Dragon Ball opens its first store in Tokyo for its fortieth anniversary

The first store dedicated to Dragon Ball in the world opened its doors in Tokyo on Friday, more than 40 years after the creation of this Japanese franchise which has become a global cultural phenomenon. Originally published in 1984 in the Japanese magazine Shonen Jumpvery popular with young Japanese boys, Dragon Ball is one of the best-selling manga of all time, and has spawned countless anime series, films, and video games.

” The first Dragon Ball Store to the world has opened » in a shopping center near Tokyo Station, Toei Animation announced in a press release accompanied by several photos showing the interior of the store. The opening of the store in the Japanese capital marked the 40th anniversary of the franchise last year, Toei previously announced.

The store’s ceiling features a very busy decoration representing a character from the franchise, while statues of Goku, the protagonist of Dragon Ballin various forms, are placed throughout the store. Key rings, t-shirts and pins representing the emblematic characters of Dragon Ball are part of the products sold in the store.

The original manga Dragon Ball tells the story of a boy named Son Goku who collects magical crystal balls containing dragons from around the world to help protect the Earth. Throughout his adventures, he fights many adversaries. The comics have sold more than 260 million copies worldwide through November 2024, 40 years after the franchise’s birth, according to publisher Shueisha.

The first part of the manga series was adapted into an animated television series also called Dragon Ball from 1986. Dubbed in different languages, the show won the hearts of children with its epic fights. Films, video games, and other spin-off products followed as the franchise became a global cultural phenomenon. The original manga’s creator, Akira Toriyama, passed away last March, but the franchise continues to release a slew of products, including anime series and video games.