Issue Sale Date Chapter Comment Related Comments

34 7/21/1997 1 When I was in middle school, I decided that I would draw a pirate comic in JUMP. I'll just ignore the atrocities of historic fact and [instead] draw a bunch of jolly pirates. 'Cause hey, it's summer. But what I really wonder is why JUMP uses a pirate mark. Why is that? Nobuhiro Watsuki [Ruroni Kenshin]- Oda-sensei who helped out [on my staff] in the past will finally be starting his new serialized comic from this week. Congratulations. Let's do our best together.



Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro* [Takeshi]- I've been waiting for Oda's serial [comic]. I hope you'll all read One Piece and become pioneering pirates!!



[*Mitsutoshi 'Shimabu~' Shimabukuro- Mitsutoshi is a manga artist infamous for being convicted of paying underage girls for sexual services. He was an assistant alongside Oda during their work on Rurouni Kenshin. His series 'Takeshi' was left unfinished but he would go on to write 'Toriko'.]

35 7/28/1997 2 The morning sun as seen from my window at work is incredibly beautiful!! Seeing it the first thing in the morning is what I think about just before going to sleep.

36 8/4/1997 3 To Asami-sensei and your staff members, thank you for the flowers celebrating the start of my series. Wild Half is drawn by such a nice person.

37+38 8/11/1997 4 A comic by Mizumoto-san*, a comrade of mine from my early days [as a professional manga artist], will have his work run in Akamaru JUMP. Use that as a first step towards us drawing serials together!!



[*Akitsugu Mizumoto: A long-time manga artist who, as of this writing (2011) never quite seems to have made it big. He has had multiple pieces published in various Shueisha publications but they never caught on. The particular work Oda mentions here was called 'Ga-ROW' which actually did reach the pages of Weekly JUMP the next year but only for 11 issues.]

39 8/25/1997 5 Woah! I went to see Mononoke Hime!! It's so good!! And so cool!! It's compellingly Mela* at the office.



[*Yoshikazu Mela: A Japanese countertenor who sang the film's main theme.]

40 9/1/1997 6 During my assistant years both Tokuhiro-sensei* and Rurouni's Watsuki-sensei took great care of me. I hope that Tokuhiro-sensei will be able to return to JUMP as soon as possible.



[*Masaya Tokuhiro: A manga artist responsible for a number of series in Shueisha publications, notably 'Jungle King Tar-chan'.]

41 9/8/1997 7 I bought a Lego pirate ship. What a fun creation. It's respectable that the Lego designers haven't lost their child-like hearts. But they're aimed at 5-12 year olds!! Aw shucks.

42 9/15/1997 8 Seems that One Piece will be running in Hong Kong and Taiwanese publications as well. I'm looking forward to what the title will be changed to. I bet it'll be all Chinese characters.

43 9/22/1997 9 Let's try to think about what the Hong Kong and Taiwanese titles of One Piece might be. 'Adventurous Elasticity Boy'. 'Straw Hat Pirate'. 'Young Girl's Clothes'. I wonder.

44 9/29/1997 10 Seems there's been an emergence of 'towelers'* on my home [island] of Kyushu. Amateurs... Why, I've been a toweler while working since way back.



[*Towelers: A Japanese term for youths that wrap a white towel around their head as opposed to a scarf or bandana.]

45 10/6/1997 11 I've been in serialization for over 10 times but I still can't keep up with the weekly pace. Man, professionals are amaaaaazing.

46 10/13/1997 12 Thank you for the fan letters that come in week after week. I think the best way I can thank you at this point is by turning your words of support into the energy of the characters. So that's what I'm gonna do!!

47 10/20/1997 13 Now it's been decided that One Piece will be appearing in Thailand. The art will have to be mirrored from right to left. I'm a little concerned that it might mess with the designs.

48 10/27/1997 14 Volume 2 of 'Butsu Zone' by Hiroyuki Takei-sensei, a personal and neighborhood friend, was released. Bought it. Just like I thought it's right up my alley.

49 11/3/1997 15 Toriyama-sensei's serial has begun!! I'm so happy!! Maybe too happy!! I'm looking forward to being able to read it each week!!!

50 11/10/1997 16 In my childhood I read a book called 'Elmer and the Dragon' and it gave me culture shock. I don't think there's any other imaginary creature as beloved as dragons. Who the heck thought them up? That person was awesome!!

51 11/17/1997 17 SO COLD!! I hate the cold!! Ahh, I know what this means. Yep, drinking a warm and bitter cup of coffee while doing my job good and dandy.

52 11/24/1997 18 There were some domed stickers in a fan's letter. I've seen them placed on things before but noooow I get how they're used.

1 12/1/1997 19 Kazu-sensei* and Mizumoto-sensei, congratulations on your new serials! We used to go drinking a lot back in the day but now we're war buddies!!



[*Hajime Kazu: A manga artist best known for the series 'Mind Assassin'.]

2+3 12/8/1997 20 Alright then. You ready? It's coming. At long last One Piece Volume 1!! It comes out on Christmas!! There are special pages as well.]

4+5 12/20/1997 21 This calls for a celebration!! Two of my buddies will [have their work] published in Akamaru JUMP. I'm cheering for you Shinya-chi & Matsui-chi. Push forwaaaard!!

6 1/3/1998 22 WOAH!! THE YEAR'S ALREADY STARTED!! Happy New Year. I worked very diligently last year. That's coming from me so there's totally no reason for you to doubt me and stuff. Right, so carrying on that grand tradition, you guessed it!! I'll do my best [this year too]!! Looking forward to this year with you.

7 1/12/1998 23 The boombox I bought with money from my very first high school part time job* has been with me for six years. Recently CDs started skipping. Hang in there!!



[*Part time job: It's possible Oda is talking about his job at 'Baratei' the steak restaurant where he worked that inspired the name of the restaurant ship in One Piece.]

8 1/19/1998 24 I went to the party for the 'Big Two'* awards. It's been a while since I let loose singing and partying like that. Rejuvination* is sooo important.



[*'Big Two': An abbreviation of the annual Tezuka & Akatsuka awards.]



[**He literally said 'refresh' but the nuance is slightly different in English.]

9 1/26/1998 25 Thank you for the incredible amount of postcards we received for last year's cover page illustration idea contest. Selecting them is tough!

10 2/2/1998 26 So funny!! I've been watching 'Masaru-san'* on TV but it's crazy that a TV cartoon can make me laugh this much.



[*'Masaru-san': An abbreviation of the title of the animated television comedy 'Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-san'.]

11 2/9/1998 27 I went to the [JUMP] New Year's party where I was able to meet Toriyama-sensei. If you can believe it we actually played rock-paper-scissors!! AND I LOST!! He really IS a living legend.

12 2/16/1998 28 At last the unveiling of the [winners of the] 'Cover Page Idea Contest'. Since I love drawing pictures I'm going to put some extra effort into the next six weeks. Of course that goes for the series too.

13 2/23/1998 29 Crap. My molar feels kind of weird. Is this all because I stopped going to the dentist mid-treatment last year?

14 3/2/1998 30 FAIL!! I woke up the same time I went to sleep. I SLEPT OVER 24 HOURS!! This week's drafts are probably gonna be hell.

15 3/9/1998 31 The Olympics, which will be long over by the time this is printed, have got me all emotional right now. Sports are amazing.

16 3/16/1998 32 Valentine's chocolates have arrived! Thank you so much!! The characters and staff included, we're all enjoying them. I love chocolate.

17 3/23/1998 33 About that funky molar I wrote about in issue 13, after I brushed it with ApaXXrd* all the ridges [on my tooth] were missing. THE HECK!?



[*Apagard: Oda couldn't mention the brand name but Apagard is a Japanese-developed toothpaste that SUPPOSEDLY restores tooth enamel.]

18 3/30/1998 34 April 3rd, One Piece Volume 2 will be out!!! You can look forward to the lively antics of the Buggy Gang. There are also some extra pages for an arts and crafts project.

19 4/6/1998 35 Did you guys know this!? If you put shrimp-flavored rice crackers* on top of shoyu ramen it tastes delicious!! Just be careful of how much you put in.



[*Kappa ebisen: A kind of rice cracker from the snack company Calbee.]

20 4/13/1998 36 Thank you for sending me all the One Piece cosplay pictures. If I did it I'd be a fabulous Nami ♥ Yikes.

21 4/20/1998 37 Regarding the DVD [player] I got at the [JUMP] New Year's party. To tell the truth I wasn't too interested in it but I hooked it up the other day. Oh yeah, it's the Age of DVD!!!

22+23 4/27/1998 38 Golden Week is coming. Three buddies from my amatuer days will be published in Akamaru JUMP. Fukushige-san*, Shinya-po** and Yamakawa-san***, good luck-po.



[*Masakazu Fukushige: A manga artist that, as of this writing, never broke it big.]



[**Shinya Suzuki: Same artist mentioned in his comment with Chapter 21. Oda just uses a different nickname.]



[***Kaori Yamakawa: A manga artist that, as of this writing, never broke it big.] Nobuhiro Watsuki [Ruroni Kenshin]- Shinga*, Takei and Oda, all three sensei dropped by unexpectedly. It helped me feel refreshed. THANK YOU*.



[*Gin Shinga: The pen name of Eiji Kumazawa (possibly Kumasawa) who worked as an assistant with Oda on Rurouni Kenshin in the so-called ‘Watsuki Gang’. (See Chapter 233)]



[*He used the katakana spelling for the English 'thank you'.]

24 5/11/1998 39 At last it's here, the season of warmth. For a lazy guy like me, getting along by wearing just a t-shirt is too awesome to handle.

25 5/18/1998 40 Recently been pouring over comics I read a long time ago. It's weird because when I read them now I can recall specific events from my life back then.

26 5/25/1998 41 Went around to some big bookstores for the first time in a year to gather materials. I naively thought three hours would be enough to buy up what I needed. Gotta make another trip to Jimbocho*.



[*Jimbocho- A neighbohood of Tokyo's Chiyoda district literally overflowing with used book stores of all varieties. Also home to the editorial office of Weekly Shonen JUMP.]

27 6/1/1998 42 Purchased a new stereo receiver during Golden Week. Is it one of those teletext ones? Can it handle dual MiniDiscs? Anyway, it's cool.

28 6/8/1998 43 I was shocked when I saw the May 17th episode of 'Sazae-san'!! Katsuo's voice actor changed!! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED...!!

29 6/15/1998 44 Went to the One Piece anime's voice acting audition to learn more about it. How to describe it. The power [of their voices] in-person is amazing. I can't wait to see Luffy and the gang actually talking.

30 6/22/1998 45 I don't care if we get flak for this but we're on a yo-yo kick at the office. Sure, might be a bit late to the fad but yo-yo's are all the rage here. I'm currently practicing the 'loop the loop'. I'll do my best.

31 6/29/1998 46 The whole planet is into the World Cup!!! I wanna watch it so badly and it's distracting me from my WORK!! But I知 going to watch anyway!!! Even if you are getting in the way, I'm rooting for you JAPAN!!

32 7/6/1998 47 I might be Swedistic but I'm taking a break from Swedish music and listening to some Irish tunes now. They're so carefree.

33 7/13/1998 48 Wonder what it means to be 'cool'. Right now I think Sachiko Kobayashi* is cool. And so was the late Yoshie Utsumi**.



[*Sachiko Kobayashi- A famous enka songstress who, in addition to her voice, is known for frequently donning intricate stage-filling outfits on NHK's live year-end concert, Kouhaku Utagassen.]

[**Yoshie Utsumi- A comedian who frequently used traditional Japanese artistic practices and music as part of her routines with partner Keiko Utsumi.]

34 7/20/1998 49 Right, it's been four weeks since that manga everyone's been talking about started. There was an oath we took to have our serials run together in JUMP back when we were assistants on Rurouni. I've forgotten how long ago that was but we finally did it. Well, Takei-san, what more can I say than congratulations. Hiroyuki Takei [Shaman King]- I didn't mention anything because conspiring like that is so cheesy but I can't keep it in anymore. We did it Oda-kun!! Let's give it our best

1 12/3/2001 210 The jealousy of old men seems to be butting heads with the Koizumi Cabinet. They should just lend him a hand if they’ve got enough time to waste disagreeing with him. Such strange people they are.

