It was late 1999. In Japan, a series about a rubber boy in a straw hat had already taken the manga world by storm, but the anime was just finding its legs. When the first episode aired, "We Are!" became an instant anthem, a high-energy blast of optimism that defined the Great Pirate Era. But then the episode ended. Instead of another high-octane track, viewers were met with the melancholic, nostalgic strums of a guitar and a soft, airy vocal. This was "Memories" by Maki Otsuki. It wasn't just the first One Piece ending song; it became the emotional DNA of the entire franchise.
People forget how weird it was back then. Most shonen hits stayed loud. They stayed aggressive. Yet, "Memories" felt like a sunset at the end of a long day at sea. It spoke of childhood dreams and the bittersweet reality of growing up. If you close your eyes, you can probably still see that iconic shot of young Luffy standing on the shore, his oversized hat shielding his eyes from a world that didn't know his name yet.
The First One Piece Ending Song Is a Ghost That Never Left
"Memories" is a masterpiece of simplicity. Maki Otsuki’s voice has this slight rasp, a vulnerability that perfectly mirrors the internal world of the Straw Hat crew. While the opening songs are about the physical journey—sailing, fighting, conquering—the ending songs, particularly this first one, are about the "why." Why did these people leave home? What are they leaving behind?
Honestly, the lyrics are haunting when you look at them through the lens of the current Egghead Island arc or the revelations about Joy Boy. "If the world could be changed by a map in a small hand," Otsuki sings. In 1999, we thought that was just a cute line about Nami’s dream. Fast forward twenty-five years, and we realize the entire geography of the One Piece world is a weapon, a prison, and a puzzle. That "small hand" isn't just Nami's; it's the hand of every person trying to reclaim a lost history.
The song lasted for the first 30 episodes. That’s it. In a show with over 1,100 episodes, thirty is a drop in the ocean. But the impact was so massive that Toei Animation brought it back for special episodes and milestones. They knew. They knew that for the fandom, this specific One Piece ending song represents the innocence of the East Blue, a time before the stakes involved the literal erasure of islands from the map.
Why "RUN! RUN! RUN!" Changed the Energy
After "Memories" pulled at our heartstrings, the show pivoted. The second ending, "RUN! RUN! RUN!", also by Maki Otsuki, was a sprint. It was chaotic. It featured the crew running across various terrains, a visual metaphor for the increasing momentum of the series as they approached the Grand Line.
The shift was jarring for some. You went from crying about your childhood to wanting to go for a jog. But this highlights the brilliance of the early One Piece music direction. The endings weren't just filler; they were tonal resets. They prepared the viewer to step away from the screen and carry the spirit of the episode into their real life.
The Great Ending Song Drought (2006–2023)
For a huge chunk of time, the concept of a One Piece ending song actually vanished. Starting with episode 279, right in the middle of the Enies Lobby arc, the production team made a controversial call. They scrapped the ending themes entirely.
The openings got longer. We went from 90-second openings to two-and-a-half-minute behemoths.
Basically, the staff decided that the "Previously On" segments and the actual story content needed more breathing room. For seventeen years, fans didn't have that 60-second cool-down at the end of an episode. We just got the "To Be Continued" screen and a hard cut to the preview. It changed the way we consumed the show. The community became used to the frantic pace. We lost that moment of reflection that a good ending theme provides.
Then, Wano happened. Or rather, the end of Wano.
The Return of the ED with "Raise"
When it was announced that ending themes were coming back for the climax of the Wano Country arc, the internet went into a meltdown. The return of the One Piece ending song was more than a technical change; it was a signal that the series was entering its final saga.
"Raise" by Chili Beans. was the track that broke the silence.
It was modern. It was funky. It felt nothing like the J-Pop of the early 2000s, yet it captured that same sense of "the journey is almost over." The visuals were a love letter to the fans, showing the crew in casual outfits, just hanging out. It reminded us that despite the Gear 5 transformations and the cosmic battles, these are still just a bunch of weirdos on a boat.
Ranking the Heavy Hitters: Which One Piece Ending Song Actually Matters?
If you ask ten fans for their favorite ending, you’ll get twelve different answers. It’s a mess. But there are a few that stand above the rest due to their historical weight.
- "Shouchinosuke" (Ending 4): This is the one with the weirdly catchy, traditional Japanese vibe. It’s quintessentially early One Piece—experimental and unapologetic.
