurabachi, currently running inShonen Jump.
In a recent post onShueisha’s Manga Plus websitecommemorating the late Akira Toriyama (who passed away in 2024), Hokazono revealed howDragon Ballinfluenced his life and work. He recalled,“I was one of those terrible kids who would ask his parents for cash as a birthday present. But what could I do? I was addicted to Dragon Ball Heroes.”
The Rise of Dragon Ball Heroes
An Arcade Revolution
Dragon Ball Heroes, a trading card arcade game developed by Bandai, launched in November 2010. It introduced a unique gameplay system where players placed physical cards on a panel to control characters. While this format never gained traction overseas, it revolutionized gaming and the trading card market in Japan. The same system remains popular today in games likePokémonandPreCure.
The game evolved intoSuper Dragon Ball Heroesin 2016, featuring updated mechanics, new characters, and enhanced graphics. It later received its own anime web series and achieved massive success,selling an estimated 1.2 billion trading cards. More recently, it made the jump to the Nintendo Switch and PC, keeping theDragon Ballbrand alive for a new generation.
Dragon Ball Inspired Many to Pursue a Manga Career
Kagurabachi’s Success Was a Breath of Fresh Air for Shonen Jump
Born in 2000, Hokazono was ten whenDragon Ball Heroesdebuted—perfect timing for him to be captivated by the game. He was also a huge fan ofNarutoand otherShonen Jumpseries. His passion for manga and anime eventually led him to pursue a creative career, making his professional debut in 2020.
7 Reasons Why Kagurabachi Needs an Anime ASAP
Kagurabachi, one of the biggest manga in Shonen Jump right now, is allegedly getting an anime, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited.
His first long-running series,Kagurabachi, debuted inShonen Jumpin 2023 and quickly became a hit. While an anime adaptation has yet to be announced, rumors suggest one may be in development. It’s exciting to think that the kid who once spent his birthday money onDragon Ball Heroescould now create a series just as beloved.
