海賊王への冒険を描く

[From February Issue 2013]

 

ONE PIECE

This manga tells the story of its main character Luffy, who sets off on an incredible adventure in search of One Piece (a great treasure) in order to become king of the pirates. The series of comics first came out in 1997 and has continued up until today. It’s been a huge hit with the total number of copies printed domestically exceeding 280 million, the highest number ever. The translated version is also popular abroad and is sold in over 30 countries.

The story takes place during the Great Pirate Era. The dying words of Gold Roger, the former king of the pirates, were: “My treasure? Why, it’s right where I left it… It’s yours if you can find it.” This pronouncement drove people out to sea in search of his fortune. Luffy is a young boy living in a port village, he wants to join the pirate Red Haired Shanks, but is turned away because he is “just a brat.”

When Luffy accidentally eats a “gum gum fruit” which Shanks had stolen from an enemy pirate ship, he becomes a rubber human being, but the downside of this new ability is that he will be unable to swim for the rest of his life. Before long Luffy turns 17 and sets off on a grand adventure to find treasure and to fulfill his promise to meet up with Shanks again after he has become a great pirate.

As he continues his adventure, one by one he acquires travelling companions. Currently, a crew led by Luffy includes Roronoa Zoro who wants to be the greatest swordsman in the world, Nami, a genius navigator, Usopp, an expert sniper who is good at cheering up his mates, Sanji, a cook whose fighting technique is delivering killer kicks, Chopper, a reindeer and ship’s doctor, Robin the beautiful archeologist, Franky a shipwright who made himself into a cyborg, and Brook, the skeleton who is both a swordsman and a musician.

It’s not only Luffy’s companions that make this story interesting, there are also many other unique characters portrayed in the manga, including members of rival pirate gangs, the World Government, and the marines who chase Luffy. Additionally, the attention to detail in this vividly imagined universe makes these characters even more attractive. These elements give depth to the otherwise monotonous and repetitive story development of defeating each new enemy that stands in their way as they push on with the adventure.

The themes running throughout the story are passion for adventure and friendship between companions. The characters literally bleed, sweat, cry, even snivel, and crumble to pieces at times. However, they always get back on their feet again and regain the determination to search for their dreams and protect their friends. There has been a long tradition of this kind of passionate determination in the history of shounen manga (boy’s comics).

The animated version for TV first aired in 1999 and is still in production to this day, there are also ten movie versions too. In 2012 for the 15th anniversary of One Piece, a new movie was released and an exhibition was held. One Piece novels and games are also sold and many companies have produced One Piece merchandise. One Piece has transcended the bounds of manga to become a phenomenon in itself.

Text: HATTA Emiko

[2013年2月号掲載記事]

 

ワンピース

海賊王を目指す主人公ルフィが、ワンピース(ひとつなぎの大秘宝)を追い求める大冒険が描かれます。1997年に連載が始まり現在も続いています。累計発行部数が国内最高となる2億8千万部を突破している大ヒットまんがです。翻訳版は30ヵ国以上で販売されており、海外でも人気の高い作品です。

物語の舞台は大海賊時代。かつての海賊王ゴールド・ロジャーの死に際の言葉「おれの財宝か? 欲しけりゃくれてやるぜ。探してみろ。この世のすべてをそこに置いてきた」という言葉が、人々を海へと駆り立てました。ある港村に住む少年ルフィは、赤髪のシャンクスが率いる海賊団に加わりたいと思いますが、「ガキだから」と断られてしまいます。

シャンクスが敵船から奪った「ゴムゴムの実」を偶然に食べてしまったことで、ルフィは一生泳げなくなる代わりに、全身ゴム人間になるという能力を身に付けました。やがて17歳になったルフィは、立派な海賊になって再会するというシャンクスとの約束を果たすため、財宝を求めて大いなる冒険の旅へと出発するのです。

旅の途中で、仲間が一人また一人と増えていきます。現在ルフィが率いる一味は、世界一の大剣豪を目指すロロノア・ゾロ、天才航海士のナミ、狙撃の名人でムードメーカーのウソップ、蹴りが必殺技の料理人サンジ、トナカイで船医のチョッパー、美しき考古学者ロビン、自らを改造してサイボーグとなった船大工のフランキー、音楽家でがいこつ剣士のブルックです。

仲間だけでなく、敵対する海賊やルフィを追う世界政府、海軍など、次々に登場する個性豊かなキャラクターも、おもしろさの一つです。そして彼らをより魅力的に見せているのが、壮大な世界観と細かな設定です。冒険を進めるごとに、新たに立ちふさがる敵を倒していくという、くり返しで単調になりがちな物語の展開に深みを与えています。

全体を通して貫かれるテーマは、冒険への情熱と仲間との友情です。登場人物たちは文字通り血と汗と涙を、ときには鼻水も流し、かっこ悪いほどぼろぼろになります。しかし何度でも立ち上がり、夢を追い求め、仲間を守ろうと力をつくします。この熱さこそが、少年まんがの長い歴史の中で受け継がれてきた王道です。

1999年に開始したテレビアニメは現在も放映中で、映画はすでに10作品が制作されています。2012年には連載15周年を記念した映画最新作が公開され、展覧会も開催されました。小説やゲームも発売されており、多くの企業とのコラボレーション商品も販売されています。ワンピースは、まんがの枠を超えた大きな一つのジャンルになっています。

文:服田恵美子

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