As a kid, my mom would scold me for watching “ONE PIECE” on TV, telling me, “Don’t watch that stuff!”

 Then, my dad, hearing this, bought the entire “ONE PIECE” manga collection and firmly said,

     “ Oh just shut up and read this already!!!!”  

(It’s like a famous scene from the Drum Kingdom Arc!)

It was almost as if a “ドン！！！” (DON!!!) sound effect bubble from One Piece appeared behind him as he slammed the comics on the table!

 Since then, it’s been a family obsession, and that passion continues to this day.

 Now a global phenomenon, “ONE PIECE” has collaborated with the Minami Aso Railway, which gained attention for resuming full-line operations on July 15th.

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Hearing that the SUNNY-GO TRAIN was hitting the tracks, I couldn’t miss the chance and hopped aboard on its inaugural day!

Up at 5 AM, Heading to Takamori

 With a scheduled departure around 9 AM, I arrived at Takamori Station.

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There was already a crowd gathering…!!!

We were welcomed by a large bronze statue Franky, the shipwright who built the Thousand Sunny.

As I was taking it all in, the train arrived, and I hurried over in excitement.

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Sunny!!!

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 Here it is, the “Sunny-Go Train,” a collaboration between ONE PIECE and Minami Aso Railway.

It runs between Tateno and Takamori Stations.

Boarding Time!

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 So, without further ado, I boarded!

 It was first-come, first-served, but luckily, I managed to get a seat.

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Inside the train… wow, just wow!

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The ceiling is adorned with iconic scenes from the manga!

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 If you look closely, the lights are fashioned into straw hats…!

 There are treasure chests with treasures and even Devil Fruits…!

 Devil Fruits are supposed to be worth hundreds of millions of Bellies… could this train be targeted by pirates?

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 The seats are also decorated with scenes from the manga.

And not just any scenes, but ones specifically about the Sunny! Fans will definitely love this~

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 Even the warning signs use manga panels.

When children don’t listen to you, you can say, “Look! Zoro is warning you, too!“

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 I also received a commemorative flag (distributed only for the day)!

 There were lots of kids wearing straw hats too~

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I take my seat and wait for the departure! This time we are headed to the final stop, Tateno Station.

Bring it on!! (This reminds me of Fish-Man Island Arc!)

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Fully Experiencing the Minami Aso Railway!

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It may be hard to see, but Trafalgar Law is in the picture.

Now, it’s time for the train journey!

 I’m soaking in the breathtaking scenery of Minami Aso, as the train gently sways.

 Each station greets us with its own little wonders!

Sometimes we are greeted by sunflower fields and soap bubbles…

 Even Jizo statues are decked out in ONE PIECE flair…

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Carrot! There you are!

 Keep your eyes peeled for various ONE PIECE characters popping up along the line and at the stations. It’s a real treat for fans!

Arriving at Tateno Station!

We arrived at Tateno Station!

 The trip was a treat not just for the eyes with Minami Aso’s incredible landscapes, but also for ONE PIECE fans, brimming with pleasant surprises – time just flew by!

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 I even snagged a commemorative sticker as a keepsake!

 It turns out, you get one per person on your SUNNY-GO TRAIN ride, until they run out.

 Welcoming us at Tateno Station was the legendary Kumamon (not the Bartholomew Kuma), striding over for a high-five.

 I thought I might get catapulted into the air, but it was just a superb fan experience. You’re our admiral!

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You get a great view of the train from Tateno Station.

They’ve thought of everything – even the roof’s decorated with Luffy’s pirate flag!

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 Today, Tateno Station seemed to thoroughly be celebrating the SUNNY-GO TRAIN, decking out in all things ONE PIECE!

 There were Straw Hat Pirates’ flags fluttering…

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 And the heartening message sent by Eiichiro Oda immediately after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake.

 That message was such a morale booster back then.

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 Don’t miss the photo spot – perfect for a memorable snap!

 The SUNNY-GO TRAIN runs on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

For more details, please refer to this link!

https://op-kumamoto.com/train/

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 Over at Takamori Station, they’ve got some nifty ONE PIECE collaboration souvenirs. A round trip to Tateno Station and back sounds splendid.

 So whether you’re a fan from Kumamoto, elsewhere in Japan, or even from abroad, the SUNNY-GO TRAIN is your ticket to adventure.

Definitely worth a visit!

SUNNY-GO TRAIN