Why Dragon Ball Captivated the World
Japanese manga has developed through a unique blend of creativity, narrative structure, and artistic individuality unmatched by any other comic culture.
One of the works that best represents these qualities is Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball.
Today, “DRAGON BALL” is a global phrase, symbolizing Japanese manga culture itself for millions of readers around the world.
Through the lens of Dragon Ball, this article explores
why Japanese manga continues to fascinate readers worldwide
and what cultural and creative forces lie behind it.
- Epic Adventures Born from Everyday Life — The Power of Familiarity
Even when Japanese manga tackles grand themes,
its stories often begin from something surprisingly simple and relatable.
Dragon Ball is no exception:
A boy named Goku living alone in the mountains
His encounter with a city girl, Bulma
A journey to search for the seven Dragon Balls
The story doesn’t begin with spectacle, but with
“a new friendship”
and “a curious step into the unknown.”
This seamless bridge from the ordinary to the extraordinary
is one of the defining strengths of Japanese manga.
- A Living World — Growth, Relationships, and Humor
Many Japanese manga place the growth of characters and their changing relationships at the heart of the narrative.
In Dragon Ball:
Goku becomes stronger with each battle
Former enemies become allies (Yamcha, Piccolo, Vegeta, Android 18)
Characters build families and evolve through life
This sense that characters are living their own lives creates an emotional realism that is central to Japanese storytelling.
Unlike Western comics—where iconic heroes often remain unchanged—
Japanese characters grow older, change, struggle, and mature together with their readers.
- Simple Lines with Limitless Imagination — The Aesthetic of Manga
Dragon Ball’s art style is beloved across cultures for its clarity and energy:
Clean, purposeful lines
Action that is instantly readable
Cinematic paneling that makes still images feel alive
Toriyama’s work is famous for being:
Easy to follow, even in intense battles
Visually rhythmic
Full of motion, despite being drawn on a static page
This approach represents a core aesthetic of Japanese manga and a major reason for its global popularity.
- Universal Themes — Friendship, Effort, and Growth
Although often labeled a “battle manga,”
Dragon Ball is built upon universal values:
Friendship
Effort and self-improvement
Overcoming limits
Mutual understanding beyond conflict
Goku doesn’t just defeat his enemies;
he comes to respect them—and even become friends with them.
This worldview continues to resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.
- Artistic Identity and a Touch of Playfulness — A Manga Tradition
Japanese manga is culturally unique in that
an individual author’s personality shapes the entire world of a series.
Character design, humor, storytelling rhythm, emotional tone—
all are unified through the creator’s sensibility.
Within that individuality, Dragon Ball also carries a long-standing manga tradition:
A playful, light-hearted touch of sexuality.
And no character symbolizes this better than Bulma.
Bulma’s Flirtatious Moments — A Gateway to Childhood Excitement
Bulma was not merely the heroine of the story;
for many young readers, she represented their first “thrill” in manga.
Skirts that almost flip up
Shower scenes that lead to comedic misunderstandings
Chaotic moments while changing clothes
The famous scene where Goku innocently panics, thinking she is naked
These scenes were not gratuitous.
They were emotional triggers that drew young readers into the story,
balancing adventure with humor and charm.
“Eros as Comedy” — The Role of the Perverted Characters
Another hallmark of Dragon Ball is the presence of lovable “pervy characters” who transform sexual humor into comedy:
Master Roshi’s straightforward lechery
Yamcha blushing helplessly in front of Bulma
Krillin plotting small pranks to peek at her changing
Because this playful sexuality was presented as humor,
it lightened the story’s tone and
captured the hearts of an entire generation of boys.
This blend of humor, innocence, and excitement
became a cultural signature of Japanese shōnen manga.
- From Childhood Thrills to Adult Creativity — A Cultural Continuity
What Dragon Ball established—
Charming characters
Humorous flirtation
Excitement without explicit sexuality
Emotional tension created through relationships
—remains deeply connected to the broader culture of Japanese manga today.
Japan’s manga industry spans everything from children’s titles to adult works,
yet the core creative principles remain the same.
In essence:
“The flutter of excitement readers felt from Bulma in shōnen manga
lives on in the adult manga and doujin creations enjoyed later in life.”
This represents a uniquely Japanese continuity of creative culture,
where emotional experiences mature alongside the readers themselves.
Japan’s artists expand these themes with greater depth—
expressing emotion, psychology, intimacy, and human experience in ways that resonate strongly with adult audiences.
But the creative roots remain the same.
- The Power of a Creator — Akira Toriyama’s Legacy
Although Akira Toriyama has sadly passed away,
his influence continues to shape countless artists and readers.
His works entertained, encouraged, and supported people across generations.
They offered inspiration, comfort, and even a sense of purpose.
Toriyama was a master who not only revolutionized manga
but enriched the emotional lives of millions.
The creative path he carved continues to guide the evolution of Japanese manga today.
His legacy lives on not only in Japanese manga
but also in the hearts of readers around the world.
He passed away on March 1, 2024, due to an acute subdural hematoma, at the age of 68.
Yet the worlds he created—and the joy he brought to so many—will continue to live on.