Who would have thought that a pirate journey that began in 1997 would become the best-selling manga in history? One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, was born with a much more modest goal: to last only five years. But today, almost three decades later, the adventure continues strong — and better than ever.
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In a Q&A session (SBS) in volume 42 of the manga, released in 2006, a fan asked if Oda had already thought about the ending of the story. The answer surprised everyone: “Originally, I planned for One Piece to last five years. I already had the climax defined from the beginning, I was just working towards it… But I underestimated the time. Nine years have already passed and I don't even know how much longer our pirates will be around!”
Changes of plans in One Piece
Thankfully, the plan changed. By extending the story, Oda managed to build one of the most complex and rich worlds in manga. Each island visited by the Straw Hat Pirates has its own culture, politics, economy, and legends. They are not just settings, but living parts of a narrative full of layers.
Now, with the Elbaf arc underway—home of the giants and brimming with secrets about the Void Century—the plot reaches a new level. The mural in chapter 1138, for example, connects events dating back to Skypiea, hundreds of chapters ago, showing how Oda plans everything down to the smallest detail.
However long it may be, One Piece makes every chapter worthwhile. Time has become an ally of the work, allowing for brilliant foreshadowing and revelations that make readers return to the old pages with fresh eyes.
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