One Pieceis unarguably a leading shōnen giant, boasting a record of over 500 million manga copies sold worldwide, and a high-performing anime of 1,136 episodes as of this writing. The neck-breaking length of the series has caused fans and critics to question the quality of Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece, as no ending is in sight for the shōnen series.
At Japan Expo 2025 in France, Kazuhiko Torishima, the editorbehindDragon Ball’smanga performance, acknowledgedOne Piece’ssuccess, but revealed that the quality has gone south from his perspective.The Shōnen Jump editor reiterates in the interviewthatOne Piece’sunderlying story features “technical shortcomings” that curtail the franchise’s true potential.
Kazuhiko Torishima Interview Implies That One Piece’s Story Has Notable Downsides
According to Weekly Shōnen Jump’s Former Editor-in-chief, the Story is too Complex for the Younger Generation
Kazuhiko Torishima is famously known as the editor behind the success of Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ballmanga. Formerly Weekly Shōnen Jump’s editor-in-chief from 1996 to 2001,Torishima stated, in an interview at the 2025 Japan Expo in France,that he was at loggerheads with Eiichiro Oda,One Piece’screator, over the title’s storyline.
Furthermore, Torishima explained that they debated at length over the titular world of pirates, treasure-hunting, and escapades of freedom. In his words,One Piece’splot is too heavy, and doesn’t unfold in a way that readers can easily follow.
He emphasised thatShōnen Jump’s publicationswere geared towards the younger generation, implying that the plot needed an easy-to-follow overarching narrative that could be grasped on a single read.Despite the suggestions of the seasoned editor, Oda never followed his advice and promoted his style nonetheless, leading to the manga’s debut.
The veteran editor admonishesOne Piece’seditor, stating that they have been won over by Oda, who now has unrestrained control over the story.
Kazuhiko Torishima admitted thatOne Piece’scharacters were “fun” and that he initially thought the story had gotten better. However, it appears that the editor now maintains his original stance on the series, lamenting that the series has eroded over time.
The veteran editor admonishesOne Piece’seditor, stating that they have been won over by Oda, who now has unrestrained control over the story. According to Torishima, an editor is the final judge of a manga; it is their duty to steer Oda back on course if his work is unsatisfactory. However, for theOne Piecestory, the opposite is the case.
Despite Kazuhiko Torishima’s Comments, One Piece Has Remained Successful
Oda’s Success May Contrast With Kazuhiko Torishima’s Opinions
From Kazuhiko Torishima’s structural point of view, Oda’s masterpiece is sorely lacking. Regardless,One Pieceis going strong in terms of reception. The manga sales keep rising, and the anime has received successful live-action adaptations that attest to Oda’s success.
Oda may prove Kazuhiko Torishima wrong, asOne Pieceand shōnen in general now appeal to a wider variety of audience, not just children. In this regard, the complexity of the story’s plot might be the franchise’s strongest suit. Either way, time will reveal the future of the shōnen franchise in terms of reception and performance.
