Hi there, Higo Journal readers! Have you visited the statues of Straw Hat Pirates from ONE PIECE yet?

From the Luffy Statue built at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office in November 2018 to the Zoro Statue in Ozu Town in January 2022, a total of nine statues had been built as a beacon of post-earthquake reconstruction. 

The recent addition of the Jinbe statue in Uto City marked the 10th statue installation. 

Yes! Now, all the members of the Straw Hat Pirates are present in Kumamoto Prefecture!

 For those of you who possess strong intuition, you might have already guessed…

As one of my unforgettable memories of this summer…

I decided to capture all of the Straw Hat Pirates in Kumamoto Prefecture as (ex-) Admiral Kuzan because…

“The government still doesn’t think very highly of you… But now that I’ve had a closer look, I see that you and your crew have grit. …A collection of troublemakers like you… at through your number is small… is bound to become bothersome in time.”

All in the name of Kuzan’s Lazy Justice.

But simply capturing doesn’t seem that exciting.

That’s why I’m eager to visit all the statues using public transportation.

As we can see in the map, everything appears to be in a straight horizontal line. Seems straightforward, right? 

However, upon taking into account the schedules and routes of public transportation, I realized that it would not be possible to complete the journey in a single day.

As a result, I made the decision to capture these pirates on the first day and…

these pirates on the second day!

I Apprehended Chopper Right Away!

My first stop was the “Chopper Statue” located at the Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

So cute!

He can be found outside the Kumamoto Zoological and Botanical Gardens, making it possible to spot him even when the park is closed. Getting here was so easy with the availability of multiple city trams and buses.

I apprehended him swiftly and effortlessly.

By the way, here’s my schedule for the first day.

*This is the timetable at the time of our trip (July 2022).

I was instructed to catch the 9:25 bus from Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens, which would take me directly to the front of Dinosaur Museum in Mifune Town, but…

No such bus exists…

Wait… Wait, have I hit a snag already??

*To be precise, the correct bus stop is “Zoological and Botanical Gardens Entrance (Kumamoto Bus)” (「動植物園入口（熊本バス）」) along the streetcar line, but the writer was at “Zoological and Botanical Gardens Mae (Sanko Bus)” (「動植物園前（産交バス）」) located near the main entrance to the zoo.

Not only did I choose the incorrect bus stop, but I also got the bus companies confused.

Difficult to Find the Bus Stop near the Statue of Brook

Now, I arrived in Mifune Town!

I’ve made it to the Mifune Town Fureai-Hiroba where Brook is waiting.

After messing up the bus stop for Chopper, I was determined to get it right this time. Ah, that’s Lazy Justice for you.

Brooke’s statue has a way of making me feel like…

just when I look at him…

You kind of want to scream along with him. After a good shout, it’s time to capture him.

There is Mifune Dinosaur Museum as well. Now, why don’t we head towards the next bus stop?

*The writer arrived at another wrong bus stop again…

Hmm… I’m pretty sure it’s a bus stop for Kumamoto Bus, and I heard that the bus leaves at 10:30, but I don’t see any information about it.

The correct stop is the “Asahimachi” stop (旭町停留所) used by of Sanko Bus.

In the photo, you’ll see three bus companies’ names: Sanko Bus （産交バス　）, Kumamoto Bus (熊本バス), and Aso Kotsu (麻生交通). The bus we need to board for Mashiki is the Sanko Bus. Be sure not to mix them up.

The stop is quite tricky to find, but aiming for the “Maruyama Shoten” (丸山商店)  should guide you right.

I’ll get on the 11:51 bus bound for Kiyama.

I Walked to the Statue of Sanji Although I Could Use a Bus!

Getting off at “Mashiki Suidou Center Mae,” (益城水道センター前) the journey takes about 30 minutes.

Right off the bus stop, you’ll find Mina Terrace, where Sanji is.

Handsome guys are irritating, so let’s turn him into ice using my Hie Hie no Mi powers.

I sense a chill from the gazes of those nearby, yet I will not be discouraged.

