Quake Recovery Exhibit Opens in Kumamoto with “One Piece” Tie-In

Kumamoto, March 23 (Jiji Press)–Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the April 2016 massive earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, a special exhibition showcasing postdisaster reconstruction efforts there has opened in collaboration with the popular manga series “One Piece.” The event at the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art in the prefecture’s capital runs from Friday through May 24. Admission is free but requires booking. In 2016, the prefecture was struck by a 6.5-magnitude foreshock on April 14, followed by a 7.3-magnitude main quake two days later. The day after the main quake, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece and a native of Kumamoto, sent a message of support to the prefecture. This led to the launch of the One Piece Kumamoto Revival Project. The exhibition’s concept, “SHI-RU-SHI,” which means “sign” in Japanese, represents the “sign of friendship” on the arms of the One Piece protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, and his crew members, as well as a “sign of reconstruction.” In the exhibition, the prototypes of the bronze statues of the Straw Hat Pirates crew members from One Piece, installed in disaster-stricken municipalities across the prefecture, are on display together for the first time. It also features screenings of videos that combine well-known scenes from the manga series with the reconstruction process. Ahead of the public opening, Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura said in a speech, “I’m glad that I can come and see this exhibition with a smile, as reconstruction moves forward.” Among visitors was Mitsutoshi Kimoto, a 35-year-old civil servant who came with his three sons. “Thanks to One Piece, people have learned about the earthquakes,” Kimoto said. “We’re so grateful to Oda.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]