'The shonen manga that I read s*cks': Dragon Ball's original editor wasn't into Shonen Jump or manga — and it changed the genre forever
The original editor of Dragon Ball wasn't really a fan of the Shonen Jump (Image via Crunchyroll)
When Akira Toriyama first ventured into the manga industry, he likely didn't expect to work with someone who didn't even like manga — let alone Shonen Jump. Yet, that's exactly what happened when he met his first editor, Kazuhiko Torishima.
Known today as a cornerstone figure in manga history, Torishima's early aversion to the medium helped shape the very essence of Dragon Ball, and perhaps even the future of shonen storytelling.
How Toriyama's editor brought a
shoujo manga
perspective into shonen action
In Episode 522 of the Kanzenshuu podcast, host Mike LaBrie and translator David Evelyn discussed insights from Dr. Mashirito's Ultimate Manga Techniques, Torishima's recent book. The most surprising revelation? Torishima wasn't passionate about manga at all when he began at Shueisha in 1976.
He preferred reading shoujo manga, often visiting rival publisher Shogakukan's offices to read their titles. Evelyn recalled Torishima's reflection: 'He was like, 'Huh, you know shojo.
..this stuff is really good, but the shonen manga that I read sucks. Why can't it be more like this?''
Kanzenshuu - The Podcast: Episode 522 -- David Evelyn Interview (Dr. Mashirito Book)
This unique lens, developed by consuming girls' manga, allowed Torishima to bring narrative sensitivity, emotional depth, and visual flair to a genre often focused on pure action.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
His collaboration with Toriyama began with Dr. Slump and eventually led to the global phenomenon Dragon Ball.
Why Torishima's methods reshaped
manga storytelling
for generations
Despite Toriyama's initial doubts — 'I thought he was just some old guard...He doesn't seem to like the things that we're doing, so why am I working with this guy?' — the partnership evolved into one of manga's most fruitful editor-artist relationships. Torishima introduced storytelling rules that emphasized clarity, reader engagement, and strong visual pacing.
One standout principle from his book, as noted by Evelyn, is the importance of two-page spreads: 'Every page is a 'spread' in this book, specifically because he wanted to make a point that spreads are important.' Torishima believes spreads drive the rhythm of manga and help deliver impactful storytelling moments.
Now serving as an outside director at Bushiroad and with a long editorial legacy behind him, Torishima's influence is far-reaching. The English version of his book, released on May 13, 2025, is a must-read for aspiring manga creators and fans eager to understand the craftsmanship behind their favorite series.
Also Read:
Solo Leveling sets historic benchmark with 9 wins at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards
Torishima may not have started as a manga fan, but his outsider perspective became the unexpected secret behind some of manga's greatest successes.
Check out our list of the
latest Hindi
,
English
,
Tamil
,
Telugu
,
Malayalam
, and
Kannada movies
. Don't miss our picks for the
best Hindi movies
,
best Tamil movies,
and
best Telugu films
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Detective Ujjwalan' box office collections day 10: Dhyan Sreenivasan's murder mystery crosses Rs 5.56 cr worldwide
(Picture Courtesy:Facebook) Dhyan Sreenivasan is finally celebrating a box office success this year with the murder mystery 'Detective Ujjwalan'. As per the Sacnilk reports, the film has collected Rs 5.56 crore worldwide in ten days, with Rs 4.96 crore from India net collections. Dhyan Sreenivasan scores his first hit of 2025 While the movie opened modestly, it has shown a steady run across weekdays and weekends, steadily building its audience and word-of-mouth. The film's growing collections signal that audiences are enjoying this crime comedy blend, marking a positive turning point for Dhyan's 2025 releases. A lighthearted detective faces a darker challenge 'Detective Ujjwalan' revolves around Ujjwalan, a quirky librarian who moonlights as the village detective, helping solve small-time problems like lost gold or missing goats. Plachikavu village is so peaceful that even the police lean on Ujjwalan's skills to handle petty crime. But the tone shifts when a series of brutal murders shock the quiet village, leaving everyone to wonder whether their local amateur sleuth can rise to the challenge of catching a dangerous criminal. As tension builds, Ujjwalan must stretch beyond his usual comic charm to crack a case that threatens the entire village's safety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Detective Ujjwalan - Official Trailer ETimes verdict ETimes gave the movie a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5 and our review read, 'There are some rules that a detective story needs to make it work and for the effect to stay with us. Some red herrings that will confuse the audience so that we are emotionally and intellectually caught up in the story, a detective who uses logic that will baffle us with its brilliance and a final revelation of the culprit that will shock us. Detective Ujjwalan does not use any of these devices in a forceful enough manner. The period settings are interesting and the village characters are loveable enough, though some of the superb comic talents from social media, Ameen, Nihal Nizam, Nibraz and Shahubas, are barely utilised. The film seems to go in the direction of most Dhyan films; a bit of an anti-climax.' What's next? With Rs 57 lakhs collected on its tenth day, 'Detective Ujjwalan' continues to draw crowds despite facing competition from new releases. Given the current momentum, the movie is likely to continue adding to its box office tally in the coming weeks. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
