The BEST episodes directed by Junji Shimizu
#1 - This is the Sea of the Sky! The Knight of the Sky and Heaven's Gate
One Piece - Season 9 - Episode 10
The Straw Hats arrive in an ocean above the clouds. Usopp almost falls out of the Going Merry but is saved at the last minute. The crew is also attacked by a mysterious looking warrior, but is saved by the Knight of the Sky. Finally, they arrive at the border which transports them to the upper realm, Skypiea.
#2 - Go Forth, Little Crow! To the Sacrificial Altar
One Piece - Season 9 - Episode 16
Luffy, Usopp and Sanji finally enter Upper Yard, only to find out that the whole road is trapped heavily, but at last they arrive at the Ordeal Gates. Meanwhile Robin, Zoro, and Nami go out to explore Upper Yard while Chopper stays behind to guard the ship.
#3 - The Legendary Family! 'Liar Norland'
One Piece - Season 9 - Episode 5
The Straw Hats meet with Montblanc Cricket on another part of Jaya; Cricket is a descendant of Montblanc Noland, an infamous "liar" who told of a gold city on Jaya, and Cricket was outcasted for looking for artifacts of the gold city. He may be the only person who knows how to get to Skypiea.
#4 - The Fabled Pirate Hunter! Zoro, The Wandering Swordsman!
One Piece - Season 8 - Episode 5
Before he meets Luffy, Zoro traveled the world in search of "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk. In a flashback, Zoro captures the target of the bounty hunters Johnny and Yosaku in a bar. According to bounty hunter rules, they demand that he relinquish the victim's body to them. Zoro, who does not consider himself a bounty hunter, complies, explaining that he only brings in a bounty from time to time so that he can survive until he can become the greatest swordsman in the world. Later that day, a group of bandits, led by a man with a much higher bounty, plunders the village. Johnny and Yosaku, inspired by Zoro's conviction, decide to take on the villain, but are quickly defeated. As the bandits prepare to kill the pair, Zoro returns and saves Johnny and Yosaku. After he defeats the bandits and their leader, Johnny and Yosaku become his followers.