Should Eiichiro Oda take a break from drawing?

Key Takeaways

• One Piece is the best-selling manga series, but Eiichiro Oda's health is suffering because of his commitment.
• Oda's health problems include gout, diabetes, and high blood pressure from his grueling work schedule.
• Fans can enjoy the updated One Piece anime as Oda returns, along with other popular series.

In the last decade, One piece has cemented its position as the undisputed best-selling manga series of all time. The series has sold more than 500 million copies, and that number will continue to rise for years to come. Not only did One Piece surpass Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball, it also left Naruto and Bleach in the dust. Even newer titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia couldn't compete with One Piece.

The reason for the success of One Piece is Eiichiro Oda's consistency. Unlike other series writers, Eiichiro Oda has done his best to release chapters on time so that fans can enjoy them. However, the result of his dedication to the craft is clear. Oda's health is suffering, so is it time for the One Piece writer to put his health first?

Oda's health problems stemmed from his work

Recently, it was confirmed that One Piece will be taking a two-week break due to Eiichiro Oda's health. While ODa has stopped doing the manga before, this one is different because there was no advance notice. The first news confirmed that the One Piece manga will go on a two-week hiatus. The real reason emerged after a while.

Earlier this year, Oda took another break to recover from eye surgery. Considering the amount of time he devoted to drawing and writing, it's no wonder his eyes hurt. Oda took another two-week break in October because 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 fans will love, so it's no surprise that he's put a lot of effort into it. With so many responsibilities on his shoulders, Oda's health took a toll. The big question is, should Eiichiro Oda take a break?

Time for Oda to focus on his health

Eiichiro Oda must prioritize his health

No one can question Eiichiro Oda's dedication to One Piece. Writers spend decades creating a story that will be remembered long after they are gone. However, if Oda wants to end One Piece, he has to back down. He should take a break from drawing One Piece and heal. Many mangakas have openly stated that drawing manga is damaging to their mind and body. Many of them took time off to get better. Yoshiro Togahsi, author of Hunter x Hunter, has been suffering from health problems for a long time, but he is taking a break. In fact, he returned to drawing Hunter x Hunter a few weeks ago.

From now on, I want to curb my desire to write a lot. If I write what I want, ONE will never end. – Eiichiro Oda

There are also many reports that Oda is suffering from blood sugar complications, which is a result of his busy work schedule. If he takes a few months to recover, no One Piece fan will complain about it. One's welfare comes first. Fans should also keep in mind that the industry has lost two legends in recent years. Kentarou Miura, author of Berserk, died in 2021 after suffering from poor health. Akira Toriyama, considered the most famous mangaka, passed away in 2024.

According to the popular X (formerly Twitter) account, Eiichiro Oda suffers from gout, high blood pressure and diabetes. He has to report his blood pressure to the doctor every day, and it is often higher than normal. Oda was advised by his doctor about the risk, but the author believes that the value of blood pressure is different for everyone.

The user also reported that Oda does not eat for days while working on the manga to avoid falling asleep. After that, Oda eats a lot. This practice has contributed to his poor health, and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon.

What can One Piece do until Oda recovers?

Lots of Good Anime & Manga Try

• Fans can read other manga and anime
• Or they take up old hobbies

Basically, One Piece fans can fill the void caused by Oda's absence by simply watching the anime every week. Unfortunately, the One Piece anime is also taking a break and will return in April 2025. However, the anime has started airing a remastered version of the Fish-Man Island arc. The new version has updated graphics, filters and new music. Plus, the anime has better pacing, so there's no unnecessary filler. One Piece fans can check out the remastered version.

If watching the remastered version doesn't work, One Piece fans can always watch other ongoing anime. Dragon Ball is back with Daima, so that's what they can try. Dan Da Dan is another brilliant anime series, which should keep fans busy until Oda returns. After all is said and done, fans hope that Oda will take care of his health and take a break.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.