Popular manga artist Kentaro Yabuki, known for the To LOVE-Ru series, took to X (formerly Twitter) on May 9 to share a special illustration featuring the Androids from Dragon Ball.

Yabuki posted the image as part of a nostalgic series of old photos and sketches saved on his smartphone. He wrote, “Since it’s Goku Day, here’s a manuscript from the Dragon Ball 30th Anniversary project. I really love all the Androids from No. 8 to No. 21—so much that I wish I could draw a manga just about them. I even requested Volume 31 for the 40th anniversary project because it features the Androids.”

The post was made in celebration of “Goku Day,” which falls on May 9 in Japan. The date was chosen because the numbers 5 and 9 can be read as “go” and “ku” in Japanese, forming “Gokū”—the name of the iconic protagonist from Dragon Ball. This type of wordplay, known as goroawase, is a popular practice in Japan.

Yabuki Reflects on Drawing Style

While proud of his tribute, Yabuki also commented on the challenges of blending his own style with Akira Toriyama’s original art, stating, “In moments like this, the original art is just too supreme—I struggled a lot with how to mix in my own touch.”

About To LOVE-Ru

To LOVE-Ru is a romantic comedy that centers on high school student Rito Yuuki and a love triangle that unfolds around him. The original series ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2006 to 2009, followed by the sequel To LOVE-Ru Darkness, serialized in Jump SQ. from 2010 to 2017. The franchise has also been adapted into a popular anime series.

Source : ORICON NEWS