ONE PIECE HEROINES has released a new promotional trailer previewing its original theme song, “Blue Shining Star”, performed by AiNA THE END.
The upcoming anime special will place Nami at the center of a stylish adventure adapted from the short-story collection ONE PIECE novel HEROINES. The new trailer offers additional footage from the special while introducing the song created specifically for the project.
ONE PIECE HEROINES will air across Japan through the Fuji TV network on July 5, 2026, at 11:15 p.m. JST. The broadcast is scheduled to run until 11:45 p.m., confirming that the project is a single 30-minute television special rather than a full seasonal series.
ONE PIECE HEROINES Premieres on July 5
The anime will make its Japanese television debut on Sunday, July 5, immediately before the latest stage of the main ONE PIECE anime continues its Elbaph storyline.
- Japanese premiere: July 5, 2026
- Broadcast time: 11:15 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. JST
- Broadcaster: Fuji TV network
- Format: One television special
- Featured story: Episode: Nami
- Theme song: “Blue Shining Star” by AiNA THE END
Japanese on-demand distribution is scheduled to begin through several services on July 9, 2026. International streaming plans have not yet been formally announced.
Although Crunchyroll has reported on the production, that coverage should not be interpreted as confirmation that the platform will stream the special outside Japan.
AiNA THE END Performs “Blue Shining Star”
The new trailer introduces “Blue Shining Star”, an original song performed by AiNA THE END.
AiNA THE END co-wrote and co-composed the track with producer and songwriter Ryosuke “Dr.R” Sakai, who has worked with numerous Japanese artists.
According to AiNA THE END, the song was created around the idea of escaping the difficulties that make life feel restrictive while celebrating women who combine emotional strength with vulnerability.
That theme fits the purpose of ONE PIECE HEROINES, which gives female characters from Eiichiro Oda’s world stories centered on their own desires, personalities and experiences outside the major battles driving the main manga.
The title “Blue Shining Star” also evokes the oceanic imagery associated with ONE PIECE while emphasizing the individuality of the women highlighted by the project.
AiNA THE END Continues Her Connection to ONE PIECE
“Blue Shining Star” is not AiNA THE END’s only contribution to the franchise in 2026.
She also performs “Luminous”, the opening theme used for the Elbaph Arc of the main ONE PIECE television anime.
The two songs serve very different productions. “Luminous” accompanies the Straw Hat Pirates’ large-scale adventure in the land of the giants, while “Blue Shining Star” supports a smaller and more personal story focused primarily on Nami.
Her involvement in both projects gives the singer a prominent place in the franchise’s musical identity during 2026.
The Special Adapts Episode: Nami
ONE PIECE HEROINES adapts Episode: Nami, one of the stories originally published as part of ONE PIECE novel HEROINES.
The story begins after Nami purchases a pair of shoes that are so poorly constructed that they hurt her feet.
Unhappy with the product, she returns to the shop and demands that the problem be corrected. There, she meets Lebno, the designer responsible for the shoes.
Lebno proposes an unusual arrangement. He will have a new pair made for Nami if she agrees to serve as a model in his fashion show.
However, Lebno is not the person who actually creates the footwear. The work is performed by Miucha, a talented craftswoman whose role becomes central to Nami’s experience.
Nami Takes the Lead
Nami is normally seen navigating the Thousand Sunny, managing the Straw Hat Pirates’ finances or fighting alongside the crew during major conflicts.
ONE PIECE HEROINES offers a different perspective by placing her in a story involving clothing, craftsmanship and the commercial world surrounding fashion.
The premise remains consistent with Nami’s established personality. She appreciates beautiful and expensive objects, but she also possesses little patience for dishonest merchants, poor-quality goods or anyone attempting to take advantage of her.
Her decision to confront the shop about the defective shoes reflects the same confidence she displays when negotiating prices, collecting debts or challenging dangerous pirates.
The fashion-show arrangement then places her in an unfamiliar situation where her appearance becomes part of a professional presentation rather than simply an expression of personal style.
Akemi Okamura Returns as Nami
Akemi Okamura returns as Nami in the Japanese version of the special.
Okamura has voiced the Straw Hat navigator since the beginning of the television anime, portraying her through comedy, emotional drama and increasingly large-scale adventures.
The special gives her an opportunity to lead a story with a very different tone from the current Elbaph Arc.
Nami’s conversations with Lebno and Miucha will depend heavily on the balance between her confidence, suspicion and willingness to recognize genuine talent.
Nico Robin Appears in the Anime Version
Nico Robin will also appear in the television special, even though the production is principally adapting the Nami story.
Her involvement is part of the new material created specifically for the animated version.
Robin’s calm personality provides a natural contrast to Nami’s more explosive reactions. She may observe the fashion-show situation with quiet amusement while offering the kind of insightful comment that only makes Nami more embarrassed.
