One Piece (ワンピース), created by Eiichiro Oda from Kumamoto Prefecture, is the world’s best-selling manga series with over 500 million copies in circulation globally. The Straw Hat Pirates’ world is a vast fictional creation, but specific real-world locations — particularly in Kumamoto and across Japan — have direct connections to the series and its creator.
Kumamoto: Oda’s Hometown
Eiichiro Oda was born in Kumamoto City, and the connection between One Piece and Kumamoto is celebrated throughout the prefecture. Kumamoto Castle — one of Japan’s three great castles — and the Bear character Kumamoto Bear (Kumamon) have both been associated with One Piece through official collaborations. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes prompted Oda to draw special recovery-support illustrations, strengthening the bond between the series and the prefecture.
Sabaody Archipelago Model: Mangroves of the Ryukyus
The Sabaody Archipelago — a mangrove island chain in One Piece — draws on the mangrove ecosystems of the Ryukyu Islands, particularly those of Iriomote Island and Okinawa. The dense subtropical mangrove forests accessible by kayak from Iriomote provide a direct visual parallel to the series’ famous location.
Nagasaki and Dejima
Nagasaki’s Dejima — the historic Dutch trading post island — and the city’s strong European architectural heritage (reflecting its history as Japan’s only open port during the isolation period) reflect the series’ interest in the meeting of Eastern and Western seafaring cultures.
Access
Kumamoto: Kyushu Shinkansen from Fukuoka (30 minutes) or from Kagoshima (40 minutes). Iriomote: Flights to Ishigaki, then ferry to Iriomote (about 40 minutes).
Best Time to Visit
Kumamoto’s cherry blossom season (late March to early April) around Kumamoto Castle is spectacular. Iriomote’s mangrove kayaking season is May to October.
