Hollywood star Johnny Depp appeared on the special stage at Tokyo Comic Con 2025, reuniting with Hiroaki Hirata, the Japanese voice actor who has dubbed him for many years. During the event, Depp was presented with a specially illustrated noren created by ONE PIECE author Eiichiro Oda, an unforgettable surprise that delighted pirate fans in both Japan and the United States.

Depp greeted the massive crowd with heartfelt gratitude, expressing his appreciation for the warm support he has continued to receive from Japanese fans over the years. He stated that everything about the experience felt warm and kind, and that he was deeply thankful for the unwavering encouragement.

This appearance also marked the pair’s first time standing together on stage in roughly ten years, since their involvement in the film Mortdecai. Hirata presented the noren as an “early Christmas gift,” explaining the Japanese tradition of giving such items to kabuki actors or stage performers.

In a humorous introduction, Hirata referred to the illustrator of the noren as “a guy I know who draws pirate manga a lot,” revealing that the artist was none other than Eiichiro Oda. The noren featured Oda’s illustration of Captain Jack Sparrow, the iconic character portrayed by Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. Depp expressed genuine delight at the gift, joking that he wanted to wrap himself up in it.

Toward the end of the event, an unexpected behind-the-scenes story was shared. Due to delays in the filming schedule, the appearance was nearly canceled. However, Depp insisted on attending, saying that if people were waiting for him, he absolutely wanted to come onstage. His determination made the moment possible.

The collaboration sparked an enthusiastic response from viewers. Many praised Hirata’s playful introduction of Oda as “a guy who draws pirate manga,” while others enjoyed the pirate-themed connection between ONE PIECE and Pirates of the Caribbean. Some fans even expressed hope that this encounter might lead to Depp appearing in Netflix’s live action ONE PIECE series someday.

Source : ORICON NEWS (YouTube)