One Piece novel Straw Hat Stories: All 9 tales, explained

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the One Piece anime, the franchise will release a one-off episode directed by Megumi Ishitani. Set to premiere on October 20, 2024, on Fuji TV, this upcoming anime special will adapt the original content of the 2017 book One Piece novel Straw Hat Stories.

A collection of tales based on the addictive fictional universe created by Eiichiro Oda, the One Piece novel Straw Hat Stories focuses on the protagonists, the Straw Hat Pirates. More specifically, the novel shows Luffy and the others from the perspective of the ordinary people of the One Piece world.

One Piece novel Straw Hat Stories was written by Tomohito Ohsaki, who dedicated an individual tale to each Straw Hat crew member except for Jinbe. At the time of the book’s release, Jinbe had not yet officially joined the Straw Hat Pirates.

Set to be animated soon, the One Piece novel Straw Hat Stories features nine different tales

1) Luffy’s story

Luffy as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

During the Paramount War, a Marine officer witnesses Monkey D. Luffy charging towards the execution platform to rescue his brother Portgas D. Ace. The Marine is in awe at Luffy’s bravery, impressed by how he doesn’t hesitate for a second despite Admirals, Warlords, and the likes of Garp and Sengoku standing in his way.

This leads the Marine to question his relationship with his younger brother, who was also a Marine and his subordinate. The two weren’t blood-related, coming from different marriages. As the battle rages, the younger brother asks the older for help, but the latter ignores him, not considering him to be his real brother.

But when he keeps hearing his half-brother’s screams, the officer thinks about Luffy yelling that he would save Ace no matter what. This inspires him to care for his younger brother in the same way that Luffy had tried to do with Ace. Driven by this instinct, the Marine officer jumps into the fray and saves his brother with a heroic effort.

Sometime after the conclusion of the war, the older brother reflects on what has happened. Seeing Luffy’s struggle to save Ace, who wasn’t his blood brother, the Marine officer realized that the bond between siblings is a special connection that doesn’t need blood. Afterward, the two brothers start training to become strong enough to chase after Luffy.

2) Zoro’s story

Zoro as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

After the battle in Dressrosa ended, three Marine soldiers went to a bar for a drink. While sitting at a table next to a man whose face is half covered, the three Marines begin to discuss who is the strongest between Dracule Mihawk, “Red Hair” Shanks, Vista, the legendary Ryuma, and “Pirate Hunter” Zoro.

Unbeknownst to the Marines, the man sitting with them is none other than Zoro himself. Eventually, the soldiers decide to rule out “Sword God” Ryuma to consider only currently living fighters. Then, a soldier claims that Mihawk has an intimidating appearance, unlike Zoro, who looks ridiculous with his green hair and signature haramaki.

The same soldier also mocks Zoro’s Three-Sword Style, calling it impractical and awkward. Furious, Zoro decides to teach the Marines a lesson for making fun of him. Without showing his face, he exhibits his swords and muscles, intimidating the soldiers. To calm him down, they offer to pay for his drinks.

Soon after, Zoro stands up, holding a sword in each hand and a sword in his mouth, and announces to the rest of the bar that the three Marines would pay for everyone’s drinks. As the soldiers ask him if he was Roronoa Zoro, the green-haired swordsman, with his face still covered, tells them to forget about that and instead drink to celebrate Dressrosa’s newfound freedom.

3) Nami’s story

Nami as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

A reclusive young hikikomori with the habit of collecting bounty posters of wanted female pirates falls in love with “Cat Burglar” Nami. Upon hearing the news of the Straw Hat crew’s return to the Sabaody Archipelago, the hikikomori decides to set out to finally catch a glimpse of the beautiful Nami.

Thinking about how gorgeous Nami is, the hikikomori daydreams of becoming a Marine or a pirate to cross her path somewhere at sea. Meanwhile, Demaro Black and his acolytes had also arrived in Sabaody. They dressed as the original Straw Hats to impersonate them and exploit their formidable reputation.

Unwillingly caught up in the ensuing chaos, the hikikomori risks being arrested by the Marines after meeting the fake Nami at Grove 46. Finally, the hikikomori arrives on Sabaody’s Grove 42, where the real Nami and the other Straw Hats are setting sail. Although overwhelmed by Nami’s incredible beauty and charisma, the hikikomori is inspired by her and decides to start a new life.

4) Usopp’s story

Usopp as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

A mysterious man moves to Syrup Village, Usopp’s homeland, and tries to visit Kaya’s mansion. Stopped by Kaya’s butler, Merry, the man asks him to at least deliver a gift for Kaya. Meanwhile, Usopp’s friends Tamanegi, Piiman, and Ninjin notice the man and instinctively dislike him.

