World • 05/05/25
Experience the Resilience of Kumamoto Through a "One Piece" Statue Tour, Remembering the Earthquake and Celebrating Reconstruction
In the heart of Japan, the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto has embarked on a unique endeavor to boost tourism and honor its journey of recovery from the devastating earthquakes of 2016. A two-day bus tour now allows visitors to explore ten bronze statues of beloved characters from the globally acclaimed comic and animated series "One Piece," a creation of the Kumamoto-born manga artist Eiichiro Oda.
These statues, depicting Monkey D. Luffy and his nine crew members, are strategically placed across nine municipalities, offering a poignant reminder of the disaster while showcasing the remarkable progress of reconstruction. The tour, designed primarily for domestic tourists, operat...