Including Robin also strengthens the connection between the standalone story and the everyday relationships aboard the Thousand Sunny.
Yuriko Yamaguchi Returns as Nico Robin
Yuriko Yamaguchi reprises her role as Nico Robin.
Robin has appeared in other stories from the ONE PIECE novel HEROINES collection, but the July special has only been confirmed as an adaptation of Episode: Nami.
Her appearance should therefore be understood as an anime-original addition to Nami’s story rather than confirmation that a separate Robin chapter will also be adapted during the same broadcast.
Miucha Is an Original Anime Character
Miucha is a craftswoman responsible for creating the shoes connected to the story.
Although Lebno presents himself as the designer, Miucha performs the skilled physical work required to transform his concepts into finished footwear.
Her position raises questions about artistic credit, professional recognition and the people whose labor remains hidden behind famous names.
Nami may initially approach the situation only as an angry customer, but meeting Miucha gives her a reason to examine who is genuinely responsible for the product she received.
The anime has described Miucha as an original character created for the special, expanding the source story with new interactions and dramatic material.
Maaya Sakamoto Voices Miucha
Maaya Sakamoto joins the cast as Miucha.
The role places her opposite Akemi Okamura’s Nami in a story that appears more focused on character interaction and creative ambition than combat.
Sakamoto’s performance can give Miucha the emotional range needed to portray a talented artisan whose work may not receive the recognition it deserves.
Lebno Offers Nami the Fashion-Show Deal
Lebno is the designer who meets Nami when she returns the uncomfortable shoes.
Rather than simply providing a refund or replacement, he asks her to participate in a fashion show in exchange for having a new pair created.
The proposal immediately creates tension because Nami is unlikely to accept an arrangement without examining exactly what she will receive in return.
Lebno’s dramatic personality and professional confidence make him well suited to a story set within the fashion world.
Takehito Koyasu Voices Lebno
Takehito Koyasu voices Lebno.
His distinctive performance style should give the designer a theatrical presence capable of competing with Nami’s strong personality.
Koyasu is already familiar to ONE PIECE audiences as the Japanese voice of former Marine admiral Kuzan. Lebno is a separate character created for this special.
Main Japanese Voice Cast
- Akemi Okamura as Nami
- Yuriko Yamaguchi as Nico Robin
- Maaya Sakamoto as Miucha
- Takehito Koyasu as Lebno
Additional familiar characters may appear, but the production has not published a larger complete cast list.
Haruka Kamatani Directs the Special
Haruka Kamatani directs ONE PIECE HEROINES.
Kamatani previously directed Looking for Magical Doremi and served as series director on the animated Koisuru ONE PIECE project.
The new special requires a visual language different from the weekly ONE PIECE anime. Its fashion setting depends on costume presentation, small character expressions and the details of Miucha’s craftsmanship.
The trailer suggests a lighter and more intimate production that preserves the recognizable world of ONE PIECE while giving the characters a distinct visual atmosphere.
Takashi Kojima Designs the Characters
Takashi Kojima serves as character designer and animation director.
Kojima previously worked as character designer and animation director on The Colors Within and designed the characters for MONSTERS: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation.
His designs give Nami and Robin a softer appearance than their counterparts in the main weekly anime while preserving the features that make them immediately recognizable.
This approach is especially suited to a story where clothing, shoes and presentation are central rather than secondary visual details.
Momoka Toyoda Writes the Screenplay
Momoka Toyoda handles the screenplay for the anime special.
Toyoda previously wrote ONE PIECE FAN LETTER, the acclaimed 25th-anniversary special that explored the world of ONE PIECE through ordinary people living around the famous pirates.
She also worked on the Special Edited Version of the Fish-Man Island Arc.
Her experience with character-focused ONE PIECE stories makes her a natural choice for an adaptation that deliberately steps away from the main adventure.
The screenplay will expand the original short story with Robin’s involvement and additional material created for animation.
Alisa Okehazama Composes the Music
Alisa Okehazama is responsible for the special’s score.
The music will need to support a mixture of comedy, fashion-show energy and the more personal emotions connected to Miucha’s craftsmanship.
AiNA THE END’s “Blue Shining Star” serves as the principal theme song, but the broader soundtrack will establish the tone of Nami’s world away from the usual pirate battles.
Main Production Staff
- Original work: ONE PIECE novel HEROINES
- Novel author: Jun Esaka
- Novel illustrations: Sayaka Suwa
- Based on ONE PIECE by: Eiichiro Oda
- Director: Haruka Kamatani
- Character designer and animation director: Takashi Kojima
- Screenplay: Momoka Toyoda
- Music: Alisa Okehazama
- Theme song: “Blue Shining Star” by AiNA THE END
- Production: Toei Animation
Based on ONE PIECE Novel HEROINES
The anime is based on ONE PIECE novel HEROINES, a collection of short stories written by Jun Esaka and illustrated by Sayaka Suwa.