Over time, the man manages to befriend Merry and gains his trust. He even meets with Kaya, who thanks him for his gift, a medical book. As Kaya and the man laugh together, Tamanegi, Piiman, and Ninjin watching them from a distance, begin to worry about her relationship with Usopp.

In truth, the man is nothing more than a criminal who planned to deceive Kaya in order to kidnap her. However, as he is about to make his move, his attempt is thwarted in a timely manner by Usopp’s friends.

5) Sanji’s story

Sanji as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

A woman has a date with a certain man at the Baratie Restaurant but seems incredibly bored. This is because she has only come to the Baratie to see Sanji, whom she has seen on her previous visits to the restaurant. Enchanted by Sanji’s chivalry and elegance, the woman wanted to meet him again.

When the dessert is served, the woman pretends to go to the bathroom to look for Sanji. However, she runs into Zeff, who tells her that Sanji left the Baratie as he joined the Straw Hat Pirates and will be away with them for a long time. Disappointed, the woman returns to her table, where she finds the man offering her a marvelous engagement ring.

Before she can say anything, some pirates assault the Baratie. Despite having previously boasted of his strength, the man is scared to death. As Patty, Carne, and the other cooks beat up the pirates, the woman notices that the man has just run off, taking the ring with him. Zeff apologizes to the woman for the incident, but she replies that she wasn’t interested in her date in the first place.

6) Chopper’s story

Chopper as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

A Marine captain who became known as the “Benevolent King of the Waves” for intimidating and overwhelming pirates as if he were a roaring wave, winning countless battles, is ordered to capture the Straw Hat Pirates.

As the Straw Hats are about to set sail from Sabaody, the operation is set in motion, but the Marine officer is unusually tense and doesn’t want to fire his cannons. The reason for his nervousness lies in his mixed feelings. Two years earlier, the same officer took part in the battle in Enies Lobby, where he had met the Straw Hats in person, including Chopper.

Captivated by Chopper’s innate cuteness, the officer had grown fond of him. With the Marine captain afraid to do his duty for fear of hurting the little pet, the situation is somehow saved by Boa Hancock and her crew. They get in the way of the Marines, helping the Straw Hats escape, and the officer is relieved that he didn’t have to attack Chopper.

7) Robin’s story

Robin as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

On Baltigo, a girl is reading an archeology book. She is interrupted by a boy named Bosao, who tells her that, instead of reading, the two of them should be training to become worthy members of the Revolutionary Army. However, the girl says that she just wants to become an archeologist.

As Bosao tells her that Nico Robin will be arriving in Baltigo soon, the girl is excited at the thought of meeting her. Finally, she has a private encounter with Robin. She tells about her dream of becoming an archeologist to rediscover the unique languages that have been wiped out by the World Government’s oppressive tyranny.

Moved by the girl’s words, Robin appreciates her wish and encourages her to try and fulfill it. The next day, the girl tells Bosao to train hard to obtain the strength needed to protect her while she devotes herself to her archeology studies. Upon hearing these words, Bosao turns red.

8) Franky’s story

Franky as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

A young girl who works as a bookstore clerk in Water Seven notices that many people are buying “Shipwright Monthly,” a magazine with Franky on its cover. Not knowing Franky, the girl doesn’t understand why the magazine sells so well until Kokoro explains that Franky is a cybernetically enhanced man from Water Seven who has joined the famous Straw Hat Pirates.

Unimpressed, the girl begins to think about how much she dislikes both her job and the fact that her family has moved to Water Seven. Even when Franky is on the cover of the following magazines: “Robot & Cyborg Monthly” and “Hardboiled Quarterly,” the girl remains uninterested.

Finally, the bookstore gets another magazine. Once again, Franky is on the cover. This time, the girl can’t help but laugh at Franky’s embarrassing pose. This moment acts as a catalyst, leading the girl to open up to Kokoro, Iceburg, and the other residents of Water Seven.

9) Brook’s story

Brook as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

After the two-year timeskip, Brook holds a concert on Sabaody Archipelago before reuniting with the other Straw Hats. Among the audience, there’s a boy who has brought a Tone Dial to record Brook’s songs for her sister.

A great fan of the “Soul King,” the girl couldn’t attend the concert due to an exhausting illness and thus asked him to go in her place. The boy goes to visit his sister in the hospital, bringing her the Tone Dial so that she can listen to Brook’s songs.

Unfortunately, no matter how many times the boy tries, the Tone Dial doesn’t work. He apologizes, but his sister tells him that his affectionate thoughts were enough to make her happy. She then says asks him to sing for her. Despite lacking the talent of “Soul King” Brook, the boy tries his best to make his sister happy, which only improves her health.