Shueisha Invalidates Millions of Votes in Global ‘One Piece’ Popularity Poll Following Fraud Detection

TOKYO — The Weekly Shonen Jump Editorial Department has executed a massive corrective action regarding the 2nd Global ONE PIECE Character Popularity Poll, known as the “WORLD TOP 100.” In a formal notice issued on March 25, 2026, the publisher confirmed that a significant volume of fraudulent votes has been purged to maintain the “fairness of the event.”

Data Correction Indicates Large-Scale Manipulation

Following the adjustment, the official vote count currently stands at 4,441,905 (4.4M) previously it was 85,392,453 (85M). Discrepancies between this figure and previous unofficial tracking suggest an unprecedented removal of data, estimated to be as high as 95% of the total accumulated votes. The editorial team stated that the fraudulent activity occurred during a “specific period of time,” prompting a manual reset of the tallies displayed on the website.

The administrative team has signaled a zero-tolerance policy moving forward. “In the event that any further fraudulent activity is discovered in the future, we will implement strict response measures as needed without prior notice,” the official department notice stated. The move is intended to protect the integrity of the results for fans who are voting daily within the established rules.

Poll Expansion: 1,567 Characters Now Eligible

The voting scandal follows a minor administrative update earlier this month. On March 17, the editorial department apologized for the omission of several characters from the initial roster. The update saw the inclusion of seven additional figures, including Minatomo from the East Blue and several members of the Charlotte family (Basans, Dosmarche, Compo, Hachee, and Maple). This brings the total number of characters featured in the poll to 1,567.

With the removal of millions of illegitimate entries, the World Hot Characters leaderboard is expected to undergo a volatile shift. This poll is the successor to the landmark 2021 event, and the final results carry significant weight for the franchise, often determining future global marketing strategies and commemorative artwork by series creator Eiichiro Oda.

Observers note that the purge aims to ensure that the “World Top 100” remains a true reflection of the global fanbase rather than a metric of automated manipulation. The poll continues, with the administrative team promising “fair operations” until the final tally is concluded.