One Piece is one of the most beloved anime and manga franchises, and over the years, many fans have wondered about the possibility of romance within the Straw Hat crew. Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the work, has been quite clear on multiple occasions on this subject, making it clear that One Piece is not a love story.
One Piece and romance: Eiichiro Oda’s vision over the years.
In 2004, Oda emphasized that the crew’s true love is adventure. In that year, he stated, “All the members of the Straw Hat crew are in love…with adventure!” With this, he made it clear that the main focus of the story is adventure, friendship and of course the quest for One Piece, rather than any possible romantic relationship between the characters.
In 2008, Oda revisited the topic when asked if Nami had a romantic interest. His response was as follows, “I don’t think there are romantic relationships between the crew members. Even if Nami can appreciate the positive qualities of her companions, One Piece is not a romantic story.” He further pointed out that these kinds of questions often come up among female manga readers, but that most guys don’t pay attention to such details, remembering that One Piece is a shonen, a genre aimed primarily at a male audience.
In 2022, Oda reaffirmed his stance, explaining that he agrees with depicting one-sided romance, but avoids showing a mutual romance because he fears that both characters will lose popularity among fans. This makes it clear that, although some unrequited feelings or comic situations related to attraction may be seen, there will be no romantic relationships developed within the crew.
It is worth mentioning that beyond these statements, Oda has left clues as to how he handles romance in the story. Although there are instances of love and marriage in One Piece, these are usually in the past or in secondary characters. If they do show up in the present day, they will not involve the main crew and will be treated as secondary elements. As for displays of affection such as kissing, Oda has pointed out that, if they were to occur, they would be off-camera, as was the case with Charlotte Pudding’s kiss to Sanji, which was not shown directly.
A clear example of how romance in One Piece is handled more from the comic side is Tony Tony Chopper’s crush on Zou or the Syrup Village kids’ comments about Usopp’s luck in having Kaya. These situations reinforce the idea that love within the story is more an element of humor than a serious plot.
Even in the live-action adaptation of One Piece, Oda set a very specific condition “the absence of romance among the crew members”. This was revealed by one of the series’ producers in 2023, mentioning that Oda wanted to keep the essence of his original work intact. However, the series did include a kiss between Usopp and Kaya, suggesting that romance between a crew member and a character outside the crew may be acceptable, although it is still a topic that is handled very cautiously.
Oda’s statements have generated divided opinions among fans. Some support his stance and believe that keeping the story free of romance allows the focus to remain on adventure and action. Others, on the other hand, feel that some relationships could have been explored in a natural way without affecting the essence of the story. Comments on social media such as “I like that One Piece doesn’t get sidetracked with unnecessary romance” and “It would have been nice to see a well-developed love story in the crew” reflect the diversity of opinions among fans.
At the end of the day, Oda has a very clear vision of what he wants for his work, and the success of One Piece proves that his approach has worked. As the series continues its journey towards the long-awaited finale, it’s safe to say that the love that really drives this story is one of adventure, friendship and freedom.
©Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA/©Netflix