Culture news A bitter failure: this is what the publisher of Dragon Ball predicted at the very beginning of the One Piece manga! He really didn't have a hollow nose
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One Piece is undoubtedly one of the most cult and important manga of all time. Their influence on the media is unparalleled and indisputable… except perhaps by one person: Kazuhiko Torishima
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The banger that might never have seen the light of day
Since its serialization in 1997, Eiichiro Oda's One Piece is a huge success. The series has been recognized as one of the “Big Three”, the mainstays of Shonen Jump magazine, alongside Naruto and Bleach. With more than 1000 chapters published and millions of copies sold, becoming the best-selling manga in the world, the series has established itself as one of the most emblematic works of Japanese popular culture. Its success has even transcended Japanese borders to become an essential reference in the world of manga and anime.
However, this success has not always been obvious. At its beginnings, One Piece and Oda attracted a lot of criticism and were even seen as a predicted failure by some. Some thought that Oda's unconventional drawing style and piracy theme would not appeal to shonen audiences.
There is no chance that One Piece will become a popular manga! Do not talk nonsense !!
One of these critics was Kazuhiko Torishima, the first editor of Dragon Ball, who worked at Shueisha in 1976 and is currently an external director at Bushiroad. Despite contributing to the success of Dragon Ball, Torishima had no faith in Oda or One Piece. He was openly critical of the series and did not believe in its potential. Even after the success of the series, Torishima was not satisfied and wanted another series to take the lead in sales.
Unparalleled hatred
Despite his prominence in the manga and anime industry, particularly for his work with Akira Toriyama, Torishima has always been opposed to One Piece. He refused publication of Oda's masterpiece three times before it was finally accepted.
When I told Toriyama to draw someone you hate the most, he drew my face. I couldn't disagree because I was busy. I opposed the serialization of One Piece. OP has been at the top of the manga market for over 20 years. I want to see a manga that knocks OP off the top spot.
Yasukai Kita, creator of Kenka Shobai, reported a conversation in which Torishima openly criticized One Piece. Torishima claimed that there was no chance of One Piece becoming popular. Unlike him, Kita believed in Oda and One Piece, predicting great success for the series.
Despite Torishima's desire for another series to dethrone One Piece, the series remains firmly entrenched as one of the greatest of all time. The work not only captured the hearts of a huge fan base around the world, but it also inspired an entire generation of mangakas. Its influence can be felt in many aspects of popular culture, from fashion to references in other artistic works.
For those who want to discover or rediscover the epic adventure of Monkey D. Luffy, episodes of One Piece are available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Its live action adaptation is also available on the SVOD platform Netflix.