Entertainment News

Statue of 'One Piece' character Monkey D. Luffy unveiled in Kumamoto

Kyodo

KUMAMOTO - A statue of cartoon character Luffy from megahit comic and animated TV series “One Piece” was unveiled Friday in front of the Kumamato Prefectural Government building.

The 174-centimeter-tall statue, matching the height of Monkey D. Luffy, the main character in the story, has been erected to commemorate author Eiichiro Oda’s reception of a prefectural honor for his support of the region’s rebuilding efforts following major earthquakes in 2016.

Oda, who hails from the city of Kumamoto, expressed hope in a statement that the Luffy statue will help draw visitors to the prefecture. Following the disaster, he provided illustrations for local railway cars and donated ¥800 million ($7.1 million) to the prefecture under the name of Luffy.

“We are thankful for his great contributions. Just like Luffy, we will never give up, and move forward to reach our dream despite the adversity caused by the quake,” Gov. Ikuo Kabashima said at the unveiling ceremony.

“One Piece,” depicting the adventures of Luffy, who aspires to become a pirate king, and his companions, is a manga series in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Over 430 million copies of the comic books have been printed in at least 42 countries and regions, according to the prefecture.

LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS STORIES

Italian director Franco Zeffirelli dies at age 96: Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, who delighted audiences around the world with his romantic vision and extravagant productions, most famously captured in his cinematic "Romeo and Juliet" and the...

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City Thursday.

Cuba Gooding Jr. surrenders while denying allegations of groping in NYC nightclub: Cuba Gooding Jr.'s lawyer said Thursday security video will exonerate the actor from allegations he groped a woman at a New York City night spot. Video from Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge i...

Broadcast pioneer Lew Klein, who helped to create "American Bandstand," speaks during a 2012 interview in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Klein taught and mentored at Temple University in Philadelphia for more than six decades, lending his name to its communication school. The school said he died Wednesday. He was 91.

Lew Klein, who helped create 'American Bandstand,' dies at 91: Lew Klein, a broadcast pioneer who helped create "American Bandstand" and launched the careers of Dick Clark and Bob Saget, has died at 91. Klein died Wednesday, according to Temple University, ...