There was a time when simply seeing Imu’s silhouette was enough to send One Piece fans into detective mode. Now, the mysterious ruler of the world is literally sitting on collectors’ shelves. The official One Piece account has revealed that Imu is the secret design in the Mugimugi Otedama series, turning one of the series’ most closely guarded characters into an official collectible (via the official site). And yes, the timing is deliciously suspicious.
「ムギムギおてだま」シリーズにイムが新登場！#麦わらストア で9月18日(金)より発売！#ONEPIECE▼詳細はこちらhttps://t.co/QJS1nZLour pic.twitter.com/2LqsrXJinV— ONE PIECE.com(ワンピース) (@OPcom_info) September 10, 2026
The figure line arrived as part of a broader collection celebrating One Piece through manga, anime, live-action, costumes, and games, but Imu’s inclusion hits differently. After years of existing behind the Empty Throne, Imu has become one of the Final Saga’s central threats. Now, Imu’s terrifying Devil Fruit has made the jump from manga pages to merch.
One Piece Officially Brings Oda’s Strongest Devil Fruit Villain to Merch
The image shows Imu from the manga One Piece displaying a powerful, horned transformation during the Elbaf arc. [Credit: Shueisha]
According to the official announcement, Mugimugi Otedama Imu will be released at Mugiwara Stores nationwide in Japan on Friday, September 18, 2026. Fans will also be able to purchase it through the online Mugiwara Store from approximately 1 p.m. JST on the same day. The product joins the popular Mugimugi Otedama series, which turns One Piece characters into compact, soft collectible goods.
Plus, the price is set at 935 yen (tax included), which is USD 6.09 after tax. The product will be available via ONE PIECE Mugiwara Store, ONE PIECE MUGIWARA STORE HARAJUKU, and the ONE PIECE Mugiwara Store Online.
That might sound like a straightforward merch drop, but Imu is hardly a straightforward character. For so long, we have seen Imu as an existence shrouded in mystery, residing in Pangaea Castle and visible only to a select few, including the Five Elders. In other words, One Piece is putting a character once treated almost like a forbidden spoiler into one of its cute, collectible merchandise lines. The contrast is almost too perfect.
That makes the reveal more than a routine product update. The latest merchandise essentially says: the mystery has become mainstream enough to sell.
Why Imu’s Devil Fruit Makes the New Merch So Significant
The real reason this collectible lands differently is what Imu represents now. The manga has moved Imu from an enigmatic ruler into a direct Final Saga antagonist, with Chapter 1179 finally revealing Imu as Saint Nerona Imu, one of the First Twenty and the “King of the World.”
That same chapter officially identifies Imu’s power as the Akuma no Mi, literally “The Devil’s Fruit.” Importantly, that is the canon terminology currently given to the ability; it should not be casually renamed an “Akuma Akuma no Mi” or assigned an unconfirmed Zoan model. The unusual naming itself has sparked plenty of discussion because it differs from the familiar naming conventions used for other Devil Fruits.
The power is no mere cosmetic transformation, either. Imu has demonstrated a monstrous devil-like form and supernatural abilities involving black energy, while the manga has increasingly tied those powers to the terrifying escalation surrounding the World Government. That makes Imu’s collectible especially striking: this is no longer merchandise built around a character whose identity is purely a mystery.
Imu is now one of the faces of One Piece’s endgame. And with the official merch finally putting that face, or rather, that terrifying design, into collectors’ hands, the franchise appears increasingly comfortable treating the former shadow behind the throne as one of its defining villains.
What do you think of Imu finally getting official One Piece merch? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
One Piece anime is available on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
One Piece manga chapters are available on VIZ Media and Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
