“One Piece,” with over 500 million copies sold, is a true titan in the manga industry. The hit Weekly Shonen Jump series has sailed the seas for decades, and in that time, it has seen other series make a name for themselves as well. One example is “Naruto,” which premiered some time after “One Piece” and somehow achieved global success before Eiichiro Oda’s pirate story. According to some Shonen Jump editors, the reason Naruto has surpassed One Piece in global popularity comes down to the drama.

This Naruto vs. One Piece analysis was made in a Shonen Jump session, where editors Yahagi Kosuke and Kazuhiko Torishima examined the two franchises. During the discussion, Yahagi, who was an editor on Naruto alongside creator Masashi Kishimoto, admitted that the series is easier to understand because it is not as complex as One Piece. «The drama in One Piece is very interesting. On the other hand, Naruto is easier to understand because of the action and other aspects than the drama. I have children, and when I show them One Piece, what they understand least is the drama.», commented Yahagi during the interview.

«We've been reading manga for a long time, so we tend to delve into what makes a manga interesting. But many people overseas don't understand Japanese manga. I think it's because they don't have the same reading comprehension skills. So ultimately, I think Naruto doesn't require that kind of comprehension.“, wide.

Takashi Matsuyama, an editor who worked on “Dragon Ball,” also shared his thoughts on Naruto. According to him, One Piece is like a classic Yakuza movie, while Naruto resembles a Hollywood film. «This is just my perception, but what One Piece is doing, although it may seem strange to call it kabuki, is something in the style of the old Yakuza movies. It's like a play, including the emotional parts that appeal to the Japanese people. Naruto is more Hollywood-oriented in some aspects, including its development. That's why I think the nature of its global success is different.».

Yahagi’s statement about “lack of reading comprehension” generated a flood of comments in the community, many of which supported his claim. Comments such as “The fact that you think this is disrespectful to Naruto proves your point.” and “Naruto fans don't even know what worldbuilding is” reflect the perception that Naruto is more accessible and therefore more popular worldwide.

Source: Comics