KUMAMOTO, Japan -- In a twist on the idea of fan "pilgrimages" to locations that appear in anime, southern Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has created its own pilgrimage route with bronze statues of the heroes from the wildly popular "One Piece" franchise.
A couple in their 40s from the Osaka area could be seen snapping photos of a statue of series protagonist Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, outside the prefectural office in the city of Kumamoto. The pair said they saw the statue on social media and came to view it in person.
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