Eiichiro Oda had to go through every series to make One Piece popular, but there is one mangaka he considers a true rival.

Eiichiro Oda's One Piece is among the big three, and for good reason. One Piece has been serialized longer than both Bleach and Naruto and remains the most popular ongoing Shonen manga out there. Despite the popularity and fanfare, Eiichiro Oda has received criticism for his manga.

Fans often complain about Eiichiro Oda's art style in One Piece. At first glance, the panels look a bit congested; however, all details are absolutely necessary in One Piece. The author has been compared to Masashi Kishimoto and Tite Kubo as their art styles are obviously more aesthetically pleasing than Oda's. Despite all the comparisons, there is only one rival that really stands out in Eiichiro Oda's mind.

In an interview, Eiichiro Oda was asked among all his rivals who stands out the most in his mind. The author immediately replied that the most unforgettable rival was Hiroyuki Takei, the mangaka of Shaman King. Oda then reveals that he has always seen Takei-sensei's amazing artistic sense. Both were assistants to Rurouni Kenshin's mangaka.