- "Eternal Pose" (Ending 15): The final ending before the long hiatus. It’s the sound of an era ending. It feels like a goodbye, which, as it turns out, it was for nearly two decades.
- "Dear Friends" (Ending 16): Technically a special ending used during the Going Merry's funeral. If you don't cry when this plays, you might be a Cipher Pol agent. It’s the ultimate tear-jerker.
Most people sleep on "Free Will" (Ending 9) and "Faith" (Ending 10). Both are by Ruppina. They have this ethereal, almost melancholic trance quality that fits the Sky Island saga perfectly. Skypiea was always the "dream" arc, and these songs feel like waking up from one.
The "A-chi-chi" Factor
We have to talk about "Shining ray" by Janne Da Arc. This was Ending 8. It’s pure early 2000s rock. It’s the kind of song you’d hear in a crowded arcade in Akihabara. While it doesn't have the emotional weight of "Memories," it represents the "cool" factor of the Alabasta era. It’s when One Piece stopped being a "kids' show" and started being a cultural juggernaut.
The Technical Side: Why These Songs Stick
Music theorists often point to the "One Piece chord progression." It’s not a real thing, technically, but there’s a recurring use of major-to-minor shifts that create a feeling of "triumphant sadness."
You hear it in the One Piece ending song compositions constantly.
Take "Raise." The verses are somewhat stripped back, focusing on a rhythmic bassline. But when the chorus hits, the instrumentation expands, mimicking the feeling of the horizon opening up. It’s a psychological trick. It makes the viewer feel like they’ve personally accomplished something by finishing the episode.
How to Curate the Perfect One Piece Ending Playlist
If you're trying to dive back into the discography, don't just go in chronological order. You'll get whiplash. Instead, group them by "vibe."
First, create a "Nostalgia Trip" folder. Put "Memories," "Eternal Pose," and "Dear Friends" in there. This is for when you want to remember why you started watching this show when you were ten years old.
Next, make a "Grand Line Adventure" list. This is where "RUN! RUN! RUN!", "Shining ray," and "Before Dawn" live. These are high-energy, "let's go find the treasure" tracks.
Finally, you need the "Modern Era" set. Since the return of endings in 2023, the production quality has skyrocketed. "Raise" and "Dear Sunrise" show a level of artistic polish that the early cel-animated days couldn't dream of.
The Misconception About "Ending 1"
A lot of casual fans think "We Are!" is the first ending. It wasn't. It was the opening. But because the early 4Kids dub in the West butchered the soundtrack—replacing Japanese masterpieces with that (admittedly catchy) Pirate Rap—a whole generation of viewers missed out on the original ending culture.
If you grew up with the rap, going back to listen to the actual One Piece ending song "Memories" is a transformative experience. It changes the context of the story. It turns a Saturday morning cartoon into an epic poem about the passage of time.
What's Next for One Piece Music?
As we move deeper into the Final Saga, the ending songs are becoming more frequent and more experimental. We’re seeing collaborations with younger, indie-adjacent Japanese artists who grew up on One Piece.
The upcoming endings will likely lean heavily into the "end of the journey" theme. Expect more acoustic versions. Expect callbacks to "Memories." Oda is a master of the "long call-back," and the music department follows his lead.
Actionable Steps for the Modern Fan
If you want to truly appreciate the musical legacy of the series, do these three things:
- Listen to the full versions: The TV size edits (90 seconds) often cut out the best bridges and instrumental solos. Maki Otsuki’s full version of "Memories" has a middle 8 that is arguably better than the chorus.
- Watch the "Special Edition" endings: Some episodes, like the "Episode of Nami" or the "Episode of Merry" specials, feature re-recorded versions of these songs. They use modern orchestration and updated vocals that show how the artists themselves have aged with the series.
- Check the lyrics: Don't just hum along. Use a translation site to understand the "will" being expressed. Most of these songs are written from the perspective of someone standing on a dock, watching a ship disappear. It adds a layer of depth you can't get from the melody alone.
One Piece isn't just a story about a treasure. It’s a story about the sounds that accompany the search. The next time an episode finishes, don't just click "Next Episode" immediately. Sit through those credits. Listen to the One Piece ending song. Let the weight of the journey sink in for a minute. You’ve earned the rest.
