Travel JR West unveil 'One Piece'-themed shinkansen

A shinkansen bullet train adorned with characters and motifs from the popular manga series One Piece was presented to the media on 9 April in a city in southwestern Japan. JR West stated that this is the first time One Piece characters have been featured on a Shinkansen. The train was revealed at JR West's Hakata General Rolling Stock Depot in Nakagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, and is scheduled to begin operations on 12 April. It will run along the Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Hakata and Shin-Osaka stations.




The collaboration was made possible due to a thematic connection between the world of One Piece and the scenic landscapes visible along the Sanyo Shinkansen route, which traces the coastline of the Seto Inland Sea. The "One Piece Shinkansen" launch also intends to build excitement ahead of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

Three different livery designs will be introduced, all featured on the 700-series bullet trains. The "Setouchi Blue" train features a blue exterior that evokes the ocean and is decorated with various One Piece characters. The "Tony Tony Chopper" train, themed on the reindeer character Chopper, will begin operating on May 28. The "Monkey D. Luffy" train, inspired by the main character Luffy's iconic straw hat, will debut on July 2. The themed trains will primarily operate as Kodama trains, which stop at all stations along the route.

Click to expand...