Tag Archives: One Piece

LEGO One Piece Hits Netflix on 29 September — Live-Action Cast Returns as Voice Stars

The Straw Hats are getting bricked up — and the entire Netflix live-action cast is coming along for the adventure. Netflix has dropped the official teaser trailer for LEGO One Piece, a two-part animated special arriving exclusively on Netflix on 29 September 2026. If you’ve been missing Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, and the rest of the crew, this is your next Straw Hat fix — only now everybody’s made of plastic.

LEGO ONE PIECE | Official Teaser Trailer — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

What Is LEGO One Piece?

LEGO One Piece is a two-part original net animation (ONA) produced through a partnership between The LEGO Group, Japanese publisher Shueisha, and Vancouver-based animation studio Atomic Cartoons, with series creator Eiichiro Oda serving as Executive Producer. The special is directed by Chelsea Ker and written by Tom Hyndman, who also serves as Executive Producer.

The premise is built around Usopp — the crew’s most reliably unreliable narrator — recounting the Straw Hats’ early voyages across the East Blue and into the Grand Line to a wide-eyed Tony Tony Chopper. Naturally, Usopp’s retelling takes some creative liberties, and the other crewmates are quick to call him out on it. As Hyndman explained in an interview with CBR, the team wanted something that would “ease new viewers into the massive world of One Piece while also giving longtime fans a new, fun perspective.”

LEGO Usopp and Chopper in the animated special
Image courtesy of Netflix / The LEGO Group

The Full Live-Action Cast Is Back

One of the biggest draws here is the voice cast: every actor from the Netflix live-action adaptation reprises their role for the special. That means:

  • Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy
  • Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro
  • Emily Rudd as Nami
  • Jacob Romero as Usopp
  • Taz Skylar as Sanji
  • Mikaela Hoover as Tony Tony Chopper
  • Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday / Nefertari Vivi
  • Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha
  • Jeff Ward as Buggy the Clown
  • Callum Kerr as Captain Smoker

Hyndman noted that having the original cast on board led to “some extremely fun and funny improvised moments” during recording — a good sign for a production built around LEGO-style absurdist comedy.

LEGO One Piece physical sets: the Baratie and a Marine vessel
Image courtesy of The LEGO Group

Brick-Built Sets for the Superfans

Alongside the Netflix special, the announcement showcased physical LEGO One Piece building sets covering key arcs from the East Blue saga. Spotted in official imagery: a detailed Baratie set complete with the restaurant ship and accompanying pirate dinghy, a Marine vessel flying the 海軍 HQ3 flag, Dr. Kureha’s Drum Rock laboratory with Chopper and Kureha minifigs, and Buggy the Clown’s Big Top complete with the fearsome Clown Pirate leader himself.

Pricing and release timelines for the physical sets have not been confirmed at the time of writing. Singapore fans should keep an eye on major game and toy retailers for local availability — import options will be worth tracking if a local launch is not announced soon.

LEGO One Piece physical sets: Drum Rock and Buggy's Big Top
Image courtesy of The LEGO Group

When and Where to Watch in Singapore

LEGO One Piece streams exclusively on Netflix globally, which means Singapore subscribers can catch both parts from 29 September 2026 — the same day as the rest of the world. There’s no region-lock or staggered release to worry about here.

If you want to revisit the live-action source material before September, Seasons 1 and 2 of Netflix’s One Piece are streaming now. The LEGO special covers both those seasons, so binge or rewatch is fair game.

Jump Festa 2027 Set for 19–20 December at Makuhari Messe

Singapore anime fans, mark your calendars. Shueisha has officially confirmed that Jump Festa 2027 will be held on 19–20 December 2026 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall in Chiba, Japan. Doors open at 9:00 AM and last entry is at 4:30 PM both days — and if the past couple of years are any guide, it is going to be one of the biggest weekends in manga and anime this year.

The announcement was published by Famitsu (Japanese) today and is the first official word from Shueisha on dates for the 2027 edition. A dedicated JF2027 page on the official Jump Festa website is expected to follow closer to the event.

What is Jump Festa?

