Biography
Eiichiro Oda is a Japanese manga artist best known as the creator of “One Piece“, one of the best-selling manga series of all time. Oda developed a passion for manga at a young age and aspired to become a manga artist. He began his career as an assistant to well-known mangaka before debuting “One Piece” in 1997 in Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series quickly became a global phenomenon, earning critical acclaim and commercial success. Oda is known for his meticulous storytelling, imaginative world-building, and unique character designs. His work has inspired numerous adaptations, including anime, films, and merchandise. Despite his success, Oda remains dedicated to his craft, often working long hours to ensure the quality of his story. “One Piece” continues to captivate fans worldwide, solidifying Oda’s legacy as one of the most influential manga creators in history.
Profile
- Name: Eiichiro Oda
- Birth name: Eiichiro Oda (尾田 栄一郎)
- Birthday: January 1, 1975
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Height: 173 cm
- Instagram: N/A
- Twitter: N/A
Career
Eiichiro Oda began his manga career at the young age of 17 when he submitted his short story “Wanted!” under the pen name “Tsukihimizuki Kondo.” The work won multiple awards, including second place in the prestigious Tezuka Award, marking his debut as a manga artist. This achievement led to a job at Weekly Shōnen Jump, where he worked as an assistant to several notable manga artists, including Shinobu Kaitani, Masaya Tokuhiro, and Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin. During his time assisting Watsuki, Oda contributed to the creation of the character Honjō Kamatari. In 1994, he briefly enrolled in Kyushu Tokai University’s Faculty of Engineering, majoring in Architecture, but later dropped out, stating in an SBS interview that relying on school for career success was not ideal.
Oda had dreamed of becoming a manga artist since childhood, believing it would allow him to avoid working a regular job. Determined to draw for the same magazine as his idol, Akira Toriyama, he submitted his work to Shueisha and successfully made his way into Weekly Shōnen Jump. In 1996, he created two pirate-themed one-shot stories titled “Romance Dawn,” which introduced Monkey D. Luffy, the future protagonist of “One Piece.” The following year, “One Piece” officially began serialization and quickly became a massive success, eventually becoming the best-selling manga series of all time. By 2019, it had sold over 450 million copies worldwide and set numerous publishing records, with its volumes consistently achieving the highest initial print runs in Japan.
Beyond the manga, Oda has played a crucial role in the production of “One Piece” animated films, including Strong World (2009), Z (2012), Gold (2016), Stampede (2019), and Red (2022). He has also collaborated with renowned manga artists like Akira Toriyama on the crossover Cross Epoch and Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro on “Taste of the Devil Fruit.” By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Oda had already risen to the ranks of Weekly Shōnen Jump’s leading manga artists. Despite his long-standing career, he only turns 50 in 2025, having made his manga debut at just 17 while still in high school. His influence on the manga industry remains unparalleled, cementing his legacy as one of Japan’s most celebrated manga artists.
Art Style
Eiichiro Oda excels in depicting characters with a solid foundation in form, dynamic poses, and expressive, exaggerated facial expressions. His greatest strength lies in his deep understanding of deformation (deformation-based stylization), allowing him to render characters in a distinctive and vivid way. By using his own unique deformation techniques, he enhances the individuality and realism of his characters’ appearances. Another master of this exaggerated style is Akira Toriyama, whom Oda greatly respects.
Drawing Style
From the start, Eiichiro Oda established his own style, which has evolved while retaining its essence. Early on, his art blended “Rurouni Kenshin” and “Dragon Ball,” featuring clean lines, but over time, it emphasized deformation, leaning toward a childlike, exaggerated look.
He favors fluid, dynamic compositions, using Luffy’s rubber-like ability to enable exaggerated expressions and limitless movement. This enhances both action and emotional impact.
Despite the digital era, Oda remains committed to traditional pen-and-paper techniques, using digital tools only for rough sketches and planning. For final work, he relies on inking tools, occasionally going fully digital for magazine covers or special illustrations.
Oda enjoys drawing “eating scenes,” depicting food energetically with exaggerated character expressions. Since the Whole Cake Island arc, desserts have become a key visual motif.
