ONE PIECE Kumamoto Recovery Project & Flagship Battle in Kumamoto

As part of the ONE PIECE Kumamoto Recovery Project, a Flagship Battle will be held in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Many of you are probably already familiar with the project, so I’ll keep the explanation brief and focus on the key points.

The event is scheduled for February 22, 2026, and I have already submitted my application to participate.

Kumamoto holds special significance for ONE PIECE fans, as it is the hometown of Eiichiro Oda, the creator of ONE PIECE.
Because of this connection, Kumamoto has become home to many ONE PIECE–related initiatives and landmarks.

The ONE PIECE Bronze Statues Across Kumamoto

There are currently 10 ONE PIECE bronze statues spread across Kumamoto Prefecture:

• Monkey D. Luffy
• Tony Tony Chopper
• Roronoa Zoro
• Nico Robin
• Usopp
• Franky
• Nami
• Sanji
• Brook
• Jinbe

As a small personal aside, I’m a big fan of the movie Rocky, and one day I hope to visit the Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the U.S.

In a similar way, for ONE PIECE fans, Kumamoto feels like a kind of “holy ground.”
It’s not uncommon for travelers to visit Kumamoto after sightseeing in Tokyo or Kyoto.

Even for me, if it’s a series I truly love, I would absolutely want to visit places connected to it.
Beyond ONE PIECE, Kumamoto is also rich in nature and history. If you have the time, I highly recommend traveling around the prefecture and visiting the statues scattered across the region—almost like collecting Dragon Balls.

About the “Premium Card Collection – Kumamoto Special –”

Right now, the item drawing the most attention is the
“Premium Card Collection – Kumamoto Special –.”

I covered the details in a previous blog post, but as of now, listings on eBay have already reached around ¥150,000 (approximately $948 USD).

Honestly, while I understand that hype and expectations often influence early pricing, it does feel excessive—especially considering that it’s not even guaranteed that most people will be able to obtain it in the first place.

A Common Misunderstanding (Important)

There is one major misconception I keep seeing on Reddit and Facebook, so I want to clarify this clearly:

You cannot buy this collection just by going to Kumamoto.

Only players who are officially selected to participate in the tournament will be eligible to purchase it.

Even if you show up at the venue on the day of the event, you will not be able to buy it unless you are a registered participant.
On top of that, participation itself is determined by a lottery system applying does not guarantee entry.

Personal Distance & Thoughts on Kumamoto

I live in Fukuoka, and Kumamoto is about a two-hour drive by highway, so for me it feels relatively close and accessible.

Since I’m participating, I plan to give it my best and aim for a strong tournament result.

The Kumamoto Recovery Project was launched to support recovery efforts after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake.
While Kumamoto City itself may not immediately show the scars of the disaster, driving through the surrounding areas still reveals large landslide sites and other lasting damage.

Seeing this firsthand really emphasizes the scale of the earthquake.
If possible, I hope to contribute to Kumamoto in some small way through my involvement.

Final Notes

In addition to the
“Premium Card Collection – Kumamoto Special –,”
there are several Japan-exclusive promotional cards worth keeping an eye on.

If you’re interested, feel free to reach out.
(Yes, I do offer sales as well.)

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Shinobu 🇯🇵