In recent days, a revelation made by Kazuhiko Torishima, former editor of Shonen Jump, went viral on Twitter. In a recent interview, Torishima shared details about how One Piece was about to be unserialized, a fact that would have changed the course of manga history and the industry. According to Torishima, Weekly Shonen Jump magazine was in trouble, with plummeting sales and a lack of new talent affecting its ability to attract readers.

The decision to publish “One Piece” was not an easy one and was the subject of heated debates for hours, with several members of the editorial team doubting its potential for success. However, Torishima's trust in the editor responsible for the series was key to giving the project the green light, a move that ultimately revitalized the magazine and cemented One Piece as a global phenomenon.

This recent data has generated a lot of conversation on social media, mainly because it has resurfaced an old comment Torishima made years ago, revealing that he rejected the proposal to serialize One Piece up to three times, before the fourth attempt was finally accepted. This revelation was shared in 2019 by manga creator Yasukai Kita in a Twitter post, which recalled a conversation with Torishima at the time when One Piece was beginning publication in the late 1990s. According to Kita, Torishima categorically stated that One Piece would never become a “mainstay” of Shonen Jump. Torishima even said, “No way! What are you talking about?“, ruling out any possibility that Eiichiro Oda’s work could achieve that status.

However, as time passed, Torishima realized that his prediction was wrong. One Piece not only became a financial success, but also became part of the “Big Three” alongside Naruto and Bleach, being a true pillar of Shonen Jump and a fundamental symbol in the global expansion of anime, especially in the West. Torishima even admitted his mistake, confessing that in a later conversation with Oda he told him: “You win!“, recognizing the enormous impact the series has achieved.

Torishima's career began in 1976 at Shueisha, and his vast experience in the manga and anime industry made him a respected figure, even when his views were controversial. Over the years, Torishima has criticized both Dragon Ball and One Piece. In interviews, he has mentioned that "there is nothing to learn from Dragon Ball" and that he finds it regrettable that "no editor can deny Oda an idea." He even expressed a desire to see a manga that could surpass One Piece in popularity, showing his strong inclination to encourage competition in the artistic field.

Despite the harshness of some of his statements, many fans feel that Torishima's comments speak to a deeper desire to see innovation in the medium. These types of conversations have fueled debates on social platforms, where followers reflect on the meaning of art in the context of manga and anime, as well as the business challenges of the industry.

Source: @pewpiece on Twitter