Next, we shall board the highway bus from the Mashiki Interchange exit to Aso Station. But…

it ended up being quite a lengthy walk, lasting over 60 minutes. Close to the Sanji statue, there is a bus stop, but our destination was actually the Mashiki Interchange. I was informed that the sole route to reach it was via Sadowara. Unfamiliar with Sadowara, I opted to proceed on foot.

However, walking in long sleeves on a midsummer’s day was not a suitable choice.

Despite our exhaustion, I successfully made it to the bus stop. My next destination is Aso Station, and I will board the express bus scheduled for 1:58 p.m.

The Statue of Usopp Was So Popular!

Now, we arrived at Aso Station.

This statue is of Usopp. Lots of families were snapping photos with him that day. I felt envious of Usopp’s fame since no one came up to me.

The transportation I used next was JR.

With some time before departure, I decided to grab a bite.

At the Roadside Station Aso, I indulged in a horse meat bun and a takana (pickled mustard green) onigiri.

They were delicious but  it left me wanting more.

Then dash to Uto for the brand-new Jinbe statue.

Now, it’s all about the JR train journey. I need to change at Higo-Ozu Station and Kumamoto Station, aiming for Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park where the Jinbe statue is located. I’m supposed to get there around 5 pm.

So, we have reached Kumamoto Station. From here, we will transfer to either the Kagoshima Main Line or the Misumi Line heading to Uto Station.

It just happened to be the time high school students were heading home, and boy, did I stand out. The stares left me feeling completely frozen.

The train was packed with students, making me feel uneasy, and I worried that a police raid might happen just like “Buster Call” (the ultimate form of military attack used by the Marines in ONE PIECE).

Uto Station is where we’ll find the next bus stop, and from there, we’re heading to Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park, home to the Jinbe statue. 

We opted for the “Misumi Sanko” bus this time, but it runs only once per hour! I later realized that I could have taken the JR Misumi Line to Sumiyoshi Station.

So we went to Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park, where there is a statue of Zinbe.

This park is famous for Nagabeta Undersea Road. The ambiance of the sea truly reminds us of the tranquility of Kuzan, doesn’t it?

He might freeze the sea and make an icy road like this!

Well, after having fun, it’s time to capture Jinbe.

He’s so big!!!

The tattoo of the Sun Pirates on his stomach and his webbed fingers look incredibly lifelike.

Jinbe is truly massive in size. Larger than any other statue.

Well, that’s all for the first day!

If you plan on only using public transportation, reaching every statue of the Straw Hat Pirates in a single day is out of the question.

*This is the timetable at the time of our trip (July 2022).

I was instructed to stay overnight somewhere and head for the Zoro statue at 8:30 a.m. on the second day.

I Started the Second Day with the Statue of Zoro!

Good morning! I had a peaceful sleep at Ozu Central Park.

I woke up and there it was, the Zorro statue, so I achieved my first goal on the second day.

Zoro’s statue is seriously cool, huh? Muscles bulging, even the blade patterns on his swords are accurately replicated, not to mention the detailed designs on the hilts and scabbards!

Above all, his dignified facial expression as he gazes ahead makes him truly captivating. You definitely don’t want to miss seeing the Zoro statue… 

Oh, I might be a bit biased since I live in Ozu Town. 

Let’s move on to the next statue!

The challenging trip to Robin’s statue – the isolated land.

I departed from Higo Otsu Station to Tateno Station, then hopped on the “Yurutto Tateno Loop Bus” to reach the “Earthquake Memorial Ruin” in Minamiaso Village, home to the Robin statue.

I naively tapped my smart card, not realizing that on the Hohi Main Line beyond Higo-Ozu Station, smart cards like Suica and Pasmo aren’t accepted in some sections. If you’re heading to Tateno Station, make sure to buy a ticket. I ended up buying one for the first time in years.

Let’s go!

I’ve arrived at Tateno Station. Who knew you had to drop your ticket into a box? This method has its own charm, I must say.

I waited at this bus stop at Tateno Station (立野駅) for the loop bus.

By the way, the timetable of “Yurutto Tatsuno Loop Bus” (ゆるっと立野循環バス), the bus we’re searching for, is shown on the far right. It runs only twice a day, at 9:30 and 14:15, so make sure you don’t miss it! 

