Chapters · Four Emperors (Yonko) › Wano Country

Chapter 1052: A New Morning

Arc: Wano Country · Saga: Four Emperors (Yonko) · Released: 2022-05-01

Summary

Seven days after Kaido’s fall, the world begins to react. At Sacred Mariejois the Five Elders convene in alarm — “Nika has finally descended upon the world,” two of the Four Emperors were defeated in a single battle, and Wano has sealed itself (Onigashima slipped into the mist, Zou is gone); they order CP0 to at least retrieve Nico Robin, but the agents’ signal is jammed inside Onigashima. In the Flower Capital the Kozuki restoration is celebrated, Momonosuke (now Shogun) decrees a second festival, and a teacher gives the children a “re-education” in the true history of Kozuki Oden — Komurasaki was Oden’s daughter Hiyori, Kawamatsu rescued her, Denjiro disguised himself as Kyoshiro, and the man who beat Kaido is being rumored as “Joy Boy.” Plans are laid to build a temple of Eternal Graves on a hill in Ringo to honor Oden and the daimyo who died (Yasuie, Ashura Doji, Izo), beside the shrine to Ryuma the God of the Blade. Luffy and Zoro finally awaken from recovery — Yamato had fasted and prayed for them — touching off a country-wide feast. Momonosuke now has an adult body but a child’s mind. Ships are repaired at Tokage Port in Udon and General Franky is rebuilt. Law, Kid and Apoo warn each other they’ll be hunted as replacements for the Four Emperors as the press circulates new bounties. The chapter closes on Ryokugyu (Green Bull) flying through the open air toward Wano, taking orders from Fleet Admiral Sakazuki.

New reveals

• The Five Elders, at Sacred Mariejois, openly state “Nika has finally descended upon the world” and that two of the Four Emperors were defeated in the same battle — a crisis they cannot cover up (p.2).
• Wano has effectively sealed itself: Onigashima “slipped away into the mist,” Zou is gone, and Wano “will remain an impregnable fortress” — the WG has no means to occupy it (p.2).
• The Five Elders order CP0 to bring back Nico Robin “without fail,” but CP0’s signal is jammed inside Onigashima — “someone over there is very shrewd” (pp.2–3).
• Basil Hawkins’ divination identified a “certain man” with a 1% chance of surviving until tomorrow — himself (pp.4–5).
• Momonosuke now has an adult, 28-year-old body but the mind of an 8-year-old (“a kid on the inside, and Oden on the outside”) (pp.11–12).
• The Wano public now openly knows Oden’s true history — Komurasaki = Kozuki Hiyori, Denjiro = Kyoshiro, Kawamatsu saved Hiyori — and the man who beat Kaido is rumored to be “Joy Boy” (pp.6–7).
• A temple of Eternal Graves is to be built on a hill in Ringo honoring Oden and the fallen daimyo (Yasuie, Ashura Doji, Izo), beside the shrine to Ryuma, God of the Blade (pp.7–8).
• The press is circulating new “Emperors of the Sea” and new bounties to replace the fallen Yonko (numbers teased, not yet shown to the reader) (pp.16–17).
• Ryokugyu (Green Bull) is flying unaided through the air toward Wano, under orders from Fleet Admiral Sakazuki (p.17).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Appearing: Five Elders, CP-0 (agents), X Drake, Scratchmen Apoo, Basil Hawkins, Yamato, Momonosuke, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Nico Robin, Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, Killer, Franky, Okiku, Marco, Gyukimaru, Ryokugyu
• Mentioned / heard: Sakazuki (orders Ryokugyu via Den Den Mushi), Kaido, Big Mom (the two defeated Emperors), Denjiro, Kawamatsu, Kozuki Hiyori / Oiran (top courtesan of Wano), Ryuma, Ashura Doji, Izo, Kozuki Oden (subject of the lesson), Sun God Nika, Four Emperors (Yonko)
• Locations: Mariejois, Onigashima, Flower Capital, Wano Country, Ringo, Tokage Port, Udon; Zou (reported gone); Paradise Farm (mentioned)

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Title page. Cover side-story banner: “Germa 66’s Ahh… An Emotionless Excursion, Vol. 14: The Scientist Who Failed to Escape” — Germa 66 chasing a fleeing scientist.
• Page 2 — Sacred Mariejois; the Five Elders in silhouette before the Pangaea/Mariejois skyline reacting to “Nika has finally descended upon the world.”
• Pages 9–10 — Luffy and Zoro awaken; Luffy’s open-mouthed “MEAAAAT!!!” splash kicks off the feast.
• Page 11 — Reveal of adult-bodied Momonosuke standing over the waking Straw Hats.
• Page 14 — Castle rock baths, split men’s / women’s panels.
• Page 17 — Final panel: Ryokugyu flying through the open air toward Wano, his coat reading “正義” (Justice), on Sakazuki’s leash.

Open questions raised

• What are the new bounties and the names of the new “Emperors of the Sea”? (Teased to Law/Kid/Apoo but withheld from the reader.)
• How will Ryokugyu’s approach threaten a Wano whose alliance is wounded and recovering?
• How is Ryokugyu flying unaided through the air — what is his Devil Fruit?
• Will CP0 still attempt to extract Nico Robin now that Wano is sealed and their comms are jammed?