Jump Festa is Shueisha’s annual mega-event, jointly hosted by five of Japan’s biggest manga magazines — Weekly Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump+, V Jump, Jump SQ., and Saikyō Jump. Every December it takes over Makuhari Messe — the same sprawling convention complex that hosts Tokyo Game Show — with franchise stage shows, world-premiere trailers, voice-actor appearances, exclusive merch, and enough announcement firepower to keep the anime internet buzzing for weeks.

JF2027 will occupy Halls 1–9 and Hall 11, keeping the expanded footprint that the event has used since 2026.

What to Expect in December

Shueisha hasn’t confirmed the franchise lineup for JF2027 yet — that information typically drops through individual Jump magazine announcements and the official JF website in the months leading up to the event. But based on what’s currently airing and in production, Singapore fans will almost certainly be watching for news on:

  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle Part 2, with the first film having already become a generational event for SG fans
  • Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, which has been teased in Jump magazines
  • Kagurabachi and Sakamoto Days, two of the hottest ongoing Shonen Jump manga currently in production as anime
  • One Piece — always a centrepiece of Jump Festa — now deep into the Elbaph arc
  • Haikyu!! theatrical releases
Chainsaw Man International Assassins Arc anime visual
Image courtesy of Shueisha / MAPPA

It’s worth noting that Jump Festa regularly springs genuine surprises. The Chainsaw Man: International Assassins Arc, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run anime premiere date and Black Clover Season 2 were all confirmed at Jump Festa 2026 — none of them were in the pre-event speculation lists. Expect at least one or two out-of-nowhere reveals this December.

Jump Festa 2026 Anime Heaven in Tokyo – ジャンプフェスタ2026 [4K 60fps ASMR] — via Kaibear Explores on YouTube

What Jump Festa 2026 Delivered

Jump Festa 2026 (held December 20–21, 2025 at Makuhari Messe) set a high bar. Alongside the announcements above, Shueisha used the event to drop a first trailer for the fourth and final arc of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, confirm the Elbaph arc premiere date for One Piece, and reveal a Dan Da Dan Season 3 key visual. The main Jump Super Stage was livestreamed globally — Singapore fans watching from home at 9 AM were refreshing their feeds just as fast as fans queuing at Chiba.

One Piece Elbaph arc key visual revealed at Jump Festa 2026
Image courtesy of Toei Animation / Eiichiro Oda / Shueisha

Shueisha has confirmed all three stages — Jump Super Stage, Jump Studio, and Jump Station — will return for 2027, though a full schedule and performer lineup will only be revealed later in the year.

Planning Your December Trip from Singapore

December 19–20 sits right at the start of Singapore’s year-end school holidays, which makes it a realistic travel window for families and students alike. Makuhari Messe is in Chiba — roughly 30 minutes from central Tokyo on the JR Keiyo Line — so it pairs naturally with a wider Japan year-end trip.

Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and Jetstar all fly direct Singapore to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda). Narita is marginally closer to Makuhari Messe via the JR Sobu Line or Keisei Skyliner connection. Accommodation in the Makuhari area books out fast for Jump Festa weekend, so if you are seriously considering attending in person, now is not too early to start watching flight and hotel prices.

Dan Da Dan Season 3 key visual revealed at Jump Festa 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Science SARU

If you are not making the trip to Japan, the Jump Super Stage livestream is your best bet — Shueisha has streamed it globally in recent years, with some regional restrictions that have historically not affected Singapore. We will post the official stream links as they are confirmed.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Steel Ball Run anime visual from Jump Festa 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha / David Production

Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage — we will track every official JF2027 stage and franchise announcement as they drop in the lead-up to December.

