The announcement of a live-action One Piece Hollywood television series wasn't the only news to come out of the press conference today at the Tokyo One Piece Tower amusement park. The Japan Anniversary Association announced that July 22 is now officially considered "One Piece Day." July 22, 2017 is the day that One Piece is officially celebrating its 20th anniversary (although the manga actually launched on July 19, 1997, it was advertised as launching on July 22). Newly promoted editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump Hiroyuki Nakano was on hand for the announcement.

The staff at the press conference also revealed that One Piece is "hijacking" the covers of 28 different Shueisha magazines, including: UOMO, Ultra Jump , éclat, Cookie , Grand Jump , Cocohana , Saikyō Jump , The Margaret , Jump Square , Weekly Shonen Jump , Weekly Playboy, Weekly Young Jump , SPUR, Shōsetsu Subaru, Subaru, Seventeen, non-no, BAILA, V Jump , Bessatsu Margaret , Margaret , MAQUIA , Marisol, Myojo, MORE, Monthly YOU, LEE , and Ribon .



One Piece is also getting a collaborative event with the traditional city of Kyoto. The " One Piece 20th x KYOTO Kyoto Straw Travel Journal: Another Country of Wano" event will take place from October 7-22. The One Piece manga is expected to enter the Country of Wano arc later this year. The official website for the 20th anniversary of the manga will reveal more information about the event at a later date.

Finally, Oda himself weighed in on the live-action Hollywood television series announcement revealed at the press conference on Friday. Nakano read out Oda's prepared hand-written statement.

Oda's comment reads:

In the last 20 years the conversation about a live-action adaptation has come up many times. I decided to go forward with the adaptation about three years ago. There were many twists and turns. I met a good partner. Today is the just about the 20th anniversary. The announcement of the new work is actually just a coincidence. I am very happy. Firstly, "I will never betray the fans who have supported me for 20 years." This is my condition. There may be many who are uneasy, but please, give me your voices of hope. Please be excited for the follow up reports. Please look forward to it!!

The 20th anniversary of One Piece includes many other projects, including the three-issue One Piece Magazine ; campaigns with Twitter, LINE, and SNOW; a fanart contest; a summer festival at the Tokyo One Piece Tower; the new two-hour anime special; a new video game; and more. The 20th anniversary issue of Weekly Shonen Jump for One Piece shipped on July 15 and featured a One Piece poster, hidden straw hats in each manga's chapter, a shogi board with One Piece pieces, and more.

Update: Shonen Jump began streaming a 20th anniversary video on Friday.

Source: Comic Natalie