One Piece: The Straw Hat Statues of Kumamoto

After the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Eiichiro Oda, the manga artist from Kumamoto Prefecture, sent a warm message: "I will surely come to help." The first statue is the answer. Luffy was unveiled in front of the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office on 30 November 2018. The project gives the crew a story: the Straw Hats land in Kumamoto, which they call Hino Country, learn how widely the quakes hurt people, and Luffy sends his friends out to help.

Mashiki was hit by two magnitude-7 earthquakes, and its school lunch centre was damaged. In the project's story, Sanji, the cook, came to the town to help. He makes warm, tasty school lunches from local produce, looking after the health and smiles of the children who will carry the town into the future. His statue was set up on 7 December 2019.

Location precision: The official page gives only the street address (Kiyama, Mashiki); the pin marks the Kiyama district.

The great grassland of Aso is a source of pride for its residents, and the earthquakes left it badly damaged. In the project's story, Usopp, the sniper, came to help. He helps the grassland recover, and with it the residents' pride and smiles. His statue was set up on 8 December 2019, a day after Sanji's in Mashiki.

Location precision: The official page gives only the street address (Kurokawa, Aso); the pin marks Aso Station in the same district.

The animal houses at Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens were damaged by the earthquakes, and animals had to be evacuated to zoos outside the prefecture. Chopper, the ship's doctor, came to care for them and to bring smiles to the children who visit. His statue was set up on 7 November 2020, in the zoo in the city's Kengun district.

Mifune has a music college, and many of its houses were damaged by the earthquakes. Brook, the musician, came to the town. With the college's students he plays songs of support for the recovery, and his light jokes are meant to lift the townspeople's spirits and push on a bright rebuilding. His statue was set up on 8 November 2020.

Location precision: The official page gives only the street address (Mifune); the pin marks the surrounding district.

The Minami-Aso Railway, which people use to reach hospitals and schools, was cut by the earthquakes. In the project's story the shipwright Franky came to Takamori, a station where trains start and end. There he sounds his hammer for the day the whole line reopens. His statue was set up on 21 November 2020, one of three set up that autumn after Chopper and Brook.

In Nishihara the damage fell settlement by settlement, so rebuilding the community is the challenge. The navigator Nami came to the village in the project's story, and keeps sending winds of support to the windmill that is the village's symbol, and to every one of its settlements. Her statue was set up on 31 July 2021.

Location precision: The official page gives only the street address (Komori, Nishihara); the pin marks the Komori district.

The former Tokai University Aso campus is a core site of the earthquake museum, which passes on the lessons of the disaster. Robin, the archaeologist, came here in the project's story. As a teller of history she keeps researching, and helps hand down the memory and lessons of the quakes so that Minami-Aso's recovery can bloom. Her statue stands beside the university's Aso training field and was set up on 9 October 2021.

In Otsu, daily life changed overnight, starting with the damaged martial-arts hall where children trained. Zoro, the fighter, came to town, and, drawing on a place where kendo is popular, practises swordsmanship with the children in a square. The aim is a town that will not be beaten by earthquakes. His statue was set up on 22 January 2022.

Location precision: The official page gives only the street address (Otsu); the pin marks the town of Otsu.

Jinbe, the helmsman, was the tenth and last statue. He went to Uto, where a new city hall was being built after the old one was damaged by the quake. The project shows him against a broad sea lit by the sun, warmly watching over the citizens and steering the city towards further recovery. He was unveiled at Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park on 23 July 2022.