According to reports on twitter from the Jump Super Stage Event for One Piece, a “Super Kabuki II (Second)” adaptation of the series will be held in 2015.

The main role of the Kabuki play will be performed by famous Kabuki actor Ennosuke Ichikawa the Fourth.

Ichikawa said

This series that has so many fans in Japan, no, the entire world that are supporting it, making it into a kabuki piece would be difficult but a worthwile challenge nonetheless. You could say it’s my own personal “Big adventure”. I’m hoping to make this into something that any generation will be able to enjoy.

Yahoo News also reported that according to a message delivered by One Piece author Eiichirô Oda, he is “Really looking forward to it!” When asked about his opinion on actor Ennosuke Ichikawa, Oda said

He’s really a genius. His ability as a producer itself is also very amazing. If I leave it to this person I can without a doubt rest at ease (that it’s in capable hands). Please look forward to the Kabuki adaptation of One Piece!

Oda also said

The wheels for this have been set in motion since about last year, but I can finally reveal it to everyone now! When we started this event, I went to see my first Kabuki piece and it’s beautiful!! (….) I’d never seen a play as beautiful as this that it gave me a catch in my throat.

Oda has been known to like old-Japanese art forms such Kabuki art, stories, and old famous manzai artists when writing the story of One Piece. Different from regular Kabuki, the so-called “Super Kabuki II” is a way of performing old-style Kabuki in a modern way.

Not much more information has been revealed yet, but it seems that this Super Kabuki adaptation of One Piece will be held during the months of October and November 2015 in Shinbashi’s Kabuki theater. More news is supposed to be released next spring.

Stay tuned to the One Piece Podcast for any other One Piece-related developments.