During the 20 minute wait, why not treat yourself to the delicious specialty called “Niko-niko Manju”? It’s definitely worth trying!

Unfortunately, the shop was closed… Every time I try to visit for an interview, it’s always closed or sold out, so I still haven’t had the chance to try it.

The loop bus has arrived, so let’s get on board!

Unlike yesterday, the public transportation journey is going smoothly. Yeah, nice.      

By the way, this bus will bring you to the Earthquake Memorial Ruin through some lovely places like Aso Farmland and Shin-Aso Ohashi Bridge in just around 30 minutes.

Take in the stunning Minami Aso scenery along the way.

The Statue of Robin in an Earthquake Memorial

Oh…

Yep … Today is Tuesday. Closed for the day… I’m about to cry.

I wanted to express my amazement by saying, “Wow, Nico Robin, you’ve really transformed into an amazing woman!” 

It seems like Robin is a woman who is not easily won over, after all.

Just like I mentioned before, the only public transportation available is the belt-line bus, and it operates only twice a day. The next bus will be at 14:00.

*This is the timetable at the time of our trip (July 2022).

The provided instructions state, “Please consider the route from the Robin statue to the Nami statue in Moe-no-Sato, Nishihara Village.” 

Are you kidding me?

I Visited the Statue of Nami at Moe-no-Sato in Nishihara Village

Alright, so here I am, having used my first teleport, at Nishihara Village’s “Moe no Sato.”

When I asked for directions, I was instructed to walk to the nearest bus stop instead.

I was told it was in Takamori, approximately 5 km away in a straight line. 

Considering it was a mountain road with construction vehicles passing by, I couldn’t really encourage anyone to walk that distance. So, with a little conscience, I had no other option but to warp there as an adult. 

Anyway, let’s head straight to the statue of Nami now.

I went ahead and froze Nami as well…

(…She’s cute…)

You can catch “Takamori-go” from this bus stop to reach Takamori Station, which connects Kumamoto City to Takamori Town. However, please note that there are only three buses available per day, so plan your journey accordingly and be cautious.

I Met Franky at Takamori Station! Why not Drink a Cola?

So, here I am at Takamori Station.

Franky’s here, so let’s have ourselves a cola.

You can find bottled cola for sale at Takamori Station, a rare treat nowadays. Nothing beats trying a cola from a bottle. It’s the best!

Don’t forget, you can also hire a bike from the Takamori Town Tourist Information Center nearby. That’s the essence of Kuzan, right? He often rides his bicycle!

We had a strong desire to ride the bike all the way to our ultimate destination, the statue of Luffy at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office. However, we had to abandon the idea as it was too distant to cycle back. 

Instead, we considered taking the Takamori-go back to Kumamoto City, but something came up…

You guessed it. There are no buses available at this moment. However, the Minamiaso Railway will be restored and run again in 2024, making it much more convenient to reach Higo Otsu Station. Although it may be a little challenging now, you can make the most of your time and enjoy exploring the surroundings of Takamori Station in that case.

Finally, I Visited the Statue of Luffy at Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office

I’ve arrived at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office. It was quite nerve-wracking to visit this place, especially with the prefectural police headquarters nearby, dressed in something that might raise eyebrows. However, I suppose it could be understandable if it’s a One Piece-themed. I’ve often been met with icy glares wherever I went, but the employees at the prefectural government are somewhat accustomed to it and treated me kindly.

Finally, after all that, I caught Luffy!

I can’t explain it, but I felt an immense sense of achievement.

Wrap Up

If we split the tour into two days, we could see everything except the Robin statue. However, the time constraints and long waiting times made it difficult. So, I suggest renting a car or something similar for your sightseeing. It kind of defeats the purpose of this article, but what can you do?

Also, I dressed up as Kuzan for the entire two days and felt such a strong connection to him. He’s now my favorite character in ONE PIECE. I really hope he will play a significant role in the final chapter of ONE PIECE. 

Oh, and don’t forget to visit every “Straw Hat Pirates Statue”. I highly recommend you take the tour. That’s all from me.