the author of the series “Chibi Maruko-chan” -Momoko Sakura- published a Mook to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her becoming a manga artist.
The Mook was released on July 22, 2014 and featured several interviews, drawings,… as well as a write-up of Oda’s visit to Momoko Sakura’s house and how the two of them first got in touch with each other.
According to the write-up, Oda and Sakura first got in touch through a mutual acquaintance working for Fuji Television who had told Sakura about Oda’s daughters being big fans of her series “Chibi Maruko-chan“. Sakura, who had stopped reading manga since she entered the business (after coming to Tôkyô she became to busy and didn’t find the time to read manga anymore), didn’t know about One Piece until a few years earlier when she heard from several friends about One Piece. She started reading the manga herself and quickly got hooked! (Apparently her favorite manga characters is Silvers Rayleigh).
After drawing a signed drawing for Oda’s daughters, which their mutual contact handed over to them, Sakura received a signed drawing from the One Piece creator himself and they exchanged email addresses and started frequently exchanging emails after a while. (Apparently Sakura wrote to Oda using the honorific “sensei” which Oda found a bit awkward coming from Sakura so he asked her to use Odacchi instead to which Sakura insisted he’d use Momo-chan in exchange).
After I’m done with this manuscript, I’m off to go and have a talk with Momo-chan. It’s gonna be a feast apparently. Even though it’s an interview.
After a while, the two of them had thought of coming together and actually meeting face to face which ended up happening a few months ago when Oda announced it in WSJ issue #19′s Author Comments section. Oda brought along his wife, two daughters and former editor Takeru Isaka and they went to Sakura’s house for a dinner party.
Upon asking Oda whether the ending of One Piece was already determined, Oda answered:
Oda: Yes, I already decided on how it’s going to end. Should I tell you now?
Sakura: …. Well, I want to know, but I probably shouldn’t. BUT, the One Piece, it’s not something like “the growth your heart went through”, right?
Oda: Hahaha, no no, I won’t be pulling off some kind of Wizard of Oz thing like that. After having gone through an adventure like that, it wouldn’t be fair to not actually give them a reward.
So I guess now we can all rest assured that the One Piece ISN’T “a dream”, or “the bonds created among the straw hat crew” etc.
LUFFY NEW POWERS AND 3D2Y
Could One Piece fans ask for more? Aside from the manga's current, action-packed Dressrosa Arc which might be nearing its conclusion, Mangaka Eiichiro Oda confirmed an anime special is in full steam ahead which will cover the two year time skip!
The One Piece television anime series is getting a two-hour special next month as part of the show's 15th anniversary celebrations. The "One Piece '3D2Y' Ace no Shi wo Koete! Luffy Nakama to no Chikai" (One Piece '3D2Y' Overcome Ace's Death! The Oath With Luffy's Crewmates) special will air on August 30 from 9 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. on Fuji TV stations.
According to Anime News Network, The "mysterious episode" will be a completely new work that will have content not previously shown in the anime or the manga. The special will focus on the "3D2Y" code that Luffy's crewmates must decipher, and will take place during the Straw Hat crew's two-year training period. The special will also feature Luffy's secret haki training with Rayleigh.
Toei Animation producer Hiroyuki Sakurada said that the special will not just include Rayleigh and Hancock, but also Buggy, Mr. 3, Mihawk, Perona, and Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu), among others. Original manga creator Eiichiro Oda will design a new enemy character, Bandy World, who will have the ability of the "Moa Moa" fruit. Bandy World escaped from the sixth level of Impel Down during the Marineford battle, and he is now shocking the world with his former crew by taking out Marine battleships and prominent pirates one by one. The World Government summons the Seven Warlords to take care of World, but he manages to capture them. Now World has his sights set on Boa Hancock. Oda also provided a comment on the new special, nothing that at the end of the special, "a must-see surprise for fans is waiting."
Since Luffy's haki training was mentioned, Oda was asked if fans will finally get to see the much awaited gear fourth, if there's actually any. He simply stated with a smile "it's for you to find out".
It is worth noting that Gear Second was actually first introduced in the fifth movie. He even mentioned that he's been saving it for a while and was eager to test it out. By the events of CP 9 Luffy has already mastered Gear 3rd. and was about to go into gear 3rd while fighting Bueno but soon realized he didn't need to. But it wasn't until Luffy saw the CP9 using their techniques that he learned (from watching their movements) that he could apply their techniques to his Gear 2nd form, making it more useful.
As of writing, Luffy is about to face Doflamingo. It is plausible that in two months, fans will get to see Luffy's much-awaited new technique without the special spilling any beans.
from :
http://www.forumpiece.com/threads/ei...in-3d2y.18055/
