TOKYO, March 9 — Akira Toriyama, a manga artist from Nagoya who created world-famous works including “Dr. Slump” and “Dragon Ball,” died of acute subdural hematoma on March 1. He was 68.
Toriyama advocated the importance of agriculture and rural villages, and his adventure manga focusing on food education, titled “Oishii Shima no U-sama” (Delicious Island’s Mr. U) and published in 2009, is still loved by many children today.
“Oishii Shima no U-sama” is an 18-page, A5-size full-color booklet included in “Agri Guruguru School,” a learning material for fifth-grade elementary school children produced by an agricultural and livestock industries promotion council of Aisai, Aichi Prefecture.
The main character of the story is a young man who lives in a futuristic civilization full of machinery. He wanders onto Guruguru Island with a rich natural environment filled with plants and meets U-sama, the god of the island.
The man engages in a legendary task — farm work — with U-sama and realizes the deliciousness of farm produce created on rich agricultural fields.
The unique world of Toriyama’s roundish illustrations combined with the theme of food and agriculture attracted attention since it was first published, with many people appreciating it as a material easy to understand.
The material is still used by fifth-graders in the city of Aisai during comprehensive learning classes.
“The learning material helps (students) deepen understanding of agriculture,” said an official of the city’s industrial promotion division, who mourned Toriyama’s sudden death.
The booklet can be purchased at the Aisai city hall.