I have
been incurably obsessed with One Piece, which is a super famous Japanese comic authored
by Oda Eiichiro, since I was 12. It is an adventure story of Luffy, who is the
captan of a pirate team named ‘The Straw Hat’, and his company traveling from island
to island, helping people to solve problems, fighting against evil spirits and
competing with other pirates in order to get the highest price—One Piece. To be
frank, I own a whole set of One Piece manga as well as a great quantity of its
figures and its related products. My family has never understood why I am so
crazy about it. “Girl’s not supposed to read teenage boy manga and more
importantly you’ve grown up so you shouldn’t be too childish!” my mum claimed. Some
of my friends are also curious of why a quiet and shy girl like me would be
attracted by a violent story. May be it is because of its straightforward style
and pure spirit of characters which are really different from my reality.
One Piece
lives up to the slogan of ShonenJump, the best-selling Japanese manga magazine,
as friendship, striving and victory. It is a typical ‘hot blood’ story that is
appealing to me. Every time when Luffy encountered difficulties, he would never
give up and burn his life for achieving the goal. Also his friends would try
their best to help him for nothing repaid. In the chapter of Alabasta, they
made the maximum effort to aid princess Vivi in conducting the revolution of
her country and to save people from the violent domination by a criminal organization.
Their struggling processes are extremely encouraging that I truly appreciate.
Somehow it gave me the energy to pass through many uneasy situations such as
the endless examinations and the assignment pressure.
The
innocent friendship between the main characters is definitely the most catching
element of the story. Every member of the Straw Hat was not joining the group
for no reason. Luffy offered the biggest helping hands to his dear friends
whenever they needed. Helping Nami to defeat and expel the ruffian Arlong is
one of the typical examples. There is a spiritual connection among the company
so that they would never betray each other. They are united as one because
everyone is willing to devote themselves to the committed friends. They also persistently
shared the constant and consistent goal—the One piece. The passions they have
is actually lighting up my boring routine. Perhaps this kind of relationship is
exactly the thing that I desire but it is difficult to be achieved in real
life.
The
beautiful and vivid drawing style together with the well-designed setting of
each island and characters make up a wonderful fantasy One Piece world that
contrasts with our dull concrete jungle. It is a direct and simple world that
the boundary of black and white is clear. I enjoy following the characters to
chase the big dream with the profound friendship and seeing the wicked guys to
be punished by justice.
The
answer of why I love One Piece so much is quite obvious now. People, who are
living in the reality, are lacking in the pure depicted in the fancy world. The
competitiveness is keep increasing in different ages, careers, business, and
even countries in my living place. In such a cruel world, it is hard to let
people trust the others without hesitate. One Piece is like the Utopia amid the
concrete world and like a medicine for healing readers’ wounded minds. You may
think that I am escaping from the reality and letting myself to immerse in the
illusion. One Piece is, in fact, a reflection of what I really want in my
sub-consciousness. It is the representation of the deep desire of pure love and
relationship among people.