One Piece: How Oda’s Worsening Health Could Affect The Final Saga

One Piece: How Oda's Worsening Health Could Affect The Final Saga

As a long-time fan of One Piece and someone who has followed the manga since its early days, I can’t help but feel a pang of concern every time I hear about Shonen Jump’s weekly grind taking a toll on Eiichiro Oda’s health. I remember back in my university days when I would stay up all night to read the latest chapter as soon as it came out, and now I see that the author himself is struggling with the same schedule.


This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Final Saga.

Key Takeaways

  • Oda’s health is deteriorating due to extreme workload and health neglect.
  • Oda’s declining health may lead to rushed final saga of One Piece.
  • Fans suggest Oda change to bi-weekly chapters for better health and quality.

This week, discussions among One Piece fans are centered around Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, following news about his health concerns. It’s believed that his recent absence might be related to his commitments in South Africa, particularly the live-action and planning for his manga.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the continuation of our beloved story, but unfortunately, it seems our creator, Oda, needs some extra time off – this time for about two weeks due to health issues. Hearing this news has understandably left us concerned for his well-being. This unexpected break will undoubtedly affect the course of the manga moving forward.

Oda’s Deteriorating Health Over The Years

One Piece: How Oda's Worsening Health Could Affect The Final Saga
  • Oda Isn’t Taking Proper Care Of Himself
  • Oda’s Doctors Are Concerned

It’s no shock that Oda’s health is declining over time, given the demanding nature of working on Jump. This problem has become a common occurrence over the years and desperately requires change. Unfortunately, it appears that change will not happen anytime soon, leaving authors to endure various hardships. Legends like Oda and Kishimoto have had to push themselves to complete their manga under Jump’s relentless schedule.

I’m not worried about running dry on manga concepts; I trust myself to generate plenty of quality ideas if I put in the thought required. My main challenge lies in ensuring I live long enough to see One Piece reach its final chapter before my own life comes to an end.

It’s commonly understood that Oda typically sleeps only a few hours each night and dedicates much of his time to crafting the stories he publishes each week. Notably, when he works on his manga, he often does so in his studio, even forgoing sleep and time with his family. Over the past 27 years, maintaining such an intense schedule has undoubtedly taken a toll on his health.

Initially, Oda was consistently publishing a chapter each week. However, starting roughly around Wano’s introduction, he started releasing clusters of 3-4 chapters in quick succession, followed by a hiatus. Now, it appears that he only releases three chapters straight before taking another break. Sometimes, even after just two consecutive chapters, Oda takes a break, which suggests the situation might be worsening. Oda’s physical condition has changed over the past 20 years, making it challenging for him to withstand the intense pressure that Jump imposes. Despite his long-standing career spanning approximately 27 years and the subsequent exhaustion, fans understand that he requires a well-deserved break, and it should be substantial.

How Oda’s Health Could Affect The Final Saga

The Final Saga Of One Piece Could Be Rushed

As always, fans’s primary concern should be with Oda and his health. After all, the story should always be second to the author’s own health. That said, fans know that if Oda continues to go down this road, this will also affect the way One Piece handles the remaining story in one way or another. Oda has stated often and vocally that he wants to end One Piece in a certain amount of time. For instance, in 2019, Oda stated that he wants to end One Piece in about 5 years. Fast forward to 2024, which is 5 years later, Oda is nowhere close to ending his manga, and the Final Saga has only just begun, with Egghead proving to be the gateway to it. There are at least five to six more years of publication for One Piece left, which means that the story will most likely continue into 2030 as well. Continuing in a weekly manga magazine will only worsen his health, which means that fewer chapters get dropped a year, which, consequently, mean that the manga will only go for longer.

Beyond this point, it’s understood that the condition of Oda might impact the future story arcs significantly. For example, in his ideal scenario, Oda would delve deeper into specific aspects of upcoming arcs like Elbaf, but due to deteriorating health, he may need to trim certain details and possibly eliminate them from his manga altogether. This adjustment, inevitably, could influence the quality of the arc.

For example, the conclusions of My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen were unexpectedly hurried, owing primarily to the authors’ health issues. Although Jujutsu Kaisen faced other problems too, it’s undeniable that the story’s pace was significantly impacted by the author’s deteriorating health situation.

Readers are well aware that Oda’s continuous work without regular breaks will likely cause him ongoing difficulties. Regrettably, the remedy for his issues seems to be something he doesn’t prefer, yet it appears essential now.

Should Oda Change The Publication Schedule Of One Piece?

One Piece Should Go Seasonal

One Piece: How Oda's Worsening Health Could Affect The Final Saga

A potential solution to address these issues is by modifying the release schedule of “One Piece” by Oda. By shifting from releasing three chapters in a row followed by a break, to instead publishing chapters on a bi-weekly basis (every two weeks), he could have one week off after each chapter. This adjustment would largely alleviate many of the challenges Oda is currently facing. However, it’s important to note that such a change would extend the duration of the series, which would be an exciting prospect for fans but may not be ideal for Oda as he has expressed a strong desire to conclude his story so that he can fulfill other personal and professional commitments.

In essence, Oda must come to terms with the reality that the conclusion of One Piece may take more time, yet this prolongation ensures his health remains intact. A strategy similar to what other mangaka have employed over the years could be implemented – releasing extended chapters at a monthly pace. However, such a change isn’t solely dependent on Oda’s desires; he would require Shueisha’s approval and likely that of other relevant parties as well. Yet, given his renowned stature in the manga world, this alteration is indeed feasible.

One Piece: How Oda's Worsening Health Could Affect The Final Saga

Should Oda adjust the release schedule of One Piece, many fans would understand and be grateful for his focus on his health. At the same time, they wouldn’t want the quality of One Piece to suffer. This scenario would benefit everyone involved, and it could also give Oda more opportunities to spend time with his family. However, whether such a change will occur is uncertain, and if there’s one thing fans know about Oda, it’s that he remains optimistic about continuing his work in the weekly Shonen Jump magazine for many years yet.

Readers can enjoy One Piece through Viz Media! Officially and at no cost, you can read this popular series on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. Mark your calendars for December 1, 2024 – that’s when the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 1132, will be released!

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2024-11-15 04:34