One Piece has recently concluded its hiatus and will soon go on another break. This year has been particularly eventful for creator Eiichiro Oda.
Recently, Oda had to take a break from the manga as he traveled directly to South Africa to supervise the production of One Piece live-action season 2. Shortly after that, another hiatus was announced, this time due to the health concerns of the author.
It is not uncommon for manga authors to face health issues due to the intense workload, especially in the weekly serialization format. Some authors have mentioned needing around 3 hours each day to complete their sketches. Many fans were left heartbroken when the legendary Berserk creator Kentaro Miura passed away in 2021 due to similar reasons.
Due to these circumstances, One Piece often releases new chapters every three weeks and then goes on a week’s break afterward. Occasionally, if Oda is preparing for a new arc, the manga may take a break for a few weeks. However, this year, the breaks have been more frequent, and according to @WSJ_manga, after a new chapter is released on December 1st, One Piece will go on another week-long break, returning on December 15th.
There is currently no information on the reason for this hiatus, and the break has not been officially announced on Manga Plus. Nevertheless, WSJ_manga is typically a reliable source for information related to Shonen Jump titles.
A new chapter of One Piece every two weeks could be a good solution
Despite the excitement surrounding the Final Saga, fans clearly understand that Oda needs to rest, especially during these health-related breaks. For this reason, some fans have requested a bi-weekly release schedule. Changing the frequency of the manga’s releases could be a good way for fans to know when to expect new chapters, while giving Oda more time to rest.
Oda is a well-known creator, which allows him to negotiate with his editors if he needs more time off. Additionally, with numerous ongoing projects related to One Piece, he may become even busier in the near future.
This change would not only allow Oda to work more carefully on each chapter but also help prevent issues related to health (if they stem from his intense work schedule).
Ultimately, the only downside is that fans may have to wait longer for new chapters. However, being patient would be better than pushing the creator beyond his limits.
