How Ichiban Kuji Turned One Piece’s Three Brothers Into a Prize

One Piece ROAD TO DAWN Ichiban Kuji H Prize Clear File and Sticker Set

One Piece began its run in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 and has not stopped since. Author Eiichiro Oda’s story of a rubber-limbed boy chasing the title of King of the Pirates has grown into one of the best-selling manga series ever published, with an anime adaptation airing continuously from 1999 and a Netflix live-action drama in 2023 that introduced the franchise to another wave of international viewers. The series is officially licensed in more than sixty countries. As the manga has moved into its final arc, the theme of “dawn” — specifically the idea of a “world’s dawn” that Luffy is sailing toward — has become increasingly central to the story. That is what the name ROAD TO DAWN signals: this merchandise is tied to the endgame of a saga that has been building for nearly three decades.

Luffy, Ace, and Sabo — the Three Brothers Behind the Design

The artwork on this set brings together Monkey D. Luffy and his two sworn brothers: Portgas D. Ace and Sabo. Fans know them collectively as the ASL trio, after their initials. Luffy is the protagonist — optimistic, reckless, and laser-focused on his goal. Ace, nicknamed “Fire Fist,” was a commander in the Whitebeard Pirates and Luffy’s older brother by oath. Sabo, the third, currently serves as Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army; his story carries particular emotional weight because he was presumed dead for years before his survival came to light. All three exchanged cups of brotherhood as children in a sequence that ranks among the most beloved scenes the series has produced.

Ace’s death during the Marineford War arc — a storyline that left a permanent mark on the manga’s tone — gave the character a symbolic importance that only grew after the fact. Artwork that places all three brothers in the same frame carries an emotional charge that goes beyond ordinary character goods: it depicts a reunion that the story itself cannot offer.

What Ichiban Kuji Is, and Why These Items Reach Collectors the Way They Do

Ichiban Kuji is a registered lottery brand operated by Bandai Spirits, part of the Bandai Namco group. It works differently from gashapon capsule machines or food-toy inserts. A retailer — typically a convenience store chain such as Lawson or FamilyMart, but also hobby shops and electronics outlets — sets up a dedicated lottery display. Each ticket costs approximately 800 to 1,000 yen and corresponds to a specific prize tier. The top tiers (A prize and above) usually include large figures or premium goods; lower tiers like H prize generally cover flat merchandise such as clear files, can badges, and towels.

Once the lottery run concludes, no further prizes are manufactured. The total quantity of each prize is determined entirely by how many tickets were sold during the sales period. The clear file in this set is A4 size, made from polypropylene; the sticker sheet is A5 size on paper. Both are the kind of items that collectors tend to keep unhandled rather than use day-to-day. Ichiban Kuji is also sold exclusively through retail locations inside Japan, so there is no direct purchase path available to anyone living outside the country. The item is not sold individually — it exists because someone pulled it from the lottery.

For fans who have followed One Piece through to its current stage, the ROAD TO DAWN series name is not just branding. It maps directly onto where the story is now, making this a piece of merchandise that lands differently for a reader who knows what “dawn” means in Oda’s world.