2 12/10/2001 211 Finally bought the coffee maker for the office that I’ve put off buying because I heard you’ve gotta wash the dang thing after every use. Aha so this is it. This is what they call coffee... This is...

3 12/17/2001 212 Plans for a number of [One Piece] video games are moving ahead and of all of them the farthest from completion is coming out the year after next. Th-...The year after next you say... Guess it’s pretty tough making games too.

4+5 12/28/2001 213 And so this year...is drawing...to a close... Even though it’s coming to and end, it’s the New Year’s edition of JUMP. What’s up with that?

6+7 1/7/2002 214 Alrighty, a happy new year to you. Ah~ a fresh new year. So I should probably state my goal for the year, huh. This year I uh...yeah a good manga...that’s what I’d like to draw...

8 1/21/2002 215 The year-end JUMP Festa at Makuhari. It was a huge celebration and I had a great time. Did you see the One Piece stage show at Bandai they spent 50 million yen* on!? It was awesome. They should perform it all around the country.



[*Roughly $500,000.]

9 1/28/2002 216 The DVD player I won at the JUMP New Year’s party four years ago just broke. The timing was great because I got a new one at this year’s New Year’s party. THANK YOU*.



[*Oda wrote 'sankyu' in katakana, the written way to immitate the English 'thank you' via Japanese pronunciation.]

10 2/4/2002 217 I slipped away from working on drafts and went to Disney Sea for the anime staff’s New Year’s party, had fun to my heart’s content and went immediately back to my drafts.

11 2/9/2002 Break

12 2/18/2002 218 Thanks for last week. I’m sorry for taking a break. I’m in the middle of watching The Godfather . I hate being controlled by others. So just call me ‘Don’.

13 2/25/2002 219 OOOOOH~~~ (blush) I never ever thought I’d be faced with having to do voice acting. How can I put it? Th-The ebb and flow of the times? ...or just...me getting sucked into it...!! Ryu Fujisaki [Sakuratetsu Taiwahen]- Oda-sensei, thank you for so graciously accepting that somewhat forward request of mine. I just wanted to borrow this space to thank you.

14 3/4/2002 220 We are now in The Age of the iPod. The iPod is niiice... I loaded it up with songs I love from CDs I don’t listen to anymore and I’m at 700 songs. Niiiiice...

15 3/11/2002 221 I went to the test screening of the One Piece movie. The response from the audience was superb. Man, Chopper Kingdom is fantastic. That’d be an awesome island. I’d lo~ve to go.

16 3/18/2002 222 Nosebleed FWOOOOSH!! I received so many chocolates thank you very much. I’m the kind of guy that eats chocolate every week regardless of Valentine’s Day. Now recharging sugar supply~

17 3/25/2002 223 Lately Ando-kun who has been helping me exclusively with final touches has been on the ball. He’s the kind of guy that would climb the corporate ladder in a company. And he’s still so young.

18 4/1/2002 224 I think it’s the first time this happened to me since I was born. I spilled my ink. But since my desk is packed to overflowing with stuff it was more like, “Oh-my-gosh-the-inks’s, not going anywhere actually.” It’s all good.

19 4/8/2002 225 The Straw Hat Gang Voice Acting Crew came to my place. Starting with a food run for ingredients the main event was Sanji’s [Hirata’s] peperoncino [pasta]. We carried on late into the night. Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]- I bought a video game for the first time in a long while. It’s One Piece ‘Grand Battle! 2’. I just keep doing Gomu Gomu Storm. It’s incredibly refreshing.

20 4/15/2002 226 A popular song called ‘Family’ has been included in the One Piece album. The [anime] producer, Shimizu-san, is busy running here and there trying to make sure that as many people as possible can listen to it. Good lu~~ck!!

21 4/22/2002 227 I went to see Mr. 2’s voice actor Mr. Yao perform on stage with his troupe SWAT. The attention to detail in the depiction of characters helped me see how interesting stage productions is. So that’s what real theater is.

22+23 4/27/2002 228 The three pages I drew last week for the picture book Norland the Liar held me back 15 hours in overtime. It turned out great and I’m totally satisfied with it. I love picture books.

24 5/13/2002 229 I always thought that 70’s soul music was my favorite but lately I’ve started to pay attention to modern soul. I’ll start with some Grammy winners. Ooh, this is gooood...

25 5/20/2002 230 Obata-sensei’s* illustration collection, Sai. I was deeply moved when I received a signed copy. It’s just sooo beautiful. I have nothing but unconditional respect for those who have always been skillful artists. This is the real deal guys.



[*Takeshi Obata- Author of Hikaru no Go and illustrator of Death Note.]

26 5/27/2002 231 I rented out a whole movie theater!! YEAH-HE-HEAH!! I'm messin’ with you, just wasn’t anyone else in it. It was a popular [foreign] movie too but I guess it’s because I saw the dubbed version.

27 6/3/2002 232 I’m out of shape so just walking around town gives me muscle cramps. There’s a sports gym in my neighborhood. Every time I pass it I think, “Whaddya know, a sports gym.” (so go to it ya' bum)

28 6/10/2002 233 Big bro Gin Shinga* passed away. He was a dear friend from my assistant days when we dreamed of being manga authors. I’ll continue to draw for the both of us.



[*Gin Shinga- The pen name of Eiji Kumazawa (possibly Kumasawa) who worked as an assistant with Oda on Rurouni Kenshin in the so-called ‘Watsuki Gang’. Oda made the opening page of One Piece black that week as a tribute.]

29 6/17/2002 234 This is something that really ticks me off. When some guy puts important scenes from a movie on the main menu of a DVD. Come ooon, isn’t there something you can do other than THAT.

30 6/24/2002 235 What I feared most at the ‘Big Two’* awards ceremony came to pass. The winners were scared of me because I wore beach sandals. Yeah I guess everyone else was wearing full suits. ...I’m actually a really nice guy.



[*The ‘Big Two’ Awards- A nickname for the annual Tezuka Award and the Akatsuka Award.]

31 7/1/2002 236 I went with the One Piece Comedy Voice Acting Crew to Kobe. We succeeded in happily surprising Sanji [Hiroaki Hirata]. We spent half a year planning it. That was fun.

32 7/8/2002 237 The World Cup. I saw some booing from the crowd during a Korean home game. I thought that was awesome. That’s exactly what fans should be doing.



[This sparked a small fire of controversy on the popular Japanese anonymous message board 2channel. Many fans thought Oda was cheering for Koreans over his country's team. This stoked the fires of a small but dedicated group of individuals who are strongly opposed to One Piece and its success. They commonly use racist anti-Korean terms to describe Eiichiro Oda and the series itself.]

33 7/15/2002 238 Recently I’ve started enjoying texting and whenever I’ve gotta chance I check for messages. I get lonely if there aren’t any. My dear friends, please text me. Don’t expect a reply though (・◇・)

34 7/22/2002 239 I watched the DVD of Rainbowman*. So an evil army, the ‘Die Die Group’, makes fake yen bills in order to give Japanese currency the flu!! ...the hell kinda kid’s show is this.



[*Rainbowman- A tokusatsu television program that ran from 1972 to 1973. Its claim to fame is dealing closely with Buddhist, Shinto and Christian themes, somewhat unusual for the genre, as well as a group of enemies consisting of anti-Japanese foreigners who commonly used defamatory slang that is now considered television-taboo.]

35 7/29/2002 240 I’m playing Grand Battle Swan Coliseum. This thing’s crazy hard. SO TOUGH!! THE ENEMIES!! It’s kinda starting to get to me. TAKE THIIIIIIS!!

36 8/5/2002 241 Whenever I have a color cover I draw the color picture a week in advance and add what I think the title will end up being but I made a huge mistake this time. This week’s chapter is called ‘Heaven’s Judgment’.

37+38 8/12/2002 242 All I can hear is, “It’s so ho~t.”, or, “The heat is unbearable.” Simply preposterous, is there anything left even resembling ‘fighting spirit’ in the Japanese today!!!

P.S. Okay, so I spend all day in an air conditioned room.

39 8/26/2002 243 Sometimes I really yearn to be a salaryman. Get chewed out by the section chief, drown my sorrows in sake on the way home and wear a suit to work every day. But [putting up] with rush hour, hell no.

40 9/2/2002 244 Summertime means scary stories. While that’s true, people who are quick to bare their fangs based on differences in status scare me the most.



[It's possible Oda is alluding to the case of his mangaka colleague and friend Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro [Toriko] who was arrested on August 7th 2002 for paying a 16-year old girl for sexual services and then later charged with paying two other 16-year old girls for sexual services on earlier occassions against Japan's Child Prostitution Law.] ?

41 9/9/2002 245 My staff are into those [weird] mystery programs. They seem to be interested in strange events from around the globe. But if [those shows] actually provided any solid answers they’d be on the news instead. (meanie) ?

42 9/16/2002 246 As a child I was a little off-beat for liking rakugo but I just found out that rakugo CDs are available [for sale]. So first up iiiiis, ‘Ko Yanagiya-san’, an essential!! ?

43 9/23/2002 247 ‘Pierrot’ and ‘Pure’ were put together to make ‘Puroland’*. I experienced the One Piece 4D Simulation Theater. It was way beyond anything I even imagined! Even adults will love this.



[*Puroland- An amusement park from the Sanrio company. In 2002 it featured a One Piece 3D attraction that also included immersive motion, sounds and smells, thus the so-called '4D'.] ?

44 9/30/2002 Break ?

45 10/7/2002 248 There’s something I absolutely had to see for an arc I’ll be doing sooner or later so I headed to Nagasaki. I’d like to personally extend my thanks to Mr. Matsumoto and all of the workers at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries*.



[*Mitsubishi Heavy Industries- A division of Mitsubishi that deals in building ships. In all likelihood this is where Oda went to gather ideas for the major set-pieces of Water Seven.] ?

46 10/12/2002 249 There are a lot of things about drawing a long arc that are quite ‘trying’ but I’m really glad I did Alabasta. The wrap party for the animation was really emotional. ?

47 10/21/2002 250 This is late in coming but congratulations on all your hard work in completing your serialization Higuchi-san*. For the time being just take it easy. If you’ve got time to kill come see me, and I’m not just saying that.



[*Daisuke Higuchi- Author of the soccer series Whistle! Which started running in Weekly Shonen JUMP in 1998.]

48 10/28/2002 251 Playing Fighter Maker 2 now. 's nifty. The fun of actually making movements.

49 11/4/2002 252 Yeah it's definitely the age of 'The Sear'. I had my first seared sushi at a sushi place in Tsukiji. I'm telling you babe, it's either seared sooshee or no sooshee.



[Oda didn't actually say 'babe' and he didn't say 'sooshee'. He used a cocky tone and said the word for sushi elongated and reversed (shiisuu) which is/was a popular manner of pronouncing words for well-off middle-aged male producers in Japan. Thus the Hollywood-style of talking.]

50 11/11/2002 253 Man I just, I really like 'Kyon Kyon'. How do you describe that sense of humor, that... lightness of the laughter...isn't he great... Kyotaro Yanagiya.



[Kyotaro Yanagiya- Nickname 'Kyon Kyon' is a rakugo comedian.]

51 11/18/2002 254 Dear Readers. As the breath leaving my mouth turned a whisping white I thought winter was already upon us, but it turned out I was just smoking. As the sky was still darkening after the six o'clock sunset I called my assistant; turns out it was six in the morning. Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]- Oda-sensei, thank you very much for your comment for the video game poster. I'm both amazed & moved that they actually made a 'Bo-bobo' video game!!

52 11/25/02* 255 Treasure Battle. My assistants are into 'Pirate Soccer'. It's really simple but after work they go nuts over it.



*I've not been able to confirm this release date as there was a weekend holiday which is reason to cast doubt on a Monday release.