One Piece Episode 1170: Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban — Tonight on Crunchyroll

The Elbaf arc delivers one of its biggest moments tonight — One Piece Episode 1170, titled “Get the Key! Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban,” simulcasts on Crunchyroll at 10:15 PM SGT this Sunday, 19 July 2026, right alongside the Japanese broadcast on Fuji TV. If you’ve been following the arc since it kicked off in April, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

#1170 PREVIEW | ELBAPH | ONE PIECE — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

What Happened in One Piece Episode 1169

Intense combat preview still from One Piece Episode 1170
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Last week’s Episode 1169 — “The Legend Lurking in Elbaph: The Identity of the Mountain-Eater” — was a slow-burn that paid off hard in its final minutes. As the Straw Hats searched a sacred throne room on Elbaf for the key to Prince Loki’s chains, a cheerful local who called himself “Mr. Ya” stepped forward to help. He then revealed himself as Scopper Gaban, a member of the Roger Pirates and one of the handful of people who ever sailed to Laughtale. Rather than simply handing over the key, Gaban challenged Luffy to take it by force — setting up tonight’s episode perfectly.

Who Is Scopper Gaban, Roger’s Left Wing?

Young Scopper Gaban in a flashback scene from One Piece
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Scopper Gaban holds near-mythic status in One Piece lore. As a member of Gol D. Roger’s crew he was regarded as Silvers Rayleigh’s equal in combat, a warrior so feared he earned the nickname “Mountain-Eater” — after single-handedly cutting down every tree on a mountainside to protect Roger from a pirate army. When the Roger Pirates disbanded he drifted to Elbaf, married a giant woman named Ripley, and fathered a son, Colon. He has lived quietly there for twenty years, hidden in plain sight among the giants.

Young Scopper Gaban wielding dual axes in a jungle — One Piece anime
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

His weapon of choice is a pair of heavy axes, backed by advanced Haki. No Devil Fruit, no tricks — just raw power refined during the era when Roger’s crew was the most dangerous on the seas. In terms of sheer combat pedigree, Luffy has arguably never faced anyone with deeper roots in the story of the One Piece itself.

What to Expect from Episode 1170

The official preview from Toei Animation confirms both Luffy and Zoro are drawn into the confrontation. Gaban is not a villain — he is a gatekeeper who wants to know whether Luffy has what it takes to be a worthy successor to Roger’s will. That framing makes the fight as emotionally loaded as it is action-packed: the current king of the pirates-in-waiting, facing down a living legend from the age that set everything in motion. The preview imagery of axes and Haki suggests a clash that will test Luffy’s growth since his training with Rayleigh, and Zoro’s presence hints the fight will escalate well beyond a simple one-on-one.

How to Watch One Piece Episode 1170 in Singapore

Singapore fans can stream One Piece Episode 1170 on Crunchyroll from 10:15 PM SGT on Sunday, 19 July 2026. The simulcast runs at the same time as the Fuji TV broadcast in Japan. If you’re holding out for Netflix, Episode 1170 lands there on 25 July. Last week’s Episode 1169 is already up on both platforms if you need to catch up before tonight. More anime coverage is on GameTrader every day.

One Piece Premier Summer 2026 at USJ: Boa Hancock Is Back, Elbaf Takes the Ride

With the Straw Hat crew deep into the Elbaf arc and Episode 1170 just previewed, there has never been a better time for a One Piece pilgrimage to Japan — and Universal Studios Japan is ready for you. ONE PIECE PREMIER SUMMER 2026 kicks off on 30 July and runs all the way to 19 November 2026, making it a serious option for Singapore families and fans heading to Japan during the August school break.

ONE PIECE PREMIER SUMMER 2026 TVCM — via ユニバーサルスタジオジャパン公式チャンネル on YouTube

ONE PIECE Premier Show 2026 — Boa Hancock’s 12-Year Return

ONE PIECE Premier Show 2026 key visual featuring the full Straw Hat crew at the WaterWorld stage
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Japan

The centrepiece of the event is the ONE PIECE Premier Show 2026, a live stunt spectacular held at the WaterWorld arena. The big story this year: Boa Hancock and the Kuja Pirates are back in the main show for the first time in 12 years, alongside returning fan-favourites Smoker and Lucci. The performance runs approximately 80 minutes, with doors opening at 6:15 PM and the show starting at 6:45 PM. A total of 84 shows are scheduled across the event period.

Ticket prices: Adults from ¥3,000; Children (ages 4–11) from ¥2,000. Show tickets went on sale 10 June 2026 via the official USJ website.

