One Piece is colossal in Japan. You see Luffy's face more often than you see the sun. It's on clothes, in cafes, theme parks, on streets, in shops, in events.
It became part of their cultural life style and and economic opportunity to earn for everyone.
And, let's be real - as we will near it's end, this shit will pick more and more because millions have invested their time and energy into this..
It became a cash cow which keeps on giving not just to Oda, editors and WSJ but even to people who runs businesses on one piece