▲ Profile image of the official "One Piece" account
As a magnitude 7.1 strong earthquake that struck on the 28th caused massive casualties and property damage in parts of Kumamoto Prefecture in western Kyushu, Japan, celebrities connected to the region have stepped up to provide both material and emotional support.
What is drawing particular attention is that the creator of Japan's popular manga series "One Piece" has stepped forward to offer assistance.
It was learned on the 30th that the official "One Piece" account on X (formerly Twitter) recently changed its profile picture to an image of the protagonist Luffy wearing a T-shirt featuring the English word "KUMAMOTO" and a bear design symbolizing the prefecture.
Eiichiro Oda, the original author of "One Piece," is from Kumamoto Prefecture and had previously thrown himself into regional revitalization projects following the Kumamoto earthquake that claimed about 270 lives 10 years ago. He is interpreted as having sent a message of support once again to his hometown, which has suffered earthquake damage.
Since the 2016 earthquake, author Oda has collaborated with local governments in Kumamoto Prefecture to carry out the "One Piece Kumamoto Reconstruction Project."
He has donated 800 million yen (approx. 7 billion KRW) to Kumamoto Prefecture since 2016, and in response, the prefecture erected a statue of the protagonist Luffy in front of the prefectural office building in 2018.
As "One Piece" fans from both inside and outside Japan flocked to see the statue, the prefecture gradually erected statues of "One Piece" characters in nine villages that were hit hardest by the earthquake.
It has been noted that these statues have helped increase local tourism revenue as they gained enough popularity to give rise to pilgrimage tours visiting them.
Author Oda also presents "One Piece"-related souvenirs and new illustrations to young people in Kumamoto Prefecture who are reaching adulthood.
Kumamoto Prefecture even presented the "Honorary Prefectural Citizen Award" to Oda, the creator of "One Piece,&rquo; which holds a Guinness World Record for the highest number of copies sold worldwide, reaching nearly 500 million copies.
Aside from the "One Piece" creator, Munetaka Murakami, a Japanese slugger and baseball player active in the U.S. Major Leagues for the Chicago White Sox, is also from Kumamoto Prefecture and expressed his deep affection for residents who suffered damage following the earthquake.
Playing in a game against the New York Yankees on the 29th, following the recent strong earthquake, he said, "Times like this are when I want to try to be of even a little help."
Having experienced the intensity 7 situation firsthand while living in his hometown as a student during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, he subsequently made a donation for the restoration of Kumamoto Castle.
Meanwhile, Yoshiki, the drummer and former leader of the famous Japanese rock band X Japan, whose hometown is not in the region, expressed his support for recovery efforts by donating 10 million yen (approx. 88 million KRW) toward the earthquake damage in Kumamoto Prefecture.
(Photo: Captured from official X account, Yonhap News)
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