Bandai Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Weekly Shonen Jump Editorial Department in charge of ONE PIECE and Toei Animation Inc., hosted a large-scale event, “ONE PIECE DAY Dallas –Card Game Celebration–,” for ONE PIECE fans in the U.S. on March 8 and 9, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. As the first-ever “ONE PIECE DAY” held overseas, the event featured the global opening of the “ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26“. During the event, over 10,000 attendees enjoyed exhibitions that showcased figures, merchandise, ONE PIECE CARD GAME illustrations, and official reproduced Manga artwork. The event offered memorable experiences for fans, with special guests from Japan and the U.S., live performances by musical artists, and more programs celebrating all things ONE PIECE.
DAY 1
The World’s First “ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26”
ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26 Offline Regionals drew over 3,000 participants over the two-day event. Fans from across North America gathered to compete in intense battles, celebrating their shared passion for the game.
Appearance from The English Voice of Chopper, Brina Palencia
With an onstage greeting from Chopper, in the form of a costumed mascot, to kick things off, the venue soared with excitement for the first-ever ONE PIECE DAY in the U.S. The crowd enjoyed a special screening of anime Episodes 1029 and 1030, which tie into the “ONE PIECE FILM RED” movie. After the screening, Ryuta Koike, producer of the ONE PIECE anime, appeared on the stage with Brina Palencia, the English voice of Chopper. In an after-talk following the screening, they shared behind-the-scenes stories about the recording process of episodes and their deep connection to ONE PIECE. When speaking about her long-time experience voicing Chopper, Palencia had moved the audience by stating, “His development has been incredible. Just seeing how much stronger he is, and more confident he is, more trusting than he ever was at first.” Palencia continued, “Chopper healing people is him at his best. And it’s when I’m just the most proud of him. It’s that special moment that he really gets to shine.”
Special Guest The Japanese Voice of Sanji, Hiroaki Hirata
The venue erupted in huge cheers when Hiroaki Hirata, the Japanese voice of Sanji, took the stage as a special guest all the way from Japan. The venue was filled with cheers when Hirata said, “I didn’t expect so many people to show up. Thank you very much.” In a live voice acting performance, he recreated iconic Sanji scenes from ONE PIECE Episode 30, 878, and ONE PIECE FILM RED. The audience was deeply moved by Hirata’s powerful performance and gave him a standing ovation, their expressions filled with excited admiration. During the talk session, Hirata commented, “As far as my personal hopes, I just want to be cooler than Zoro,” drawing laughter from the audience. At the end of the stage event, the North American streaming schedule and an exclusive, never-before-seen preview of the Egghead Arc, which will resume on April 6, were revealed. Producer Koike also shared his enthusiasm, stating “Thank you so much again for coming today. Our story will continue and I hope everyone enjoys it.” and with that, the event concluded on a high note, leaving fans thrilled.
Musical Artists Behind Iconic ONE PIECE Songs, Hiroshi Kitadani & Maki Otsuki
Hiroshi Kitadani and Maki Otsuki, known for singing the opening and ending themes of the ONE PIECE anime, took the stage to perform their iconic songs, bringing the world of ONE PIECE to life inside the Dallas venue. Kitadani began singing the song ‘We Are!‘ to the delight of the audience, who responded to some of the lyrics, such as ‘One Piece’ and ‘We are.’ After greeting the audience with “Please call me Dani! Enjoy today’s exciting concert!”, he performed ‘OVER THE TOP.’ The entire crowd raised their thundersticks in unison to create an overwhelming sense of unity. Next, Otsuki performed strong, heartfelt renditions of “RUN! RUN! RUN!” and “memories.” When Otsuki called out, “I’m happy to be in Dallas for the first time. Sing a song with me!”, the audience responded with enthusiastic cheers and palpable excitement. In a talk after the concert, Kitadani said, “I couldn’t hear the sound of the songs because your voices were so loud! I felt that everyone’s love for ONE PIECE is so great.” Otsuki agreed with him and expressed her respect for the many fans who gathered at the venue.
Setlist
Hiroshi Kitadani:
We Are!