Interesting to note that at this time the next issue of JUMP was officially listed in the table of contents as having a 'Tuesday' release. Only from May 19th 2003 (Issue 25) has JUMP regularly been listed as having a Monday release. However, if I understand correctly, the reason for such a listing was that the issues did not reach some areas of Japan until Tuesdays and it was considered 'confusing' to list an earlier release date if certain buyers weren't able to purchase the product on said date. Since many, if not most, areas of Japan have had access to JUMP on Mondays as far back as I know, I will continue to list the release date as a Monday. Note that there are no less than two other 'release' dates printed on each issue of JUMP that have nothing to do with the actual street date.

1 12/2/2002 256 The Grand Secret of Nanatsu Island on Game Boy Advance. I knew about it from the early planning stages but I'm pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out. The characters are neat and the music and graphics are beautiful. I recommend it!

2 12/9/2002 257 Oh man. Do I ever love drawing color spreads. And here I am stuck doing piles of 'year-end wrap-up work'. But I'm churning out the spreads without worrying about deadlines. Wahoo.

3+4 12/16/2002 258 I read the comment from Akimoto-sensei where he stated, "[Looking for an escape] to refresh yourself when you come across a difficulty is only an excuse to avoid it." I was deeply moved [by those words of wisdom]!!

5 12/30/2002 259 Bought the new iPod. 20 gigabytes. Up until now my playlist comprised of mainly 'soul', 'rock' 'mood' music and the like. This time I'll think I'll add some 'rakugo' and 'manzai'.



[Rakugo and Manzai- Two popular types of Japanese performance comedy. Rakugo is vaguely similar to 'Western' stand-up routines (despite literally being performed sitting down) as a solo performance involving word play. On the other hand manzai typically involves two performers, a straight man and the stooge, performing physical comedy similar to Vaudeville slap-stick.]

6+7 1/6/2003 260 Happy New Year to you. Last year was full of this and that but now it's this year. I'm gonna state my ambition ......I~ wanna~~~!! DRAW AN AWWWWWESOME MANGAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

8 1/20/2003 261 Hello there!! One Piece is gonna be a stupid-ass manga this year too!! ...Was that a good follow-up? So that bombshell I dropped at JUMP Festa. Worried about that [choice] after seeing I made fans cry.

9 1/27/2003 262 I met Ouji Hiroi-san. I always wondered what kinda dude he was and turns out he's an adult that knows how to live in style. He's got great values.

10 2/3/2003 263 One of my current assistants, Y-kun, gave me a Haro from Gundam for my birthday. It's one of those toys that randomly starts talking which is annoying so everyone's always shutting it off.

11 2/10/2003 264 Editor-in-Chief Takahashi was a man of manga that always listened to us and saw eye to eye with us. I pray that he may rest in peace.

12 2/17/2003 265 The meaning of '(expld)' that I see written on fan letters and stuff. Apparently it's [short for] (explodes into laughter). I thought it just meant (exploding). Was under the impression flying all over the place was in fashion.



[Oda is talking about the use of '(baku)'or 'burst' which is an abbreviation for 'bakusho' which means to 'burst into laughter'. It's very similar to our 'ROTFLMAO'. I have translated Oda's own use of the term elswhere on this page as (lo-freaking-l)]

13 2/24/2003 266 I met [the members of] Bump of Chicken. They were really pleasant and we ended up talking for three hours. Along with the new film their new song is really a work of art. Please, go see the movie!!!

14 2/31/2003 267 Thought up lyrics to the Godzilla theme. 'Purimu, Purimu, Purimu no Matsuri* (hypermetric)' are the awesome lyrics I came up with. I'm so good.



*Prim, Prim, The Festival of Prim.

15 3/7/2003 268 Nosebleed FWOOOOOSH!! Got chocolates! Thank you! In addition I also received personal health devices, wine, tsukemono (with miso) and a scrub brush...now that's love ♥



[Tsukemono- Pickled vegetables.]

16 3/14/2003 269 STANDING ROOM ONLYYYY~!! It's a hit across the country!! In one theater on opening day it had four times as many customers as last year!! BEYOND INCREDIBLE!! Director Uda you're my hero~ ♥ It's in theaters until April 25th!

17 3/21/2003 Break Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]- I saw the One Piece movie 'Dead End Adventure'. Man, Luffy is just so freakin' cool when he's angry. I was just as excited as the elementary schoolers there.

18 3/31/2003 270 Went to Sky Island to check out how to properly draw clouds. Was a perfect day and the smell of the clouds was so revitalizing. Great food too.

19 4/7/2003 271 So uh, about that comment from last week... I haven't gone cuckoo or anything... It was for April Fool's. You knew that right (lol) ?

20 4/14/2003 272 In the middle of drawing final copies I sent a text to Takei-san, "I'm totally screwed!", to which he replied, "Ignorant whelp! I'm the one who's screwed!!" That gave me the energy I needed (lol).

21 4/21/2003 273 When I'm just standing around waiting or something while I'm outdoors I go right to Tetris on my cell phone without even thinking about it. Be nice if they put Puyo Puyo in there next. Oh and Tekken and 'JSR'*.



*Jet Set Radio

22+23 4/28/2003 274 I'm now watching 'Oshin' on DVD. I'm so not completely and totally addicted. "No ya... Puhlease, ya' just cain't send that thar child away ta be a servant!" OSHIII~~~~N!!!

24 5/12/2003 275 I just happened to be listening to the radio when I heard that mega-star idol saying that 'One Piece is really good'. Well, well, well, looks like he's got some taste, guess he's a pretty cool guy.



[Oda is talking about SMAP member Takuya Kimura who spent a significant amount of time on his radio program 'What's Up SMAP' discussing One Piece.]

25 5/19/2003 276 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' produced by Mr. Hirotaka Suzuoki and 'Akatsuki 7' [performed] by the troupe SWAT. It was all about stage plays this Golden Week. Both were tour de force performances. Seeing live shows is so great. Masashi Kishimoto [Naruto]- I went to Oda-sensei's house to hang out. I was able to talk with a bunch of other authors and had a great time. And on top of that he treated us to yakiniku.

26 5/26/2003 277 The CDs we're playing at the office are from a genre called 'Polka'. Kinda like the music used for when a clown appears; it's so stupid and fun.

27 6/2/2003 278 I wanna be able to speak English. Even though it's something I've always thought about, it just recently hit me [that I really want to learn it]. What's a guy to do. I wanna study. *so tempted*

28 6/9/2003 279 A little while ago I went to see a performance by Mayumi Tanaka's 'Opperetta' troupe. Every time each one of them and their unique personalities crack me up. Mayumi-san's singing voice is splendid.

29 6/16/2003 280 Hello there. 'City Boy' here. I bought the futuristic card 'Suica' that you simply flash at the ticket gate to access the JR lines. And yet I never go anywhere.

30 6/23/2003 281 I learned from a back pain expert that sitting Indian-style on a chair is the worst possible position for your back. But I can't stop doing that now. Do I have to (*cries*)

31 6/30/2003 282 What's the deal with society revolving around high school girls. Grown-ups are supposed to be at the center!!!... Changing the subject, t.A.T.u are really cute aren't they.



[t.A.T.u- A female Russian pop duo well-known in Japan for dressing in female high school uniforms.]

32 7/7/2003 283 Can you believe how good the sculpting is on the figurines sold at convenient stores lately. Even the sculptor's name is written on them; are even toys fine art these days.

33 7/14/2003 284 It's the age of Akiko Wada. I bought the anniversary CD box-set celebrating her 35 years as a singer and it's been all Wada, all the time since. Wa~DA Wa~DA!!

34 7/19/2003 285 The Master who I worked for as an assistant 9 years ago, Shinobu Kaitani, came over to hang out. It's been like 7 years but that guy hasn't changed a bit. (*happy*)

35 7/28/2003 286 Lately I've gotten into that oxygen thing. You know, the oxygen suppliment device thing*. It's so futuristic it makes me giddy. As for where to put it...



*There was a boom in oxygen 'suppliment' goods and devices at this time in Japan.

36 8/4/2003 Break Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]- I went to see Toei Animation's production house to learn [about the process]. The atmosphere of the One Piece animation production left a big impression on me. Thank you very much.

37-38 8/11/2003 287 Found a great ramen place in the neighborhood. The extras on top are crunchy and the soup is so flavorful I find myself going every week. (＾∇＾)

39 8/25/2003 288 The Matsudo Bandai Museum. There was a huge Gundam there. The Cutey Honey stage show was neat and so were all the old toys on display; I had a good time.

40 9/1/2003 289 We are now in the age 1.3 megapixels and so it is that I'm busily tapping away on a brand new cell phone. Got tons of voice ringtones and wierd applications to mess with. It's fun. It's keeping me indoors.

41 9/8/2003 290 This summer I splashed in the sea in Chiba and frolicked in the forests of Yamagata. But now, the World is infatuated with a never before seen by human eyes man-faced-fish. I too experienced this creature myself first hand.



[He's talking about the Sega Dreamcast game Seaman.]

42 9/13/2003 291 The Odaiba Grand Adventure's Going Merry will be dismantled when the event comes to a close. Again I'd like to extend my deepest thanks to all of the individuals who lent their energy to [making] the ship.

43 9/22/2003 292 The pot [appliance] we used for heating water that we had to physically pump water out of has broken. I was on the verge shedding tears of joy when I learned our new one releases water with just the push of a button when my staff said, "That's considered normal these days."

44 9/29/2003 293 Currently prepping the illustration book for release. This time I'm going to have an interview with THAT person...!! It's going to be me gushing like a fan again. No doubt.

45 10/6/2003 294 One of my assistants informed me that eating raw egg with natto was just common sense but I had nary a clue. I tried it and the flavor was divine. A most righteous flavor of non-bogus delishness.

46 10/11/2003 295 The One Piece Character Solo Single [CD]. I was told that Luffy, Zoro, Nami and Sanji['s singles] all ranked in on a certain ranking TV program. ��(ﾟ<>ﾟ) This mean they're gonna be on Kohaku!!?



[Kohaku Utagassen- Literally 'Song Battle of The Red and The White'. An annual multi-hour live performance on December 31st where the the year's hit songs are performed one after another counting down to New Year's where the female artists (red) compete against the male artists (white).]

47 10/20/2003 296 Kishimoto-san's wedding was fantastic. The priests's broken Japanese during the ceremony was a thing of beauty. I see your wife looks just like Sakura.



[Priests and ministers who 'officiate' symbolic Christian-style weddings in Japan (the actual ceremony is for show since in Japan no legal changes are made due to the ceremony itself) are infamous for carrying out the service in broken Japanese. Whether or not it's all for show to make the ceremony seem more foreign is uncertain.]

48 10/27/2003 297 I went to have an interview with Fujiko Fujio A-sensei for the illustration collection going on sale in November. He just seemed to radiate such an agreeable personality, what a great guy. It was a lot of fun.

49 11/1/2003 298 Was talking with someone about how Joshi Juni Gakubo (Twelve Girls Band) and Shorinji Sanjuuroku Bou (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) sound really similar. Shourinji Musha Bou (Shaolin and Wu Tang) is pretty cool too. But the best is Arahan.



[Twelve Girls Band is an instrumental group from China that was popular in Japan at the time. Oda and others were reminded of classic Kung Fu films with slightly similar names. With each name he brings up he gets farther from the original name until he ends with 'arahan' (sometimes arakan) a term for a Buddhist monk that is no longer in the cycle of rebirth and death.]

50 11/10/2003 299 It's cool that I can see reader's face with purikura. Most of the time they're from the girls but sometimes I get 'em from boys. Makes me smile when I think,"So these are the kind of kids that read it huh?"



[Purikura- Short for 'print club' are decorative photograph stickers popular with high school students.]

51 11/17/2003 Break

52 11/22/2003 300 I saw a performance by the group who acted as the Straw Hat Pirates at JUMP Festa. The troupe is called 'Punish'. It was a blast. Looking forward to your work this year as well.

1 12/1/2003 301 I bought an enka CD!! The songs of people who have real vocal talent are a pleasure to listen to. I~ Lo~ve i~t.



[Enka- A form of Japanese music that, at least thematically, resembles American country western music using a 'traditional' base for songs about hardship, love, nature and traditional gender roles.]

2 12/8/2003 302 So about the comment I made at JUMP Festa last year regarding A CERTAIN THING* that made some fans cry. I won't be able to get to it this year. Oh well, no biggie.



