At One Piece Day, fans were surprised when Gege Akutami, the creator of Jujutsu Kaisen, revealed a touching story: Eiichiro Oda, author of One Piece, once quietly helped him through a serious illness.
One Piece has been the world’s best-selling manga for nearly three decades. Now in its Final Saga, it continues to dominate global pop culture, with an estimated decade still left before the finale.
By contrast, Jujutsu Kaisen wrapped up in 2024 with a shorter run, but its explosive popularity made it one of the most successful modern shonen series. At one point, it even surpassed One Piece in annual sales, proving its massive impact.
Despite their differences in length and scope, both series share an immense fanbase and now, fans have discovered that their authors share an equally strong bond.
During the event, Akutami confessed that while struggling with illness near the end of Jujutsu Kaisen, Oda stepped in to help. Oda personally introduced him to a hospital where he could receive treatment, allowing him to recover and finish his manga.
Akutami admitted he had no gift worthy enough to repay such kindness. Instead, he chose to express gratitude through his art.
As a tribute, Akutami presented exclusive illustrations of the Five Elders (Gorosei) for the One Piece Trading Card Game. The set, unveiled at One Piece Day, thrilled fans of both franchises.
The artist revealed that his favorite to draw was St. Nusjuro, and he was fascinated by the color palette provided by the One Piece team: “The colors they assigned to the Gorosei surprised me. It gave me a whole new perspective as I worked.”
This unexpected revelation not only strengthened the bond between the One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen fandoms but also showed the human side of manga creation—one where even legendary authors lean on each other during hardships.
Sources: lagvn
You must be logged in to post a comment.