Chapters · Four Emperors (Yonko) › Wano Country

Chapter 1051: Shogun of Wano, Kozuki Momonosuke

Arc: Wano Country · Saga: Four Emperors (Yonko) · Released: 2022-04-25

Summary

In the Flower Capital, the bewildered crowd realizes the two dragons over the castle mean Kaido is not the only one — and that the Akazaya Nine, thought dead 20 years ago, are alive (“but Lady Toki’s words were true!!!”). Kin’emon and Hiyori (in her Oiran (top courtesan of Wano) guise) are recognized; the news is relayed nationwide by light-scroll to Kibi, Hakumai, Ringo, Udon, Kuri, Bakura Town, and Ebisu Town. Elsewhere, Yamato cheerfully introduces himself as Kaido’s child and announces he intends to join Luffy’s ship, while Otama dotes on the Gifters her cheek-dango tamed (her control lasts only about a month). Adult Momonosuke then steps forward and delivers the speech of his life — coached by Kin’emon to “bluff your heart out” — declaring the death of his father Kozuki Oden, the end of Orochi’s tyranny and Kaido’s threat, abolishing slavery and factory poison, and announcing the Fire Festival will continue. A flashback shows Otama orphaned by the factories and told by a masked “tengu” that the Kozuki samurai would one day return. Drawing his blade, Momonosuke proclaims “I, Kozuki Momonosuke… will lead the land of Wano!!!” The Scabbards weep, the capital roars its welcome, and the narration frames this as the birth of the man who would later be known around the world.

New reveals

• Kozuki Momonosuke is publicly crowned the new Shogun of Wano — son of Oden, in his adult form, drawing Oden’s-style blade before the capital (pp. 13–17).
• The Akazaya Nine / Nine Red Scabbards are revealed alive to the public, 20 years after they were believed to have died in the flames of Oden Castle — “Lady Toki’s words were true!!!” (pp. 3–4).
• Otama’s origin: her parents died at a factory (“another four died… just today at the factory”); orphaned, she sold woven kasa hats until a masked “tengu” bought one and told her the Kozuki would return to “vanquish the ogres for good” (pp. 9–11). The tengu is Hitetsu.
• Otama’s taming wears off: “Once the moon comes back around, my jutsu will wear off. Meaning, in one month?” Some tamed Gifters/animals will revert; some will stay her friends (p. 7).
• Yamato wants to join the Straw Hats: “I’m going to be joining you on your ship!” — the captain decides, says the crew; still introduces himself as “Kozuki Oden” / Yamato (p. 6).
• Momonosuke’s first decrees: no slaves in Wano, no factory poison to spoil the land, no charge for the water from the earth; the Fire Festival continues, business resumes tomorrow (pp. 8–9).
• Momonosuke claims his name “means invincible” and that under his rule the ruined land will “turn into a paradise on earth” (p. 13) — likely part of Kin’emon’s coached bluff, and a reinforcement of the Momotaro / peach-boy-vs-ogres overlay.

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters: Momonosuke (crowned Shogun, adult form), Hiyori / Oiran (top courtesan of Wano) (her oiran guise), Kin’emon (coaches Momo), Denjiro (as “Boss Kyoshiro”), Yamato, Otama, Speed (“Horseline,” among Otama’s tamed beasts), Komachiyo (young komainu beside Tama in her orphaning flashback — “Sorry, Komachiyo!!”, p. 10), Luffy (flashback + referenced), Nami, Sanji, Brook, Kozuki Oden (referenced), Lady Toki (prophecy referenced), Kozuki Sukiyaki (the “tengu,” flashback), Kaido (defeat proclaimed), Orochi (defeat proclaimed), Ace (flashback reference).
• Groups: Akazaya Nine, Animal Kingdom Pirates (declared vanquished), Straw Hat Pirates, Fire Festival, Kozuki.
• Locations: Flower Capital, Wano Country, Kibi, Hakumai, Ringo, Udon, Kuri, Bakura Town, Ebisu Town.

Notable panels

• Page 1 (cover): Color/inset title page. Cover story “Germa 66’s Ahh… An Emotionless Excursion, Vol. 13: ‘Germa’s Escape’” — the four Vinsmoke siblings (Reiju + the three brothers) in raid suits on a battlefield. (Routed to cover-tracker.)
• Pages 3–4: The capital recognizes the supposedly-dead Kin’emon and the Akazaya Nine; “but Lady Toki’s words were true!!!” — the Toki-prophecy payoff beat.
• Page 6: Yamato’s grinning self-introduction (“Otherwise known as YAMATO!! Nice to meet you!!”) and his bid to join Luffy’s ship.
• Pages 9–11: Otama’s orphaning flashback — the factory deaths and the masked tengu (Hitetsu).
• Page 13: Kin’emon coaching Momo to “bluff your heart out”; Momo’s “my father gave me a name that means ‘INVINCIBLE’” / “paradise on earth” speech.
• Pages 14–15: Splash-scale panel of adult Momonosuke drawing his blade — “I, Kozuki Momonosuke… will lead the land of Wano!!!” — with the dragon roaring and the Scabbards weeping (“I will keep my promise!! / Mother!! / Father…!!”).
• Pages 16–17: The Flower Capital hails “Lord Momonosuke!!! The true shogunate… has returned at last!!!”; closing narration: “the birth of the man who would later be known around the world.” To be continued.

Open questions raised

• Will Yamato actually be accepted onto the Straw Hat crew? (The captain hasn’t decided.)
• Will Momonosuke, as Shogun, open Wano’s closed borders — the unresolved half of Oden’s and Toki’s prophecy?
• What happens to the ~300 flipped Gifters/Numbers once Otama’s cheek-dango control wears off in a month?
• How does Wano stabilize politically now that Orochi is gone and the Kozuki are restored?