One Piece Chapter 1187 ended with Luffy stepping into the fight against Imu after Loki was left exhausted trying to hold his own. Even when Imu called him Joy Boy, Luffy immediately refused to be acknowledged by this and proudly declared himself the future Pirate King. That kind of cliffhanger does not just tease a fight. It promises one.
Add in the fact that Zoro and Sanji both have their own battles running in parallel, and the Elbaf Arc suddenly feels like it is racing toward a turning point. Oda has spent years building toward this moment, and the pieces are finally falling into place.
One Piece Chapter 1188 Release Date and Time Confirmed
One Piece Chapter 1188 is scheduled to be released on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 12 a.m. JST in Japan. Because of the time difference, readers in most other parts of the world will be able to read the chapter on Sunday, July 12, instead, via Manga Plus by Shueisha. The chapter is officially scheduled to appear in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33, dropping around 11 a.m. EST for international readers.
Fans can read the chapter for free through platforms such as Shueisha’s MANGA Plus, Viz Media, and Shonen Jump+. MANGA Plus offers translated versions of chapters straight from Weekly Shonen Jump, while Viz Media provides English translations for both the newest releases and the first three chapters of the series.
Story-wise, all signs point to Luffy and Imu’s fight taking center stage. The biggest focus from Chapter 1188 will likely remain on Luffy versus Imu, with fans expecting the battle to escalate as Imu begins showing off even more of the mysterious abilities teased in the previous chapter. Meanwhile, Zoro’s confrontation with Sommers and Sanji’s clash with Killingham are both expected to receive significant attention.
Oda is also officially back on his original schedule of three chapters in a row this month, meaning fans shouldn’t expect another gap week right away. That said, once Chapter 1188 releases, Oda is expected to take a two-week break before returning with Chapter 1189 on July 26.