[*Oda is talking about his comment from JUMP Festa 2003 (held in December 2002) where he said a crew member would 'pass on'.] Riichiro Inagaki [Eyeshield 21]- I was able to talk indivually with Oda, Takahashi & Toriyama-sensei at the Tezuka Awards. On a cold and rainy day Oda showed up in sandals. HE'S LUFFY!

3 12/15/2003 303 Had a ping-pong tournament at the house of Luffy's Mayumi Tanaka with the voice acting crew. The winner was Mayumi's son. Loser adults.]

4 + 5 12/22/2003 304 Winter is the season when fish meat is most crisp. Speaking of fishy things, the other day the corns on my feet healed up.



[The Japanese word for a 'corn' of the foot is 'uo no me' which could be read as 'fish eye'.] Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]- I was blown away by the collaboration poster from Akamaru JUMP going on sale the 29th of this month!! Oda-sensei and all of you from Toei, thank you so much!!

6 + 7 1/5/2004 305 A Happy New Year. I ate some meat and my tooth broke. Gee, guess I'm just a little calcium defficient (lo-freaking-l) I get the feeling something good is coming my way this year *heart*

8 1/19/2004 306 Thanks for all your work at JUMP Festa 2004. I love just chilling out in the dressing at the end of each year. Even though I'm slacking off my Editor doesn't harp on me.

19 1/26/2004 307 I finally went to Yokohama's China Town which is someplace I've always wanted to visit. Lotsa Chinese restaurants. I couldn't eat nearly as much as I wanted so I'll be back.

10 2/2/2004 308 Thank you for all the New Year's greeting cards. I've also been lucky enough to get fan letters each and every week. Your support is what helps keep on my feet and moving forward. I'm very grateful.

11 2/9/2004 309 I saw Usopp's voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi in a play called 'Son Goku'. The nimble and monkey-like action was AWEsome.

12 2/16/2004 310 I've put my enka craze on hold and I'm into Ayaya at the moment. A 'crazy holiday' indeed. Like so~~~~ ado~~~~rable.



[Ayaya is the nickname of Hello! Project idol/singer Aya Matsuura. 'Yeah! Crazy Holiday' (Yeah! Meccha Horidei) was her hit single from 2002 that was experiencing a resurge in popularity due to drag performances of the song by TV personality Maeken.]

13 2/23/2004 311 Alrighty then, time to take a break from all the work I put off until the start of the year. It's about time to start writing my New Year's greeting cards. I do this [to myself] every year.

14 3/1/2004 312 I met Machami Hisamoto-san, Shidou Nakamura-san and Hiroki Uchi-kun at the movie's press conference. Once again a really wonderful group of people [for the movie].



[Masami 'Machami' Hisamoto- A female comedian from Osaka who is a regular as both a guest and a host of variety television programming. She voiced Izaya.



Shidou Nakamura- A kabuki and film star of Japan who has a reputation of being something of a playboy. He voiced Saga.



Hiroki Uchi- A former singer in two popular Japanese boy bands managed by the Johnny's group. He voiced Toma.]

15 3/8/2004 313 Interested in pottery lately. Those thick'n hardy-looking Japanese plates are really cool. I'd like to try making some ceramic art.

16 3/15/2004 314 Nosebleed FWOOOOOOSH!! I got Valentine's chocolates. Thank you very much. I'll use that love to do keep me running on purely [the power of] love alone (･◇･)ゞ

17 3/22/2004 315 Kazuki Takahashi-sensei, congratulations on reaching the end of your long-term comic. It's no surprise that a comic that can be enjoyed by children all over the World is a remarkable one.

18 3/31/2004 316 I saw the One Piece Movie 'Curse of the Sacred Sword'. I hope the intense action that's all for the sake of a certain someone hits home in your heart.

19 4/5/2004 Break

20 4/12/2004 317 'Shimabu~' just started a new serial in Super JUMP!! It's a teen sports manga called 'Ring'. I'm thrilled!!!

21 4/19/2004 318 We held another Ping Pong Tournament at Mayumi Tanaka's house. Everyone brought food and drink and we partied up a storm. Lotta fun.

22+23 4/26/2004 319 Mega House from the Bandai label designed Luffy, Zoro and Nami figurines. They're really top quality!! Amazing job.

24 5/10/2004 320 The accessory-maker DECOLE is AWESOME! A great battle rages in conflict with my manly spirit whenever I enter the store which is teaming with females.

25 5/17/2004 321 I went to see Sanji's voice actor Hirata-san in a play. Dancing and singing in that kind of costume. He had me doubled over in laughter.



[Given the time-frame of the comment, it's possible Oda is referring to his performance in, 'OH! Kami-sama']

26 5/24/2004 322 Seems that Children's Day is actually a day for children to give thanks to their parents. But uh, not like you needed to know that or whatever.

27 5/31/2004 323 In order for children all over the world to be able to watch the One Piece cartoon, a lot of people are working very hard [right now]. It moves me to tears.

28 6/7/2004 324 A strange sensation went down my throat when I took a swig from the bottle of of tea on the edge of my desk. Mold was floating in it. I drank mold.

29 6/14/2004 325 Been wanting to read some picture books from overseas so I went online to a foreign bookstore and ordered all the ones that had nifty covers. Turns out they were all novels.

30 6/21/2004 326 Experiencing a Terumi Yoshida 'boom'. Lately it would seem that Terumi Yoshida is on fire. His Bunka Hoso thing and the rest are awesome.



[Terumi Yoshida- A freelance announcer, TV personality and radio host and Bunka Hoso is a radio station in Japan.]

31 6/28/2004 327 It may be June but we just had a New Year's and Sky Island arc wrap party for the animation. I'm extremely grateful to all of you.

32 7/5/2004 Break

33 7/12/2004 328 The Going Merry will be appearing in Odaiba again this year! A creature from the Grand Line, Mohmoo, will show up too. Looking forward to iiiiit!!

34 7/17/2004 329 I am madly in love with tuna. I've just recently realized this. From way back seems like I'm always eating it without even thinking about it.

35 7/26/2004 330 I went to see Robin's voice actress, Yuriko Yamaguchi-san, in a play. The message was that the atom bomb is a symbol that war mustn't be allowed. Struck a chord with me.

36 8/2/2004 331 Played 'One Piece Land Land'. It's fun and the setting looks really fantastic, I had a lot of fun just messing around with it. A must-buy.

37+38 8/9/2004 332 Regarding potato chips as of late, it's surprising when I open a new bag only to find a smattering of chips within. Would you please put some more in there!!

39 8/23/2004 333 Kyoshiro 2030's serialization has come to an end in Super JUMP. Master Tokuhiro-sensei, here's to all your work on a seven year series. I haven't seen you in long time.

40 8/30/2004 334 Wo~ah Shaman King is over~. I wonder if Takei-san will be able to do whatever the heck he wants now!! Here's to aaaaall your hard work!!

41 9/6/2004 335 The other day my editor 'Habuyan' brought his two-year-old daughter to my place. Said she didn't know what a 'Luffy' was. I can do better than this.

42 9/13/2004 336 Saw the stage performance of Sakura Wars. It was overflowing with Mr. Ouji Hiroi's flambouyant extravagant taste. And the performance by the [members of the] Peking Opera took my breath away.

43 9/18/2004 337 Went to see a performance [put on] by the WAHAHA-HOMPO [Agency]. I don't even know how to describe the energy. I was still laughing on the way home. [You guys are] awesome.



[WAHAHA-HOMPO - A talent and troupe agency that is infamous for risque and lowbrow humor.]

44 9/27/2004 338 To all of those who helped us bring the animated One Piece to America, thank you sooo very much!!!

45 10/4/2004 339 The old-timer from the katsu lunch delivery place said, "I added some extra in there for ya' special", and put a ton of rice to my order of half-size rice. THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE!

46 10/9/2004 340 The other day there was something I had to take care of so I returned to my home in Kumamoto for about 7 hours. Made certain to have 'basashi'. [Regardless of the time] that's non-negotioable.

47 10/18/2004 341 The thing about cockroaches is when you spot one, unless you defeat it that very same day there's simply no resting easy. Mega scary.

48 10/25/2004 342 Yeah soooo, my computer was acting funky and I didn't wait for I-san who always bails me out in a fix so when I tried messing with it the thing died. ...how odd.

49 11/1/2004 343 Was listening to some hip-hop on the radio when I heard the DJ say, "This is the real deal.", only to immediately correct himself, "Dis be the real deal ya'll."

50 11/8/2004 344 There's no expiration date printed on ice cream but, that's 'cause it's frozen so you can eat it a year later right?

51 11/15/2004 345 Every year I learn that I'll be appearing at the year-end JUMP Festa when I'm leafing through the magazine itself. My Editor Habuyan doesn't even ask me. Not like I won't go though.

52 11/22/2004 Break Masashi Kishimoto [Naruto]- Oda-san, congratulations on your marriage! The ceremony was a lot of fun! Thank you for everything from here on too!



Nobuhiro Watsuki [Rurouni Kenshin]- Oda sensei, congratulations on the joyful occassion of your marriage. Your ceremony was the best. My best wishes for a long and happy life together with your wonderful wife who could be mistaken for Nami.



Shinya Suzuki [Mr. Fullswing]- Congratulations on your marriage Oda-sensei. The ceremony was lovely and a lot of fun. I know you're married but let's still hang out okay.

53 11/29/2004 346 I got so married. We received way more congratulatory envelopes* than I ever thought possible and we are very very thankful. I'll still going to work hard to bee bzzy** drawing manga.



*The envelopes he speaks of are mandatory monetary gifts from the guests to the bride and groom. You could write a book on how unique (read: frustrating & futile) the entire process is since the final sum of money almost NEVER changes hands as you in turn are usually invited to the guests' weddings and are expected to give them roughly the same amount of money in return.



**The gag in Japanese was 'ganbarimanmosu' which tacks the Japanese word for 'mammoth' onto the end of 'ganbaru' instead of the standard polite 'masu' form. It's a play on words that is a little dated and attempting a clever play on words using 'mammoth' would have made it seem more clever than it really was as Oda was using an old gag on purpose; so I opted for an equally old and cheesy English play on words.

1 12/6/2004 347 Next March a number of special One Piece related plans will come to a head and it's going to be a heck of a celebration. In the middle of working on it all now.

2 12/13/2004 348 Made a cheese fondue. If you dig into one of those expecting to polish it off in one sitting your stomach'll be bursting at the seams.

3+4 12/20/2004 349 Bought a new microwave. One of the functions is an automatic shutdown when the item is appropriately warmed up. Unreal.

5+6 1/3/2005 350 NEW YEAR!!! Last year this and that were, yeah, but of course this year I'm aspiring to draw a fun and interesting comic.

7 1/17/2005 351 Having all seven voice actors together for JUMP Festa 2005 with the cheers from the crowd was really powerful. I had an incredibly good time [at this year's] on-stage event.

8 1/24/2005 352 Changing of the Editors. Habuyan, thanks for four years ob yur... Whoops, flubbed that. Thanks-bye!!... Seriously, I'm very grateful.

9 1/31/2005 353 My new Editor Mr. Watanabe is the first who's younger than me. 'Younger' being relative since he's 27; I ain't gonna hold back anything asking for your help!! Thanks in advance.

10 2/7/2005 354 I drew some really cool pictures for the special project [coming] this March!! Had enough fun to make up for the six months I took off from drawing color pictures last year.

11 2/14/2005 355 In Chapter 353 I mistakenly wrote '12 years ago' instead of '8 years ago'. I'm gonna sneak the correct date into the comic.

12 2/21/2005 Break

13 2/28/2005 356 About that One Piece Punch Battle that came out last year. All the staff members who've been using it at the office are suffering from sore muscles. A bunch of weaklings. That includes me.

14 3/7/2005 357 As part of the special plans for breaking the hundred million mark in sales we're hijacking Shibuya!! And that means Shibuya is looking really friendly. If you live close by stop on over!

15 3/14/2005 358 Nosebleed FWOOSH!! I got lots of chocolates this year too!! Thank y- *munch munch* Than- *munch munch* Thanks!!

