Torishima's Harsh Take on Akio Iyoku and DB Store

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

Recently, KosoKoso went livestream, in which Toriyama's former editor, Kazuhiko Torishim, decided to criticize Akio Iyoku for his handling of Dragon Ball as well as Dragon Ball Store in Tokyo. Here's the excerpts on the courtesy of Venixys. You can read the whole thing on his Twitter.

Torishima on Iyoku: "He is the head of a secret society. Someone who hasn't created a single page or written a single line of Dragon Ball, yet gives orders on everything with that arrogant air."

In regards to Dragon Ball Store:

"It's shit. Actually, it's beneath shit. It looks like a shop put together overnight.To tell the truth, the producer at Capsule Corporation Tokyo has absolutely no [aesthetical] sense, which is why things like this come out. Shueisha can't communicate well with CCT, or CCT is so annoying that they've stopped telling them anything."

"Zero aesthetic sense. If you want to highlight a character wearing that gi, the background must be black or dark.Toriyama used orange because the background is white! Do the people checking this not know these things? Are they idiots?"

"That pose is wrong. It you stand straight up, you can't fire a Kamehameha. You have to put power into your hips. It was drawn by someone who doesn't understand where the physical power of the gesture lies."

He proceeds to say that the fans shouldn't spend a dime on Dragon Ball Store because he thinks they will take advantage of the people.

Personally, I think this whole thing from Torishima is way too harsh. This isn't the first time that he has criticized Dragon Ball and Iyoku. Ever since Dragon Ball Super debuted, all he has ever done is complain. For example, in September 2025, Torishima called the new series Dragon Ball Daima a “trash anime.” He also criticized a specific chapter of Dragon Ball Super (chapter 103), calling its art/composition “a shame.” He also complained that the Freeza arc should have ended Dragon Ball instead of continuing its serialization. Basically, he screams to me as, "The Dragon Ball I helped create is the real Dragon Ball; what’s happening now is wrong."

Honestly, I think Akio did a fine job with modern Dragon Ball. Iyoku oversaw the revival of Dragon Ball into a global brand, with films and series that reached new audiences. Even if not everything was perfect, he handled the franchise responsibly and brought in talented writers, artists, and directors.

Torishima could have offer thoughtful critiques without resorting to insults. Of course, bluntness and harsh criticism have always been Torishima’s trademark ever since his days as an editor, and that pattern hasn’t changed even decades after he stopped working with Toriyama. From my perspective, he sounds like a bitter man that couldn't do anything with Dragon Ball anymore. His time with the franchise has since long passed and they have moved on from him.

[The Dark Knight]

Ever since Dragon Ball Super debuted, all he has ever done is complain.

That's pretty much what everyone has done since Super became a thing, even Toriyama himself.

He also complained that the Freeza arc should have ended Dragon Ball instead of continuing its serialization.

Not to turn this into another "where dragon ball should have ended thread", but no, it should not have ended after Freeza.

Honestly, I think Akio did a fine job with modern Dragon Ball.

It's more of a mixed bag for me to be honest. There are many things I like about both Super and Daima, but equally as many that are terrible.

From my perspective, he sounds like a bitter man that couldn't do anything with Dragon Ball anymore. His time with the franchise has since long passed and they have moved on from him.

That's more than likely it. If I'm not mistaken, the last time he played any part in the series' direction was when he complained about the androids and Toriyama changed the Cell arc's direction as a result. That was back in the early 90s.

[SupremeKai25]

If you need to resort to insults to make a point, you don't have anything meaningful to say and you are not a civilized person.

The way he chose to express his opinions is very disappointing and totally unprofessional.

"He is the head of a secret society.

He seems super paranoid.

[The Dark Knight]

"He is the head of a secret society.

He seems super paranoid.

To be fair, Iyoko is REALLY good at keeping his plans under wraps.

[JulieYBM]

Torishima learning animator names and insisting they be the only ones to draw promo art and are paid well for it puts him above anything Iyoku has done lol.

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

To be fair, Iyoku was the one who got rid of Yamamuro and replaced him with more talented animators and designers. He recognized that Yamamuro isn't the right person anymore.

[JulieYBM]

To be fair, Iyoku was the one who got rid of Yamamuro and replaced him with more talented animators and designers. He recognized that Yamamuro isn't the right person anymore.

Where was this stated?

[Sani007]

To be fair, Iyoku was the one who got rid of Yamamuro and replaced him with more talented animators and designers. He recognized that Yamamuro isn't the right person anymore.

At the same time, Shueisha is unable to replace Toyotaro, who - to put it mildly - is nowhere near talented enough to be worthy of continuing Dragon Ball. In ten years, he has been completely unable to improve.

