One Piece Saved Shonen Jump. Manga Nearly Rejected by Publisher Became a Lifesaver After Dragon Ball Ended
The publisher almost gave up on One Piece, looking for its next big series after Dragon Ball. Ultimately, Eiichiro Oda's manga saved the magazine.
One Piece has gained a reputation not only in its home country of Japan but also in other countries around the world. Shonen is one of the big three, standing alongside Naruto and Bleach. There's a good chance that this title has also reached people who have never explored Japanese works of culture if anyone has even a slight interest in anime and manga.
However, not everyone believed in its success when Eiichiro Oda presented his idea for One Piece to the publishing house in the 90s. Shonen Jump had big problems back then. After the Dragon Ball ended, their sales were reportedly falling, so they were looking for a series to help them rise. They weren't sure if it would be One Piece, but Kazuhiko Torishima, who believed in the title's passionate editor, convinced the other decision-makers to give Oda a chance. The man talked about it during a recent interview ( via Pew on X).
Thanks to him, One Piece was created and, as it turned out, saved Jump after finishing Dragon Ball. Oda's manga proved to be a massive success, with its popularity increasing every year. The series has been continuously released since 1997 and is currently one of the most popular in the world. Eiichiro Oda is slowly approaching the end of Luffy's adventures.
If it weren't for One Piece, Jump might have found himself in a difficult position. This one title changed the fate of the entire magazine, which currently publishes the most popular series, such as Jujutsu Kaisen or, until recently, My Hero Academia, and based on them, films and TV series are made. One Piece has played a significant role in Jump's success, and even after 27 years, it continues to hold great significance in the world of anime and manga.
