One Piece author Eiichiro Oda puts to rest a long-standing fan theory regarding the true nature of the series’ elusive One Piece treasure.
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has debunked a common fan theory regarding the series’ titular treasure.
Regarding One Piece, many fans have theorized that it doesn’t consist of gold or jewels but of the strong bonds forged between those who have sought it out together. However, a Twitter user named sandman (or @sandman_AP) recently shared a quote from Oda where he denies this outright, reiterating that One Piece is, in fact, an actual treasure. “One Piece is not a ‘bond of Straw Hats,’ Oda said. “I hate that kind of thing. When I was a kid, I was not happy with The Wizard of Oz, that the adventure is in itself a treasure. That story was unacceptable. Luffy has a great journey, so therefore, give him a proper treasure.”
Luffy’s Search for the One Piece Began in 1997
Luffy’s search for the elusive One Piece has lasted over two decades, as the debut chapter of Eiichiro Oda’s beloved shonen was first published back in July 1997. Last year, Oda started work on the series’ last major story arc, which covers the chaotic aftermath of several significant events. In December, Oda also reassured concerned fans that he was not planning to conclude One Piece anytime soon, as the author still has much ground to cover to wrap up Luffy’s story.
In addition to the 2019 interview regarding One Piece, @sandman_AP also recently uncovered a 1998 interview that reveals how early Oda started planning the series’ final arc. During this interview, Oda explained that the infamous Pirate Captain, Red-Haired Shanks, would start appearing more often when the final arc began. One Piece’s latest chapters align with Oda’s statements, as Red-Haired Shanks is now directly competing with the Straw Hats in his pursuit of Gol. D. Roger’s legendary treasure.
One Piece Continues Its World Domination
One Piece continues to dominate the manga world as the #1 best-selling series of all time, with over 516.6 million copies sold as of March 2023. The franchise’s latest film, One Piece Film: Red, also became Japan’s highest-grossing film of 2022, earning an astounding 19.70 billion yen (roughly $144.2 million at the time of writing.) The film also performed well internationally, netting $35.5 million during its theatrical run. One Piece Film: Red will be released on Blu-ray on July 11, giving fans access to the movie and three special episodes of the anime.