One Piece × Story Ride: Sail into Elbaf

One Piece x Story Ride Elbaf themed key visual featuring Luffy in Elbaf warrior outfit on a cloud-boat coaster with Chopper and giants
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Japan

For the first time, USJ’s classic Hollywood Dream – The Ride coaster gets a One Piece overlay themed around the Elbaf arc — the very story arc currently airing in the anime. The ride is reimagined as a cloud-boat adventure through the Island of Giants, with Luffy (decked out in Elbaf warrior costume), Chopper, and the crew encountering ferocious beasts and the Norse-styled giants of Elbaf. For fans following the anime week to week, this is the perfect extension of the story in the most immersive way possible.

Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant: Dinner with the Crew

Sanji's Pirate Restaurant at USJ featuring Sanji serving an elaborate set meal to a delighted guest
Image courtesy of Universal Studios Japan

The fan-favourite Sanji’s Pirate Restaurant returns at Lombard’s Landing with a completely new menu for 2026. Seatings run approximately 85 minutes, and character appearances from other Straw Hat crew members are part of the experience. Advance purchase is required — same-day tickets are not available.

  • Adult: ¥7,000
  • Child: ¥2,600

If you want to go all-in, USJ also offers a VIP Experience Group Tour bundling the Premier Show and a restaurant ticket, priced from ¥34,900 per adult. That is a significant spend, but this combination rarely disappoints One Piece fans.

An exclusive advance-purchase dessert, Mellorine Love Sweets (a nod to Chopper’s favourite food), can only be added when booking the restaurant ticket online — there will be no same-day sales, so plan ahead.

Planning Your Visit from Singapore

USJ is in Osaka, about 15 minutes by train from JR Osaka station and roughly an hour from Kansai International Airport (KIX) — well connected by direct flights from Singapore Changi on Singapore Airlines and Scoot. August in Japan is peak summer, so book accommodation and tickets early.

The event runs until 19 November, so there is no pressure to squeeze into the August rush if your schedule is flexible. October and November visits avoid the summer heat and are still well within the event window.

Find the full ticket and schedule details on the official USJ One Piece Premier Summer 2026 page. For more events worth watching in Singapore and the region, check our Event coverage.

One Piece Episode 1169: Scopper Gaban Makes His Anime Debut

Singapore One Piece fans, last night’s episode was worth the wait. Episode 1169 — titled “The Legend Lurking in Elbaph: The Identity of the Mountain-Eater” — finally gave us Scopper Gaban, one of the most anticipated Roger Pirates in the entire series. His anime debut did not disappoint.

ONE PIECE l Episode 1169 Trailer — via Toei Animation on YouTube

Who Is Scopper Gaban — and Why Has Everyone Been Waiting?

If you have only been following the anime, the name Scopper Gaban might feel new. But among manga readers and long-time fans, he is one of One Piece’s great open questions — a name spoken alongside Gol D. Roger and Silvers Rayleigh as one of the three pillars of the Roger Pirates.

Known as the “Mountain-Eater” and the “Left Hand of the Pirate King,” Gaban served as navigator of the Roger Pirates, wielding a pair of enormous axes. His fame is said to rival Roger and Rayleigh themselves. He was present at the God Valley Incident — one of the most pivotal clashes in One Piece’s backstory — and was there when the crew first set foot on Laugh Tale and uncovered the world’s deepest secrets. After Roger disbanded the crew, Gaban slipped quietly off to Elbaph, where he married a giant woman named Ripley and raised their son Colon.

One Piece Episode 1169 Elbaf arc preview — Scopper Gaban reveal
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Episode 1169: A Reveal That Lived Up to the Hype

Episode 1169 finds Luffy and the Straw Hats navigating the towering giants’ island of Elbaph. The episode’s centrepiece is a local guide known only as “Ya” leading the crew to a hidden chamber that holds the key to Loki’s chains. When “Ya” reveals himself as Scopper Gaban — the very same Roger Pirate who has been hiding on the island for two decades — it lands exactly as it should: a living legend stepping out of the shadows.

