The world’s first “Dragon Ball” retailer opened in Tokyo on Friday, celebrating greater than 40 years of the globally beloved Japanese manga, anime and video franchise.
Initially printed in 1984 in Japan’s Shonen Jump journal, “Dragon Ball” is among the best-selling manga franchises of all time and has spawned numerous anime sequence, movies and video video games.
The retailer was launched to mark the fortieth anniversary of the franchise final yr, in line with anime studio Toei Animation.
On Friday the studio shared photos of the shop, situated at a mall close to Tokyo’s major railway station, with an enormous “Dragon Ball” ceiling ornament and statues of major character Son Goku.
Key rings, T-shirts and pin badges that includes iconic characters are among the many merchandise on the market.
In the unique “Dragon Ball” manga, a boy named Son Goku collects magical balls containing dragons to assist defend the Earth.
The comedian books have bought greater than 260 million copies in Japan and worldwide by November final yr, 40 years for the reason that franchise’s beginning, in line with writer Shueisha.
The first a part of the manga sequence was become a TV anime from 1986. Dubbed in numerous languages, the present captured kids’s hearts with its madcap battles.
Films, video video games and different spin-offs adopted because the franchise grew into a world phenomenon.
The unique manga’s creator Akira Toriyama died in March final yr.
© 2025 AFP