Why Mihawk and Shanks Appear Together on a One Piece Kuji Towel

Ichiban Kuji EX One Piece Shikon no Keifu F Prize Long Towel

The Franchise and the Fighter

One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda and serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1997, has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide — the best-selling manga series in history. The story of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew has expanded into a long-running Fuji TV anime airing since 1999, multiple theatrical films, and a Netflix live-action drama released in 2023. Bandai Spirits, the collector-focused arm of the Bandai Group, holds a prominent license position in One Piece merchandise, and the franchise is a consistent anchor of their premium prize lines.

The central figure on this towel is Dracule Mihawk, known by his epithet “Hawk-Eyes.” He carries the in-universe title of the world’s greatest swordsman — a distinction that makes him one of the most iconic presences in the series despite appearing relatively rarely. His look is immediately striking: a long black cloak, a wide-brimmed hat, and yellow eyes sharp enough to earn his name. His weapon, Yoru, is a massive black cross-shaped blade ranked among the most powerful swords in the One Piece world.

Why Mihawk and Shanks Share the Frame

The art also includes a figure believed to be Red-Haired Shanks, and the pairing reflects genuine story lore. Mihawk and Shanks were once rivals who clashed repeatedly; the series establishes that after Shanks lost his arm, he no longer came looking for a fight, leaving their story at an unresolved but resonant stopping point. Placing them together on a piece subtitled Shikon no Keifu — which translates roughly as “Lineage of the Warrior’s Soul” — captures the idea of two fighters who represent the pinnacle of martial achievement in the world of One Piece. Shikon refers to the spirit and resolve of a swordsman; keifu means bloodline or heritage. The subtitle fits the pairing precisely.

Mihawk also carries specific weight for fans of Roronoa Zoro, Luffy’s first crewmate, whose stated goal is to surpass Mihawk and claim the title of world’s greatest swordsman. During the story’s two-year time skip, Zoro trains directly under Mihawk — meaning Mihawk occupies the unusual position of being both ultimate rival and, effectively, teacher. That layered role gives him strong appeal across different parts of the One Piece fanbase, and in English-language communities he ranks consistently among the most discussed characters in the series.

Ichiban Kuji EX and the Long Towel Format

Ichiban Kuji is a lottery-style prize merchandise format produced by Bandai Spirits. Participants draw a ticket and receive a prize according to its tier — upper tiers typically include figures, while mid-range tiers cover items such as acrylic standees, art boards, and long towels. This item is the F Prize within the Shikon no Keifu lineup, and the F Prize tier for this series includes eight different designs in total, making a complete set a natural goal for dedicated collectors.

The EX label marks a distinct distribution channel. Standard Ichiban Kuji runs appear in convenience stores and general retailers across Japan; EX editions are sold exclusively through specialist hobby shops, Animate stores, and similar dedicated channels. That narrower footprint is a built-in feature of the line, not a later development.

Long towels are a recurring and popular Ichiban Kuji category. This one is 100% cotton, sealed in a clear plastic bag, and presents Mihawk as the main subject in a high-contrast black and pink manga-influenced style. It is the kind of format that works equally as a display piece or an everyday item — and as an official Bandai Spirits licensed product, it sits clearly apart from third-party fan merchandise.