One Piece returns in all its glory on September 29th, but as we lead up to that date I want to bring you guys some big One Piece news that has fallen through the cracks since Sunday, and some podcast news and scheduling through the next month or so.

First to what you guys are probably here for: One Piece. It’s a series about pirates sailing some ocean or something? I’m not quite sure, but you’d be glad to know that this series is coming back in just around a week, on Wednesday, September 29th, barring any catastrophes. At that time, there will be a change in the story. For those who read the manga, you know exactly what that change is (3D2Y). Oda is ringing in his return of his new arc with a super sized chapter, totaling 24 pages, for Chapter 598. This is a great treat for all of us fans who have been waiting anxiously since mid-August for his return. We want to thank Bamind on AP for the aforementioned information.

We also have some – slight manga spoiler – news that the new arc will be coined: “The Last Ocean: The New World.” This is not a subtitle to the series, or a title to the series henceforth. It is only the official name of the upcoming saga/arc in the manga. Manga fans will also be happy to know that along with Volume 60, a new databook “One Piece Green” will be coming out on November 4th for all you good people to enjoy. For those who don’t know about the One Piece databooks, they’re basically what they sound like: compilations for extensive information (including names, events, etc.,) about One Piece and the world encompassed within it. We want to thank Redon on AP for the information concerning these releases.

We also have been following “The Grand Countdown” in the Weekly Shonen Jump issues, and included is an interview with some of the One Piece Seiyuu (Japanese VAs). You can check out that interview, courtesy of “The Door is Open Wide” blog by clicking here.

Now onto the podcast news. We will be returning to twice a week beginning next week. Here’s our lineup:

0322 – Episode 129 – “3D2Y” – Sunday, September 26th – Greg Werner and Stephen Paul come on to talk about the series “One Piece” thus far. Send us your feedback/opinions and more importantly questions for these astute One Piece fans as we recap everything and anything. It’s going to be a long night.

0323 – Episode 130 – Friday, September 30th – The return of One Piece and a mega-Manga Recap for the ages!

After this we will resume on a FRIDAY (Manga Recap) and MONDAY (Anime Recap) regiment. Please set your clocks and calendars accordingly. We will be off for the weekend of October 8th for New York Anime Festival, but we hope to bring you some cool goodies. We will also be visiting Dallas, Texas in January. We’ll have more information about that trip as it approaches.

Most importantly, we want you to take note: none of The One Piece Podcast staff will ever, ever, ever be reading One Piece spoilers. PLEASE do not send us, or relay to us, any One Piece spoiler information. If you do, we will not be reading any Piece Together questions/comments you may have on the podcast in the future. More importantly than the consequences, however, do it out of common courtesy. We appreciate it.

Thanks again, and remember:

We are maji!