Yasuhisa Hara's hit manga Kingdom has spawned a popular anime series and hugely successful live-action films, and this year also marks the manga's 20th anniversary.
To celebrate, Hara's home prefecture of Saga teamed up with the series for a special collaboration event, "Kingdom x (Run) Saga Prefecture ~Don't Let the Fire of Saga Die Out~." And today (May 19), one of its standout features, the "Kingdom Read-Through Embankment," officially shattered a Guinness World Records! Stretching over 300 meters and showcasing more than 16,000 manga pages, it's now officially recognized as the "Longest continuous outdoor display of manga pages" in the world.
Since January 27, the seawall at Higata and Yoga Park, offering stunning views of Kyushu's largest bay, Ariake Sea, has hosted this incredible outdoor exhibition, aptly named the "Kingdom Read-Through Embankment."
This over 300-meter-long embankment features every single page from Kingdom volumes 1 to 77, completely free to the public. Imagine strolling along, surrounded by the vast sky and sea, reliving the entire epic journey of the series – it's an unprecedented and breathtaking outdoor experience.
On May 19, officials announced that after a meticulous measurement by a Guinness World Records adjudicator, the "Kingdom Read-Through Embankment" was officially certified as the "Longest continuous outdoor display of manga pages," securing its place in the Guinness World Records.
A certification ceremony was held locally on the 19th, attended by Saga Prefecture Governor Yoshinori Yamaguchi and Yoshikazu Masuzawa, editor-in-chief of Weekly Young Jump, where Kingdom is serialized. They both witnessed this historic moment. Governor Yamaguchi expressed his overwhelming emotion, stating, "From Saga to the world! I'm truly moved beyond words that this magnificent 'Kingdom Read-Through Embankment' has been recognized by Guinness World Records."
He also extended his gratitude to Shueisha for their tremendous support and to Yasuhisa Hara-sensei for continuously creating Kingdom for two decades. Yamaguchi also noted that this was Saga Prefecture's first attempt at a Guinness World Record, expressing his hope to continue promoting Saga on the international stage with the slogan, "From Saga to the world, and the world to Saga."
For more details on the "Kingdom x (Run) Saga Prefecture ~Don't Let the Fire of Saga Die Out~" event, check out the official special website.
The "Kingdom Read-Through Embankment" will be on display until September 30 this year, so if you're a fan of the series or curious about Saga Prefecture, it's definitely worth a pilgrimage!