Should Eiichiro Oda Take A Break From Drawing One Piece?

Key Takeaways

• One Piece is the best-selling manga series, but Eiichiro Oda’s health is suffering from his dedication.
• Oda’s health issues include gout, diabetes, and high blood pressure, stemming from his exhausting work schedule.
• Fans can enjoy the remastered One Piece anime while Oda recovers, along with other popular ongoing series.

In the last decade, One Piece has cemented its place as the undisputed best-selling manga series of all time. The series has sold over 500 million copies, and that time will keep going up for the years to come. One Piece has not only surpassed Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball, but it has also left Naruto and Bleach in dust. Even the newer titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia were unable to compete with One Piece.

The main reason for One Piece’s success has been Eiichiro Oda’s consistency. Unlike other series authors, Eiichiro Oda has done his best to release chapters on time so that fans can enjoy them. However, the consequences of his dedication to the craft are becoming clear. Oda’s health is suffering, so is it time for the One Piece author to put his health first?

Oda’s Health Issues Stem From His Work

Recently, it was confirmed that One Piece will be on a two-week break due to Eiichiro Oda’s health. While ODa has previously taken breaks from drawing the manga, this one is different from the rest as there was no prior announcement. The initial news only confirmed that the One Piece manga would be going on a two-week break. The actual reason surfaced after a while.

Earlier this year, Oda took another break to recover from eye surgery. Given how much time he devotes to drawing and writing, it is hardly surprising that his eyesight has been affected. Oda was on another two-week break in October as he wanted to help with the production of One Piece Live Action.

Eiichiro Oda has been vocal about his desire to turn One Piece Live Action into something that fans can adore, so it is not surprising that he has put so much effort into it. With so many responsibilities on his shoulders, Oda’s health has taken the brunt of it. The big question is, should Eiichiro Oda finally take a long break?

Time For Oda To Focus On His Health

Eiichiro Oda Must Prioritize His Health

Nobody can question Eiichiro Oda’s commitment to One Piece. The author has spent decades creating a story that will be remembered long after he is gone. However, if Oda wants to bring One Piece to an end, he must step back. He should take an extended break from drawing One Piece and recuperate. Many mangakas have openly said how drawing a manga takes a heavy toll on their mind and body. Many of them have taken breaks so that they can get better. Yoshiro Togahsi, the author of Hunter x Hunter, has suffered from health issues for a long time, but he has taken breaks. In fact, he returned to drawing Hunter x Hunter a few weeks ago.

From now on, I’d like to restrain my desire to write many things. If I write what I want to, ONE PIECE will never come to an end. –Eiichiro Oda

There are also numerous reports stating that Oda suffers from blood sugar complications, which are mainly a by-product of his hectic work schedule. If he takes a few months off to recover, no One Piece fan would complain about it. The well-being of a person always comes first. Fans should also remember that the industry has already lost two legends in the last few years. Kentarou Miura, the author of Berserk, died in 2021 and was suffering from poor health. Akira Toriyama, widely considered the most influential mangaka, passed away in 2024.

According to a reputable X (formerly Twitter) account, Eiichiro Oda suffers from gout, high blood pressure, and diabetes. He has to report his blood pressure daily to a doctor, and usually it’s higher than normal. His doctors have advised Oda about the risks, but the author believes that the ideal value of blood pressure is different for everyone.

The user also reported that Oda does not eat for many days while he is working on the manga to avoid falling asleep. Once it is finished, Oda eats a lot. This pattern has contributed to his ill health, and it doesn’t look like it is going to change anytime soon.

What Can One Piece Do Until Oda Recovers?

There Are Many Good Anime & Manga To Try

• Fans can read other manga and anime
• Or they pick up an old hobby

Normally, One Piece fans could fill the void created by Oda’s absence by simply tuning into the weekly anime. Unfortunately, the One Piece anime is also on a break and will return in April 2025. However, the anime has begun airing the remastered version of the Fish-Man Island arc. The new version has updated visuals, filters, and new music. On top of that, the anime has better pacing, so there are no unnecessary fillers. One Piece fans can tune in to watch the remastered version.

If watching the remastered version does not work, One Piece fans can always watch other ongoing anime. Dragon Ball made its return with Daima, so that’s something they could try. Dan Da Dan is another brilliant anime series, which should keep fans busy until Oda returns. When all is said and done, fans will hope that Oda takes his health seriously and takes a break.

One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll.