How Long Did Eiichiro Oda Expect One Piece to Last?

David Senra says Eiichiro Oda expected One Piece to take just five years. Oda did not think the comic was going to be his life's work, and he badly underestimated the scope of what he was creating.

When Oda began publishing One Piece in July 1997, he imagined the entire adventure lasting approximately five years. In a 2022 interview, he admitted the original five-year plan had grown into a series approaching its 30th anniversary in 2027. He has repeatedly underestimated how much time remains until the ending. Each new estimate still left the ending further off than he had thought. The adventure he pictured in July 1997 is still unfinished.