What makes the debut work is that Gaban does not play it completely straight. The episode gives him warmth and wit alongside the weight of his reputation. He refuses to hand over the key without a test. He wants to see for himself what the future Pirate King is made of — and that sets up everything coming next week.

One Piece Episode 1170 preview — Luffy vs Scopper Gaban on Elbaph
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Episode 1170: Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban — Coming July 19

The title of Episode 1170, “Get the Key! Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban,” tells you exactly what to expect. Luffy will have to fight for that key. Episode 1170 airs Sunday, 19 July 2026, on Fuji TV in Japan at 11:15 PM JST, and Crunchyroll will simulcast it shortly after for Singapore and Southeast Asia viewers.

#1170 PREVIEW | ELBAPH | ONE PIECE — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Watching One Piece in Singapore

One Piece streams as a weekly simulcast on Crunchyroll across Singapore and Southeast Asia. New episodes drop every Sunday night shortly after the Japan broadcast. Episode 1169 is live now, and if you want to be ready for the Luffy–Gaban showdown next Sunday, there has never been a better time to catch up on the Elbaf arc. You can also read our coverage of the latest One Piece manga spoilers for a look at where the story is headed further ahead, and browse more anime and manga news for what else is streaming this summer in Singapore.

One Piece Card Game Launches 6 New Starter Decks — The Friendliest Way Into OPTCG Yet

The One Piece Card Game just got its most beginner-friendly entry point yet. Six brand-new starter decks — ST-31 through ST-36 — dropped in Japan on 11 July 2026, each built around a fan-favourite character and colour, with the English version set to hit shelves on 31 July 2026. If you have been on the fence about jumping into OPTCG, this is the most straightforward on-ramp Bandai has ever made.

One Piece Card Game ST-31 Red Monkey D. Luffy starter deck box
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Six Decks, Six Icons — Pick Your Colour

Bandai has lined up six decks that together cover every major colour in the game’s current meta palette. Each deck is named after a single leader character and leans into that character’s signature combat style:

  • ST-31 (Red) — Monkey D. Luffy: A fast mono-red aggro deck built around Gear 5 Luffy’s effect of attaching rested DON!! cards to characters and overwhelming opponents with Straw Hat Crew power.
  • ST-32 (Green) — Roronoa Zoro: A control-flavoured green deck leaning on Zoro’s endurance and precise timing to outmanoeuvre opponents over a longer game.
  • ST-33 (Blue) — Kuzan: A blue deck revolving around Kuzan (Aokiji), the former Marine Admiral, focused on manipulation and freezing the board state.
  • ST-34 (Purple) — Charlotte Katakuri: A purple deck inspired by Katakuri’s foresight, rewarding players who can read the game and set up multi-turn chains.
  • ST-35 (Red/Black) — Sabo: The only dual-colour deck in the set. Sabo bridges the aggressive power of red with black’s resource disruption, giving new players a taste of multi-colour play without overwhelming complexity.
  • ST-36 (Yellow) — Eustass Kid: A yellow control deck for players who prefer grinding the opponent down and punishing overextension.
One Piece Card Game ST-32 Green Zoro starter deck contents with cards
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

What’s Inside Each Deck

Every box in the ST-31 to ST-36 range contains the same core set of components:

  • 1 pre-constructed deck of 51 cards (15 unique types)
  • 1 Leader Card and 10 DON!! cards
  • 1 Playsheet (the printed play mat insert for teaching the game)
  • 1 bonus booster pack from OP-16, giving you a taste of the wider card pool

Each deck also includes 5 brand-new cards not previously released, meaning even established players have a reason to pick these up for the fresh additions to the card pool. The remaining slots are reprints of key cards from earlier sets, chosen to teach each colour’s core mechanics.

Sample cards from the One Piece Card Game ST-31 Red Luffy starter deck
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Simple Enough for Day One, Ready for the Locals Table

Bandai has specifically designed the ST-31 to ST-36 leader effects to be straightforward — no multi-step triggers, no conditional on-attack effects that require a rulebook check every turn. The intent is that a completely new player can open a box and understand what their leader does within minutes of reading the card.

