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One Pieceis one of the longest-running manga series out there, and at the same time, the series also does more than just well to maintain a very high quality overall. Oda has done wonders with the story, and even though he started off as a no-name mangaka, the success ofOne Piecehas made him the mangaka of the best manga in Japan, and one of the biggest authors worldwide.
Oda’s One Piece has delivered phenomenal quality over the years, and that goes without saying. For over 27 years, fans have been following the journey of Monkey D. Luffy, and now, One Piece is in its Final Saga, with Luffy being just one step away from claiming the grand treasure and becoming the Pirate King. It most definitely took Oda a long time to reach this point in the story, but few fans know that One Piece could’ve actually ended in 2013.
How Oda Almost Ended One Piece In 2013
It is no surprise to know that writingOne Piecehas put a tremendous amount of strain on Eiichiro Oda, the author ofOne Piece.Oda’s manga is serialized in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and fans know that the weekly publication schedule is an absolute monster that all mangaka have to keep up with. Most new mangaka find it hard to keep up with the publication schedule, and that’s one of the reasons why a lot of series end rather quickly these days. Some others choose to go for a monthly release, which allows them to work on their chapters a lot more comfortably. With One Piece, however, that isn’t the case. Oda has been publishing weekly chapters since 1997, and now, he’s been at it consistently for almost 28 years.
From here onwards, I’ll reveal all the mysteries of the world! — Oda on the Final Saga
Oda usually only gets 3 hours of sleep at night, and he lives away from his family when he has to meet deadlines. Managing to draw a chapter in just 5-6 days is incredibly hectic for any mangaka,and Oda is no exception. Yet, he’s managed to keep his qualify at the very top level right from the beginning, making One Piece doubly special.
Still, it would be foolish to assume that Oda’s health hasn’t suffered tremendously because of the harsh conditions of the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Back in 2013, Oda endured what could be considered the most difficult time in his life as aOne Pieceauthor. Due to his worsening physical condition, Oda had to be hospitalized. This came during the Dressrosa arc ofOne Piece. The situation was so dire that the editors of Jump were worried thatOne Piecewould have to suddenly end. It is this event that eventually led to the editors allowing Oda to take regular breaks, and this eased his burdens a bit too. Here’s what Oda had to say about this event:
After I was hospitalized in 2013, Shonen Jump editors got scared that One Piece might have to suddenly end, so they began letting me take regular breaks. When I collapsed, I thought, “Editors, Have you finally realized that if I push myself too hard, I’ll collapse? — Eiichiro Oda
Has Oda’s Schedule Improved
Oda Plans Breaks More Often Now
Back in 2013, although Oda started taking breaks more often, it goes without saying that it was still not enough. Oda only used to take a break after every 6 or so chapters, and sometimes, occasionally, after every 5 chapters. Since then, he’s shown a lot of improvement.
Oda started taking breaks after every four chapters in the Wano Country arc. In the latter parts of the same arc,Oda started to take a break after every 3 chapters, which is the schedule that he maintains currently as well. Sometimes, Oda takes a break after every two chapters as well.
Oda Should Take Even More Breaks
Undoubtedly, working in the environment of the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine for as long as Oda has can’t be good for his health.Oda should take more breaks than ever before, possibly after every two chapters even. This would not only help Oda to regain his strength, but also allow him to spend more time with his family, or to work on his own health improvement.
One Piece chapter 1146 will be out very soon, later this week. As usual, One Piece is going to drop on the upcoming Sunday. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday. However, the vast majority of international readers will see the chapter available on April 20. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1146 is Jul 17, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free onManga Plus.
