With over 500 million copies of the mangas sold for One Piece, it is clear that the title is the most renowned Shonen series. Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece made its debut back in 1997 and has steadily climbed the ranks of popularity, bewitching the hearts of millions of viewers around the world.
A key reason that the title has grown so close to the fans is how the show has been the perfect blend of jokes and stories. The series has presented countless jokes in its chapters that have left a lasting impact on the minds of the viewers.
However, one joke did not stick the landing and rubbed the people in the wrong way. In one of the chapters of the manga, Oda-Sensei decided to make a World War II reference, which led to such public outcry that compelled him to apologize to the fans and citizens of Japan!
The Joke That Almost Got Oda-Sensei Cancelled
Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus holds the capacity to put a big smile on the fans’ faces. The mangaka ensures that the narrative of the story will take its fans on a rollercoaster of emotions, which not only features unexpected foes, but also evokes joy that will feel comforting and uplifting.
The series has been consistently keeping the fans excited and they remain on their tiptoes to read the next chapter. As a result, Oda-Sensei has gained unparalleled respect in the otaku community.
However, his image endured a serious dent after he joked about a sensitive issue that featured Imperial Japan in World War II and the forgotten soldier, Shoichi Yokoi.
On the cover flap of Chapter 89 of One Piece via Screen Rant, the mangaka included a picture of a soldier and a joke. He wrote,
You know how sometimes, when you’re sharing a plate of karaage [fried chicken] with people, there’s that one last piece that gets left on the plate? I’ve decided to give it a name: Sergeant Yokoi.
So I’m like, ‘Sergeant Yokoi is still in the field! Somebody, end the war!’
Little kids who don’t know who I’m talking about, look him up.
It is with much embarrassment that I start Volume 89!
While some fans would know about the soldier, for reference, Shoichi Yokoi was a soldier who continued to serve Imperial Japan even after WWII came to an end.
However, he was subdued in 1972, when he said, “It is with much embarrassment that I return.” The issue was still sensitive to the people of the country and cracking a joke on about it did not sit well with fans.
Eiichiro Oda’s Attempt to Crack up His Audience Did Not Go Well
Clearly, the idea of referencing the warrior was the worst decision that the artist could have taken. Japan is already ashamed of its Imperial past, and the notion of Yokoi’s reference was not appreciated by the One Piece fans.
While some find the soldier a symbol of patriotism, others label the soldier as a black spot of their country’s dark history during the war. The inappropriateness of the issue compelled Shueisha to write a public apology. They wrote,
In the author’s comment section of ‘One Piece Volume 89,’ which went on sale June 4, there was an inconsiderate message. The editors, together with the author, regret our actions, In the future, we will take greater care in such matters.
While the mangaka does not shy away from featuring morbid issues such as slavery, discrimination, and racism, putting an insensitive figure was wrong on Eiichiro Oda’s part.
One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
