Eiichiro Oda’s Hilarious Reaction to Voice Actor Tetsu Inada

It seems even the biggest names in the manga industry can’t resist the trashy charm of Yani Neko! Renowned voice actor Tetsu Inada, who voices the Landlord in the anime adaptation of Yani Neko (and is known for various roles in ONE PIECE), recently shared a delightful encounter he had with ONE PIECE creator Eiichiro Oda.

On September 28, Inada took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his excitement. According to his post, the moment Oda saw his face, the legendary mangaka immediately blurted out, “It’s Yani Neko!”

Inada wrote: “When I met Eiichiro Oda-sensei (Odacchi) after a while, the moment he saw my face, he yelled, ‘It’s Yani Neko!’ If I had known, I would have shaved my head and beard to go dressed as the character. We had so much to catch up on, but we ended up talking only about Yani Neko. I’m so happy he’s genuinely enjoying the series!”

What is Yani Neko?

For those unfamiliar with the series, Yani Neko (created by Nyan Nyan Factory and serialized in Kodansha’s Young Magazine) is a delightfully gritty slice-of-life comedy. Set in a world where humans and beastfolk coexist, it follows the daily, messy life of Yani Neko (real name: Yaniko Sato)—a chain-smoking, lazy, and morally questionable cat-girl. Despite her lack of money, life skills, and manners, her chaotic yet strangely comforting lifestyle has won the hearts of many, leading to a highly discussed anime adaptation produced by Bibury Animation Studios.

“Oda-Approved” – Fans and Staff React in Disbelief

Oda’s love for the series is not just a passing remark. In fact, he even mentioned Yani Neko in his recent author comments in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump table of contents, which sent shockwaves through both the fandom and the creators themselves.

Members of the Yani Neko production team and fans quickly reacted to the news:

• Mikiro (Nyan Nyan Factory member): “I was absolutely terrified (in a good way) when I saw the Jump author comments!”
• Tensho (President of Bibury Animation Studios): “This is amazing!”
• Fan Reactions: “Even Oda-sensei is hooked on Yani Neko?”, “An Oda-approved stamp of approval is hilarious,” and “It totally makes sense that he’d love this kind of raw, creative humor!”

It’s always heartwarming to see industry giants appreciating and supporting unique, indie-spirited comedies. With Eiichiro Oda’s official seal of approval, Yani Neko is bound to attract even more curious viewers!

Source: Yahoo News Japan