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Eiichiro Oda is a name well-known among anime fans, due to the man’s undying devotion to his masterpiece,One Piece. It’s unfortunate that his name is also synonymous to many with overwork. With a schedule that seems impossible to most, Oda-sensei is the picture of devoting oneself to a craft. His love for his story is clear in every panel, not to mentionhis regular involvement in side-projectsthat have to do with his long-running story. It almost seems like he must have access to hidden hours that the rest of us aren’t aware of. No one could possibly work as hard as he does… right?
Writing and illustrating a weekly serialized mangais no small endeavor. Even if the artist stays ahead by a few chapters, which is something Oda has said he does withOne Piece, there is still very little room for rest. It’s not uncommon for manga-ka to burn themselves out.Fans ofHunter X Hunterare all too familiar with the woes of worrying about their favorite creator’s health and motivation. It’s a demanding industry that allows little room for failure, or even personal time. While Oda does put his work on hiatus from time to time, one look at the release dates for each chapter over the years sinceOne Piece’s debut will tell you that he likely isn’t taking nearly enough time for himself.
Pushing Himself to the Breaking Point
Running A Race Against the Clock
While the pressure is surely coming down on him from above, no one pushes Oda forward more than himself. In interviews, he has famously stated that he typically gets three hours of sleep, often skipping meals to concentrate on his work. His determination, while impressive, has many fans of his work deeply concerned.The One Piece Podcast, a fan site dedicated to Oda and his work, has several translated interviews with the man himself featured on their website. In one, Oda even goes as far as to call his work “a race against time between my remaining lifespan.” Such words hold quite a bit of weight when you consider Kentaro Miura,the author ofBerserk, who passed away before his own series' completion.
I need the courage to chip away at the ideas I come up with. It’s a race against time between my remaining lifespan and the end of the series (laughs). I’m not going to be able to make another long series afterOne Piece.
-Eiichiro Oda
Giving Himself Time to Relax and Reflect
Any time One Piece goes on hiatus, however infrequently,fans begin wringing their hands. Anticipation of what’s to come certainly plays a role in their anxiety, but more strongly felt by most is concern for the beloved manga-ka’s physical and mental health. Eiichiro Oda has brought happiness to people all around the world. Stories of people hanging on through depression and illness, using the promise of the One Piece’s eventual discovery as a beacon of light, are not uncommon. Monkey D. Luffy, despite being a fictional character, has become a symbol of freedom and hope. There’s no doubt that fans want to see thiswell-loved story come to an end, but more than that, they want the man who brought them so much joy to remain healthy and happy.
Fortunately, it seems Oda-sensei has begun to take his own health more seriously sincethe heartbreaking loss of Akira Toriyama, another well-known name in manga. After the passing ofDragon Ball’s creator, Oda released a message to announce a brief hiatus where he would focus on himself. Insisting that he had no current health problems to worry about, he would take this break to think about whatOne Pieceis. While it was reassuring to many to hear that he was giving himself a break, some wondered if three weeks was really enough.
Oda’s Message to Fans Announcing a Hiatus in March, 2024
I’m taking a break!!
Yes, it will take 3 weeks. Recently, there has been the matter with Toriyama-sensei. I’m afraid I’m worrying you too much, but I’m not sick or anything. It’s just my body. Think of it as maintenance.
I also have to think about what One Piece is! I’m busy. What about the characters in Egghead!? For those of you who are wondering what happened leading up to this point, you can read it for free from 4/2 to 4/21, so please visit “Jump+” and “Zebrack”!
The live-action version of One Piece is also available on Netflix. They animated my old one-shot story “Monsters”, please watch it. “Anytime One Piece” is also releasing episodes on YouTube to celebrate! It’s funny! (It’s apparently moving to TikTok on 3/23)
The Freedom to Chart His Own Course
In recent years, Oda has been known to take breaks more often, typically dropping three chapters consecutively before taking two-week breaks between. A big step-down from his previous schedule of releasing up to seven in a row. In addition to this, the well-regarded manga-ka has stated thathe will be working at a much slower pacein the future, allowing himself more time off. This comes as a huge relief to those who have been fearful of the man’s health. While he maintains a rabid fanbase, ever eager for more content, the sentiment echoed almost unanimously by Oda-sensei’s fans is that he should take care of himself. The next chapter can wait. Luffy will never reach the One Pieceif Eiichiro Oda isn’t alive and wellto get him there.