OVER THE TOP
Maki Otsuki:
RUN! RUN! RUN!
memories
Special Campaign Movie of the ONE PIECE CARD GAME
In a surprise reveal, a new campaign movie of the ONE PIECE CARD GAME premiered on the massive stage screen. The campaign movie was specially produced to commemorate the “ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26 Offline Regionals” and features the global hit song “I Had Some Help feat. Morgan Wallen” from Post Malone’s latest album “F-1 Trillion” released in August 2024, which spent 6 weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The video premiered to a rapturous audience reception, with loud, persistent applause.
DAY 2
Appearance from The English Voice of Rob Lucci, Jason Liebrecht
Following DAY 1, Chopper, in the form of a costumed mascot, made an appearance. As the crowd cheered for Chopper, DAY 2 kicked off with a special screening of ONE PIECE Episodes 1100 and 1101, depicting the epic battle between Luffy and Lucci in the Egghead Arc. After the screening, Producer Ryuta Koike and Jason Liebrecht, the English voice of Rob Lucci, took the stage for an after-talk. They gave a behind-the-scenes look at the episodes and discussed their approach for bringing this iconic villain to life. When asked about his favorite line of Lucci, Liebrecht mentioned, “It’s very difficult to choose. I mean, he’s got a lot of cool stuff. Lucci is kind of a dark and understated character…but, there’s a lot to choose from.” He also touched on the depth of the character.
2nd Appearance of Special Guest The Japanese Voice of Sanji, Hiroaki Hirata
Just like the first day, once Hiroaki Hirata, the Japanese Voice of Sanji, took the stage, the excitement of the crowd continued to build. Hirata greeted the audience with “Ladies & Mademoiselle, Mellorine!”, just like Sanji. The crowd was then treated to a live voice acting performance, recreating iconic scenes from ONE PIECE Episodes 763, 825, and 1061. Fans who gathered to watch Hirata’s performance filled not only the audience seats but also the standing area, cheering with elation at his gripping performance. The audience was also thrilled by the world premiere of an exclusive, never-before-seen preview of the latest anime footage, which is set to resume on April 6. Regarding the highlights of the Egghead Arc, Producer Koike commented, “It has all the charm of anime, from action to drama to suspenseful developments, not to mention even more action. I hope you’re looking forward to the series’ return.” Hirata concluded the event by saying, “Having the opportunity to see and talk to you all in person made me truly realize how popular ONE PIECE is around the world. I hope you’ll continue to support us!”
Hiroshi Kitadani & Maki Otsuki Grand Finale Performance
As thousands of fans looked on, Hiroshi Kitadani and Maki Otsuki performed the iconic theme songs of ONE PIECE anime which resulted in the audience responding vividly throughout the entire venue in Dallas. After performing two songs each, including the theme song for the Egghead Arc, the two returned to the stage for the grand finale. Kitadani commented, “Just like yesterday, you guys are amazing,” and Otsuki added, “Yesterday was amazing, but today was so overwhelming that I forgot about the stage-talk!” When the MC encouraged the audience with a call for “One More Song!”, the crowd erupted in cheers, leading to a special duet of “We Are!” The excitement in the venue reached its climax. Kitadani and Otsuki sent a powerful message: “I’ll be back soon!” The performance was an emotional “peak,” embodying the adventurous spirit and sense of friendship that bonds fans of ONE PIECE together.
Setlist
Hiroshi Kitadani:
We Go!
UUUUUS!
Maki Otsuki:
RUN! RUN! RUN!
Dear sunrise
Hiroshi Kitadani & Maki Otsuki:
We Are!
Beginning of ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26
The Offline Regionals for the ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26 were held at this event, marking the first official tournament of the season. Over 3,000 participants competed over two days, battling fiercely for victory. After intense matches, the final 6 winners emerged. The Offline Regionals will continue and fans eagerly anticipate how they’ll perform in Championship 25-26.
ONE PIECE DAY Dallas Exhibition
TOY & ANIME EXHIBIT
Celebrating the return of the Egghead Arc in the anime, this exhibit showcased a comprehensive collection of manga, anime materials, and related merchandise, highlighting the full scope of ONE PIECE.
