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 , began with a much more modest goal: to last just five years. But today, almost three decades later, the adventure continues—and better than ever.
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In a question-and-answer (SBS) session for volume 42 of the manga, released in 2006, a fan asked if Oda had ever thought about the story's ending. The answer was surprising: " Originally, I planned for One Piece to last five years. I had the climax set from the beginning, I was just building towards it... But I underestimated the time. It's already been nine years, 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 expanding the work, 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're not just settings, but living parts of a layered narrative.
Now, with the Elbaf arc underway—home to the giants and filled 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.
No matter how long it is, One Piece makes every chapter worthwhile. Time has become the work's ally, allowing for brilliant foreshadowings and revelations that make readers revisit the old pages with fresh eyes.
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