16 3/21/2005 359 If you go into the year's movie unsteeled, it's gonna make you cry. And the animation is really well done. The magic word is 'Toothbrush Moustache'. Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bobo Bo-bobo]- I saw the latest One Piece film!! It was constantly moving which was really refreshing. Luffy was really cool!

17 3/28/2005 360 Seeing my assistants fighting over the controller for Grand Battle! RUSH is hilarious!! And I'm really happy about all the hidden costumes.

18 4/4/2005 361 Had a parting with the anime's producer Shimizu-san that I felt was incomplete. He took care of me on an immeasurable level. Let's remain good friends.

19 4/11/2005 362 There's this kind of fish that I was never thrilled about eating when I was a kid. But now I think I'm starting to like it. In fact it's delicious!! TASTY FISH!!

20 4/18/2005 363 So I went outside for a bit right, and as if on cue for pollen season there were a ton of square-masked men about.

21 + 22 4/25/2005 364 In springtime I get a lot of fanmail where readers declare their determination for working toward future goals. You guys have big dreams. I'm cheering for you with all my heart. Don't let anything hold you back!!

23 5/9/2005 365 Saw the Ichigo 100% cartoon with my assistants. That's some really special background music. Very nice stuff.

24 5/16/2005 366 The Straw Hat voice acting gang really tugged at my heartstrings by giving me a CD of a special recording they made themselves, and it's the only copy in existence. You guys are the best.

25 5/3/2005 367 'Dragon Dream' on the Gameboy Advance is really fun. Not sure what to make of me, the author, getting questions wrong on the quizzes though.

26 5/30/2005 368 Heard there was a kind of mikan called 'dekopon' that's a special local product of my home prefecture, Kumamoto. I tried one for the very first time and it was sweet n' delish.

27 6/6/2005 369 The anime has entered the Water Seven arc and seems to be quite popular but I'm still on that same series so on this end it's like all hell's broken loose.

28 6/13/2005 370 Regarding cell phones as of late, they freeze up just like a PC. I wonder if this means they'll start coming with [digital] drawing software too.

29 6/20/2005 371 Really impressed by Mr. Toshio Asakuma's sculptures on display in Ikebukuro's Loft. I'm waiting for them to be sold. I want to be able to draw animals like that.

30 6/27/2005 372 The iPod broke. And it's been one year since the PC I used to edit the [iPod] broke. START FIXING YOURSELVES!!

31 7/4/2005 373 I went to see Mayumi Tanaka in a play for the first time in a long while. As usual the troupe 'Opperetta' was a lot of fun.



['Oh, Peretta' (a play on operetta) is a troupe formed by Mayumi, Kankou Nagai (actor) and Eri Takeda (singer) in 1988.]

32 7/11/2005 Break

33 7/16/2005 374 I saw Sanji's voice actor Mr. Hirata's in a stage version of 'Flowers for Algernon' and was deeply moved. It was a remarkable performance.

34 7/25/2005 375 Y-kun of my staff started tending to some flowers in our teensy garden. I wonder if they'll actually bloom for someone as obstinate as me!?

35 8/1/2005 376 I forgot to mention this but Murata-san, Takei-kun, thank you for drawing Luffy in JUMP Heroes.



[Yusuke Murata- Illustrator of the series Eyeshield 21.

Hiroyuki Takei- Author of Shaman King]

36 + 37 8/8/2005 377 Was on the 30th floor of a building when an earthquake put the elevators out of commission. My legs were cramped for two days after I took the stairs down.

38 8/22/2005 378 After two years of development it's finally here; presenting the cell phone hi-jacker 'Moja'!! Check out page 13!!

39 8/29/2005 379 I dove into Watsuki-sensei's new abode. It's a really spacious and clean place. Good livings means good work.



[Watsuki-sensei: Nobuhiro Watsuki, author of Rurouni Kenshin to whom Oda was once an assistant.]

40 9/5/2005 380 Went for a ride on Odaiba's The Going Merry. I'd like to personally thank Matsuzaki-san from FujiTV for an amazing voyage.



[Yoko Matsuzaki- Head of Organizational Planning at Fuji Television as well as television producer.]

41 9/12/2005 381 Tears of joy [were shed] upon receiving a One Piece-themed Boston terrier from plastic modeling artist Mr. Toshio Asakuma. Thank you very much!!

42 9/17/2005 382 The title of next Spring's movie has already been decided. And I'm all finished with the character design work. Now all I have to do is look forward to the finished product.

43 9/26/2005 383 Fighting for One Piece. It's like a brawler, cool!! If the characters are big like that they're way more impressive! Woooow!!

44 10/3/2005 384 There's this fish cleaner I know who gave me some tuna cheeks and the flavor was out of this world.

45 10/8/2005 385 Saw Final Fantasy's Advent Children and was moved by the evolution of the CG age. Its beauty is blinding.

46 10/17/2005 386 Mr. Children is honestly, just incredible every single time. The lyrics from their new album* are so honest and I'm soaking in them. Mmm~MH, they're good.



[*I *heart* U- The 2005 album from Mr. Children. Although not directly stated, there is a strong possibility the lyrics which Oda referred to are from the song 'Running High' that he would discuss in an interview with Mr. Children's vocalist, Kazutoshi Sakurai, in their 2009 interview from the fashion magazine Switch. Mr. Children provided the main theme for One Piece Film STRONG WORLD which Oda wrote and served as an Executive Producer on.]

47 10/24/2005 Break

48 10/31/2005 387 The second One Piece compilation collection will be coming out. I asked them to make it as cheap as they possibly could for you boys who don't have the money to collect all the comics.

49 11/7/2005 388 Morita-sensei was on TV. His workplace was so neat and friendly. Please put me on your staff.



[Masanori Morita- Author of JUMP series such as 'Good-for-Nothing Blues' and 'ROOKIES'.]

50 11/14/2005 389 Went to Roppongi. To meet someone amazing. They tell me I can't spill the beans yet.



[The individual he referred to is likely Yoshitaka Amano with whom he had an interview for Color Walk 3 LION.]

51 11/21/2005 390 Here at year's end I can only describe it as rush hour for a ton of neat projects I'm working on. That's a shout of happiness [not of complaint].

52 11/28/2005 391 There's an artbook coming out!! For the customary interview I sat down with Mr. Yoshitaka Amano. What a pleasant man.

1 12/5/2005 Break

2 12/12/2005 392 I like that [new] comedian* who says, "DA-MNIIIT!" I can't help but worry about the day he destroys his vocal chords.



[*Koume Dayuu- A solo comedian who saw brief popularity with his maiko character routine.]

3 12/19/2005 393 Bought a shredder. Wa-hooah it's sick. More...Need more, are there any more secret documents!?

4+5 12/26/2005 394 One Piece's big Christmas event. I hear it was a huge success.I reeeally wanted to go. Seems like everyone had such a good time.

6+7 1/7/2006 395 Went to Jump FESTA and watched the voice actors thinking how funny they all are up on stage.

8 1/23/2006 396 Wishing you a happy New Year. Went to a hot spring and a sea of adventure with some friends at the end of the year. Gonna be another year of thrills and excitement!!!

9 1/30/2006 397 The movie, The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle~!!! I'm serious!!! Please see it!!! To the theater now GO!!!! It's really fun!!!



[Oda actually uses the English word 'go' in caps.]

10 2/6/2006 398 The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle's director, Mr. Kounosuke Uda, is someone I put my complete faith in!! Check it out!!

11 2/13/2006 399 I really enjoyed Noppo Takami-san's DVD, 'Grandfather Grasshopper'. A remarkable song.



[Noppo Takami- A TV personality who hosted the popular children's program 'Dekirukana' on NHK. His trademark on-camera silence was only broken once in the last episode of the program. A Japanese Fred Rogers if you will.]

[Oda has mistaken a refrain from the song for the title of the DVD. The correct title is 'The Tale of the Grasshopper'.]

12 2/20/2006 400 The week before last on the cover story I forget that Crocodile's left hand was a hook. (laughs) No biggie, not like anyone noticed right.

13 2/27/2006 401 "There's nothing like hearing laughter from the audience in a movie theater!", said a member of the movie staff. We've spent a year making this film of epic proportions!! MECHA!!!

14 3/6/2006 402 Since last year I've been inching my way through Animal Crossing on the DS. I wanna reel in a shark, I need the shark.

15 3/13/2006 403 Nosebleed FWOOOOSH!! There were hardly any Valentine's Day chocolates addressed to the characters this year. What's gives, sending ME chocolates? My deepest thanks.

16 3/20/2006 404 Went to see the movie!! I was laughing from beginning to end. But Nami's chest jiggled way too much (lol) Really enjoyed it!!

17 3/27/2006 405 I met Mr. Goro Inagaki and Mr. Kato & Mr. Yamamoto of 'Gokuraku' at the launch party of the film. We didn't get a chance to talk very long but I'm grateful to you for lending your talents to the movie.



[Goro Inagaki of SMAP and Kato and Yamamoto of the comedy duo 'Gokuraku Tombo' who lent their voices to the film.]

18 4/3/2006 Break

19 4/10/2006 406 A collection of past One Piece arcs especially for new readers. They told me you can order [Volumes] 1-7 at your local bookstore.

20 4/17/2006 407 Went for a stroll to see the new blossoms. Something wonderful about hearing the overacting of a baked sweet potato salesman while walking on a path with cherry blossom petals dancing to the ground. Yoshio Sawai [Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]- I went to Shibuya to see the One Piece movie. The crowd was in stitches through the whole thing! The final attack was awesome too!

21 + 22 4/24/2006 408 I went to see Yoshitaka Amano-san's gallery exhibit. As expected it was stirring. That is definitely something you should experience once in your life.

23 5/8/2006 409 20 or so One Piece characters made from Kewpie Dolls. A reader sent me them. They're awwwesome. Thank you.

24 5/15/2006 410 Been having hotdogs for dinner lately. Literally pounding 'em down. Packed away four while just drawing this week's color page.

25 5/22/2006 411 'Shinyappo' Suzuki!! Here's to your hard work on Mr. Fullswing. Quite a long serialization. Get some rest, okay.



[Shinya Suzuki- I rearranged his name order to 'Western' style but please note that Oda playfully called him by his nickname 'Shinyappo' while formally including his last name first.]

26 5/29/2006 412 This is terribly late but Murata-kun, congratulations on your marriage! I heard all the good news from Inagaki-san.[Riichiro Inagaki & Yusuke Murata- Respectively the author and artist of American football comic, Eyeshield 21.]

27 6/5/2006 413 I saw Mayumi Tanaka in the stage production of 'On With Opportunism!*' Geez, I couldn't stop laughing!!!



[*Gotugoushuugi de ikou!- I was unable to find an official title of the production in English.]

28 6/12/2006 414 I tried the 99% pure chocolate that 'Murasame-kun's' Itou-san has been attempting to get me to eat. BI-!!! SO BITTERRRRR~R!!



[Mikio Itou- Author of the 'The Mysterious Murasame-kun' and a friend of Oda from his assistant days. His name was hidden throughout the early parts of One Piece.]

29 6/19/2006 415 Watching bits and pieces of Stephen Chow films recently. What a remarkable dumbass. I strive to be an adult that focuses intensely on creating such stupidity. Mikio Itou [Nazo no Murasame-kun]- For someone who can munch on 99% pure chocolate I just can't handle coffee black. Too bitter.

30 6/26/2006 416 The role of young Robin's voice has been cast for the animation. YOWZA!!! Please you've gotta watch it!!!

31 7/3/2006 417 Found myself swept into a takoyaki party with the Strawhat voice acting gang. Robin's (Yuriko's) takoyaki is professional grade quality.

32 7/10/2006 418 The staff is fixated on Monster Hunter. Seems their total playtime is 800 hours and it would appear they're still going.

33 7/15/2006 419 I attended the Serial [Comic] Commemoration Awards. Was a rare case where I finished my drafts beforehand so I could relax and enjoy myself.

34 7/24/2006 420 Mr. Shoushou Kurihara, author of the comic upon which the [new] TV drama 'Urayami Honpo' was based on, has been a friend of mine for a long time. It's really intriguing.

