One Piece fans express disappointment with Eiichiro Oda after a 2021 interview in which he praises convicted pedophile Nobuhiro Watsuki resurfaces.
A 2021 Eiichiro Oda interview has the One Piece fanbase up in arms.
The interview recently resurfaced in a tweet which quoted Oda in conversation with his mentor Nobuhiro Watsuki, creator of the shonen manga Rurouni Kenshin. Oda stated that working under Watsuki as an assistant for four months might have been the happiest moment of his life, and that he considers himself comrades with his former teacher, who he labeled “an amazing person.” Watsuki responded by calling Oda a genius, and claiming that he knew One Piece was destined for success after reading the first chapter.
Oda (2021): Watsuki-sensei is an amazing person. The relationship between him and me is like comrades rather than just master and apprentice. I worked under him 4 months. Maybe it was the happiest moment in my entire life.🥰 pic.twitter.com/5Yfdia7HJm
— sandman (@sandman_AP) March 18, 2023
Why Nobuhiro Watsuki Is a Controversial Figure
While a grateful student praising his mentor may appear innocent, Watsuki himself is anything but. In November 2017, the mangaka was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, pleading guilty and confessing to pedophilia. Watsuki’s sentencing involved a meager fine of 200,000 yen ($1,780) and no prison time, with the most significant consequence being a six-month suspension from his publisher Shueisha. Watsuki returned to work immediately after and has continued to write new chapters of Rurouni Kenshin ever since, with the manga in its eighth volume at the time of writing. The anime adaptation is also set to receive a reboot in 2023, despite a resurgence of dissent against Watsuki from anime and manga fans who pleaded with their community to boycott the series.
Given Watsuki’s record, One Piece fans are understandably uncomfortable with Eiichiro Oda speaking in support of him nearly four years after his conviction. Some claimed to be “disgusted” with Oda’s willingness to overlook Watsuki’s crimes, while others labeled such a statement from Oda “unacceptable.” With Shonen Jump continuing to back Watsuki and Japanese animation studio Liden Films showing no hesitation in reviving the Rurouni Kenshin anime, it seems unlikely Oda will face any real consequences for supporting Watsuki. However, it remains to be seen if fans’ anger will have any effect on the future of One Piece.
Oda (2021): Watsuki-sensei is an amazing person. The relationship between him and me is like comrades rather than just master and apprentice. I worked under him 4 months. Maybe it was the happiest moment in my entire life.🥰 pic.twitter.com/5Yfdia7HJm
— sandman (@sandman_AP) March 18, 2023
Oda (2021): Watsuki-sensei is an amazing person. The relationship between him and me is like comrades rather than just master and apprentice. I worked under him 4 months. Maybe it was the happiest moment in my entire life.🥰 pic.twitter.com/5Yfdia7HJm
— sandman (@sandman_AP) March 18, 2023
The One Piece anime returns from hiatus tomorrow, March 18, with Episode 1054, titled “Death To Your Partner! Killer’s Deadly Gamble!” It will be available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Source: Twitter