The stories were originally serialized through ONE PIECE magazine before being collected and published under Shueisha’s JUMP j BOOKS imprint.
Rather than retelling major manga arcs, the novels follow female characters during events and personal experiences not shown in the main series.
The collection includes stories involving Nami, Nico Robin, Vivi, Perona and other women from the ONE PIECE world.
These chapters allow the characters to become protagonists of stories focused on their individual interests, relationships and decisions.
Only Episode: Nami Is Confirmed for Animation
Despite the plural title, the July 5 anime has only been confirmed as an adaptation of Episode: Nami.
The official announcement describes it as one special episode and provides a 30-minute television slot.
No additional adaptations centered on Robin, Vivi, Perona or other heroines have been announced.
Robin’s appearance in the special is part of the expanded anime version of Nami’s story and should not be interpreted as confirmation of multiple separate episodes.
The project could eventually receive additional installments if the first special is successful, but that possibility remains speculative.
The Special Shows Another Side of the ONE PIECE World
The main ONE PIECE story follows pirates, Marines, revolutionaries and world leaders competing over history, freedom and control of the seas.
ONE PIECE HEROINES operates on a smaller scale.
Its characters visit shops, discuss clothing, work as artisans and experience the ordinary commercial life that continues around the legendary adventures.
This perspective makes the world feel larger because it shows that not every meaningful story needs to involve an ancient weapon, a powerful Devil Fruit or the fate of an entire country.
The special can also explore Nami’s personality without requiring her to share the narrative with the entire Straw Hat crew.
Fashion Fits Nami’s Character
Nami has always shown a strong interest in clothing and frequently changes outfits between locations and story arcs.
Her attention to money and material value also makes her an appropriate protagonist for a story examining the difference between a designer’s reputation and an artisan’s work.
She understands that expensive products are not automatically well made and is unlikely to remain quiet after discovering that she paid for defective shoes.
At the same time, Nami can recognize quality when she sees it. Meeting Miucha may transform her anger into respect for the person whose skills were hidden behind the designer’s name.
The Trailer Highlights a Different Visual Identity
ONE PIECE HEROINES uses an art direction noticeably different from the main television anime.
The characters retain the personalities and general designs created by Eiichiro Oda, but the softer line work and carefully coordinated clothing give the special its own visual identity.
The change is appropriate for a self-contained story about fashion and craftsmanship.
It also follows the franchise’s recent willingness to allow special productions such as ONE PIECE FAN LETTER and MONSTERS to develop styles suited to their individual stories.
What International Viewers Still Need to Know
The Japanese television broadcast is fully confirmed for July 5 at 11:15 p.m. JST.
Japanese on-demand availability will begin on July 9 through services including FOD, Prime Video, Netflix, U-NEXT, Hulu, ABEMA and other platforms.
Those listings apply to Japan and do not automatically establish worldwide availability on the same services.
An official international streaming platform, subtitle schedule and English dub have not yet been announced.
What to Expect From ONE PIECE HEROINES
The special will begin with Nami confronting a shop over the painful shoes she purchased.
Her argument with Lebno will lead to the unusual fashion-show agreement and her introduction to Miucha.
Robin’s presence will add anime-original interactions while helping connect the standalone adventure to Nami’s life with the Straw Hat Pirates.
The story is expected to balance humor with a more thoughtful examination of confidence, presentation and the creative labor hidden behind fashionable products.
AiNA THE END’s “Blue Shining Star” will accompany that celebration of women who remain strong while navigating personal difficulties and expectations.
Final Thoughts
ONE PIECE HEROINES will air across Japan on July 5, 2026, from 11:15 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. JST.
The latest trailer previews the original theme song “Blue Shining Star,” performed and co-written by AiNA THE END with Ryosuke “Dr.R” Sakai.
The 30-minute special adapts Episode: Nami from Jun Esaka and Sayaka Suwa’s ONE PIECE novel HEROINES collection while adding new material involving Nico Robin.
Akemi Okamura and Yuriko Yamaguchi return as Nami and Robin, with Maaya Sakamoto voicing craftswoman Miucha and Takehito Koyasu portraying designer Lebno.
Haruka Kamatani directs the special, Takashi Kojima designs the characters, Momoka Toyoda writes the screenplay and Alisa Okehazama composes the music.
By moving away from enormous battles and focusing on Nami’s encounter with fashion, craftsmanship and the people behind a beautiful product, ONE PIECE HEROINES promises a distinctive look at one of the franchise’s most important characters.
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