Lately, fans have noticed shakier linework, sparking concerns about his health. Some see it as a stylistic change, but others suspect declining eyesight and hand tremors.
Storytelling
Oda was initially reluctant to kill characters, influenced by his grandmother’s teaching: “Never kill even the smallest ant carelessly.” As a result, “One Piece” stood out among battle manga for avoiding deaths and instead revisiting former enemies in cover page serials.
This changed after the Marineford War arc, with deaths becoming more common from Punk Hazard onward. The Wano arc and Final Saga continue this trend, featuring major character deaths.
“One Piece” avoids romantic pairings and consistently ends major battle arcs with celebratory feasts. Oda’s storytelling is praised for its foreshadowing, deep world-building, and rare plot inconsistencies despite power-scaling challenges.
While criticized for pacing and complex lore, “One Piece” remains consistent. Oda carefully balances power levels, ensuring past antagonists stay relevant. This rebalancing, such as upgrading the Seven Warlords, has sparked fan debates over sudden power boosts.
Oda’s long-term planning is evident in “Binks’ Sake,” where he had the melody composed years before writing the lyrics. Flashbacks are another hallmark of his style, adding depth and emotional impact, making “One Piece” a uniquely immersive narrative.
Personal Life
Early Life
Eiichiro Oda was born on January 1, 1975, in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Raised in an artistic household, his father, Seiichiro Oda, was an oil painter, and his older sister also had a talent for drawing. Growing up in this creative environment, Oda enjoyed sharing his own drawings with others from a young age. By the age of four, he had already decided to become a manga artist, believing it would allow him to avoid having to get a “real job.”
During his childhood, he developed a passion for collecting insects and was an avid reader of “The Monster Kid” by Fujiko Fujio A. His fascination with pirates was likely sparked by the popular anime “Vicky the Viking,” which left a deep impression on him. In the fifth grade, he was influenced by Captain Tsubasa and took up soccer, playing as a defender throughout his school years. He admired goalkeeper José René Higuita and mastered low-driving shots. Oda also enjoyed watching Studio Ghibli films, but his biggest inspiration was Akira Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball,” which had a profound impact on his artistic aspirations and storytelling style.
Health
Eiichiro Oda’s dedication as a manga artist is undeniable, but over 20 years of weekly serialization have taken a toll on his health, leading to frequent breaks—about 8 to 11 times a year. Given that artists like Kentaro Miura have passed away from overwork, fans fully support his need for rest.
His grueling weekly schedule includes storyboarding, sketching, inking, and coloring, with only three hours of sleep per night. Though this routine may have changed, his workload remains intense. His declining health is evident in One Piece’s recent artwork, with shakier lines likely due to eyesight issues or hand tremors. Chapter 1098’s rough storyboard publication raised further concerns.
Initially, Oda took breaks for research, but since the late 2000s, health-related hiatuses have increased. In 2013, he was hospitalized from overwork yet continued drawing, even moving “Naruto” creator Masashi Kishimoto to tears. Since then, scheduled breaks have become routine, with a three-week publication cycle followed by one week off.
Oda has stated he won’t create another long-running series after “One Piece,” opting for occasional short works instead. Having already poured multiple long-form ideas into “One Piece” and secured lifelong financial stability, he has no need to take on major projects.
Marriage and Family
Eiichiro Oda has been married to Chiaki Inaba since November 7, 2004. A former model, actress, and tarento, Inaba met Oda during Jump Festa 2004, where she portrayed Nami in the “One Piece” stage show. Shortly after their meeting, she retired from the entertainment industry in October 2004.
The couple has two daughters, born in 2005 and 2009. Despite his demanding work schedule, Oda prioritizes family time. He owns a manor in Jiyūgaoka, an affluent Tokyo neighborhood, where his wife and daughters reside. Due to his intense workload, Oda remains at his office most of the time, with his family visiting him once a week.
