Chiikawa’s Ode Arc: the one-eyed giant and the goblins’ prison
Based on our Japanese story page and articles on Ode and the goblins; anime episodes checked on the official anime site (2026-10-01).
In the forest, Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi meet Ode, a big one-eyed giant who invites them to eat mushrooms with him. The mushrooms turn out to belong to the goblins, and all four end up in an underground prison. Nagano posted the story on X in autumn 2021; it is collected in Volume 5, and the anime adapted it as “Ode and the Prison.” Here is where to read it in order, without spoilers.
- Original posts
- 15 posts on Nagano’s X, Oct 29, 2021 – Nov 18, 2021
- Book
- Vol. 5 (Japanese), released Jan 23, 2023 · Korean edition 먼작귀 (Daewon C.I.) Vol. 5
- Anime
- Episodes 189–198 (“Ode and the Prison 1–10”), aired Jul 30, 2024 – Aug 30, 2024
- Main characters
- Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi, Ode and the goblins
Read the Ode Arc in order
Our Japanese page shows all 15 of Nagano’s posts for this arc as X embeds, in posting order. The reading page is in Japanese, but you only need to scroll: Nagano’s X posts are lined up from top to bottom in order, and on longer arcs the 「次のページ」 (Next page) button at the bottom takes you on.
- Page 1: In the goblins’ prison
- Posts 1–8
- Page 2: The way out
- Posts 9–15
- 15 is the number of Nagano’s posts we collected, not an official episode count.
- The posts have no text, only emoji (mostly food), so you can follow the story from the drawings alone.
What is the Ode Arc about? (no spoilers)
Ode invites the trio to share the mushrooms he is eating in the forest. But the mushrooms are precious to the goblins, who catch all four of them and lock them in an underground prison.
- In prison they wear striped uniforms. The first meals are a pleasant surprise, but the portions keep getting smaller.
- In the second half, the three and Ode quietly work on a plan to get out while the goblin guards keep watch.
- How they try to escape, and whether it works, we leave to the comic and the anime.
Who is Ode? And who are the goblins?
Ode is a big one-eyed giant with a yellow body. He looks intimidating, yet he is introduced as gentle and kind. The goblins are small green creatures who capture Ode and the trio.
- Where Ode comes from, why he was in that forest, and where the name “Ode” comes from have not been revealed, as of October 2026.
- The goblins first appear in Nagano’s post of Oct 30, 2021. Who they are and where they live have not been explained either.
- Ode is a different character from Rakko, the famous monster hunter the trio admires.
Which volume and which anime episodes?
The Ode Arc is collected in Volume 5 of the Japanese books (Kodansha). In the anime the title is different: episodes 189 to 198 are “Ode and the Prison 1” to “Ode and the Prison 10” (オデと牢獄).
- Volume 5 was released on Jan 23, 2023. The Slot Machine Arc and the Black Shooting Star Arc are in the same volume.
- The episodes aired in Japan from Jul 30, 2024 to Aug 30, 2024, on Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV” (Tuesdays and Fridays).
- We have only checked the Japanese books and the broadcast in Japan.
Characters and more to read
Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi share the prison with Ode. Volume 5 also has two more arcs with English guides.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ode in Chiikawa?
A big, gentle one-eyed giant the trio meets in the forest in the Ode Arc. Where he comes from has not been revealed.
Which volume has the Ode Arc?
Volume 5 of the Japanese books (Kodansha).
Which anime episodes are the Ode Arc?
Episodes 189 to 198, titled “Ode and the Prison,” aired in Japan from July to August 2024.
Where can I read it?
The original posts are on Nagano’s X account. Chiifan’s Ode Arc page shows all 15 posts in order.
Sources
Pages marked (Japanese) are only available in Japanese.