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ONE PIECE in Kumamoto: Ten Statues and Why They Are There

The author is from Kumamoto. After the 2016 earthquakes, ten life-size bronze statues were placed across the prefecture — mostly in the towns that were hit hardest.

7 min read

Why they exist

Eiichiro Oda is from Kumamoto. In April 2016 the prefecture was hit by a series of major earthquakes, and in the years afterwards Kumamoto and the ONE PIECE side set up a reconstruction project that placed ten life-size bronze statues of the Straw Hat crew across the region.

The placement is the point. Luffy stands in the prefectural capital, but the other nine were placed in the towns and villages that took the worst damage — the intention being to give people a reason to travel to those places and spend money there.

That context changes what visiting them means. This is not merchandising dropped into a plaza.

Where they are

| Statue | Location | |---|---| | Luffy | Kumamoto City (prefectural government promenade) | | Chopper | Kumamoto City | | Sanji | Mashiki | | Brook | Mifune | | Zoro | Ozu | | Nami | Nishihara | | Robin | Minamiaso | | Usopp | Aso | | Franky | Takamori | | Jinbe | Uto |

Check the current locations before you go — statues have been added over time and details can change.

Start with Luffy

The Luffy statue on the promenade in front of the Kumamoto prefectural government building is the easiest one to reach and the one to see if you only see one. At his feet are the author's handprint and signature.

It is outdoors, free, and open at any hour. From Kumamoto Station it is a short bus or tram ride.

Seeing all ten

Be realistic about this: the nine outside the city are spread across the Aso caldera region and the towns around it, and public transport between them is limited.

  • With a car: most of two days, comfortably. The prefecture publishes a map and suggested routes.
  • Without a car: possible but slow. Some are reachable by bus and train with patience; expect to sacrifice several of them.
  • If you only have one day: Luffy and Chopper in the city, then pick two or three in the Aso direction.

Combining it with the rest of Kyushu

Kumamoto sits well in a Kyushu itinerary:

  • Fukuoka is about 40 minutes by Shinkansen — the Gundam statue and the Pokémon Center are there.
  • Oita is across the island, with the Attack on Titan sites in Hita, Beppu's hot springs and Sanrio's Harmonyland.
  • Kumamoto Castle itself was badly damaged in the same earthquakes and its restoration is visible and worth seeing.

A Kyushu week that takes in Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Oita covers four separate franchises without doubling back.

What to expect

These are bronze statues in ordinary public places — a promenade, a station forecourt, a park in a small town. There is no admission, no gift shop attached, and no queue. In most of the smaller towns you will be the only person there.

That is the experience. Given why they were placed, it is a reasonable one to travel for.

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