That said, these are not throwaway products. Each deck’s 5 new cards are being integrated into the current competitive meta, and the ST-35 Sabo dual-colour build in particular has drawn early attention from the OPTCG community as potentially having genuine tournament legs once players figure out the optimal builds around it.

The decks are rated for ages 9 and up on the Japanese packaging, but the actual game has always attracted a broad adult player base here in Singapore — these starter decks are simply a smarter entry point, not a step down in quality.

Beginners Deck Party 2026 — Your First Tournament Starts 31 July

Bandai is pairing the English launch with a dedicated tournament format. The Beginners Deck Party 2026 runs from 31 July to 30 August 2026 at participating local game stores, and the rules are simple: all players must use one of the six ST-31 to ST-36 starter decks, unmodified. No custom builds, no expensive singles — just the box you buy at the counter.

That levels the playing field completely and means your skill at reading the deck — not your collection depth — decides who wins. Both participation prizes and winner prizes come in the form of exclusive card packs, each featuring one card across six different designs tied to the deck series.

One Piece Card Game Beginners Deck Party 2026 Participation Pack sample card
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

To find a participating store near you, register through the Bandai TCG+ app, which lists local venues once store applications open on 17 July 2026.

Where Singapore Players Can Get These Decks

The Japanese versions are available right now. At least one local retailer — SC Collection at Orchard Towers — has been stocking the Japanese edition at SGD $12 per deck. Stock on the Japanese run tends to move quickly, so if you want a specific colour before the English release, it is worth checking with major game retailers and card gaming shops now.

For those who prefer the English version, the ST-31 to ST-36 decks land internationally on 31 July 2026. SGD retail pricing for the English edition has not been formally announced, but based on historical OPTCG starter deck pricing in Singapore, expect them to land in the SGD $12–16 range at local game retailers and online hobby stores — pricing to be confirmed closer to launch.

Whether you are a longtime One Piece fan who has been curious about the card game, or a lapsed TCG player looking for a low-stakes way back into competitive play, the ST-31 to ST-36 wave is the clearest answer Bandai has given yet. Check out our manga and anime coverage for more One Piece and OPTCG news as it drops.

One Piece Chapter 1188 “Void” Spoilers — Imu Stabs Luffy, Zoro vs Sommers, Break After This Chapter

Early spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1188 are circulating ahead of the official release on 12 July 2026 (~10 pm SGT on MangaPlus and Viz). The chapter is titled “Void” — a name that lands with full weight once you see what Imu does with it.

Imu One Piece Elbaf arc Toei promotional art
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Imu’s Void Sword Hits Luffy

The chapter’s centrepiece: Imu drives the Void Sword directly into Luffy. Luffy is in Gear 5 genie form — the towering rubbery giant he debuted against Kaidou — and the strike lands anyway. The Void Sword, consistent with its established ability to erase whatever it cuts from existence, appears to interact with Gear 5’s reality-bending properties in a way that is left deliberately unresolved at chapter’s end. Whether Luffy’s Devil Fruit can heal or resist a conceptual erasure is the cliffhanger the chapter hangs everything on.

Imu’s line as the blade connects: “Joyboy could never be this weak.” It’s a pointed dismissal — Imu has been hunting the meaning of Joy Boy across centuries, and whatever they found (or didn’t find) in Luffy, this moment reads as contempt.

Luffy Gear 5 Elbaf arc One Piece Toei Animation
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Joy Boy Flashback

Chapter 1188 includes a brief Joy Boy flashback — a smile, shown in silhouette. No dialogue, no context given beyond the visual. Oda has deployed this device before (Laugh Tale, the Void Century panels) to signal mythological weight without committing to explanation yet. Placed directly against Imu’s dismissal of Luffy, the juxtaposition is doing heavy lifting for whatever revelation is being built toward.

