SBS Volume 20

SBS
R (reader)

O (Oda)

R: (Note: the question was written in Chinese)

O: Yes? Oh... I see. This one of THOSE ones. A letter from a One Piece reader in Taiwan. However, it's in Chinese characters, so I think I can understand what it's asking. It's PROBABLY asking this: "Why do all the crew members other than Nami wear only one outfit?" There is a reason for that, you know. First of all, they definitely have many changes of the same outfit. And also, Nami doesn't give them much allowance. Stuff like that.

R: Oda-sensei, out of the 5 crew members Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Nami and Sanji, what animals do you think they most resemble?

O:
 * Luffy's a monkey
 * Zoro is... a shark
 * Usopp, an armadillo
 * Nami's a cat
 * And Sanji's a duck.

But there's one thing I AM confident about. I THINK CHOPPER IS A REINDEER. (DOOOON)

R: Doesn't Buggy bleed when he splits his body up?

O: C-come on... don't be difficult. He would be too scary if he started gushing blood everywhere.

'''R: I have something secret to discuss with you, Master Oda (this is a normal letter). Please (x10) tell me your home address. I hope this finds you in good health, kuhahahahahahaha.'''

O: Okay. Post number 202... whoa. If I told you that, you'd be ringing my doorbell and running away every day.

R: Tashigi's age, height and weight please!

O: Tashigi? Tashigi is 21. Surprisingly adult, isn't she? She is 170 cm tall. And she is a lady, so no weight for you.

'''R: Question, Odacchi! Ace ate the Mera Mera no Mi so he can...'''


 * (1) "Can turn his body into flame"?


 * (2) "Can shoot flame from his body", which one is it?

O: The answer is (1). But his secret move "Hiken" (Fire Punch) is a skill where he raises his "firepower" and turns his fist into a huge flame, so it ends up looking more like (2).

'''R: Oda-sensei! There was a music section on my last final exams! And on one of the questions, there was a "Bach". In the music world, Bach was a "Baroque" artist... So maybe Igaram (who looks like Bach) + Baroque style = "Baroque Works"!! So... is that right, sensei? '''

O: Yup. That's right. It's going to be extremely difficult for me to explain this one. Baroque was a style of art, literature and music prevalent in 17th century Europe. In my own very simple description, it was absurdly extravagant. Absurdly fashionable. Therefore, I made the Baroque Works a collection of characters that are each over-the-top in their own ways.

'''R: This is a question from a Tokyo-area 28 year old male (working in the manga editor field). I would like to know the names of all the Super Spot-Billed Duck Squad members. Oda-sensei, I simply MUST know. T-they're so cute... I know this must be very hard for you, but please... do it for me.''' O: Hey! Hey!! Hold on just a dang tootin' minute. I know who you are. You're that former One Piece editor with a weakness for cute things, working for a certain Jump editorial department, Da-asa or Asada or whatever, right?! You, sir, are relentless. And now you're sending business questions to the SBS via email?! This is supposed to be sacred ground for my readers... ah, well. Oh yeah, and I did work for you for four and a half years. All right then, since OTHER people have asked this too, I'll answer it. The bottom row, starting from the left, is Cowboy, Bourbon Jr., Carue, Kentauros, and Hikoichi. The top row is Stomp and Ivan X. That's all. I had the names all established, but putting them all in the manga would be too hard to figure out, so I decided not to.

'''R: Okay, there's something I need to ask you about, Odacchi. I was reading WANTED! (Odacchi's one-shot collection) today, and I was wondering, doesn't it seem like a bunch of your characters pick their noses a lot? (P.N. Pleasure)'''

O: Yeah, they do. Pick, pick, picky. So you wonder why... well, doesn't everyone pick their nose? The other mangakas just have their cameras pointed away when it happens. If you don't pick your nose... your boogers would collect up!! Oh dear... another dirty topic. Printing this kind of stuff makes all the female readers cringe. It'll happen again. But the guys laugh their asses off! Right?! Okay, next.

'''R: To Oda-sensei. Hello! I simply must ask you a very serious question. On page 94 of One Piece Vol. 18, the "Spiders Cafe" looks an awful lot like the "Bagdad Cafe", directed by Percy Adlon. Did you use that as inspiration? I really like that movie, so please tell me if it's true.'''

O: Wow, I'm impressed. 15 years old and you like that movie? That's right. I just loved the atmosphere of that movie so much. But that kind of refined coolness is so out of place in a shounen manga, I was really the only one who knew what it was from. Anyone with good taste should watch it. It'll stick in your heart. "Baghdad Cafe".

'''R: Oda-sensei, I went to a flower shop, and they were selling "Crocus" flower seeds. Does that have any connection to Crocus-san?'''

O: It means "trust" in the language of flowers.

R: WHAT HAPPENS IF A PERSON EATS A HITO HITO FRUIT?

O: I suppose I should say they "BECOME HUMAN". Uh, I guess you could say that means like becoming an adult, or finding your true spirit or something. So basically, people will live more human-like. Well. I guess you could say that. Or not. In other words, not. Yes, that. (ran away)

'''R: Oda-chan!! Today is the day for you to answer this!! What about Sanji's left eye?!'''

O: There it is... again. I get a lot of these. So many, in fact, that I usually just ignored them... all right. I will finally answer one of One Piece's 7 great mysteries, "Sanji's Left Eye"!! Come on out, Sanji!!

S: Hey. You called? What? You want me to show you my left eye?! THAT'S what you called me for? Honestly... fine, fine. You wanna see it? There you go, take a good look. See?

O: WHOAAAAA!!! FOR REAL?!! WOW...!!THE SBS IS OVER!! SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!