Eiichiro Oda is an absolute titan in the manga industry, and one of the most hardworking (and stubborn) creators alive. The guy has been writing and drawing One Piece since 1997 without any real extended downtime.
His work ethic is not only insane, but borderline terrifying. Unsurprisingly, it’s come at a cost to his health. Over the past 27 years, he’s taken only six (well documented) breaks specifically for health reasons, which, considering the grueling weekly manga schedule, is wild.
Let’s go through each of these breaks and what they reveal about Oda’s health and work-life balance (or lack thereof).
2006 – Sudden Illness
In early 2006, One Piece went on a short hiatus due to Oda falling ill unexpectedly. Shueisha (publisher of Weekly Shōnen Jump) didn’t release detailed information about the illness, but fans speculate it was an instance of his intense schedule taking a toll on his immune system.
May 2013 – Peritonsillar Abscess
This was the first big health scare that forced Oda to step away from drawing. He developed a peritonsillar abscess, a complication of acute tonsillitis. It’s no small thing—extremely painful, potentially dangerous, and it left him unable to work. Weekly Shōnen Jump announced a two-week hiatus for One Piece.
It’s worth noting that by 2013, Oda had already been at this relentless grind for 16 years. The strain of weekly deadlines, combined with reportedly surviving on as little as three hours of sleep a night, was bound to catch up to him.
2014 – Fever and Exhaustion
In 2014, Oda reportedly caught a severe fever, leading to a brief break. While this wasn’t a major medical condition, it highlighted his susceptibility to illness, likely due to his infamous lack of rest.
January 2019 – Early Signs of Gout and Diabetes
Oda revealed during an interview with comedian Sanma Akashiya that his doctor had flagged early symptoms of gout and diabetes, both linked to his sedentary lifestyle and poor circulation.
Apparently, Oda spends nearly all his time sitting—he once joked that he only stands when using the restroom. His diet is also notoriously unhealthy (lots of meat, little variety), which likely contributed to these issues.
Fans started to worry about his long-term health after this revelation, especially since he brushed it off at the time.
2020 – High Blood Pressure
Later in 2020, Sanma Akashiya gave Oda a blood pressure monitor after learning his blood pressure was unusually high. This became public knowledge, adding to the growing picture of Oda’s health problems. While no formal break occurred here, it’s another instance of his lifestyle catching up to him.
October 2020 – Sudden Illness
Jump forward to October 2020, and we finally got another official break announcement. Oda fell ill suddenly, and while Jump officials didn’t specify the condition, fans speculated it could be tied to his previously known health problems (gout, diabetes, or high blood pressure).
He took a two-week hiatus, which, in hindsight, feels like the bare minimum considering how much he’s been through.
Regular One-Week Breaks Starting 2020
From mid-2020 onward, Weekly Shōnen Jump began scheduling more frequent breaks for its serialized authors, including Oda. Since then, he’s been taking planned one-week breaks approximately once a month.
These one-week breaks are now standard practice and have likely prevented more severe health issues. Oda has stated that he uses these breaks to refine his ideas and recharge (though, knowing him, he’s probably still working).
June 2023 – Eye Surgery
In 2023, Oda underwent eye surgery for astigmatism, specifically to improve his vision for drawing. This time, he took a four-week hiatus, the longest health-related break in his career. Considering how critical his vision is to his work, it’s shocking he didn’t address this sooner.
November 2024 – Ongoing Two-Week Break
Most recently, Jump announced another two-week break in November 2024 to address deteriorating physical health of Eiichiro Oda. Details are sparse, but it’s not hard to connect the dots. Decades of poor sleep, a lack of exercise, and an unforgiving schedule are taking their toll.
Oda works absurd hours (reportedly 21 hours a day at times), sleeps in his studio, and rarely takes breaks. This workaholic mindset has given us one of the most iconic manga series ever, but it’s also why his health is in such a precarious state.
While fans obviously love One Piece, many have expressed concern over the years, especially as manga artists’ grueling schedules come under increasing scrutiny. Creators like Kentaro Miura (Berserk) and Yoshihiro Togashi (Hunter x Hunter) have faced similar issues, and Miura’s untimely death in 2021 was a wake-up call for the industry.
For Oda, each break seems to come only when absolutely necessary, not as a preventative measure. While he has stated he wants to see One Piece through to the end, it’s hard not to wonder if his intense work ethic might force him to step back sooner than planned.