35 7/31/2006 421 So there's this console called Wii that looks like it's pretty good for your body. I bet all the kids are really into it.

36+37 8/7/2006 422 An attack of Luffy's I couldn't remember turned up on an i-mode search. Databases fans make are so useful (laughs)



[i-mode- The internet browsing service on Docomo brand phones.]

38 8/14/2006 423 I've been a fan of that testosterone-filled brawler series Tekken from way back. I noticed it just kind of appeared on PSP so I'm gonna give it a spin.

39 8/21/2006 424 Luffy's Gear 2nd in the anime was seriously awesome. Sakai-san directed that.



[Munehisa Sakai- Responsible for work on series like Dragon Ball Z and director of the 10th One Piece Movie: Strong World]

40 9/4/2006 425 A One Piece event at Shinagawa was literally overflowing with excited children. I'm so happy I'm a manga author.

41 9/11/2006 426 I met this cheerful old-timer aged 71 years where I was staying in Okinawa and he showed me around the place for two whole days. Goya champuru from its birthplace was amazing.



[goya champuru- Okinawan-style stir fry] Masashi Kishimoto [Naruto]- I purchased Tekken for the PSP. Oda-san,if you have some time, let's go for a round.

42 9/16/2006 427 I kinda broke my policy of not using toner for characters' clothing. (laughs) Congratulations! 30 years!!



[This issue celebrated the 30th anniversary of Kochikame] Usuta [Blow, Pyuu! Jaguar]- I started watching LOST. I happen to like most foreign dramas but this one is special.



[No reason to post this other than that I love LOST.]

43 9/25/2006 428 Ejirin' from P2 is actually one of our former staff members. I'm thrilled! Go for it!!!



[Ejirin is Oda's nickname for P2's author, a former assistant of his.]

44 10/2/2006 429 I've just gotten a Frenchman as a younger older brother. Big sis, Cyril, congratulations on your marriage!

45 10/7/2006 430 As of late I've realized, 'I put down three packs on natto today'. Natto's just so freakin' delicious I just….'I CAN'T STOP'!! [He wrote that last part in English as is.]

46 10/16/2006 Break

47 10/23/2006 431 The anime has stopped airing on some affiliate stations. I think more than contacting me, if you contact the local providers directly, they might be able to do something.

48 10/30/2006 432 An RPG just came out on i-mode's 'Moja'!!! So this is how far phones have come!? Sick!!!



[Moja!- Short for ' Mobile Hijack', a service for mobile OP-themed games]

49 11/6/2006 433 I've got a new editor!! Watanabe-san, thank you for all your work!! Kawashima-san, 'pleasure's mine!

50 11/13/2006 434 Regarding Whitebeard's original jolly roger that was nixed in the anime. Now I've been told I can't use it in the comic either.

51 11/20/2006 435 Next year's movie will be about the Alabasta arc!!! I'd like new readers or even people that don't know anything about One Piece to check it out.

52 11/27/2006 Break

1 12/4/2006 436 Had a party with the anime staff onboard a ship. Gonna try to express the kind of fun we had in my work.

2 12/11/2006 437 The anime's timeslot changed and the ratings are phenomenal. Anime really is for kids. Masashi Kishimoto [Naruto]- Finally, this weekend is JUMP Festa! Oda-sensei and I will have a stage together so please come on out.

3 12/18/2006 438 Oboro Tofu is 'tuper delisshy'. Your 'tuper-cupie ' Oda is currently studying Shoko-tanese. Not really, just 'kwidding'.



[Shoko Nakagawa or 'Shoko-tan'- a gravure idol famous for her otaku-like manner of speaking]

4+5 12/25/2006 439 I think I worked pretty hard this year. I hear next year will be the 10th anniversary. Several projects are under wraps that we have brewing. Toriyama- Nice work Oda-kun! This is the first manga I've done in a long time so it took about half a day to find my utensils. Couldn't even see the paper too well because of my old age. *slumps*



Oda- It's something we had to please fans of both works with so we proceeded with attention to every little detail as we drew it. Seems I'm the one who had the most fun with it. [They are talking about Cross Epoch]

6+7 1/6/2007 440 I gotta eat a lotta mochi if I wanna finish the projects we have lined up. Looking forward to this year with you!

8 1/22/2007 441 Totally forgot a New Year's greeting so here's wishing you very happy new year. Went to the home of Luffy's Mayumi and ate and had a great time.

9 1/29/2007 442 Went to the first of the [JUMP authors'] new year parties. Man it was good to see 'Ejirin' after all these years.



[He literally says 'first hour' but it's a term to indicate the first of a series of parties. Japanese drinking parties traditionally spill over into a second or even a third party, each at a different location until everyone stumbles home. According to Kubo's entry there were three.]

10 2/5/2007 443 Tickle Me Elmo is scary. And yet amazing. Scamazing. Red.

11 2/10/2007 444 Hello there. This is MyMix Oda. The MyMix-man who has been hand-picked in order to be allowed to read his friend's diary.



[Mixi is essentially a Japanese Facebook. By being added to a friend's list, you can read his or her diary. The term 'MyMix' (pronounced 'maimiku') is for acquaintances on a friend list]

12 2/19/2007 445 I hope you'll take a look at the movie on the official site for Episode of Alabasta. It's good.

13 2/26/2007 446 E ! I ! G ! A ! ★ Ei-GA!! M ! O ! V ! I ! E ! ★ Mmm..Ei-GA! Running from March through mid-April go and see it!!



[eiga- 'movie' in Japanese. He actually wrote each individual letter in alphabetical letters, the rest was Japanese.]

14 3/5/2007 447 The 'Super Battle' has finally begun at the mobile site 'Moja!' What's this excitement I feel?

15 3/12/2007 448 In a nutshell, One Piece Unlimited Adventure is a HUGE project that I've put 3 times more time and hard work into than others before it.

16 3/19/2007 Break

17 3/26/2007 449 I heard lots of sniffles in the theater. You guys really moved me!! Seems like there's a lot of men going to see it this year. Give it up for the movie staff!!

18 4/2/2007 450 Atsushi-san, Yaguchi-san, Yama-chan, Shizu-chan, Kawashima-san, I want to extend my gratitude to the movie support team!!

19 4/9/2007 451 I got permission from Ken Shimura's office before I drew the special comic for One Piece Yellow.



[He mentions this because he included many signature gags of the famous comedian, something he has done a number of times in the main series]

20 4/16/2007 452 NOSEBLEED FWOO~~~~~SH!! This is way overdue. Thank you for the Valentine chocolates.

21 4/23/2007 453 Went wandering aimlessly around the neighborhood for cherry blossom viewing. Next year I'll definitely do it the right way in the right place.

22+23 4/28/2007 454 Had a takoyaki extravaganza at the home of Luffy's voice actress, Mayumi Tanaka. We ate too much and ran out of octopus. Nankai Yama-chan came too and it was a blast.



[Yama-chan: Half of the comedy duo 'Nankai Candies'. They were one of the official 'movie support team' for One Piece Movie 8.]

24 5/14/2007 455 One Piece Rainbow! And the pop-up picture book! Really classy and really amazing books. I'm completely satisfied.

25 5/21/2007 456 The pop-up book project is something that first came up about 5 or 6 years ago. It's a special book I've wanted to complete for quite a while!

26 5/28/2007 457 The planning for the extra special events this summer are chugging along. Both are great. Start bugging your parents now about going to Osaka and Kamakura .

27 6/4/2007 458 It's a little late but congrats on your marriage Nishi-kun!! I bet your happiness will help you draw even better.



[Nishi-kun: Yoshiyuki Nishi of Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation]

28 6/11/2007 459 18 special pages in Volume 46. All diagrams of Sunny. I wanted to draw more.

29 6/18/2007 Break Nishi [Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation]- The other day I attended the Serial [Comic] Commemoration Awards. I really enjoyed getting the chance to talk with Oda-sensei about color.

30 6/25/2007 460 The anime, the parting with Merry, splendid job making me cry. TOEI FIENDS! Makin' me a wreck on a Sunday morning.

31 7/2/2007 461 The messaging battle game on 'Moja!' is awesome!! Unlimited is really cool too! Don't miss out!

32 7/9/2007 462 Makogarei is in season so I had some. DELISH! Special thanks to Kojima-kun at the fish market who always takes care of me!



[Makogarei- A variety of flatfish]

33 7/14/2007 463 I thoroughly enjoyed reading the final chapter of Bo-bobo. Sawai-kun, that’s 6 years of hard work. So how about a break?

34 7/23/2007 464 Try doing a search for "Yaguchi" and "Yamaken". 10th Anniversary Internet Radio broadcast has begun! I know you guys will do great!

35 7/30/2007 465 I'm considering burning some Balsam at the workplace. In celebration of 10 years I'm going to burn Balsam.



[Balsam- A flea, cockroach and mite-killing vapor] Amano [Reborn!]- I missed out on talking with you you at the new year party but congratulations on 10 years Oda-sensei!

36+37 8/6/2007 466 Went to the Kamakura Hijack. Was surprised there were so many people out even though it was cloudy. I also had a great time at the beach.

38 8/20/2007 467 To all the authors, celebrities and production staff, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making 10th Treasures possible. It's an amazing book.

39 8/27/2007 468 Recently I've started up that 'Rodeo Boy' device. The tip-top of my ass-crack is sore.

40 9/3/2007 469 I went to see the Universal Studios Japan Premiere Show!! What an awesome gig. Gotta see it again!!!

41 9/10/2007 470 I finished checking the script of next year's movie and wrapped up designing the new characters. Please look forward to it.

42 9/15/2007 Break

43 9/22/2007 471 Pay attention to Brook's voice actor!! I cracked up when I heard how perfectly it fit. You can hear him in Gear Spirit for the DS too.

44 10/1/2007 472 I tried all of the Lawson x One Piece products!! YUM!! The onigiri is very marketable. Despite being HUGE.



[Lawson- A convenience store chain. They provided a number of OP-themed foods for the 10th anniversary of One Piece.]

45 10/6/2007 473 I went to see the 60,000-jam-packed highlight concert of 'Dorikamu'. I actually got to talk with the stars.



[Dorikamu- Nickname of Dreams Come True a Japanese musical duo.]

46 10/15/2007 474 The wrap party for the anime's Water 7 arc was great. The anime has already been going 8 years. Made it seem more like a family get-together.

47 10/22/2007 475 The recap section of Volume 47. Where it says 'Former Shichibukai', color in the 'former' part with a pen.

48 10/29/2007 476 The au version of Moja! has launched and it seems like people are already enjoying it. It's the same as the Docomo version. Have a look.



[au- A Japanese cellphone company]

49 11/5/2007 477 Changing editors again. I'd like to keep one editor for at least 3 years. Thanx Kawashima-san, letz go Onishi-san.



[Onishi previously worked with Sorachi on Gintama]

50 11/12/2007 478 The original pages [we draw] are B4 size. Recently fax and shredders are all A4 size only. TOO SMALL!!

51 11/19/2007 479 When it comes to matsutake rice, the best way to eat it is: adding a lot of the cheap mushrooms, rather than only a few of the expensive ones.

52 11/26/2007 Break

1 12/3/2007 480 The one-shot Toriko from last week was exciting. I wanna read it in serialization puh-leeeze!!

2 12/10/2007 481 I had an interview with Usuta-kun. Actually, less an interview than a…a what? Gabfest? Seems it will be going on sale in January.

3 12/17/2007 482 Inagaki-san, I got a fax-copier!! It's so useful!! Have all the pros been using this!?

4+5 12/24/2007 483 I started listening to the work of Torazo Hirosawa. It's given me all sorts of inspiration. That's all for now.



[Torazo Hirosawa is the stage name of a series of artists who performed a style of street performance known as Rokyoku which is essentially telling a story accompanied by a shamisen. Although Oda did not specify WHICH Torazo, as there were several generations who earned the stage name, it's most likely he was referring to the work of Torazo Hirosawa the 2nd.]



