Databook Information

Databook Contents

This first daizenshuu covers a multitude of illustrations and artwork drawn by Akira Toriyama himself. This includes everything from chapter title pages, to tankōbon cover illustrations, to Weekly Shōnen Jump cover illustrations, to video game promotional illustrations, and even some phone card artwork. Included before the table of contents is an introduction message from Akira Toriyama and the guides title page, which features the illustration from 1986 WJ #7. The book also features a beautiful foldout poster of the guides respective cover illustration drawn by Akira Toriyama. On the opposite side of the poster is the original sketch of the final page of the manga with a goodbye message from Toriyama-sensei.

Shenlong Times Bonus Insert Pamphlet

As a special bonus for buying the daizenshuu, Shueisha included a small newspaper type pamphlet called the “Shenlong Times”. Within each of these 8-page pamphlets, there were interviews with staff members involved with Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, and fans from Japan. In the center of each pamphlet there was usually a short comic drawn by Toriyama detailing part of his life following the completion of series, or a tribute to Dragon Ball by other artists, similar to what was done with the kanzenban. Also in each pamphlet is a “Dragon Ball News” section that showcased “new” and upcoming Dragon Ball merchandise. There’s also a section called “I Love Dragon Ball”, in which famous people from Japan (or China), who love Dragon Ball are interviewed.

Shenlong Times Contents (read translations)

• Past Editors Round-Table Discussion – 1st Round
   — Kazuhiko Torishima (First Editor)
   — Yū Kondō (Second Editor)
   — Fuyuto Takeda (Third Editor)
• Akira Toriyama’s “Me These Days”
• I Love Dragon Ball #1
   — Jackie Chan (Actor & Martial Artist)
• Dragon Ball News #1
   — PlayStation’s Latest “Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22” (On Sale in July)
   — “Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Doesn’t Do it, Who Will?” (In Theaters July 15th)
   — “The World of Akira Toriyama” Exhibit (Currently on Display)
   — Dragon Ball Comics Vol. 42 (On Sale August 4th)
   — Daizenshuu 2 (On Sale August 4th)

Databook Staff Credits

It should be noted that although Akira Toriyama is listed as the author of this databook, he actually had very little involvement with the production of its content, if any at all. Toriyama makes it quite clear in most of his daizenshuu introductions that “they” (Shueisha) are responsible for putting these together, and he is often graciously humble in thanking them for all their hard work in sorting through his exhaustive series.