Episode 1134 Release and Overview
One Piece Episode 1134, titled “Cruel Fate – Kuma’s Decision as a Father,” was released on June 29, 2025, in Japan. This episode continues the emotional and tragic flashback of Bartholomew Kuma, delving deeper into his past and his motivations, particularly concerning his daughter, Bonney. The episode was highly anticipated, especially following a brief delay where a recap episode aired on June 22, 2025, instead of the new installment.
The latest installment is a crucial part of the Egghead Arc, which resumed in April 2025 after a six-month hiatus. It aired on Crunchyroll almost immediately after its Japanese premiere, with English subtitles and Japanese audio available. Netflix also streams the episodes, typically one week behind the Crunchyroll release.
Kuma’s Tragic Backstory Unfolds
Episode 1134 further explores Bartholomew Kuma’s difficult life, highlighting the continuous pain and suffering he has endured. In the preceding Episode 1133, titled “To Save His Daughter – Kuma the Timid Pacifist,” fans witnessed Kuma leading a solo revolution against the tyrannical King Bekori of the Sorbet Kingdom. Bekori’s plan to eliminate the old and poor citizens to curry favor with the Celestial Dragons was thwarted by Kuma, who single-handedly defeated Bekori’s army and forced him into exile, earning the love and respect of the people who then crowned him as their new king. However, Bekori quickly tainted Kuma’s reputation through false newspaper reports, framing him as a cruel individual.
To protect the Sorbet Kingdom from further hardship and to find a cure for Bonney’s rare “Sapphire Scales” disease, Kuma left the kingdom. He reunited with Dragon and the Revolutionary Army, who advised him to seek out Dr. Vegapunk on Egghead Island. Vegapunk confirmed that Bonney’s condition was curable using stem cells derived from Kuma’s lineage factor. Vegapunk, upon discovering Kuma was a Buccaneer, proposed a deal: in exchange for curing Bonney, Vegapunk would create an army of Kuma’s clones, known as Pacifistas, to protect the world. Kuma, driven by his desire to save his daughter, agreed to Vegapunk’s condition without hesitation.
The Role of Saturn and Warlord Nostalgia
A significant development in Episode 1134 is the revelation of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn’s involvement. Saturn was privy to the deal between Kuma and Vegapunk and exploited Kuma’s tragic circumstances, hinting at a darker plot that would forever change Kuma’s life. The episode emphasizes Saturn’s diabolical nature in planning Kuma’s fate, exploring Kuma’s final moments with Bonney before he effectively becomes a slave to the World Government.
Adding a nostalgic element, the episode also features callbacks to the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Viewers saw glimpses of various former Warlords, including Doflamingo and Sir Crocodile, reacting to the news of Kuma joining their ranks. This inclusion provides a balance to Kuma’s tragic past by evoking memories of these significant characters who were once central to the One Piece narrative. The episode concludes with a cliffhanger, showing a young Luffy running through the woods as Kuma receives his new mission from the World Government, underscoring the deep connection between Kuma’s past and the broader One Piece storyline.