The internet has a mixed reaction to comedian Gaurav Gupta's roast of the Pakistani audience at his US show
Comedian Gaurav Gupta is well-known for his relatable content, which has garnered him fans from various parts of the world. He is currently on his US-Canada tour, entertaining audiences from different countries. During one of his recent shows, he interacted with a Pakistani crowd and playfully roasted them with his wordplay. He shared a clip of this roast on his social media platform, which has received mixed reactions from netizens. Comedian Gaurav Gupta's interaction with the Pakistani audience member In addition to his script, Gaurav is loved for his crowd work. During his recent US show, as he was interacting with the crowd, he noticed some people from Pakistan in his audience. He interacted with them and shared the video of the same on his social media handle. The video shows that Gaurav was surprised to see the Pakistanis in his audience, and so was the rest of the crowd. The audience soon started making comments, and reacting to the same, Gaurav asked them to behave. Then he joked, 'Brother, you have a lot of guts coming to the show. He thought artists were banned, but audience members are still allowed.' He continued, laughing, 'Chalo tum Hanuman Chalisa padho ab (Go on, recite the Hanuman Chalisa now).'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo He then asked, being Pakistani, do they understand their jokes? After getting an affirmative reply, Gaurav quipped, 'Toh tumhe samajh nahi aata, nahi milega tumhe? Itne saalon se keh rahe hain nahi milega, nahi milega, phir aa jaate ho tum (So you don't understand? You won't get it.. We've been saying it for years – still, you keep coming).' It was his subtle remark on the Kashmir situation. The internet has a mixed reaction While some of the netizens were left in splits as they laughed at every punch, there was a fraction that didn't agree with Gaurav's style. One user wrote, 'Nahi Milega was brilliant.' Another mentioned, 'He was hesitating while roasting him… but he still did it gracefully.' Meanwhile, a user quoted, 'It was not required! Respect the guy who came to watch your show. It's a very sensitive subject currently – don't blow it off like this.' 'What a missed opportunity, @gaurav_comic! You could have actually celebrated their presence at your show as fans and admirers, despite the politics and government propaganda. People in both countries are simply striving to make a living, seeking peace and harmony. We can't deny that we have more in common than what the political narrative suggests,' read another comment. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Alia Bhatt glows with happiness in stunning NEW PICS from Spain alongside her besties
Alia Bhatt is enjoying herself to the fullest! Fresh from attending the glamorous Cannes Film Festival 2025, the 'Raazi' actress flew straight to Spain to celebrate her best friend Tanya Saha Gupta's wedding. Over the past few days, many photos and videos from the wedding have gone viral, showing Alia having a fantastic time with her friends. Now, new pictures have emerged of the actress happily posing with her close group of girlfriends. Stunning bridesmaid moments in Costa Brava Alia's friend Meghna Goyal shared a beautiful collection of photos from the wedding festivities held in the picturesque Costa Brava, Spain. One striking photo shows the bridesmaids posing together, with the 'Dear Zindagi' actress standing right in the centre. She looks absolutely stunning in a black strapless gown, her bright smile clearly stealing the spotlight! Also visible in the photo is actress and close friend Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, adding to the lovely group vibe. Joyful selfies and gorgeous backdrops The 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' actress also took a selfie with her best friends, showing her glowing happiness. The stunning blue waters of Costa Brava form a breathtaking background to the joyful snap. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo It's clear that the actress was soaking in every moment with her girl gang, making memories to cherish. Dancing the night away Earlier videos and pictures from the wedding showed Alia letting loose and having fun at the traditional celebrations. One popular clip features her dancing with full energy to the beats of 'London Thumakda' and 'High Heels', dressed in a vibrant lehenga and a mustard yellow blouse. What's next for Alia Bhatt? On the work front, Alia has exciting projects lined up. She will soon star in 'Alpha', marking her entry into the YRF's' blockbuster spy universe. She is also set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's much-anticipated film 'Love And War', which also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal . Alia Bhatt spotted at Mumbai airport Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
