Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t watched “One Piece” in ages, but my heart nonetheless did a little leap when I chanced upon this One Piece merchandise store at AMU Plaza. Clever design abounded, so I was thrilled to spend a lovely, nostalgic time there.

Three life-sized figurines beckoned me warmly. Though my face looks a bit puffy these days, I gamely took a selfie in front of Luffy and Sanji and sent it to my colleagues. Just come visit Kumamoto already!

Capitalizing on the success of the Netflix series, the store also sells posters of the charming actors depicting these beloved characters. Or, you can do targeted shopping and patronize the “Happy Birthday” shelf. You can buy a notebook that showcases your birthday - if you happen to visit Japan during your birthday month.

I was particularly drawn to the comic strips plastered on the upper walls. A great way to recreate the youthful, zany energy of One Piece that we all adore!

The success of a store lies in making people buy things they absolutely don’t need. I confess, I fell prey to its sleekness. But it’s okay; I’m commemorating my emotional connection with Luffy and his crew. The icing on the cake was that I was given a free plastic bag with Eiichiro Oda’s drawing. You can rest assured that I will treasure it forever.