The football world is absolutely buzzing as the World Cup approaches, and fans globally are rallying behind their national teams. Japan's no exception!
The Japan Football Association (JFA) just dropped a massive announcement: a special collaboration with Eiichiro Oda's mega-hit manga, "One Piece"! They're teaming up with Japan's Men's National Football Team, "SAMURAI BLUE," to pump up the hype for their upcoming World Cup challenge.
In fact, last week on May 29th, before the Japanese national team even jetted off, "One Piece" protagonist Luffy himself made a special appearance at the JFA's Prince Takamado Memorial JFA Yume Field! He was there for the "Blue Straw Hat Presentation Ceremony."
During the event, Hiroyuki Nakano, representing Shueisha, handed over the symbolic "Blue Straw Hat" to the Japanese squad. Team captain Wataru Endo, accepting the hat, declared his hope that the team would tackle the World Cup with the "Straw Hat Pirates'" spirit, leading Japanese fans to their very own "New World."
Here's a look at the epic collaboration:
① "Weekly Shonen Jump" Special Collaboration
"Weekly Shonen Jump" is going all out with a series of special features:
Issue #26 (released May 25th) boasts a special collaboration cover drawn by Eiichiro Oda himself!
Issue #27 (released June 1st)
Issue #28 (released June 8th)
These issues will feature exclusive interviews with Japan's head coach Hajime Moriyasu and several national team players.
② Collaboration Promotional Video Released
The official collaboration promo video has also dropped, perfectly blending the adventurous spirit of Luffy and his crew with the Japanese national team's World Cup ambitions.
You can catch the video until August 31, 2026.
▼ Collaboration Promotional Video
③ Limited Edition Collaboration Support Flags
Get ready for some serious collector's swag! They're also releasing a limited-edition collaboration flag featuring Luffy's artwork and a handwritten message from Eiichiro Oda himself. Talk about a treasure!
How to snag one:
Head over to the "SAMURAI BLUE Festival" at MIYASHITA PARK in Tokyo, running from June 11th to June 28th. There are only 200 flags available daily, for a total of 3,600. Make sure you register beforehand via the JFA official app (first-come, first-served!).
④ Collaboration Merchandise On Sale
And of course, what's a collab without merch? A line of limited-edition goods, all decked out in Japan's iconic "blue," went on sale starting May 31st.
Tsuyoshi Miyamoto, President of the Japan Football Association, shared his excitement:
"Both the Japanese national football team and 'One Piece' are powerful symbols representing Japan on the global stage, so I'm absolutely thrilled about this collaboration."
He emphasized that "One Piece" has consistently inspired the world with its themes of dreams and challenges over the years. The Straw Hat Pirates' spirit of believing in their comrades and relentlessly pursuing their dreams perfectly aligns with the national team's goal of achieving the "most beautiful scenery." As they gear up for the 2026 World Cup, Miyamoto hopes this partnership will ignite the team's passion for global competition and share it with fans worldwide.
via： 公益財団法人日本サッカー協会