Toei Animation and Sony Partner to Open First Official One Piece Store in North America
Los Angeles, Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Toei Animation and Sony Group will open the first U.S. One Piece Mugiwara Store in Los Angeles on November 6, 2026, featuring exclusive merchandise and interactive customer experiences.
Strategic Partnership and Market Expansion
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. (4816) and Sony Group Corporation (6758) have formally announced a collaborative venture to establish the first permanent United States location of the ONE PIECE MUGIWARA STORE [1][5]. This strategic move marks a significant expansion of Japanese intellectual property into the North American retail market, with the flagship store scheduled to open in Los Angeles on November 6, 2026 [1][4]. The partnership underscores a growing trend of media and retail investment by major Asian entertainment firms targeting Western audiences, leveraging the enduring popularity of the franchise to drive physical engagement [5]. As of October 20, 2026, the official store website has been launched to facilitate information dissemination and upcoming reservation systems [4].
Location Details and Access Protocols
The new retail space will be situated at Westfield Century City, located at 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067, specifically on Level 2 of the shopping center [3][4]. To manage initial demand, access to the store will be restricted to advance reservations only during the opening week, spanning from November 6, 2026, through November 12, 2026 [1][3]. Booking for these reserved entry slots is set to commence on October 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM PT, requiring visitors to secure their presence digitally before visiting the physical location [1]. The operating hours vary by day, with extended availability on Fridays and Saturdays until 22:00, while Sundays close at 20:00 [4][5].
Exclusive Merchandise and Interactive Features
Visitors to the Los Angeles location will encounter merchandise unavailable elsewhere, including commemorative shopping bags and wanted posters featuring series characters [4]. A key attraction is the location-exclusive interactive character known as “Surfer Chopper,” designed to engage with shoppers verbally within the store environment [1][5]. Additionally, the store will display animation production materials and offer original video content visible only within the physical space [5]. An opening commemoration original shopper bag will be available as a limited-quantity gift for early visitors, enhancing the incentive for attendance during the launch period [4].
Franchise Background and Timeline Context
The One Piece manga series originally debuted on July 22, 1997, in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 34, establishing a legacy that continues to drive commercial ventures nearly three decades later [1]. The anime adaptation followed in 1999 and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024, providing a robust historical foundation for current retail expansions [1]. Recent broadcast history includes the Elbaph Arc, which aired from April 2026 to September 2026, maintaining audience momentum leading into the store’s opening [1]. From the current date of October 20, 2026, there are 17 days remaining until the store opens, marking a critical countdown for logistics and marketing finalization [1][4].