[It appears there's a spelling error in the last sentence. It doesn't seem to be a deliberate choice on Oda's part and thus I omitted any hint of an error. Either way, the last sentece refers to how traditional performers would either end their show or change acts, like Torazo might have done.]

6+7 1/5/2008 484 We find ourselves in the midst of a Kinnosuke Yorozawa-Boom. Of course I'm a fan of Kin-chan myself. A GOOD man.



[Kinnosuke Yorozawa: Classic Japanese actor.]

8 1/21/2008 485 Wishing you a happy new year. Big thanks to all involved with JUMP Festa. Year after years the voice actors and actresses are so lively it makes me happy just seeing them.

9 1/28/2008 486 The advance tickets for next year's One Piece movie are being sold by the truckloads breaking our previous records. Great news.



[I must assume Oda meant 'this year'. There's a good chance he wrote this comment before the new year.]

10 2/4/2008 487 The anime has reached Thriller Bark and Brook's Cho-san is superb. Check it out ok.

11 2/9/2008 488 Dorikamu' allowed me to draw the cover art of their incredible single, 'Mata ne'! It's got some of my scribbles on the inside too; on sale February 27th.

12 2/18/2008 Break

13 2/25/2008 489 I'm really sorry about that. I used my break last week to work on something you're all gonna love next year. It's going to knock your socks off. I'll do my best.

14 3/3/2008 490 Reports from the movie's screenings are very positive!!! I'm dying to see what the viewers have to say myself.

15 3/10/2008 491 So Prince of Tennis finally came to an end. A long-term serialization that stretched over 9 years, Konomi-san, congratulations on a job well done.

16 3/17/2008 492 The Chopper arc movie is a remarkable achievement. Complete satisfaction. I'm literally beaming with pride.

17 3/24/2008 493 Nakamura-san from 'Dorikamu' wrote up his impressions of the movie. You can check it out at the 'Dorikamu-buro'.



[Dorikamu-buro: Dreams Come True Blog]

18 3/31/2008 494 The final push!! Please bring all your fathers to see the movie. I wanna make some dads cry!

19 4/7/2008 495 Mr. Takei has been working on refurbishing his original drafts since the year before last. Fans are gonna love the Shaman King perfect edition.



[Takei- Hiroyuki Takei, author of Shaman King and Oda's friend with whom he worked as an assistant for Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin.]

20 4/14/2008 496 I realized it's about time I started writing New Year's postcards, so I'm working on them. Happy New Year.

21 4/21/2008 497 NOSEBLEED FWOO------SH!! I forgot to say 'thank you' for Valentine's [chocolates]! They were delicious!!

22+23 4/28/2008 498 The One Piece mobile site Moja now has an online Othello game. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by what they can do with these things by now, fantastic! Yasuhiro Kano [Mx0]- I couldn't wait for Prison Break Season 3 so I started watching LOST and became obsessed. American dramas are so cool.

24 5/12/2008 Break

25 5/19/2008 499 I'm in the middle of handling the story for next year's One Piece movie. I might cause some hiccups in JUMP but that's because I refuse to half-ass my way through either job.

26 5/26/2006 500 Was at Shaman King's Takei-san's place for a barbeque. I carved my way into a slab of meat from Hanamasa Butchers. That store is awesome.

27 6/2/2008 501 I added a bunch of decorations to the back of my cell phone only to realize, that made it impossible to fit into the charger. LOL.

28 6/9/2008 502 Yoshitaka Amano-san's 'Vegetable Fairies' on NHK is reaaa~lly classy.



[Vegetable Fairies- A series of 3-D/watercolor-style animated shorts with designs by Yoshitaka Amano.]

29 6/16/2008 503 Manga author hopefuls must have a blast reading 'Hettapi Manga Studio'. If you read that you can learn to be a pro!! Murata-kun, do you best!

30 6/23/2008 504 I couldn't attend the Serial [Comic] Commemoration Awards. I missed out on some great party food.

31 6/30/08 505 I've been introduced to this coffee maker-like-thing, the Dolce Gusto. The staff and I are pounding down the joe.



[Interestingly enough, this comment was near the publication of Chapter 501 in which Oda introduced the Coffee Monkeys team. There's a possibility the coffee maker may have been his inspiration for the name..]

32 7/7/2008 506 There's two of 'em now!! Onishi-san is now in charge of media and Hattori-san is in charge of the manga. Two editors huh, iii~nteresting. Murata [Hettapi Manga Kenkyuujo R]- I'm very appreciative of Oda-san's words of support. It really sparked a fire in me but out of nowhere came a number of unexpected stumbling blocks.

33 7/14/2008 Break

34 7/19/2008 507 The second RPG has finally come out on the One Piece mobile site 'Mojya!' ! I've been waiting for it. It's gorgeous!!

35 7/28/2008 508 I stayed overnight in Nagoya with the voice acting and anime staff. Eating REAL miso katsu is like having a completely different kind of dish. A delicacy.



[miso katsu- breaded and fried pork cutlets covered in miso]

36 8/4/2008 509 This is the last week we're accepting votes for the popularity ranking. I'm looking forward to the results this time more than ever before. I can't imagine how it's going to turn out.

37+38 8/11/2008 510 I am sooo~ looking forward to One Piece Unlimited Cruise. As promised Gabarion [the game developers], I beat the first game!!

39 8/25/2008 511 And now Tezuka and Akatsuka, masters of their field, are both gone. Now that they're gone we realize that the size of our loss is comparable to the North Star itself.



[Akatsuka- Fujio Akatsuka, manga author of such respected works as Genius Bakabon and The Secrets of Akko-chan. He passed away on August 2nd, 2009.]

40 9/1/2008 512 Ponyo, Ponyo, Ponyo tiny little fish, Shes a little fish from the deep blue sea, Ponyo, Pon-

41 9/8/2008 513 The Shinobu Kaitani Pirate Crew attacked our office. What a nuisance. Come again anytime.



[Shinobu Kaitani- Author of Liar Game. Oda was is his former assistant.]

42 9/13/2008 514 At a drinking party with the anime staff, all of One Piece's editors, past and present, were forced to dress up in drag. You're all disgusting.

43 9/22/2008 515 Happy about the Luffy dolls coming out from Panson Works celebrating 40 years.[of JUMP]. I've got a TON of Laundry t-shirts.



[Laundry- a maker of t-shirts connected to Panson, a company that makes collectable toys. They're best known for taking characters from established films or series and applying similar childish smirking characteristics to them.]

44 9/29/2008 516 Unlimited Cruise. A fun series as usual!! Even the staff that aren't into One Piece play this game.

45 10/6/2008 517 I got a chance to hear the voice actor's recording of the sailing song I wrote in the comic, 'Binks' Sake'. It's rea~lly good.

46 10/11/2008 518 Those of you concerned about the order of the comics might be startled this week [since OP was in 9th] but it's only because I was late handing in my final drafts. Sorry!!

47 10/20/2008 Break

48 10/27/2008 519 My former editor Pooh-san, aka Kawashima-san, got married. Looks like you’ll have even more of a reason to hurry home early!

49 11/1/2008 520 So like my cell phone's like ring tone is like Kevin&Paul's like Turkey Cock'n Roll like the music video like so like totally awesome. Congratulations to JUMP for publishing like 2000 issues!!

50 11/10/2008 521 I saw the Chopper movie extras disc with the video of them post-recording. Those guys… they're really amazing.

51 11/17/2008 522 Looks like they're doing something to commemorate the 100th One Piece anime DVD. Also I finished up work on Volume 52.

52 11/24/2008 523 A yaki-imo vendor passed by so I bought one. The potatoes have gotten HUGE and now they're practically a delicacy like chestnuts!



[Yaki-imo- A baked Japanese sweet potato.]

1 12/1/2008 524 We're getting closer to 'Binks' Sake' in the anime. Don't miss it.

2 12/8/2008 525 After reading Akimoto-sensei's 'Manga Brain Training' I feel like making a fresh start next year.



[Osamu Akimoto- Author of Kochikame.]

3 12/15/2008 Break

4+5 12/22/2008 526 JUMP Festa should be over by the time you read this but right now the voice acting team is busily prepping their costumes. Wonder what I'll be wearing this time.

6+7 1/5/2009 527 The deliciousness of Krispy Kreme donuts is insane. Just what is it, that miracle in my mouth?

8 1/19/2009 528 I had a horse steak for the first time in my life. It has a consistency different from beef and I think I might be able to run a little faster.

9 1/26/2009 529 I had an iterview with Takehiko Inoue-sensei for his manga exhibition. I've met yet another living legend.



[Takehiko Inoue- Author of Slam Dunk.]

10 2/2/2009 530 Both of my editors had a baby. Neither liked my idea for a name, Sauzandosaniiko. Congratulations.



[Sauzandosaniiko- Oda simply added the common female name suffix 'ko' to the end of 'Thousand Sunny' instead of the usual 'go']

11 2/9/2009 531 Naruto's 10th Anniversary!! Whew, you've got a load of work heading your way Kishimoto-sensei so good luck and congratulations!

12 2/16/2009 532 I went to the anime's new year party. Comic, movie, toys and music, let's do our best again this year!

13 2/23/2009 533 While in the middle of writing a final draft, I realized that my driver's license was up for renewal this year; and that the expiration date was the very next day. It was a mad rush but somehow I made it in time.

14 3/2/2009 Break

15 3/9/2009 534 I saw Akimoto-sensei's [documentary on the program] Jounetsu Tairiku. Because we're in the same field I feel I might have a deeper understanding of his accomplishments. What a dazzling career.

16 3/16/2009 535 One Piece Volume 44 won and award at Germany 's Frankfurt Book Fair. I'm happy they chose to pinpoint one particular part of the story.



[The award was The Sondermann for Best International Manga]

17 3/23/2009 536 I went to the world premier of Dragon Ball [Evolution]. It was very 'Hollywood'!!

18 3/30/2009 537 The CD of 'Binks' Sake' has been released. It's a very special song that will come up again in the main story. Please just wait a few years.

19 4/6/2009 538 One Piece Unlimited Cruise 2 is out but you probably already KNEW THAT!! I wanna take down Oars!!

20 4/13/2009 539 Nosebleed Fwoosh!! Valentine Chocolates have been most humbly accepted. And to everyone that always sends fan letters, thank you!!!

21 4/20/2009 Break

22+23 4/27/2009 540 With the number of breaks I've taken for the winter 2009 movie increasing, I'm causing trouble everywhere I turn. I only have a few things left to wrap up. We're making something big.

24 5/11/2009 541 It's the start of the new semester, made any new friends? It's times like this I want to make my manga help create new friendships.

25 5/18/2009 542 I'm terribly late with this. Neuro's Matsui-kun, great job on your 4-year serialization. I'm looking forward to your next work.

26 5/25/2009 543 Went to Costco!! Had a blast!! I'd love to go there as a group to get food and stuff for a party.

27 6/1/2009 544 I tried out a new kind of draft paper that manga authors seem to be using recently. It was too easy to draw on so I couldn't get used to it.

28 6/8/2009 545 There are several varieties of G-pens. I tried some out and my favorite are probably Zebra and Nikko . No surprise there.

29 6/15/2009 546 The 11th Serial [Comic] Commemoration Awards. In place of a trophy I got a real leather pirate flag.THIS THING CAN'T POSSIBLY FLY!

30 6/22/2009 547 At last we've reached the collapse of the Staw Hat crew in the anime. We had a Tako Yaki Break-Up Party to celebrate the event. Thank you guys for 10 great years.



[A picture from this party is what famously revealed that Oda and his wife recently had their second child.]

31 6/29/2009 548 Inagaki-san, Murata-kun, great job on your 7-year serialization [Eyeshield 21]. You've done a splendid job pioneering a whole new genre of sports comics.

32 7/6/2009 549 Shopping by cellphone is my latest craze. Gonna get kimchi delivered straight to my place from a supermarket!! Yuuum.

33 7/13/2009 Break

34 7/18/2009 550 I went to a 'Dorikamu' concert. The 'Mata ne' encore was really touching.

35 7/27/2009 551 I spotted Toshio Suzuki of Ghibli fame in a random powder room! I'm sorry for the impromptu greeting!

