One Piece: Oda Reveals How He Almost Ended The Story During Dressrosa

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

Summary

  • Oda’s health struggles in 2013 led to fears that One Piece could end abruptly during Dressrosa arc.
  • Weekly serialization pressure prompted Oda to take more breaks and prioritize self-care.
  • Oda has improved his health by taking more breaks, practicing better eating habits, and walking regularly.

Over the years, I’ve been witness to the phenomenal journey of One Piece. This manga first started publication in 1997 and has since grown into one of the most remarkable works of fiction ever created. In fact, it stands as the best-selling manga of all time, but that’s not all; it’s also a global sensation, with its sales reaching impressive heights worldwide.

One Piece has made an impressive impact throughout the years and continues to thrive after nearly 28 years, showing no signs of slowing down. However, it’s interesting to note that at one point, the series could have concluded during the Dressrosa arc – a detail that not all fans may be aware of. This surprising fact was shared by Oda himself back in 2016; although it had already been widely known within the fandom since 2013.

How One Piece Could’ve Ended During The Dressrosa Arc

  • Weekly Serialization Put A Lot Of Strain On Oda
  • Oda Took Fewer Breaks Before

Fans might be taken aback when they suspected that the “One Piece” series could have come to an abrupt end during the Dressrosa storyline. However, it wasn’t because creator Eiichiro Oda was planning to conclude the story. On the contrary, in 2013, Oda was nowhere near wrapping up his tale. Instead, it was Oda’s health that caused him troubles around this period, coinciding with the start of the Dressrosa arc. During this time, Oda’s health deteriorated and he suffered a collapse, necessitating urgent medical attention.

It’s not shocking given that Oda barely sleeps for three hours a day, works tirelessly all week, and has irregular eating habits – going days without food and then overeating to compensate. This kind of lifestyle could lead to serious health problems, as demonstrated by the severe state Oda found himself in 2013. In fact, his editors at Jump were contemplating the possibility that One Piece might come to an abrupt end due to Oda’s deteriorating health. Here’s what Oda himself shared about this:

After a hospitalization in 2013, Shonen Jump editors grew concerned about potentially ending One Piece abruptly, so they started allowing me to take periodic breaks. When I fell ill, I thought to myself, “Editors, it seems you’ve finally understood that overworking me could lead to my collapse.” – Eiichiro Oda, 2016

How Oda Takes Care Of Himself Better Now

Oda Takes A Lot More Breaks Now

After the distressing incident in 2013, Oda has been prioritizing self-care significantly more. He’s been walking regularly and also taking many more pauses. In contrast, he used to work tirelessly without pausing, even releasing six or seven chapters consecutively at one point. Now, though, he frequently drops three chapters in succession before taking a break. This new approach has improved his overall work management. Additionally, he occasionally takes extended breaks of a month, which is beneficial for him. Here’s hoping Oda won’t experience another traumatic event like that again.

One Piece Chapter 1149 will be released in just seven days! As always, we’ll get to enjoy it on Sunday. For our friends in Japan, the chapter goes live at midnight on Monday (JST). But don’t worry if you’re not in Japan, as most international readers should have access to it by May 11th. The official release date for One Piece Chapter 1149 is set for May 25, 2025. Excitingly, fans can read this chapter for free on Manga Plus!

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2025-05-18 00:14