Eiichiro Oda, the legendary creator of One Piece, has built an unprecedented legacy in the manga world with over 520 million copies in circulation worldwide. However, even the most successful creators can make mistakes, and Oda once made a significant error that sent shockwaves through the Japanese manga industry.
The World War II Reference That Backfired
In 2017, Oda included what he intended to be a lighthearted joke in the author’s comment section of One Piece Volume 89. The comment referenced Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese soldier who remained hidden in Guam for nearly 30 years after World War II ended, refusing to surrender until he was finally discovered in 1972.
In his note, Oda wrote:
“You know how sometimes, when you’re sharing a plate of karaage [fried chicken] with people, there’s that one last piece that gets left on the plate? I’ve decided to give it a name: Sergeant Yokoi. So I’m like, ‘Sergeant Yokoi is still in the field! Somebody, end the war!'”
The joke was an attempt at humor comparing the last piece of chicken on a plate to the soldier who remained “in the field” long after the war ended. Oda even encouraged young readers unfamiliar with the reference to “look him up”.
Public Outcry and Industry Impact
What Oda likely intended as a harmless quip quickly escalated into a major controversy. The Japanese public found the joke deeply insensitive, as it made light of a complex and painful chapter in Japan’s history. Yokoi himself was a controversial figure in Japan, with some viewing him as a patriotic hero and others seeing him as a reminder of Japan’s dark wartime past.
The backlash was immediate and severe, forcing both Oda and his publisher Shueisha to issue a formal public apology. In their statement, they acknowledged the “inconsiderate message” and promised to “take greater care in such matters” moving forward. The digital version of Volume 89 was quickly modified to remove the offensive comment entirely.
Given the complex and controversial feelings associated with Yokoi, the editors of Weekly Shonen Jump, the Shueisha manga anthology in which One Piece is serialized, decided an apology was in order for Oda’s Volume 89 comments. On June 14, a message was placed on the official Weekly Shonen Jump website, reading:
“In the author’s comment section of One Piece Volume 89, which went on sale June 4, there was an inconsiderate message. The editors, together with the author, regret our actions, In the future, we will take greater care in such matters.”
A Rare Misstep for a Meticulous Creator
What made this incident particularly shocking was Oda’s reputation for meticulous attention to detail and cultural sensitivity. As a creator who has spent decades crafting an intricate world beloved by millions, this uncharacteristic lapse in judgment stood out dramatically.
The incident demonstrated how even seemingly minor comments about sensitive historical events can have major repercussions in Japan’s publishing industry.
Similar controversies have led to more severe consequences for other creators – the light novel “New Life+ Young Again in Another World” was completely canceled, along with its planned anime adaptation, after making insensitive references to the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Moving Forward
Despite this significant PR stumble, Oda’s career and the One Piece franchise have continued to thrive. The manga remains the best-selling series of all time, and Oda has gone on to executive produce several successful One Piece films and the critically acclaimed Netflix live-action adaptation.
This incident serves as a reminder that even the most celebrated creators can make mistakes, but what ultimately matters is how they respond and learn from them. For Oda, this rare misstep stands as a singular dark spot in an otherwise brilliant career that has revolutionized the manga industry and brought joy to millions of fans worldwide.
The controversy also highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding Japan’s wartime history and the responsibility that creators have when referencing historical events, even in what they consider to be lighthearted contexts.
