As One Piece progresses towards its climactic conclusion after nearly three decades, the burden of secrecy weighs heavily on editor Anayama. As one of the few who knows Eiichiro Oda’s intended ending for the epic manga, Anayama carries both the privilege and curse of this insider knowledge.
While the worldwide fandom buzzes with theories and eager anticipation as the final saga unfolds, Anayama must remain tight-lipped, unable to freely join in the communal excitement.
After investing years of dedicated editing into shaping One Piece’s storytelling, he cannot simply sit back and enjoy the suspense as a regular fan would.
There is a tinge of bittersweet regret that Anayama will never again be able to read One Piece with fresh eyes, surprised by all the monumental revelations to come. The curtain has already been pulled back for him alone.
What thrilling mysteries or emotional gut-punches could have caught him off guard if Oda had not felt compelled to entrust his editor with the story’s secrets?
As the finish line draws closer and theories ignite fiercer than ever within the fandom, Anayama watches wistfully from the sidelines, wishing he could reclaim the wide-eyed wonder of experiencing One Piece’s ending completely unspoiled.
Holding the Weight of One Piece’s Final Secrets
As the conclusion to the legendary One Piece manga draws ever closer after over 25 years of serialization, editors like Anayama and Isaka carry a uniquely bittersweet burden.
Unlike the global fandom theorizing wildly about Eiichiro Oda’s epic ending, these editors have already been entrusted with insider knowledge of how the story concludes.
While Anayama jokes about mundane 2024 goals like avoiding overwork and eating well, he hides the profound truth that he already knows the mystery behind One Piece’s eponymous treasure.
For Isaka, the privilege of this secret knowledge has robbed him of the simple fan’s enjoyment of seeing the story unravel week by week.
Isaka can no longer thrill at plot twists or get swept up by the story’s momentum like a regular reader. He knows too many pivotal spoilers about which characters will triumph, which revelations will rock the fictional world, and how Oda will tie up a story 25 years in the making.
Rather than sharing in the communal excitement as these long-held secrets finally emerge, Isaka observes wistfully from the outside, wishing he could once again be surprised.
The countdown to the finale only increases the burden on editors like Anayama and Isaka. While the fandom tries to piece together theories, these insiders must contain not just the final answer, but all the shocking twists along the way there.
They alone feel the full weight of knowledge that could upend over two decades of mystery.
Oda Sensei Revealed How One Piece Will End
Eiichiro Oda has gained notoriety as a manga artist who is hesitant to permanently kill off characters in his stories. Very few characters experience permanent death within the present timeline of One Piece.
More often, characters’ deaths occur in flashbacks depicting the past. Remarkably, Oda sometimes even revives characters after initially implying their demise through grave injuries.
Oda explains that his reluctance to kill characters stems from his custom of concluding sagas with festive banquet scenes celebrating the Straw Hat pirates and their allies.
He feels that throwing a jovial banquet so soon after the permanent loss of a character would be inappropriate and clash with the joyous atmosphere. Banquets represent friendship and triumph to Oda, so he aims to end One Piece on that uplifting note.
Therefore, it is fully expected that when the Straw Hats complete their epic voyage at the story’s conclusion, all surviving characters will gather for a climactic banquet to commemorate their victory.
This final party will allow Oda to close out the story with the theme of friendship he envisions, without any deaths casting a pall over the merriment.
The Straw Hat pirates have made it a tradition to celebrate with extravagant banquet feasts on the islands they visit after experiencing intense battles and struggles. These celebratory gatherings serve multiple important purposes beyond just providing festive enjoyment.
The banquets firstly allow the Straw Hats to strengthen their camaraderie and bonds of friendship with the inhabitants of the liberated islands. This helps lighten the mood and provide catharsis after emerging from arduous clashes.