36 8/3/2009 552 The voice actors have told me that the reason the ratings are so high for the Island of Women arc is because they said, "Family jewels."

37+38 8/10/2009 553 They've got Flash screensavers on the mobile site 'Moja'. This [news] surprised me at exactly 3:33PM.

39 8/24/2009 554 Listen up all you middle school boys!! I wrote this winter's movie especially for you!! Buy the advance tickets and shake with anticipation!

40 8/31/2009 555 Really looking forward to seeing the DVD 'This is How Ponyo Came to Be' when it's released this December!!! I like this series [of Ghibli documentaries] better than the actual movies.

41 9/7/2009 556 During Obon I went to see the World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go. Seeing all those houses with the thatched rooftops is like looking at the wisdom of people from long ago all lumped together.

42 9/14/2009 Break

43 9/19/2009 557 Ele-kata is made up of nothing but trouble so I'd rather not bother with 'em but their radio program is too funny to miss.



[Ele-kata is a comedy unit comprised of the comedy duo Eleccomic & Jin Katagiri of Rahmens fame]

44 9/28/2009 558 It's way cooler than I ever dreamed! I went to Naoto Takenaka-san's post-recording session. Gold Lion Shiki is aweso~me!

45 10/5/2009 559 One of the master modelers who work on the Portrait of Pirates series, Kuroiwa-san, has passed away. I'm deeply grateful for all of your work.

46 10/10/2009 560 I couldn't attend the wedding of 'Daasa', my very first editor. Congratulations!! I personally promised him that, from one man to another, I'd definitely make it to his funeral. [The editor’s nickname, ‘Daasa’ comes from saying his last name out of order, Asada.]

47 10/19/2009 Break

48 10/26/2009 561 I ain't jokin' when I tell you how cool it is. The main theme of the movie by Mr. Children!!!

49 11/2/2009 562 Master Kaitani-sensei's 'Liar Game' is gonna be a movie!! Congratulations!! I had an interview with Kaitani-sensei by the way.

50 11/9/2009 563 I got some stew and curry from House Foods which is taking care of some of the movie-related particulars. Yum!

51 11/16/2009 Break

52 11/21/2009 564 Was on the radio for the first time ever. I really enjoyed [visiting] the hallowed walls of the 'brick cottage' on 'Toshio Suzuki's Sweat-Covered Ghibli'.



[Toshio Suzuki- The president of Studio Ghibli. He hosts a weekly radio broadcast interviewing various personalities in the industry. The 'brick cottage' is what he calls the studio.]

53 11/30/2009 565 & 0 I can feel everyone's kindness as I continue to hear that the advance movie tickets are selling one after the other. I hear there's an unprecedented number of extras [for buying advcanced tickets]. Be sure to hurry.

1 12/7/2009 566 Really enjoyed that interview with Sakurai-san of Mr. Children. The one in JUMP is just an excerpt. The magazine Switch conveys the full extent of it.

2 12/14/2009 567 One BIG thing about the movie, I never thought Mr. Yasuharu Konishi would provide us with a song like that for the opening music, got me all worked up. [Yasuharu Konishi- A musician, composer and DJ formerly of the band Pizzicato Five.]

3+4 12/21/2009 568 I'm late in extending my thanks to Kousuke Kitajima and Aiko Kaito for helping support the movie.

5+6 1/4/2010 569 It's the first time we've had this many moviegoers for a film so the entire team [lit: 'staff'] was super-DUPER shocked there weren't enough Volume 0's!!

7 1/18/2010 570 Happy new year!! Forgot about that, the new year's greeting. The 13th year of One Piece, gonna knock this one out of the park. Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro [Toriko]- I saw the One Piece movie!! Those beasts rampaging like that was awesome!! Gonna go see it three more times.

8 1/25/2010 571 Due to the popularity of the film some theaters have extended its run, check to make sure if it's still playing and go see it. Kouji Ooishi [Inumarudashi]- Can't get Mr. Children's song out of my head...! Strong World was really neat!

9 2/1/2010 572 At the end of the year I went to Mr. Children's concert at Tokyo Dome. Nuthin' could match the excitement 'fanfare' raised.

10 2/8/2010 573 Right about now my editor should be watching the 'This is How Ponyo Came to Be' DVD. As usual it was thrilling.

11 2/15/2010 574 Had an interview with Takashi Yanase-san for the artbook. I'd really like you to read it.

12 2/22/2010 575 The anime's New Year party was at Chinzan-so in grand fashion. That's what 10 years will get you.



[Chinzan-so- An extravagant banquet hall and restaurant in Tokyo.]

13 3/1/2010 Break

14 3/8/2010 576 The musical* that Yasuharu Konishi-san is in charge of, really enjoyed it. I even get a chance to say hello to Shingo Katori.



[*TALK LIKE SINGING- A musical directed by acclaimed Japanese film director Koki Mitani. The music was written by Yasuharu Konishi who provided the opening theme for STRONG WORLD. Shingo Katori is a member of the group SMAP.]

15 3/15/2010 577 The kids of my editor Onishi and a friend of mine are absorbed in Miracle Battle Carddass!! I hear things are fierce. It's the Generation of Cards.



[Miracle Battle Carddass- A card-battle-based arcade game for youngsters featuring One Piece and Dragon Ball characters.]

16 3/20/2010 578 Currently obsessed with ochazuke. Ochazuke With simmered shijimi clams *sipsiiiip*. With maikon seaweed *sipsiiiip*. Mustard green *sip* salmon *siiiip* sea bream *sippip*



[Ochazuke- White rice mixed with Japanese tea and various toppings.]

17 3/29/2010 579 Went to Osaka to see the final manga exhibition of Takehiko Inoue. I was able to meet Inoue-sensei too. The power of charcoal is remarkable.

18 4/5/2010 580 I wasn't informed that their expressions would be that erotic but seems they've been hit with a flood of pre-orders for those mousepads.

19 4/12/2010 Break

20 4/19/2010 581 At the Ghibli Museum I was able to hear the rakugo of Kosanji Yanagiya, I was also granted the chance to meet him which was exciting.



[Kosanji Yanagiya- The 10th in a line of rakugo performers.] Hideaki Sorachi [Gintama]- At long last the movie is out. There's no 'Volume 0' but I'd be happy if you went to see it just the same. Thank you.

21 + 22 4/26/2010 582 Listen, you simply can't afford to miss out on any of the foods that Hikaru Ijuin or 'Gucci' Yuzo introduce. They're bound to be delicious.



[Hikaru Ijuin & 'Gucci' Yuzo- TV personalities of lukewarm popularity that both have venues for introducing interesting recipes or worthwhile places to eat.]

23 5/10/2010 583 Weather's been all over the place both hot and cold but I'm glad it was warm for [the day of] cherry blossom viewing with the anime staff.

24 5/17/2010 584 The special gift [sponsored] by House Foods, Chapter 0 The Animation, is finished. And what a magnificent 18 minutes it is...!!!

25 5/24/2010 585 Is Cooking Idol Main-chan's voice her real one? Or is she lip-synching? Currently a hot dispute in the family.

26 5/31/2010 586 When I catch a cold while working on drafts there is but one option: not getting enough sleep and making it even worse. DAAAAMNIIIIIT!!!

27 6/7/2010 587 As an adult, going around in a training suit wearing geta will only lead to trouble so I'm getting a brand new suit.

28 6/14/2010 588 I'm currently supervising the Limited Edition version of the Stong World DVD. I've asked for a lot of special things so it's filled with goodies!! Including some additional scenes to the main film.

29 6/21/2010 Break

30 6/28/2010 589 Mr. Minoru Suzuki and soccer's Mr. Nishizawa came to our takoyaki party. Soccer's on fire.



[Minoru Suzuki- A Japanese professional wrestler and co-founder of the Pancrase mixed martial arts wrestling organization.



Akinori Nishizawa- Although Oda only gives his last name and there are a number of famous or semi-famous soccer players with this name, Akinori is a self-proclaimed fan of One Piece so it's likely he is who Oda mentioned.



This was probably the annual takoyaki party with the voice acting staff. As a World Cup year with Oda being a fan of soccer it's easy to see where his enthusiasm came from.]

31 7/5/2010 590 The staff tell me they're not into eating gyudon first thing in the morning. The moment I open my eyes I wanna dig into a bowl! It's the advent of a gyudon boom.

32 7/12/2010 591 This was the first World Cup where my assistants at work got into it with me. We had a blast.

33 7/17/2010 592 I made a little reservation through HIS [Travel Agency] and they threw something extra my way. That's a nice collaboration.



During this printing, One Piece itself was in the midst of a promotional 'collaboration' with the HIS Travel Agency.

34 7/26/2010 593 Moja's 'Card WARS' led me to understand the appeal of card games. I see quite clearly now, you gotta use your head for these thingers.

35 8/2/2010 594 I'm looking forward to seeing 'The Borrower Arrietty' as a family. I can't wait.

36+37 8/9/2010 595 I found myself showered with One Piece-themed food samples. The chinsuko are really good. But isn't the castella a little on the small side!?

38 8/23/2010 596 A 'Go for launch! Chopper Robo' toy has just come out and it's so much like a [living] dream that it makes me weak in the knees. Think I'm in love. ♥

39 8/30/2010 597 Usuta-saaan, congrats on wrapping your serial! As for me, now I'm gonna go have me some fun! WOO-HOO~!!!

40 9/6/2010 Break

41 9/13/2010 Break

42 9/18/2010 Break

43 9/27/2010 Break

44 10/4/2010 598 The new stage!! I'm going to ease my foot on the gas pedal as I move ahead. It would be my greatest pleasure if you could savor the time and join me once again on the adventure!!

45 10/9/2010 599 I messed up Zoro's eye on the cover page of the very first chapter. The scar is supposed to be on his left eye. Ahahaha

46 10/18/2010 600 Thank you for that amazing gift Bandai! Everyone in the office was applauding. [Gotta take a] cell phone pic! Cell phone pic!

47 10/25/2010 601 Won't be able to attend the funeral of someone [that was very important to me]*. I should have gone to see them during my break when they were still alive.



*Oda said 'liked' (daisuki datta) which could also be interpreted as 'loved'. Since both words have very different meanings in English I decided to avoid using either.

48 11/1/2010 602 The rice cooker at the office broke and what's worse the matsutake gohan* we were making was ruined!! What are you the rice cooker from hell!!



*Matsutake gohan- An autumn dish made with notoriously expensive matsutake mushrooms.

49 11/8/2010 603 The special video the Mecha-Ike members sent me as thanks [for the picture* I drew]. It's so funny that it's practically a waste watching alone.



*Oda drew an illustration to promote the 'New Member Audition' search on the popular variety program 'Mecha-Mecha Iketeru' which airs on One Piece's flagship network, Fuji Television.

50 11/15/2010 604 I met Ping-Pong and Tekkin's [author] Taiyo Matsumoto-san. It surprised the heck out of me that he's a really composed fellow because I always thought he'd be a really wild guy.

51 11/22/2010 Break

52 11/29/2010 605 I started watching 'GeGeGe's Wife'*. Could it be my age? I'm not sure why but I can't stop crying.



*Gegege's Wife- A popular daily serial drama that ran from March 2010 through September 2010 following the married life of 'Kitaro of the Graveyard' creator Shigeru Mizuki's wife, Mura Nunoe.

1 12/6/2010 606 December 18th (Friday) starting at 9PM Strong World will be aired without any cuts on TV!! Boys of Japan, be sure to watch it. Note: As of this issue the Table of Contents(ToC) page drastically changed format. It's one of the biggest changes in the past ten years of the magazine now resembling what it looked like in the late 90's. In addition to having a more clean and spacious design Shueisha has added a 'Tell Me Sensei' corner where a single question from a reader to a specific authors is answered each week. I will place any questions that Oda answers here.

2 12/13/2010 607 One of my assistants lined up to buy some of those 'toronama donuts' that everyone is talking about. They're good and all but...ARE THESE THINGS REALLY DONUTS!?



*toronama donuts- toro means 'thick' and nama means 'fresh' or 'uncooked'. They're an original variety of uncooked frozen donuts that became popular across Japan shortly after their debut in Aichi prefecture in March 2010.

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