Hancock and the Kuja Pirates Take the Stage After 12 Years
Universal Studios Japan (USJ), the Osaka-based theme park, has hosted One Piece Premier Summer every year as one of its signature seasonal events. The centerpiece is the Premier Show, a live-action stunt spectacular staged at the WaterWorld arena. Anime Anime reported the full attraction details for this year's edition, and the biggest reveal is a familiar face.
Boa Hancock and the Kuja Pirates return to the Premier Show's main storyline for the first time since 2014. The park-exclusive story follows Luffy and the Straw Hats fighting to reclaim "true freedom" from a mysterious enemy, with Marine Headquarters' Smoker and Cipher Pol's Rob Lucci joining the fray. Pirates, the World Government, and an unknown threat collide in a three-way brawl across the arena.
The 80-minute show features the most pyrotechnics in Premier Show history, alongside fire, water, and light effects that recreate signature character attacks at full scale. After the action wraps, an audience-participation dance segment and a meet-and-greet photo session with the Straw Hat crew close out each performance.
Luffy Steers Into Elbaf on the Story Ride
USJ's Hollywood Dream The Ride roller coaster gets a One Piece makeover as the One Piece x Story Ride. Guests play adventurers who encounter the Straw Hats on the island of Elbaf. At Luffy's suggestion, everyone boards a cloud-sailing boat borrowed from the giants Dorry and Brogy for a tour of the island.
The sightseeing ends fast. Luffy shouts "hard to port!" and the boat plunges into the underworld, where enormous beasts give chase and the mysterious "Cursed Prince" makes an appearance. Surviving the ride is left as an open question.
Sanji's Pirate Restaurant
The third attraction is Sanji's Pirate Restaurant, an 85-minute dinner theater experience at USJ's Lombard's Landing venue. Guests enjoy a full meal prepared under the Straw Hat cook's watchful eye while Luffy wanders in looking for food, Zoro stops by, and Buggy sneaks into the restaurant through a comedic misunderstanding. The announcement also teases a surprise guest who shows up after sensing trouble.
Adult tickets for the restaurant cost ¥7,000 (about $45) and children's tickets ¥2,600 (about $17). Park admission is separate.
Looking Ahead
All three attractions run from July 30 through November 19, 2026, as part of USJ's 25th anniversary summer. General ticket sales for the Premier Show open June 10, 2026, at 12:00 JST through USJ's web ticket store and Lawson Tickets. Adult show tickets start at ¥3,000 (about $19) and children's tickets at ¥2,000 (about $13). The Premier Show runs 84 performances total at WaterWorld, one show per day with occasional off-days.
USJ will announce collaboration menus and merchandise on a rolling basis throughout the summer. The event is exclusive to the Osaka park, with no streaming or simulcast component. One Piece itself streams internationally on Crunchyroll and Netflix, but the Premier Summer experience requires a trip to Japan.