Subplots: Zoro, Sanji, Robin

Zoro One Piece Elbaf arc Toei anime screenshot
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Three other fights and plot threads advance in parallel:

  • Zoro vs Sommers — the Elbaf commander introduced earlier in the arc, whose weapon set mirrors a giant-scale sword style. The exchange is brief this chapter but confirms Zoro is still in the thick of it on the battlefield.
  • Sanji vs Killingham — another World Government figure. Sanji’s fight has been building since Killingham’s entrance; chapter 1188 moves the confrontation forward without resolving it.
  • Robin at the Owl Library with Saul — Robin’s reunion with Giant Saul (alive, as revealed in the Elbaf arc) continues in a quieter register. She reaches what spoilers describe as the Owl Library — a repository within Elbaf carrying records the World Government missed in its historical purges. Given Robin’s entire arc is about recovering the true history, this location is significant. A rescue team is also shown moving toward Gunko, the imprisoned giant girl whose storyline has run alongside the main Elbaf conflict.

For context on how Luffy reached this confrontation with Imu, see our recap of One Piece Chapter 1186.

Official Release & Break Notice

One Piece — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Chapter 1188 releases officially on 12 July 2026 on MangaPlus (free) and Viz / Shonen Jump (subscriber). After this chapter, One Piece goes on break — the next chapter is currently scheduled for 26 July 2026. That’s a two-week gap, so chapter 1188 will need to carry a lot of weight before the wait begins.

More manga and anime coverage on GameTrader.SG

One Piece: Heroines Is Now on Crunchyroll — Nami, Robin, Vivi and Perona Get the Spotlight

One Piece: Heroines — the long-awaited anime special spotlighting the franchise’s iconic female crew — premiered on Fuji TV in Japan on 5 July, and is now streaming globally on Crunchyroll, including in Singapore. If you have been waiting 27 years for Nami, Robin, Vivi and Perona to carry an entire story on their own, the wait is finally over.

Nami in a blue formal outfit on stage in One Piece: Heroines
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

What Is One Piece: Heroines?

One Piece: Heroines is an anime television special adapted from the light novel series of the same name, written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Sayaka Suwa, published by Shueisha under the Jump J-Books imprint. The novels have been available in English via Viz Media since April 2025 (volume one) and July 2025 (volume two), so if the special hooks you, there is more to read. Direction is by Haruka Kamatani, with scripts by Momoka Toyoda and character design by Takashi Kojima.

ONE PIECE HEROINES | Official Trailer — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Four Stories, Four Heroines

The special presents four stand-alone short stories, each centred on a different heroine from across the Grand Line:

  • Nami: After buying a pair of shoes that hurt her feet, Nami returns to confront the designer — who offers to craft her a bespoke pair from scratch, but only if she agrees to model for him. A quiet vignette about craftsmanship, pride and what it means to find something that truly fits.
  • Robin: Nico Robin is called on to decipher a mysterious stone tablet that could help the Revolutionary Army and their chief of staff, Koala.
  • Vivi: Princess Vivi finds the Kingdom of Alabasta buzzing over a love letter addressed to her — and takes matters into her own hands to get to the bottom of it.
  • Perona: The Ghost Princess faces off against Mihawk — not with swords, but over a prized barrel of vintage wine.
Official character design sheets for Nami and Robin in One Piece: Heroines
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

AiNA THE END Sings “Blue Shining Star”

The theme song, “Blue Shining Star,” is performed by AiNA THE END — vocalist, actress and one of the most distinctive voices to come out of the BanG Dream! franchise, where she voices Mashiro Kurata. She has also built a strong solo career with a raw, emotive style. The choice fits: her voice brings a bittersweet warmth that mirrors the understated, character-first tone of each story in the special.

Close-up teaser visual of Nami and Robin for One Piece: Heroines
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

How to Watch in Singapore

One Piece: Heroines is streaming now on Crunchyroll with simulcast access for Singapore subscribers. The special hit the platform on 6 July, one day after its Fuji TV broadcast in Japan. A premium Crunchyroll subscription gives full simulcast access; some content is available free with ads for new users. Keep an eye on our Manga Anime section for more summer 2026 streaming picks as they land.

