A Heavyweight Voice Cast for the World Government's Enforcers
Three new voice actors have been announced for the Knights of God, the World Government's shadowy personal enforcers making their animated debut in the ongoing Elbaph arc. Sumire Uesaka (Lum in Urusei Yatsura) takes on the role of Gunko, Hiroki Yasumoto voices Saint Sommers, and Shinnosuke Tachibana rounds out the group as Saint Killingham.
They join Kenjirō Tsuda (Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen), whose casting as Saint Shamrock was previously confirmed. One Piece fans may also recognize Tsuda's voice from within the franchise itself — he played Vinsmoke Yonji, Sanji's brother, during the Whole Cake Island arc. Taking on a Knight of God after voicing a Vinsmoke is a meaningful upgrade in the One Piece power hierarchy.
The casting choices across the board skew toward veteran performers with range. Yasumoto brings a deep, commanding baritone that fans of Bleach will recognize from his long run as Yasutora "Chad" Sado. Tachibana has built a steady career across action-heavy franchises, including Haikyu!! as Morisuke Yaku and Blue Lock as Aoshi Tokimitsu. Uesaka, best known for comedic and energetic performances, brings an unpredictable quality — her range in more intense roles suggests Gunko may carry a different energy than her fellow knights.
Who Are the Knights of God?
First teased during the Reverie arc, the Knights of God are the personal enforcers of the World Government's highest authority, operating directly under the Celestial Dragons. They sit above both the Marines and the Cipher Pol agencies in the World Government's chain of command — the kind of antagonists you bring out when the stakes have outgrown admirals and secret agents.
Their appearance in the Elbaph arc signals that the World Government is no longer content to monitor the Straw Hats from a distance. With Luffy's crew now on the legendary island of giants, the Knights of God's arrival raises the tension to a level the series hasn't reached since the Marineford War.
The new trailer, which accompanied the Oricon News report, gives fans their first real look at the four knights in action. It reportedly amassed over a million views within hours of its release — a testament to how hungry the fanbase is to see these long-teased characters finally animated.
Looking Ahead
The Elbaph arc has been airing since April 5, 2026, every Sunday at 11:15 PM on Fuji TV affiliates across Japan. International viewers can stream new episodes on Crunchyroll shortly after their Japanese broadcast.
Under production changes Toei Animation announced in October 2025, the One Piece anime now produces a maximum of 26 episodes per year. The slower schedule allows for tighter pacing that hews closer to Eiichirō Oda's manga, and the Elbaph arc is the first full arc produced entirely under this new model.
No specific episode number has been confirmed for the Knights of God's debut, but the trailer suggests their appearance is imminent. The source manga is published in English by Viz Media and is available on the Manga Plus app, with new chapters releasing weekly alongside their Japanese serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump.