Straw Hats

Protagonists of media franchise One Piece From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Straw Hats (麦わらの一味, Mugiwara no Ichimi; lit. Straw Hat's Crew),[8][9] also called the Straw Hat Crew,[a] or the Straw Hat Pirates,[b] are the main characters of the Japanese manga and media series One Piece written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. Captain Monkey D. Luffy leads the ten-person pirate crew, recruiting three-sword-style swordsman and former bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro, navigator and thief Nami, sniper and inventor Usopp, cook and Modified Human Sanji, doctor and anthropomorphic reindeer Tony Tony Chopper, archaeologist and historian Nico Robin, shipwright and cyborg Franky, musician and living skeleton Brook, and helmsman and martial artist Fish-Man Jimbei. Additionally, the diplomat and princess of Alabasta Nefertari Vivi traveled with the crew for a time, being considered as an honorary crewmember for the first six members of the crew. The Straw Hats initially sail the seas aboard the caravel Going Merry before Franky builds a brigantine-rigged sloop-of-war called the Thousand Sunny that is the crew's current ship.

First appearance"Romance Dawn" (July 19, 1997; 28 years ago (1997-07-19))
Created byEiichiro Oda
Senior Officers
Quick facts First appearance, Created by ...
Straw Hats
One Piece characters
The Straw Hats
The Straw Hats
First appearance"Romance Dawn" (July 19, 1997; 28 years ago (1997-07-19))
Created byEiichiro Oda
CaptainMonkey D. Luffy
Senior Officers
Pirate Ship
  • Thousand Sunny
  • Going Merry (former)
Crew Information
Alias
  • Straw Hat Pirates
  • Straw Hat Crew
Species
TitleFour Emperors
OccupationPirates
AffiliationStraw Hat Grand Fleet
Four Emperors
Worst Generation
Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance (former)
Origin
  • East Blue (Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp)
  • North Blue (Sanji)
  • Paradise (Chopper)
  • West Blue (Robin, Brook)
  • South Blue (Franky)
  • Sea Floor (Jimbei)
Bounty[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
10,380,001,000 (total)
  • 8,816,001,000 (Officers)
  • 1,564,000,000 (Grand Fleet)
Territories
  • Fish-Man Island
  • Wano Country
Straw Hat Grand Fleet
Crews
  • Beautiful Pirates
  • Barto Club
  • Happosui Army
  • Ideo Pirates
  • Tontatta Pirates
  • New Giant Warrior Pirates
  • Yontamaria Fleet
Captains
Cavendish; Bartolomeo; Sai; Ideo; Leo; Hajrudin; Orlumbus
Pirates
Suleiman, Farul; Gambia; Baby 5, Boo; Blu Gilly, Abudllah, Jeet; Bian, Cub;Stansen, Gerd, Rodo, Goldberg, Nash; Columbus
Close

The Straw Hats are the protagonists of One Piece, and the crew explores the East Blue and Grand Line in pursuit of their dreams including their search for the mythical treasure called the One Piece. During their adventures, the Straw Hats encounter several friends and foes, including other pirates, bounty hunters, revolutionaries, members of organized crime, as well as all three types of great powers in One Piece: the World Government's Marines and allied privateer Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the strongest pirates known as the Four Emperors of the Sea.

A boy in the East Blue named Monkey D. Luffy seeks the One Piece and recruits new crew members while gaining a ship and entering the Grand Line. Leading pirates are in a race to find Laugh Tale, the hidden final island at the end of the Grand Line where the One Piece is said to be. The Straw Hats travel with Princess Nefertari Vivi of the Kingdom of Alabasta to save the island from a coup d’état by the Warlord Sir Crocodile, who seeks control over one of the Three Ancient Weapons said to be able to destroy the world. The Straw Hats become infamous worldwide after they escape from a World Government armada known as the Buster Call in the Enies Lobby Incident. Luffy and Zoro are labelled by the press as part of the Worst Generation of pirates as they reach the end of Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line.

Two years after the Straw Hats' journey began, they travel underwater together to Fish-Man Island to reach the New World, the second half of the Grand Line. After the Straw Hats save the country of Dressrosa from massacre by Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo, 5,640 pirates from crews captained by Cavendish, Bartolomeo, Sai, Ideo, Leo, Hajrudin, and Orlumbus swear allegiance to Luffy. The seven crews of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet are the Beautiful Pirates, Barto Club, Happosui Army, Ideo Pirates, Tontatta Pirates, New Giant Warrior Pirates, and the Yontamaria Fleet. The fleet pledges to defend each other when needed, and separates. The Straw Hats then form the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance to defeat Emperors Big Mom and Kaido in the Wano Country.

The Straw Hats are now recognized worldwide as a great power led by Emperor of the Sea Luffy and his nine Senior Officers. The territories of Fish-Man Island and Wano swear allegiance to Emperor Luffy. The new Emperor crew then sails from Wano to Egghead, where they escape another, larger Buster Call. The Straw Hats reunite with Hajrudin and the New Giant Warrior Pirates after landing on Elbaph, island of giants.

Creation and conception

Eiichiro Oda's initial concept art for the Straw Hats.

Eiichiro Oda first created the Straw Hats in his prototype one-shot, "Romance Dawn", then refined the artistic style and story elements before publishing the final product a year later as the first chapter of One Piece. In the second version of "Romance Dawn", Luffy resembled his design at the beginning of the series.[10]

Crew overview and portrayals

More information Name, Role ...
Straw Hats
Name Role Abilities and Fighting Styles Devil Fruit Alias Bounty in Anime voice actor(s) Live actor(s)
JP US
Monkey D. Luffy Captain Rubber-based combat (Gum-Gum Fruit/Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika), advanced Haki, Gear transformations (Second to Fifth), extreme agility and strength. Mythical Zoan-type, Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. "Straw Hat Luffy"

"Joy Boy"

3,000,000,000 Mayumi Tanaka[11] Erica Schroeder (4Kids)[12]
Colleen Clinkenbeard (Funimation)[13]
Iñaki Godoy[14]
Roronoa Zoro Combatant[c] Three-Sword Style, Asura form, advanced Armament and Conqueror's Haki, extreme endurance (none) "Pirate Hunter Zoro"

"King of Hell"

1,111,000,000 Kazuya Nakai[11] Marc Diraison (4Kids)[12]
Christopher Sabat (Funimation)[13]
Mackenyu[14]
Nami Navigator Clima-Tact for weather-based attacks, Zeus-enhanced lightning strikes, tactical deception (none) "Cat Burglar Nami" 366,000,000 Akemi Okamura[15] Kerry Williams (4Kids)[16]
Luci Christian (Funimation)[17]
Emily Rudd[14]
Usopp Sniper Master marksman, Pop Green plant weapons, Observation Haki (none) "God Usopp"

"Sogeking"

