Eiichiro oda
One Piece

Usually, a review is written to talk, reflect, and express oneself. You praise what you like, destroy what disgusts you, and discuss everything else. All of this must be supported by a critical spirit to prevent the writing from losing value and becoming a tedious exercise. In my case, the risk of ending up in the category of the inconclusive is real; this is not a review but PROPAGANDA.

What is One Piece?

One Piece is a manga written and illustrated by the Japanese mangaka Eiichiro Oda, regularly published since 1997 in the Shonen Jump magazine, still ongoing. The author had initially aimed to finish it within five years, but this was not feasible. The creativity of this man is so overflowing, continuous, explosive that it was clear from the beginning that the initial intent was impossible. The story has expanded enormously, all in such a natural way that it almost seems as if it was originally intended to be this long. Yes, but how long? Currently, as I write, we have reached chapter 816 of the comic, and there is no reason to doubt that the milestone of 1000 chapters will be reached within a maximum of three years.

Why is One Piece important?

With over 300 million copies sold by 2013, an incredibly successful anime ("cartoon") derived from the comic, an impact on mass culture that is monumental, One Piece represents something as national-popular as you can find on the face of the earth. It matters little if many of you have not read it, the numbers (and the facts speak clearly). In Japan, Oda is seen almost mystically, not as an electropop guru like Battiato, but as a true monument, a symbol of the nation to be preserved and exported. For a Japanese person, it is an honor to be born in the country of the national Sensei. In Europe, we have soccer; in Japan, they have One Piece.

What is One Piece about?

One Piece is the story of the pirate Monkey D. Luffy, who sets out to sea with one declared intent: to become the king of the pirates one day. To aspire to this title, he must embark on the quest for a treasure, the One Piece. No one knows what it is or where it can be found, but everyone knows about it because the previous and only pirate king, Gold D. Roger, declared its existence on the point of death, just before being publicly executed by the navy in the square. Thus, a treasure hunt begins that takes the protagonist around the world, in a journey that is halfway between the goal of a lifetime and the simple pleasure of discovery. Luffy is not a normal man; he ate a devil fruit, the gum-gum fruit, which makes him a rubber man. There is a wide variety of these fruits; eating one grants abilities at the expense of the ability to swim, which is irreparably lost (quite ironic for a pirate, eh?). Thus, the rubber man recruits traveling companions who become his crew and sets off convinced he can make it; he will be the new king of the pirates!

How is the One Piece world structured?

The work in question is the most layered and complex I've ever seen in my life. One reason for such complexity is the geopolitical aspect.

Geography of One Piece

The "normal" world is divided into four seas, one for each cardinal point. The narrative starts from the East Sea (East Blue). These seas, situated at great distances from each other, converge on an enormous mountain, the "Reverse Mountain." This is traversed vertically by the sea and is thus navigable, leading to a far larger ocean called the Grand Line, which constitutes the "Main Route." To travel along the Main Route, you need a super tough crew, special navigational instruments (compasses don't work), and a lot of luck. The strongest pirates can finally reach an island that is the only possible connection (for those wanted) with the final part of the Main Route. This is followed by an underwater journey of over ten thousand meters of depth that leads to the final part of the Grand Line, the "New World." In the New World, there are no precise climatic rules, and traveling even to reach a neighboring island is a feat. But for you, common civilians from Debaser who are not wanted by the world government, it will be much easier to reach the New World. The government has placed three doors the size of a Monte Bianco and a half in the middle of the ocean and manages transit in every area, including the final part of the Main Route.

The political balance

The world is immensely large and is essentially made up of islands. Each has a more or less autonomous form of government, usually kingdoms with centuries-old dynasties, but there are also completely democratic countries and states. But whether you are an inhabitant of a kingdom or a republic, you will, in any case, be affiliated with the world government (WG). WG brings together under its flag the entire world or almost. In this sense, the government represents the main center of power. However, with piracy on the rise, it represents a serious threat to the natural order of things. In addition, there is a group of revolutionaries aiming to overturn the geopolitical setup. For this reason, the WG has created a balance game called the 3 forces. Three declared centers of power that allow for the balance of peace in the world. And here they are:

1) Navy/Military

2) The Seven Warlords: There are 7 pirates with enormous strength and political weight (crew) who make a pact with the government. The navy takes any bounty off their heads and no longer seeks them, but in return, they must help the government when needed.

3) The Four Emperors: They are the 4 strongest and most important pirates in the world. Their importance is such that the other two centers of power essentially exist to balance their specific weight.

Well, enough now, let's talk seriously.

From what is written above, it is evident how easy it is to arrive at a number of complex and interconnected scenarios and situations. Stratification is one of the main ingredients, and the number of characters (thousands and thousands) is the element with which this is accomplished. Thus follow intrigues, hidden scenarios, wars, and power plays. One Piece resembles the real world. Often a narrative arc or saga becomes a way to reflect on the real world. But it doesn't stop there. Eiichiro Oda is Japan's sensei, not by chance. If the complexity of the plot is a winning element, what is most surprising is the rhythmic and stylistic variety that the author can imprint on the work. You can laugh heartily, cry like fools in front of the comic, feel anxiety or great relief. You can't get bored; there isn't time to get used to it, the cards in play are constantly changed. And it's not over here. The number of characters is enormous, as I've already said, but their characterizations are remarkable! Oda often says he draws thinking of the characters more than the stories. The result is an incredible variety of characters. The average villain of One Piece doesn't exist; everyone is unique, and the same goes for all other narrative archetypes. Sometimes you come across characters that are simply absurd, and it doesn't matter what psychological or character profile they have, they're just crazy! Imagine a man with the power to create poison and think about how he might be portrayed in any work. Done? Did you by any chance think of someone who enjoys eating his own poison and due to this has violent and repeated attacks of diarrhea? Sure, to fully enjoy the work you'd need a significant Japanese cultural background, which I don't possess. Another important element is the enormous number of literary, artistic, iconographic references. The character of Doflamingo, for example, is a case of literary antithesis to Don Quixote, Ener is an Eminem designed and made the God of Thunder, and these are two cases among a myriad of others. Then there's the icing on the cake for those who get attached to certain characters and don't want to let them go. Each chapter begins with a page called a mini-adventure where we are shown the fate of a character or what they are doing at that point in time. For me, it's a bit of an appetizer, but for some, it's even the main course.

I don't want to add anything more; if you've gotten this far and don't have the urge to explore or read at least a few pages, I won't be able to change your mind by continuing indefinitely. But regardless of interest or desire, know that not knowing, at least in broad terms, something so important on a socio-cultural level is a sign of immense ignorance. Record collections and filmographies will matter little; you cannot ignore something so influential. A nation has decided to adore a work; grant it at least ten minutes of your time.