When the legendary editor who helped shape Dragon Ball stands on stage and calls today’s biggest anime overcomplicated messes, you pay attention. Kazuhiko Torishima did exactly that at Napoli Comicon 2026, delivering a panel that has the entire anime community split between “he is absolutely right” and “he is completely out of touch.” And honestly, that is exactly why this story matters right now.
Torishima is not just any critic. He is the former editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump, the man who guided Akira Toriyama through Dragon Ball’s creation, and someone whose opinion carries decades of weight in the manga industry. When he speaks, manga publishers listen. So when he said that series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man have become “overloaded with narration and explanations” at the expense of genuine storytelling, the internet did not stay quiet.
What Torishima Actually Said
According to eyewitness accounts shared by attendees on social media, Torishima’s criticism went far beyond a casual complaint. He argued that modern shonen manga rely too heavily on exposition, internal monologues, and power-system explanations that bog down the pacing. His point was simple and direct: a proper manga should communicate through action and visual storytelling, not through paragraphs of characters explaining their own abilities mid-fight.
He specifically targeted the trend of lengthy power-scaling debates and the way modern series dedicate entire chapters to explaining new transformation mechanics. In his view, Dragon Ball succeeded because you could follow a fight and understand everything through the artwork alone, without needing a narrator to spell out what was happening.
But here is where things get complicated. Torishima also took aim at Eiichiro Oda’s modern One Piece storytelling, suggesting that the series has become bloated with subplots that dilute the core narrative. For a manga that is approaching its final saga with millions of fans invested, that is a bold statement from someone who shaped the very industry Oda helped build.
The Fandom Claps Back
Unsurprisingly, the anime community had strong reactions. Fans of Jujutsu Kaisen creator Gege Akutami pointed out that the series’ complex power system, cursed energy mechanics, and domain expansions are exactly what make it stand out from previous generation shonen. The intricate battle strategies in Jujutsu Kaisen, they argue, require explanation precisely because the stakes and mechanics are far more nuanced than simple power-level comparisons.
Demon Slayer fans had their own defense. They argued that Koyoharu Gotouge’s masterful use of emotional narration and internal character monologues during battle sequences is what elevates Demon Slayer from a standard action manga into something that resonates on a deeply emotional level. The famous breathing techniques and the emotional weight behind every fight scene would not land the same way without Gotouge’s detailed writing approach.
Even Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto found himself caught in the crossfire, despite Torishima’s most direct comments being aimed at the other series. The Chainsaw Man community pointed out that Fujimoto’s chaotic, unpredictable storytelling style is the exact opposite of the formulaic approach Torishima seems to prefer.
The Generational Divide
What this controversy really exposes is a fundamental generational divide in how anime and manga are consumed and created. Torishima comes from the era when manga was primarily a weekly serial read by children and teenagers in print format. The pacing, visual clarity, and simple power dynamics that defined Dragon Ball were perfectly calibrated for that medium and that audience.
But the landscape has shifted dramatically. Modern manga readers are older, more globally connected, and deeply engaged with complex worldbuilding. Series like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece thrive on theories, analysis videos, and community discussions that dissect every panel. The very complexity Torishima criticizes is exactly what keeps these communities engaged and growing.
The Japanese government even has ambitions to triple the overseas anime market within the next decade, which means the industry is actively courting international audiences who often prefer deeper, more intricate narratives. The question becomes: should modern manga adapt to what today’s global audience wants, or return to the formula that worked in the 1980s?
Is He Wrong or Just Nostalgic?
Neither, and both. Torishima’s criticism is not entirely baseless. There have been moments in modern shonen where excessive explanation does slow down the momentum. Some fans agree that certain series could benefit from tighter visual storytelling and less reliance on power-system exposition.
But his blanket dismissal of an entire generation of creators ignores the reality that manga has evolved into a more sophisticated art form. Gege Akutami, Koyoharu Gotouge, and Eiichiro Oda have each built massive global audiences precisely because they pushed beyond the boundaries of what shonen manga traditionally offered.
The uncomfortable truth might be that both perspectives hold weight. Dragon Ball’s streamlined approach was perfect for its era, but the complexity of modern shonen reflects a maturing medium that refuses to stay in one lane forever.
What Do You Think?
Is Torishima right that modern manga like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and One Piece have become too complicated and overexplained? Or is this just a legendary editor who cannot accept that the industry he helped build has evolved beyond his preferences? Would you trade the intricate power systems and emotional depth of today’s anime for the simpler, action-driven approach of the Dragon Ball era?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. This is one debate that is definitely not settling itself anytime soon.