500,000,000 Kappei Yamaguchi[11] Jason Griffith (4Kids)[13]
Sonny Strait (Funimation)[18]
Jacob Romero Gibson[14]
Sanji Chef Black Leg kicking style, Diable Jambe & Ifrit Jambe (fire-powered kicks), Sky Walk (mid-air mobility), enhanced durability, Observation and Armament Haki. (none) "Black Leg Sanji" 1,032,000,000 Hiroaki Hirata[19] David Moo (4Kids)[20]
Eric Vale (Funimation)[13]
Taz Skylar[14]
Tony Tony Chopper Doctor Zoan transformations (Human-Human Fruit), Rumble Ball-enhanced forms, medical expertise Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit (ヒトヒトの実, Hito Hito no Mi) "Cotton Candy Lover Chopper" 1,000 Ikue Ōtani[21]
Kazue Ikura (254–263)[22]
Brina Palencia (Funimation) Mikaela Hoover
Nico Robin Archaeologist Multi-limb projection, joint locks and pressure point attacks Flower-Flower Fruit "Devil Child" 930,000,000 Yuriko Yamaguchi[23] Veronica Taylor (4Kids)[24]
Stephanie Young (Funimation)[25]
Lera Abova
Franky Shipwright Cyborg body with superhuman strength, built-in weapons (lasers, cannons, missiles) (none) "Cyborg Franky" 394,000,000 Kazuki Yao
Wataru Takagi[26][27][28]
Patrick Seitz (Funimation)[29] TBD
Brook Musician Super speed, ice-based sword techniques, soul projection Revive-Revive Fruit "Soul King Brook" 383,000,000 Chō[30] Ian Sinclair (Funimation) Martial T. Batchamen[31]
Jimbei Helmsman Fish-Man Karate & Jujutsu, super strength, water manipulation, Armament and Observation Haki (none) "First Son of the Sea" or "Knight of the Sea" 1,100,000,000 Daisuke Gōri
Katsuhisa Hōki[32][33]
Daniel Baugh (Funimation) TBD
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Pirate Crew

Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy (モンキー・D・ルフィ, Monkī Dī Rufi) is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and the main protagonist of the One Piece franchise. At age seven, he admires and tries to join the pirates of the "Red-Haired" Shanks. Ridiculed and rejected, he inadvertently eats their treasure, the Paramecia-type Gum-Gum Fruit (ゴムゴムの実, Gomu Gomu no Mi), which gives him rubbery attributes. His reckless efforts ultimately lead him into grave peril causing Shanks to lose an arm while rescuing him. After this, Luffy gives up on joining Shanks, resolving instead to start a crew of his own and become King of the Pirates.[ch. 1] Displeased by Shanks spoiling his grandson, Monkey D. Garp takes Luffy to be raised by Curly Dadan and her mountain bandits, who he strong-arms into taking him in. During Luffy's time there, he becomes a sworn brother with Portgas D. Ace, Garp's other ward, and Sabo, a local runaway noble.[ch. 582589] Ten years later and still wearing Shanks' treasured straw hat, Luffy forms and commands his own pirate crew called the Straw Hat Pirates and sets sail for the Grand Line, quickly gaining infamy as "Straw Hat" Luffy (麦わらのルフィ, Mugiwara no Rufi).[ch. 2, 7, 96, 98] Eventually, after his strength proves insufficient to save Ace from execution, he spends two years on a secluded island, learning the use of the three colors of Haki as well as his rubber ability's Fourth Gear from Silvers Rayleigh, before heading to the New World.[ch. 590602] Due to his infamy, he is one of the pirates who are known as "The Worst Generation". After the defeat of Kaido and Big Mom, he is subsequently named one of the newest members of the Four Emperors. Luffy is also capable of using the advanced application for all types of Haki. During his fight with Kaido, his Devil Fruit power awakened, revealing its true nature as the Mythical Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika (ヒトヒトの実 モデル“ニカ”, Hito Hito no Mi, Moderu: Nika).

Roronoa Zoro

Roronoa Zoro (ロロノア・ゾロ, Roronoa Zoro) is a swordsman who uses up to three swords simultaneously, holding one in each hand and a third in his mouth.[ch. 3, 5, 28] To fulfill a promise to Kuina, his deceased childhood friend and rival, he aims to defeat "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk and become the world's greatest swordsman.[ch. 5, 50] Traveling the seas in search of Mihawk and making a living as a bounty hunter, he becomes infamously known as "Pirate Hunter" Zoro (海賊狩りのゾロ, Kaizoku-Gari no Zoro).

