The official Dragon Ball website’s twenty-seventh entry in “The Nearly Complete Works of Akira Toriyama” — an on-going series highlighting rare and important pieces of the author’s work over the years — is the Son Goku sketch that accompanied his thank you message in the seventh Daizenshuu in February 1996:

Toriyama’s message begins in the traditional fashion but essentially ends up as an apology for never being able to write back to all of his fan letters:

So many, many people have helped me out with Dragon Ball through the years. Obviously, there are the fans from all over the world who’ve cheered me on. And I’m particularly indebted to my three editors (Torishima-san, Kondo-san, and Takeda-san). Then there’s everyone involved with Shueisha, the comics, the special collections, the animation, TV, movies, toys, games, merchandise, events, etc. And then there’s my wife, family, and friends, all of whom I am tremendously indebted to. Goku and the rest of the characters all did their best, as well. I truly am a happy man.

Thank you all so very much!!

Come to think of it, even though I’ve received tons of fan letters and presents from everyone, I’ve never written anyone back. How rude of me! Let me take this opportunity to apologize: I’m sorry.

Well anyway, farewell.

–Akira Toriyama, December 1995