Akira Toriyama makes Oricon's Top Manga-ka Poll List

[Cowboy Dev]

So Oricon, a Japanese company known for their polls did one a few days ago for the "Top 10 Manga-ka that changed Manga History."

The Results:
1. Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Black Jack)
2. Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump)
3. Hiroshi Fujimoto & Motou Abiko (Doraemon)
4. Eiichiro Oda (One Piece)
5. Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk)
6. Shigeru Mizuki (GeGeGe no Kitaro)
7. Fujio Akatsuka (Tensai Bakabon)
8. Machiko Hasegawa (Sazae-san)
9. Hayao Miyazaki (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind)
TIE:
10. Osamu Akimoto (Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo)
10. Naoki Urasawa (Monster, 20th Century Boys)

My Thoughts:
Damn straight Toriyama's second to Tezuka. Love or hate his work, no one can not deny his influence.
Though on a non-Dragon Ball related note, I have to question Eiichiro Oda being on here. Sure One Piece is popular and all, but influential? Surely the likes of Rumiko Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2), Monkey Punch (Lupin the 3rd), and even Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon) have surely contributed more than Oda has.
Whatever, Toriyama FTW.

[B]

I question Urasawa and Oda. Their stuff is great, but I can't shake the feeling they're driving off of "current hotness."

[JulieYBM]

I question Urasawa and Oda. Their stuff is great, but I can't shake the feeling they're driving off of "current hotness."

Well, Oda's been current hotness for thirteen years. I suppose that's different from Toriyama surviving for so many years after his move away from a weekly (or regular) schedule, but even the other supposedly huge manga-ka have died out. Oda's the only one to consistantly rise.

[TripleRach]

Though on a non-Dragon Ball related note, I have to question Eiichiro Oda being on here. Sure One Piece is popular and all, but influential? Surely the likes of Rumiko Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2), Monkey Punch (Lupin the 3rd), and even Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon) have surely contributed more than Oda has.

People like Go Nagai and Shoutarou Ishinomori also come to mind.

But yay for Toriyama. He probably never anticipated that his poop joke-filled Journey to the West parody would grow into the definitive shounen action/adventure series.

[Cowboy Dev]

I question Urasawa and Oda. Their stuff is great, but I can't shake the feeling they're driving off of "current hotness."

Well, Oda's been current hotness for thirteen years. I suppose that's different from Toriyama surviving for so many years after his move away from a weekly (or regular) schedule, but even the other supposedly huge manga-ka have died out. Oda's the only one to consistantly rise.

I understand that, but what exactly has he done that's influential? One Piece is still WAY too new to determine something like that.

[JulieYBM]

I question Urasawa and Oda. Their stuff is great, but I can't shake the feeling they're driving off of "current hotness."

Well, Oda's been current hotness for thirteen years. I suppose that's different from Toriyama surviving for so many years after his move away from a weekly (or regular) schedule, but even the other supposedly huge manga-ka have died out. Oda's the only one to consistantly rise.

I understand that, but what exactly has he done that's influential? One Piece is still WAY too new to determine something like that.

Well, the subject seems to be "changing manga history." Oda's broken all of the records in the Japanese printing industry and is consistently selling 2-3 million copies a volume. That's how he's changed things and in their minds it means something.

[Innagadadavida]

Nah, Oda hasn't changed history. He made a fun little story, but there's nothing new about it. It's successful because it draws on the strengths of the truly influential series. Oda does not belong on this list.

[Anarchistguy]

Hooray for Akira Toriyama !!!

But...

Eichiro Oda is on the list while Go Nagai, the father of the mecha genre isn't? Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for another round of "what's wrong with this picture?"

[Cowboy Dev]

"what's wrong with this picture?"

Popularity and sales are outshining actual influence.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

When you look at all the Manga/Anime that have been influenced by Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama deserves to be up there.

[SHINOBI-03]

Too bad "Kill-em All Tomino" is not a Mangaka. Otherwise he would be on the list. Go Nagai deserved to be there as well.

But yeah. Oda? At least it is better than Kishimoto. We don't want Narutards to go saying "Haha, Naruto is the best" after printing his EFFing face on money in his own city.

[Goku100xKamehameha]

Screw the list! Toriyama is always been the number 1 Manga-ka for me!

When you look at all the Manga/Anime that have been influenced by Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama deserves to be up there.

Damn right!
And where's Naruto?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Screw the list! Toriyama is always been the number 1 Manga-ka for me!

When you look at all the Manga/Anime that have been influenced by Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama deserves to be up there.

Damn right!
And where's Naruto?

I don't know. I expected Masashi Kishimoto to be up there, but I guess Naruto is too newer Manga.

[Innagadadavida]

Screw the list! Toriyama is always been the number 1 Manga-ka for me!

Yeah! Lets go ahead and put him above the man who practically invented manga.

And where's Naruto?

I hope you're not serious. I pray that you're just a really smart troll.

[Goku100xKamehameha]

Screw the list! Toriyama is always been the number 1 Manga-ka for me!

Yeah! Lets go ahead and put him above the man who practically invented manga.

And where's Naruto?

I hope you're not serious. I pray that you're just a really smart troll.

Could you just shut the hell up! and GTFO from me!

[VegettoEX]

Multiple account warnings issued.

From this point on, you will either post clearly with helpful and friendly logic, reasoning, and thoughtful insight... or you will not post at all.

You can go back over time and look at various Oricon polls to get a sense of how the Japanese public at large responds. You will consistently see that the "big ones" are almost always appropriately represented, but then you will also see the hotness-of-the-moment stuff included, as well. There doesn't seem to be much of a middle-ground with them.

[NeoKING]

Akira Toriyama, I completely understand. I mean, this guy changed the entire game since the 80's and his spirit lives on in today's work.

... But where's Hirohiko Araki?(JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?) Him and JJBA revolutionized shonen battles forever.

[sangofe]

I question Urasawa and Oda. Their stuff is great, but I can't shake the feeling they're driving off of "current hotness."

Monster, driving off of "current hotness", eh?

[B]

I was mainly speaking of 20th Century Boys, which got a nice lift-up from its live-action adaptations in Japan that came out in the last two years.

Of course, I don't doubt for a second the cycle didn't go: 20CB films -> 20CB manga -> Monster and Pluto. "Current" doesn't always mean "new." It's no different than the TV show Scrubs rising in popularity soon after it's syndication on Comedy Central, even though it had been on NBC since 2001(and was coming close to wrapping up).

I'm also glad someone brought it up; where the hell is Go Nagai?

[Cowboy Dev]

People, this is Japan were talking about. Not America. They know the difference between "Influential Classic" and "New/Popular."