One Piece fans are not sure what to believe after witnessing Oda’s love-hate relationship with the manga editors in recent online discussions.
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda might not be on good terms with his editors, with many believing the editors can’t speak their minds to him anymore, but that may not be entirely true. Oda has also been seen as quite considerate toward his editors’ opinions.
Back in 2016, as published in the Great One Piece Newspaper, it was revealed that Oda once asked his editor, Sugita, if anything in a newly released chapter felt unnatural. Sugita admitted that something did feel a bit off, but he hadn’t mentioned it earlier.
Oda reportedly got angry and told him never to do that again. He said an editor’s opinion is crucial since they’re his very first audience.
You might think Oda was right about it, but it further proved how the editors do not get along with Oda. Even a former Dragon Ball editor has shared a similar sentiment in a past interview.
Are the One Piece Editors Afraid of Eiichiro Oda?
Although it’s not exactly clear whether One Piece editors are actually afraid of Oda-sensei or not, fans definitely have reasons to think so. Especially since, in a past interview, Dragon Ball editor Kazuhiko Torishima talked about how the editorial process for One Piece has changed over time.
He mentioned that the current editors can’t really disagree with Eiichiro Oda like they used to back in the early days of the series, which honestly sounds a bit concerning.
If that’s really the case, it could become a problem as One Piece heads into its final stretch. Having open discussions and honest feedback is important, especially when wrapping up a story that’s been running for over two decades.
How Oda’s Conflict With Editors May Affect the Series
If this rumored rift between Oda and the One Piece manga editors is actually true, then the series finale might not turn out as great as fans hope. It might jeopardize the impact of the ending.
But on a brighter note, Oda did once share the series’ ending with editor Sugita just seven hours after he joined the team. That alone proves Oda trusts Sugita-san, as he said:
Yes, it’s true. [He told me] about seven hours after I became his editor on the phone. He asked me whether there was anyone around. I told him no, and he said, “alright, I don’t have anyone around me either, so let’s talk,” and then he told me.
So, for now, fans are pretty much stuck between a rock and a hard place. No one really knows what’s going on behind the scenes. We’ll just have to wait and see how things unfold.