CARD GAME ILLUSTRATION GALLERY
A large-scale card illustration exhibit featured stunning artwork from the ONE PIECE CARD GAME, including the latest products and designs from the Egghead Arc.
MANGA ART GALLERY EGGHEAD Arc
This space featured reproduced artwork from the manga volumes of the Egghead Arc, allowing visitors to appreciate the artistry of ONE PIECE, including previews of the latest manga episodes.
“ONE PIECE” MANGA JOURNEY Reading Corner
At a free manga reading area, fans could enjoy the English versions of ONE PIECE from Volume 1 through the latest Volume 108, scheduled for release in the U.S. in March.
ONE PIECE DAY Event Summary
Official Name: ONE PIECE DAY Dallas –Card Game Celebration–
Dates: Saturday, March 8 – Sunday, March 9, 2025
Time: Both Days 9:00 am – 7:00 pm CST
Location: Fair Park (at Centennial Hall, Automobile Building and Esplanade Fountain)
Address: 3809 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210
Event Highlights:
ONE PIECE CARD GAME Championship 25-26
ONE PIECE DAY Main Stage featuring screenings, panels, and live musical performances
ONE PIECE DAY Exhibition
Organizers: Shueisha Inc. / Toei Animation Inc. / Bandai Co., Ltd.
Official Website: ONE PIECE DAY Dallas –Card Game Celebration–
About ONE PIECE
ONE PIECE, created by Eiichiro Oda, began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump, issue 34, 1997 (Shueisha) released on July 22nd, 1997. Still going strong, it celebrated its 25th anniversary in July of 2022. The cumulative worldwide print circulation of the manga exceeded 510 million copies as of August 2022, distributed across 60 countries and regions worldwide. Most recently, the live-action adaptation of ONE PIECE was released exclusively on Netflix to great acclaim. The anime produced by Toei Animation began airing in Japan in 1999 and celebrated its 25th anniversary on October 20, 2024.
Bandai’s “ONE PIECE Card Game” has also become a global phenomenon, while “ONE PIECE Bounty Rush,” the mobile game from Bandai Namco Entertainment, reached a milestone of 150 million downloads worldwide in August 2024. The multi-media juggernaut celebrated ONE PIECE DAY ’24 at Makuhari Messe in Japan on August 10-11, 2024, hosting its biggest event ever with a dedicated exhibition and LIVE entertainment zones.
Series Synopsis
A grand maritime adventure revolving around the quest for “One Piece” – the ultimate treasure. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy and his loyal “Straw Hat Pirates” as they hone their unique abilities while adventuring across the world’s oceans in pursuit of their dreams. For Luffy, that means becoming King of the Pirates!
Official App “ONE PIECE BASE”: https://en.onepiece-base.com
Official English Site “ONE PIECE LINKS”: https://one-piece.com/op/links_eng/
English Website: https://one-piece.com/op/links_eng/
English YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OnePieceOfficialENG
X: https://twitter.com/Eiichiro_Staff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onepiece_staff/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onepiece.staff.official
“ONE PIECE BASE” App – Now Available in English
The new project “ONE PIECE BASE” application (English version) is now available. This app features a viewer that allows users to read the original ONE PIECE manga, which has become beloved around the world through various media. In addition to being able to read the manga, a short anime synopsis is provided for each volume, allowing users to intuitively access the part of the story they want to read. In addition, we have implemented “ONE PIECE” related features that can only be enjoyed here, aiming to provide fans with a variety of ways to enjoy the world of ONE PIECE. For example, the app features a “ONE PIECE Portrait Generator” that converts the user’s selfie into a portrait that looks like it was drawn by the original author, Eiichiro Oda, and allows users to create their own wanted posters, which can be shared on social media. “ONE PIECE Portrait Generator” Ticket (Demo) is being distributed for a limited time, so now is the opportunity to give it a try.
App download URLs
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6739035554?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bandainamcoent.onepiece_base_en
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