Hisashi Tanaka
WriterJapanese illustrator born April 1959, famous for being Akira Toriyama's very first manga assistant. Tanaka worked under the pseudonym HISAwaSHI on Dr. Slump before establishing his own career.
Early Dragon Ball Connection
Hisashi Tanaka holds the distinction of being Akira Toriyama's first-ever manga assistant, supporting the artist during the creation of Dr. Slump from the series' start until 1982. Working under the pseudonym HISAwaSHI, Tanaka contributed foundational work to the manga that preceded Dragon Ball, establishing collaborative patterns that would influence the franchise's production.
Manga Career and Teaching
After his time assisting Toriyama, Tanaka pursued an independent manga career, authoring several series including the seven-volume Ninja Boy TonTon Tobimaru and the five-volume CAN Kyan Eburidei. He transitioned into education, teaching art design at Ogaki Woman's College, sharing his expertise with the next generation of artists.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
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- Game pages: official box art, credited to Bandai Namco, Atari, and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Akira Toriyama.
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