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The extremely popular One Piece manga series currently serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump has joined forces with the Kumamoto Prefecture towns of Takamori (Aso District) and Yunomae (Kuma District) to support recovery following the Kumamoto earthquakes, and this joint project is starting now!
Half a year has passed since the Kumamoto earthquakes struck in April. Although the region is slowly beginning to recover, the areas that suffered the most severe damage are still in a state of uncertainty. Despite the slow advance toward recovery, the region's tourism industry has been dealt a serious blow as the number of tourists visiting Kumamoto has fallen greatly due to problems such as harmful rumours regarding the area.
Against this backdrop, thanks to the cooperation of a great number of people and organisations including the Kumamoto-born creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, Shueisha, and Toei Animation, "One Piece Kumamoto Recovery Project" events will be held at each municipality in Kumamoto Prefecture.
This project, with its aim of helping recovery, will be advertised both within Kumamoto and further afield. To help Kumamoto return to the way it was before, the project hopes that the press and anyone else who'd like to get involved will spread the word about this project!
Part 1 of the Project
**Minamiaso Railway & Kumagawa Railway One Piece Recovery Trains!**
Trains wrapped with One Piece images will be running on two local railway lines. Passengers will be able to listen to onboard announcements by Luffy, as well as receive a postcard with an original illustration.
Minamiaso Railway
Dates: Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 to Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017
*The trains will run every day.*
Departure Times from Takamori Station:
・Weekends and Holidays: 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:40 p.m.
・Weekdays: 11:30 a.m.
*A special schedule will be operating on Nov. 27. In the case of unavoidable circumstances such as vehicle failures, alternative train carriages may be used.*
Fare for Return Trip from Takamori Station to Nakamatsu Station:
・Adults: ¥580
・Children: ¥300
All seats are unreserved.
Departure Ceremony
Date and Time: Sunday, Nov. 27 at 9 a.m.
Location: Takamori Station special event space
Kumagawa Railway
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 to Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017
*The One Piece train will only run on weekends and national holidays.*
Train Times:
・Departs Hitoyoshi Station at 11:11 a.m. and arrives at Yunomae Station (the final stop) at 12:05 p.m.
Adult Fares (including reserved-seat tickets):
・One Way: ¥990
・Day Ticket: ¥1,500
Child Fares:
・One Way: ¥650
・Day Ticket: ¥900
Notices:
・Advance reservation is required (tickets can be booked up to one month before the day of travel).
・Even on days when the One Piece train isn't running, passengers with ¥1,200 day tickets (¥600 for children) will receive a postcard. Please check the Kumagawa Railway homepage for details.
Departure Ceremony
Kumagawa Railway:
Dates and Times: Sunday, Oct. 29 at 12:10 p.m.
Location: Yunomae Station Railwing
Minamiaso Railway:
Dates and Times: Sunday, Nov. 27 at 9 a.m.
Location: Takamori Station special event space
*A fan meeting will also be held.*
Part 2 of the Project
**Join the Takamori & Yunomae One Piece Stamp Rally!**
If you collect the stamps that await you in two locations in Takamori and Yunomae, you'll receive an original sticker!
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 to Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017
*Prizes only available while stocks last.*
Stamp Rally Locations: Takamori Yusuikan, Yunomae Manga Museum
*Prizes will be handed out at the Yunomae Manga Museum and at the entrance to Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park.*
Twice the Prizes!
Starting Nov. 12 the "Tokoton Raku SEA Sightseeing Stamp Rally" will be taking place in Kami-Amakusa City. If you collect the stamp from Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall as well as the Takamori rally stamp at Takamori Yusuikan and the Yunomae rally stamp at Yunomae Manga Museum, you'll receive an original Kami-Amakusa, Takamori, and Yunomae sticker!
In addition to all these fun events, One Piece illustrations, scripts, and figures will be on display at the Takamori Yusuikan and the Yunomae Manga Museum. (Entry is free for the duration of this event.)
Source: @Press
