Kirk here. I’ve posted links to many articles about these statues over the years but this one taught me something about the connection to the quakes that I had either forgotten or missed entirely:
— start quote —- The fact that One Piece statues were erected only in disaster-affected areas added a deeper meaning: a “pilgrimage to wounded lands.” Taking commemorative photos in front of the statues and sharing their stories became a ritual that echoed the manga’s theme of camaraderie—“never leaving anyone behind.” — end quote —