Views on History
Eiichiro Oda holds a generally liberal stance on history. In One Piece Vol. 22’s SBS, he criticized the Wokou (Japanese pirates) as mere raiders, reflecting his broader critique of authoritarianism in the series. The Celestial Dragons, One Piece’s primary antagonists, mirror historical imperialist atrocities, including those of the Japanese Empire. In Chapter 1095, their massacre contest strongly resembles the Nanjing Massacre’s “100-person killing contest.”
While Oda has never commented on the Dokdo/Takeshima dispute, “One Piece” has featured Rising Sun Flag-like imagery, sparking controversy in Korea. This led to the 2014 cancellation of a “One Piece” exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea. Since then, Oda has avoided political controversy.
His storytelling also critiques Japan’s tradition of collective sacrifice. The Marineford War Arc contrasts Admiral Akainu, who justifies sacrifice, with Coby, who values individual lives. The Wano arc sparked debate over Kozuki Hiyori’s anti-Kurozumi statement, but Oda later clarified it as a critique of Japan’s collective punishment culture.
Relationships with Fellow Manga Artists
Eiichiro Oda has built strong friendships and rivalries with many fellow manga artists. He was an assistant under Nobuhiro Watsuki alongside Hiroyuki Takei and Mikio Itō, with whom he remains close. He also shares a strong bond with Jump contemporaries like Masashi Kishimoto and Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro.
Oda, a lifelong “Dragon Ball” fan, frequently praises Akira Toriyama and has cited him as a major influence. However, his storytelling style often contrasts with “Dragon Ball.” He also deeply admires Taiyō Matsumoto, calling “Ping Pong” a work that could only be created by a true genius.
Throughout his career, Oda has exchanged tributes with fellow mangaka. When “Naruto” concluded in 2014, Oda included a hidden message and other references in the title page of “One Piece” chapter 766, while Kishimoto featured Boruto drawing the Straw Hat Jolly Roger in Naruto’s finale. In 2021, when “One Piece” reached its 1,000th chapter, many of Oda’s manga rivals celebrated the milestone in Weekly Shōnen Jump’s author comments. Additionally, when Shin’ga Gin passed away at 29, Oda honored him by making the cover of chapter 233 entirely black.
Net Worth
Eiichiro Oda has an estimated net worth of $200 million as of 2024. This substantial wealth primarily stems from the global success of “One Piece,” which has sold over 430 million copies worldwide. In addition to manga sales, Oda’s earnings are bolstered by royalties from merchandise, licensing deals, and adaptations of his work. Notably, he reportedly earned approximately 3.1 billion yen annually (around $26 million) from the manga, a figure that likely increased in recent years due to ongoing sales and related ventures.
List of Works
- WANTED! – A collection of Oda’s short stories published before One Piece: WANTED!, God’s Gift for the Future, Ikki Yakyō (Night Parade of One Demon), MONSTERS, ROMANCE DAWN
- One Piece
Facts
- In the reader Q&A corner of One Piece, SBS, Oda expresses himself through his owner character, a fish. Another owner character he has is Pandaman.
- Although he has become a world-famous manga artist beyond Japan, he rarely participates in public activities, so there are not many publicly available photos of him.
- Oda had always refused media interviews and TV appearances since his debut, but on December 8 and 15, 2009, he made his first-ever radio appearance on Tokyo FM’s program Toshio Suzuki’s Ghibli Sweat and Hard Work (鈴木敏夫のジブリ汗まみれ).
- Due to his distinct art style, which is quite unique for a mainstream manga artist, Hiro Mashima, who was influenced by Oda, has faced plagiarism and tracing allegations. He is even nicknamed the “Oda-sensei of Magazine” (referring to Weekly Shōnen Magazine).
- His favorite comedians include the manzai duo B&B, national comedian Ken Shimura, and musician Kato Izumi. He is also a fan of Michael Jackson, Brook Benton, Johnny Depp, Steve Buscemi, Eminem, and Bryan Adams.
- Among novels, he enjoys Atsuo Saito’s Adventurers, and among music genres, he prefers soul music, which he plays while working.
- Oda revealed that he deliberately avoids “One Piece” analysis YouTubers because some fans correctly predict upcoming storylines, which might unconsciously influence his writing.
