All around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reevaluate the position of workers in society. In the UK, we have been using the phrase ‘key workers’ to describe those who keep the country ticking, including supermarket clerks, care workers, and, of course, doctors and nurses. Entering into that qualification are also teachers, who have made considerable sacrifices to keep our kids safe and educated. Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is recognizing this, offering all teachers who apply a new set of stamps to keep kids excited and engaged.
Announced in this week’s combined issue no. 33 and 34 of Weekly Shonen Jump, this new set of One Piece stamps contain words of encouragement and praise from many of Eiichiro Oda’s iconic characters. Luffy, for example, is pictured saying “Excellent!” while another image of Shanks is accompanied by the exclamation “GOOD!”. Simple stuff, to be sure, but it may just work to brighten a kid’s day.
These new One Piece stamps form but one part of a new project launched by the series, intended to support teachers and schools. Inventively titled the ‘One Piece Teacher Support Project,’ it is also providing over 100 templates of essential printouts such as timetables and signage via the project’s official website. This was launched in cooperation with the ‘Sensei Note’ e-learning service, which aims to connect teachers from all around the country and share resources.
In order to get your hands on the new One Piece stamps, you’ll have to sign up via the official website. You’ll also have to sign up to the Sensei Note service, which means that you do have to be a teacher. Never fear, however, as you can download images of the stamps, as well as the document templates, for free from July 22.
This isn’t the first time that One Piece has crossed over into the world of education. Several Nissin commercials from last year depicted the Straw Hats as normal high school students, and this latest project seems like the culmination of that. And while these One Piece stamps make clear the fact that the series is ultimately for kids, adults can still enjoy it too.