Manga fans around the world are mourning the death of "Dragon Ball" creator Toriyama Akira. It was announced on Friday that he died last week aged 68.

Toriyama started his career in 1978. Two years later, he launched "Dr. Slump," a serial about an android girl and her goofy inventor. It quickly became a bestseller.

In 1984, Toriyama launched "Dragon Ball," which follows the adventures of Son Goku, a boy with superhuman strength. The series captivated readers across the globe, going on to sell 260 million copies.

Toriyama also designed characters for the popular role-playing video game "Dragon Quest."

Horii Yuji, who created the series, says he does not have the words to describe such a great loss.

News of Toriyama's death quickly spread in other countries.

A fan in Shanghai said, "His works feature a sense of justice. They helped me to make friends. It's definitely a great loss to the manga world."

Another in New York said, "I used to read a lot as a kid... I wanted to be just like Goku. I might read the books again in honor."

The Chinese government has also acknowledged Toriyama's passing. Speaking on Friday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said, "His works are very popular in China. Many people are mourning on social media."

Toriyama was an inspiration to many other manga artists including Oda Eiichiro, who created the global hit series "One Piece."

Oda issued a statement saying multiple generations have grown up reading Toriyama's works, and that he influenced and inspired people across a range of genres and industries.

Oda added that he hopes heaven for Toriyama is as joyful as the world he created.