One Piece x MINISO Pop-Up Sails Into Suntec City

Set a course for the Atrium — the One Piece x MINISO pop-up is sailing into Suntec City from 4 to 26 July 2026, and it’s packing Wanted-poster pillows, Den Den Mushi plushies and a whole Grand Line’s worth of Straw Hat merch. This is Singapore’s second One Piece x MINISO drop after last year’s Plaza Singapura debut, and the “2.0” tag means a fresh haul for fans who cleared out the first one.

When and where to find the One Piece MINISO pop-up

The pop-up takes over the Level 1 Atrium at Suntec City (Tower 1 & 2) for the full stretch of the July school holidays, running 4–26 July 2026. Opening day kicks off at 10am and runs till 10pm, so early birds and after-work shoppers both get a shot at the shelves. Entry is free — you only pay for what you carry out.

The booth itself is a pirate-ship build, complete with a billowing sail flying the One Piece Jolly Roger and life-size standees of the crew flanking the entrance. It’s easily one of the more photogenic anime setups to land in a Singapore mall this year, so bring your phone charged.

Crowds shopping the One Piece x MINISO pop-up store under the giant sail installation
Image courtesy of MINISO

What’s on the shelves

MINISO’s One Piece line draws from the anime’s latest Egghead arc, and the global collection runs to more than 300 officially licensed items covering all ten members of the Straw Hat Crew. The Suntec pop-up carries a big slice of it, so expect everything from grab-and-go keychains to centrepiece plushies.

The headliners are the Wanted-poster cushions — Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law get their own bounty posters stitched into pillow form — alongside squishy Den Den Mushi (transponder snail) plushies, character tote bags, stainless tumblers and water bottles, printed backpacks, travel neck pillows and mouse pads. Luffy fans should hunt down the signature straw-hat bucket hat.

MINISO One Piece collection flatlay with Wanted-poster pillows, Den Den Mushi plushies, tote bags and backpacks
Image courtesy of MINISO

Collectors get their fix too: stylised chibi figurines, acrylic stands, character badges, holographic trading cards and blind boxes round out the display, plus themed stationery, socks and dining bits like chopstick sets. Chopper, Zoro and Nami all get plenty of love beyond the usual Luffy spotlight — a nice touch for fans whose favourite isn’t the captain.

MINISO One Piece figurines, Devil Fruit plush, acrylic stands, badges and holographic cards
Image courtesy of MINISO

Opening-day deals worth queuing for

MINISO is loading up day one with reasons to show up early. The first 40 shoppers who spend at least $100 on 4 July walk away with a $50-off coupon and an exclusive postcard — a strong nudge if you were already planning a big haul. Throughout the run, paying with ShopBack Pay nets you up to $8 off.

Since you’re already at Suntec, the mall’s own perks stack on top: hit the minimum spend for free or discounted parking, redeem a $5 Suntec+ e-Voucher with $150 spent, and grab mystery dining e-Vouchers with just $20 in a single transaction. It’s a genuinely easy day out to build around — browse the pop-up, then refuel nearby. Keep an eye on Suntec City’s socials for sneak peeks and any gift-with-purchase reveals as the dates get closer.

Part of a global Grand Line tour

Singapore’s stop is one leg of MINISO’s One Piece Global Pop-Up Tour, which has already docked in Hong Kong and is heading on to Thailand, Canada and the United States (New York’s first-ever One Piece pop-up opens at Tangram in Flushing on 26 July), with themed zones also rolling out across Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. For Southeast Asian fans, the Suntec run is one of the earlier and more complete stops in the region — worth catching before the popular pieces sell through.

MINISO One Piece accessories including Luffy straw hat, character socks, keychains and stickers
Image courtesy of MINISO

If your calendar’s already anime-heavy this month, the timing lines up nicely with AFA’s Creators Super Fest at Suntec Singapore (11–12 July) — an easy double-header for a single trip into town. Hunting for your next fix? Browse our other events and manga & anime coverage.

The One Piece x MINISO 2.0 pop-up runs 4–26 July 2026 at the Suntec City Level 1 Atrium. Set sail before the Wanted pillows hit “sold out.” One Piece ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation.