
It’s January, February, and March madness!
The long-running franchise that is One Piece has dominated manga, anime, video games, card games, live action TV, and Times Square. Recently, it’s even had its sights set on many of the USA’s biggest sports, with the most recent being NCAA basketball, which is getting the One Piece treatment at not just one but 15 games between January and March 2026.
One Piece College Basketball: US Voyage will bring fun activities and limited-edition merch to teams and schools from coast to coast, starting with Rutgers University in New Jersey and Gozanga University in Washington, from late January to early February. It can also be experienced at St. John’s University in New York throughout February. The latter half of February and early March will see events take place at the University of Houston in Texas and the University of Illinois. A full schedule can be found at the end of this article.
Three One Piece-themed games will be held at each venue, and one of those three will feature a special halftime show. Attendees at those games will be treated to a special performance of the theme song “We are!” by the schools’ marching bands and cheerleading squads, while limited-edition T-shirts will be launched into the stands. And speaking of T-shirts, students of the participating schools who attend games will receive free T-shirts featuring Luffy and their school’s logo.
All spectators will receive a similar image of Luffy flexing his stuff by a team logo for each school in the form of a poster given away for free.
Not only that, but they’ll also receive a very limited One Piece College Basketball: US Voyage card for the One Piece Card Game.
Much like in past sports collaborations, the venues will be decked out in One Piece displays to give them a whole new look. Also, before the Rutgers game on 23 January and during a timeout of the St. John’s game on 6 February, a video shout-out by cast members of the live-action One Piece series will be shown.
▼ I wonder if my fellow Guinness Record holders Emily Rudd and Mackenyu Maeda will be a part of the video.
Now, with NCAA basketball another notch in One Piece’s scabbard, its conquering of American sports is nearly complete. We’ll be sure to let you know when it eventually reaches the shores of NHL, FIFA, and International Sports Onigoko Federation games.
Game Schedule
Friday, 23 January
Rutgers University vs Indiana University (with special halftime show)
Saturday, 24 January
Goznga University vs University of San Francisco
Tuesday, 27 January
Rutgers University vs Michigan State University
Saturday, 31 January
Gozanga University vs Saint Mary’s College of California (with special halftime show)
Friday, 6 February
St. John’s University vs University of Connecticut (with special show)
Saturday, 7 February
Rutgers University vs University of Nebraska
Monday, 9 February
St. John’s University vs Xavier University
Tuesday, 10 February
Gozanga University vs Washington State University
Saturday, 14 February
University of Houston vs Kansas State University (with special halftime show)
Sunday, 15 February
University of Illinois vs Indiana University
Saturday, 21 February
University of Houston vs University of Arizona
Friday, 27 February
University of Illinois vs University of Michigan (with special halftime show)
Saturday, 28 February
St. John’s University vs Villanova University
Tuesday, 3 March
University of Illinois vs University of Oregon
Wednesday, 4 March
University of Houston vs Baylor University
Related: One Piece College Basketball: US Voyage
Images: ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation, ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!





One Piece teams up with the Los Angeles Lakers for pirate anime/pro basketball crossover
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese film studio Toei announces first three video games from newly created Toei Games
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japanese sweets souvenirs don’t get more beautiful than this
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
These are Tokyo train lines people most want to live along【Survey】
Hate your job? Be honest: Is it really worse than massaging hot supermodels for a living?
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Secret staff cafeteria in Tokyo is a hidden gem you won’t find in travel guides
Tinder just opened a convenience store in Japan, aimed at adults only
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
“Disaster”: 2018 Kanji of the Year unveiled by Buddhist monk at Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says