10 Fascinating Facts About Eiichiro Oda, Creator of One Piece

Eiichiro Oda, widely recognized as the creative mind behind the iconic manga series One Piece, stands out as a pivotal figure in the manga industry, celebrated for his exceptional storytelling skills and ability to foreshadow intricate plot developments. While Oda’s masterpiece is undoubtedly one of the most beloved manga series globally, he tends to keep his personal life largely under wraps.

Despite his low-profile lifestyle, Oda has made a few notable appearances on television and has a collection of accolades that may astonish his fans, possibly even those who may have forgotten. Below are ten intriguing facts about Eiichiro Oda that could impress the One Piece fanbase.

Disclaimer: The views presented in this article reflect the author’s opinions.

Ten Fascinating Facts About Eiichiro Oda, Creator of One Piece: From Museums to Personal Insights

1) One Piece Exhibition

The official announcement of the museum (Image via X/@pewpiece) — The official announcement of the exhibition (Image via X/@pewpiece)

On August 27, 2024, Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece was officially announced to be featured in a dedicated exhibition at the Museum of Art in Tachikawa, Tokyo. This event, titled ‘ONEPIECEONLY’, took place on October 9, 2024.

The series had previously been showcased in various locations, including the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Tokyo and Tempozan Special Gallery in Osaka, as well as at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei, Taiwan.

2) Jealous of Your Lie in April

Your Lie in April Volume 1 cover (Image via Kodansha)

Unbeknownst to many fans, Oda openly admitted to feeling envious of Naoshi Arakawa’s Your Lie in April during an appearance on the Japanese television show ‘Great People Whom the Elite Are Jealous Of’. He shared that while working against a tight deadline, he sought inspiration from Arakawa’s series.

The One Piece creator praised Arakawa’s capacity to convey music through manga, claiming it’s one of the most challenging genres to tackle. His acknowledgment prompted a surprised reaction from the editors of Monthly Shōnen Magazine which publishes Your Lie in April.

3) Eye Surgery

Eiichiro Oda's eye surgery announcement (Image via X/@newworldartur) — Eiichiro Oda’s eye surgery announcement (Image via X/@newworldartur)

Prior to launching the final saga of One Piece, Oda took an extended break of five weeks to undergo eye surgery. He reported experiencing double vision, indicative of astigmatism. After discussions with his Shounen Jump editors, he decided surgery was necessary.

Injecting humor into the situation, Oda joked that post-surgery, he might gain the power to shoot lasers from his eyes, a nod to the Straw Hat crew’s whimsical obsessions. Thankfully, the operation was successful.

4) Guinness World Record Holder

The Guinness World Record announcement (Image via X/@newworldartur)

In 2015, One Piece achieved a Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Copies Published for the Same Comic Book Series by a Single Author’, with 320,866,000 copies in circulation. This milestone was later updated to 500 million copies in 2022, combining both physical and digital publications.

This notable achievement solidified One Piece’s status as the best-selling manga series, maintaining its streak as the top seller for 11 consecutive years from 2008 to 2018. Clearly, Oda’s numbers game is well on point from the very beginning.

5) Unreceptive to External Suggestions

Monkey D Luffy as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation) — Monkey D. Luffy in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite his humorous interactions in the SBS sections of One Piece, Oda is not one to seek suggestions from fans or colleagues. In Volume 56, he outright rejected a reader’s idea for a new devil fruit deemed the Stomach Growl fruit, which would help users maintain a healthy stomach.

Oda’s reasoning was straightforward: he prefers to avoid placing blame on others for any creative failures. Instead, he believes that if he solely shoulders the responsibility for his work, both success and failure are his alone.

6) Tied the Knot with his Real-Life Nami

Nami as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation) — Nami in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

While maintaining a low profile, Oda’s love life became a topic of curiosity when he met his wife Chiaki Inaba, a former model and actress who portrayed Nami in a live-action adaptation of One Piece. They began dating and, after two years together, decided to marry, though Oda’s personal life remains mostly private.

7) Deep Roots in Kumamoto

The Kumamoto Revival Project visual as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha) — Kumamoto Revival Project visual (Image via Shueisha)

Hailing from Kumamoto Prefecture, Oda has not lost sight of his heritage. In 2016, he initiated the ‘Kumamoto Revival Project’ following severe earthquakes in his hometown, donating 800 million yen for recovery efforts. He also designed merchandise to aid local communities.

The author continued to honor his roots by incorporating illustrations featuring Kumamoto’s local mascot, Kumamon, into his series.

8) Early Recognition from Shounen Jump

Shounen Jump's response to Eiichiro Oda's first manga (Image via X/@sandman_AP) — Shounen Jump’s feedback on Oda’s first publication (Image via X/@sandman_AP)

As a high school student, Oda decided to abandon soccer to pursue a career as a mangaka. His first work, Fly High Boy, was a one-shot submitted to Shounen Jump’s 69th Hop☆Step Award, earning him finalist status despite not winning.

The editorial staff’s feedback noted the engaging nature of his antagonist, hinting at Oda’s future potential, ultimately leading to his success with One Piece.

9) Occasional Self-Inclusion in One Piece

Oda's name visible on a book in the series (Image via Toei Animation) — Oda’s name seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

One of the more whimsical elements of One Piece includes references to Oda himself as the author of certain fictional books appearing in episodes 21, 70, and 278, which feature works from Ohara.

It remains unclear whether these inclusions were Oda’s doing or a creative choice made by the anime’s production team, but they add an entertaining layer to the narrative.

10) Unique Collectibles

Kaku as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation) — Kaku from the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

In a surprising twist, Oda’s mansion came under the spotlight during Gosho Aoyama’s visit in 2022. Among his eccentric belongings was a life-sized giraffe statue, intriguing fans to speculate on its connection, if any, to Kaku.

The exploration also unveiled other quirky items like a small train, a bathroom adorned with a large shark head, and a crane machine stocked with One Piece cards.

Conclusion

This article aims to have shared at least a few enlightening facts for One Piece enthusiasts about the enigmatic Eiichiro Oda. Despite leading a life filled with luxury, he dedicates countless hours to his craft, emphasizing the notion that true wealth is achieved through diligence and the pursuit of one’s passions.

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