Eiichiro Oda (One Piece) and Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk & Vagabond) Interview
Inoue: This is our first time meeting, isn’t it?
Oda: Well, actually a long time ago I got an autograph from you.
Inoue: Really!? When?
Oda: It was at the Shueisha Tezuka/Akazuka awards party. I had just debuted then and I was extremely nervous. You also drew me a regent-style illustration of Hanamichi Sakuragi. I’ve still got it.
Inoue: Is that right? I’m sorry, I don’t remember that. (laughs)
Oda: No problem. That party was like a huge autograph session for all the major creators. (laughs)
Inoue: I was in Los Angeles around the time One Piece started and I was having Shonen Jump sent out to me. When I read One Piece chapter one, I remember thinking, “Wow, this is the start of a really good comic.” I thought it was a can’t miss piece of work. I hadn’t felt that way about a comic in a while so I made sure to follow it.
Oda: Around the time One Piece had just begun serialization, I saw a survey in a magazine asking famous people what comics interested them. In that survey, you had chosen One Piece and commented, “The creator really believes in his work”. I almost literally jumped for joy, I was so happy. I had a copy of that page pinned up at my work place for the longest time.
Inoue: I’m happy you were so happy! (laughs)
Oda: Can I talk to you about something that’s kind of related to destiny?
Inoue: What is it? You’re making me nervous.
Oda: Well, I was born in Kumamoto, and there used to be a shop called the Antique House, right?
Inoue: Yeah, the used clothing shop, right? That brings back memories.
Oda: I used to go there every so often with friends to buy clothes. Around the time I won Jump’s Best New Artist award and had just gotten an editor, I was talking to one of the shop keepers and mentioned that I wanted to be a comic creator. He replied, “If you make it big, you’ll be the second one born here.” “Who’s the first?” I asked. “Takehiko Nariai” (‘Takehiko Inoue’ is a pen name). He used to work here.” I couldn’t believe it!
Inoue: Ha ha ha! I wonder who it was you talked to?”
Oda: He bragged that one of the Slam Dunk players was modeled after him (laughs). He also said that when the shop wasn’t busy, you would be behind the cash register drawing pictures.
Inoue: Yeah, and not doing my job at all.
Oda: I was really surprised. I was like, Wow! Inoue sensei was here! It was just a shop I went to and I had never really thought much about it before. I felt that it must be destiny so I asked my editor to please let me be an assistant at your studio. He just casually told me “There aren’t any openings.” That really bummed me out.
Inoue: Really? Boy did we mess up. We should have brought you in as an assistant. (laughs)
Oda: If I had been accepted at your studio, it likely would have completely changed my destiny. In a lot of ways, that was probably a turning point for me. I’d always thought I’d like to talk to you about this personally.
Inoue: Thank you. I’ll remember this.
