The Kumamoto Prefectural government unveiled a new One Piece statue of Roronoa Zoro. The bronze statue is located at the Ozu Central Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The official One Piece account broadcast the unveiling live on YouTube. In addition to the unveiling, the broadcast also featured themed dance and music performances from the local residents.
ゾロ像が無事に除幕されました！
大津中央公園かみなさんを見守ります！除幕式のアーカイブはこちら
ONE PIECE 熊本復興プロジェクトゾロ像除幕式 https://t.co/m4zQLyY63n @YouTubeより #ゾロ像 pic.twitter.com/cEv2KWc5Rr— ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official (@Eiichiro_Staff) January 22, 2022
Zoro is one of the main protagonists of One Piece and a founding member of the Straw Hat Pirates. As in the anime and manga series, Zoro’s statue shows the character wielding three katanas, one of which is in his mouth. Specifically, the statue is based on the character’s post-time-skip appearance. It even features minor details such as the scar on his left eye and chest stitches.
The unveiling stream featured children from the local area dancing in One Piece-themed costumes, playing music from the anime, and practicing Kendo. Towards the end, a professional Iaido swordsman demonstrated how to cut down a tatami pole.
You can check out the unveiling broadcast below.
Like the bronze Nami statue before it, the Zoro statue is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the prefecture after a large earthquake struck the area in 2016. The deadly earthquake resulted in many dead or injured, with thousands forced to evacuate. The project began when One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, a Kumamoto native, decided to help his home prefecture through a collaboration with Shueisha. The Zoro statue is the ninth in the series, with Jinbe being the next and final statue.
The One Piece Zoro statue can be seen at the Ozu Central Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
