After a quarter of a century, One Piece has pulled off one of its most emotional and nostalgic surprises yet. The latest episode, Episode 1148, has officially brought back Chouchou, the loyal little dog from Orange Town a character fans never expected to see again after nearly 25 years.
With its ever-expanding cast, One Piece has often left many minor characters behind in the whirlwind of its world-spanning adventures. Yet the ongoing Egghead Arc has proven especially nostalgic, reintroducing several familiar faces from the series’ early days through cameos and flashbacks.
In the newest episode, during Dr. Vegapunk’s global broadcast, fans spotted the townspeople of Orange Town, including Mayor Boodle and the now-iconic dog Chouchou, watching the transmission. This marks Chouchou’s first appearance since the timeskip, making it a historic moment for longtime viewers.
Although only two years have passed in the One Piece storyline, it has been nearly 25 years in real time since Chouchou’s last anime appearance in Episode 47, which aired on November 8, 2000. His reappearance now, in 2025, closes one of the longest gaps in One Piece character history.
The episode also reveals how much Orange Town has changed since Luffy first liberated it from Buggy the Clown. The once-ruined pet shop has been rebuilt, and at the center of the town square now stands a new statue of Chouchou wearing a straw hat and holding a box of pet food, proudly perched atop a fountain.
This touching tribute mirrors a scene from Chapter 619’s cover art, which depicted Orange Town’s restoration. However, since the anime never adapted the From the Decks of the World cover stories, Chouchou’s comeback has been long delayed until now.
Despite being a minor character, Chouchou remains one of the most memorable and emotional figures in One Piece. His heartbreaking story from the early episodes where he loyally guarded his late owner’s pet shop even after its destruction left an indelible mark on fans. For many, Chouchou’s return is not just fan service but a powerful reminder of the emotional depth that has defined One Piece for over two decades.
Although Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation notably cut Chouchou’s story, fans hope that the upcoming Wit Studio remake will restore this beloved chapter of the series.
After 25 years, seeing Chouchou again proves that in One Piece, no story, no matter how small, is ever truly forgotten and that even a loyal little dog can still make millions of fans cry all over again.
Sources: gamek