One Piece SBS 113: Why You’re Probably Reading the Manga Wrong According to Eiichiro Oda
How to Read One Piece Manga. For nearly three decades, One Piece has captivated fans with its epic storytelling and Eiichiro Oda’s signature art style. Despite this long history, many readers might be surprised to discover they’ve been reading the manga incorrectly this whole time. In a recent SBS (Shitsumon o Boshū Suru?, “I’m Taking Questions”) session, featured in Volume 113 of One Piece, Oda addressed a question that has long intrigued fans: Why do so many One Piece chapters contain wide panels and double-page spreads that are challenging to follow on smartphone screens?
Oda’s response was clear: One Piece is not meant to be read vertically but horizontally, just as it was designed in its printed volumes.
The Manga as a Cinematic Canvas
Oda explained that when he creates a chapter, he always envisions the two pages as a single visual composition. Every spread, every frame, and even the pacing of the dialogue are constructed with this horizontal perspective in mind.
The most impactful scenes—the revelations, battles, and humorous moments—are always positioned on the right side of the spread, while the more tranquil moments and dialogue serve as transitions on the left. In simpler terms, anyone reading the manga vertically on a smartphone is missing half of the narrative effect Oda meticulously designed.
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“I understand that everyone is free to read as they wish,” Oda said. “But I draw with the idea that two pages merge into one scene. That’s why I recommend reading on a device that allows for horizontal viewing, like a tablet or a PC.”
Oda’s Suggestion: Read One Piece Horizontally
Oda even apologized to those who read One Piece digitally on smaller screens, admitting that the smaller size and vertical reading “do not do justice” to how the manga is meant to be experienced. His approach is rooted in the tradition of Japanese weekly magazines, where every chapter is printed across double pages—a narrative style that has largely disappeared with the rise of e-books.
While many modern manga series in Shonen Jump have adapted to digital formats, prioritizing vertical panels and linear scrolling, One Piece remains one of the last bastions of the “cinematic” horizontal storytelling that defined the golden age of Japanese comics.
Two Pages, One Ocean: Eiichiro Oda’s Philosophy
In an age where everything is optimized for screens, Oda remains faithful to the paper format with One Piece, and he encourages readers to do the same. If you truly want to experience One Piece as Oda imagines it, the next time you sit down to read, don’t just open the app on your phone. Instead, grab a volume, sit down, and watch the sea unfold across two pages.
As Oda himself puts it, “A single page is just a wave. Two pages together are the ocean.”
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