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

To be fair, Iyoku was the one who got rid of Yamamuro and replaced him with more talented animators and designers. He recognized that Yamamuro isn't the right person anymore.

Where was this stated?

I may have overstated it, but Iyoku was the head of Dragon Ball Room, and then producer starting in 2016. In that time frame, Yamamuro lost the character designer role, Shintani took over Broly, Kubota took over Super Hero, Nakatsuru took over Daima, and the franchise completely broke away from the Yamamuro era. He was also Toriyama's right hand man. He is more likely than not to influence the decision to move on from Yamamuro.

[JulieYBM]

To be fair, Iyoku was the one who got rid of Yamamuro and replaced him with more talented animators and designers. He recognized that Yamamuro isn't the right person anymore.

Where was this stated?

I may have overstated it, but Iyoku was the head of Dragon Ball Room, and then producer starting in 2016. In that time frame, Yamamuro lost the character designer role, Shintani took over Broly, Kubota took over Super Hero, Nakatsuru took over Daima, and the franchise completely broke away from the Yamamuro era. He was also Toriyama's right hand man. He is more likely than not to influence the decision to move on from Yamamuro.

Nagamine Tatsuya is more likely to have brought Shintani on for Broly than that. Nagamine was the film's director and it wouldn’t be the first time he would come onto a project and replace a long time character designer with someone he trusted more.

I'm curious if anyone else has a more clear answer, though.

[FortuneSSJ]

Torishima is a hater and I'm tired of his character, but he's right about the DB Store. I don't know how that art got approved.
How is this official?

As for the anime, Toei seems to have turn over a new leaf. Everything since DBS Broly has been great visual wise.
For promotional art I would only rely on Fenyo and talented animators like Takahashi, Kubota, Shintani, Shida and Shun Sawai.
There wouldn't be such thing like "the bad promotional artist".

For the manga I would like Toyotaro to be replaced and Kakeru to have a shot. I don't think Fenyo is interested in that role, but if he is, give him the keys.

[Mr Baggins]

I'm curious if anyone else has a more clear answer, though.

Shintani was personally selected by Akira Toriyama himself after an audition process involving multiple contenders.

In other words: Iyoku or Nagamine may have had a hand in who all was auditioning for that role, but it was Toriyama who made the decision to actually bring Shintani on board for Broly.

[JulieYBM]

I'm curious if anyone else has a more clear answer, though.

Shintani was personally selected by Akira Toriyama himself after an audition process involving multiple contenders.

In other words: Iyoku or Nagamine may have had a hand in who all was auditioning for that role, but it was Toriyama who made the decision to actually bring Shintani on board for Broly.

I'm aware that Toriyama gave the final okay, but the initial decision and Nagamine's influence is what matters the most. Toriyama is unlikely to have both wanted Yamamuro replaced and turned down anyone selected by Nagamine, given Nagamine's own skill and good judgement.

[LoganForkHands73]

Torishima is so fucking based.

[bahhma]

"That pose is wrong. It you stand straight up, you can't fire a Kamehameha. You have to put power into your hips. It was drawn by someone who doesn't understand where the physical power of the gesture lies."

To be fair, I share this criticism every time I see someone strike a half-ass kamehameha or fusion dance pose for a photo. Put your knees and hips into it!

Torishima is a hater and I'm tired of his character, but he's right about the DB Store. I don't know how that art got approved.
How is this official?

Oof, I was wondering what promo art he was referring to. Yeah, that is not good.

[MasenkoHA]

Torishima is so fucking based.

He’s arguably the second most important person to Dragon Ball after Toriyama himself and its unsung hero. If anyone other then Toriyama has a leg to stand on to make his dissatisfaction with how Dragon Ball is currently being handled known, it’s Torishima.

[Yuji]

Torishima is just vocal about the areas of the franchise where a lack of effort or talent is visible. He was rightfully indignant about Super's animation, about Toyotaro's drawing skill, and here too.

[Sani007]

However, as far as I know, Dragon Ball Kai was Torishima’s idea. And not only was it a terrible idea, but in terms of quality it doesn’t exactly surpass the DB Store either…

[JulieYBM]

Damn, who knew that when a person in a position of authority learned about a medium and how it works and then demanded the time and money needed for quality it would result in quality? lol

[MasenkoHA]

However, as far as I know, Dragon Ball Kai was Torishima’s idea. And not only was it a terrible idea, but in terms of quality it doesn’t exactly surpass the DB Store either…

Is there a source on this? It seems like that would be more of a Bandai/Toei thing.