Eventually, he comes into conflict with Helmeppo, the spoiled son of a navy officer named Axe-Hand Morgan. To prevent the harm of innocent civilians, Zoro allows himself to be incarcerated temporarily, while Helmeppo plots to have him killed. Zoro is saved from execution by Luffy in exchange for becoming his first crewman. At that point, Zoro makes it clear that he would turn on his captain if he ever stepped between him and his dream.[ch. 26] However, Zoro grows fond of his crew and after several defeats in their defense, his priorities change and he convinces Mihawk to take him on as a student.[ch. 51f., 485, 597] Zoro is capable of utilizing all three types of Haki and is capable of using the advanced application for both Haoshoku and Busoshoku Haki. He is known for his awful sense of direction and constantly gets lost when traveling.

Nami

Nami (ナミ), adopted and raised by navy seaman turned tangerine farmer Belle-Mère, in her childhood witnessed her mother being murdered by the infamous Arlong, whose pirate gang occupies their island and extracts tribute from the population. Striking a deal with him, Nami, still a child, but already an accomplished cartographer who dreams of drawing a complete map of the world, joins the pirates, hoping to buy freedom for her village eventually. Growing up as a pirate-hating pirate drawing maps for Arlong and stealing treasure from other pirates, Nami becomes an excellent burglar, pickpocket, and navigator with an exceptional ability to forecast weather.[ch. 77, 95, 130] After Arlong betrays her, and he and his gang are defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates, Nami joins them in pursuit of her dream and acquires infamy herself as "Cat Burglar" Nami (泥棒猫のナミ, Dorobō Neko no Nami).[ch. 94f., 435]

Zeus

Zeus (ゼウス, Zeusu) is a cloud Homie who Big Mom created.[ch. 843] He was defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates in Whole Cake Island,[ch. 890] and after it he partnered up with Nami, residing inside Nami's Sorcery Clima-Tact.[ch. 903]

Zeus is voiced by Yū Mizushima in the original Japanese version and by Kevin D. Thelwell in the Funimation dub.

Usopp

Usopp (ウソップ, Usoppu) was abandoned during his early childhood by his father, Yasopp, who left to join the Red-Haired Pirates. As his mother, Bachina, falls ill, Usopp starts telling tall tales, expressing his hope that his father will return and take them out to sea. He regularly goes to the mansion at the top of the hill where he lives, to visit Kaya. Even after his mother dies, Usopp does not blame his father for leaving. Despite his cowardly disposition, he strives to become a great pirate.[ch. 25, 41] Usopp is recognizable for his long nose, a reference to the fact that he tends to lie a lot. He is a also gifted inventor, painter, and sculptor.[ch. 42, 106, 190] In combat, he relies primarily on slingshots to fire various kinds of ammunition with great precision in coordination with a set of lies and other weapons giving him a unique fighting style named "The Usopp Arsenal".[ch. 332] To help the Straw Hats rescue Nico Robin, he achieves notoriety under his alter-ego "Sogeking, the King of Snipers" (狙撃の王様そげキング, Sogeki no Ō-sama Sogekingu), a hero sniper wearing a golden mask and cape. Eventually, after helping the Straw Hats liberate Dressrosa from Donquixote Doflamingo's rule, he becomes infamous as "God" Usopp (ゴッド ウソップ, Goddo Usoppu).[ch. 435]

Sanji

Sanji (サンジ, Sanji), born as Vinsmoke Sanji (ヴィンスモーク・サンジ, Vinsumōku Sanji), was a prince of Germa Kingdom. He is routinely ridiculed by his genetically enhanced siblings and is locked away by his father Vinsmoke Judge for being a disgrace. With help from his sister Vinsmoke Reiju, he escapes and flees Germa, a floating kingdom composed of several ships, after it enters the East Blue and his father permits it. While serving as an apprentice cook on a passenger ship, nine-year-old Sanji stands up to a boarding party of pirates led by the infamous "Red Foot" Zeff. During the encounter, Sanji is swept into the sea by a massive wave. Zeff jumps in after him because of their common dream of finding the All Blue (オールブルー, Ōru Burū), a legendary area where the East, West, North, and South Blue seas meet, containing every kind of fish in the world. While castaways together, the pirate saves Sanji's life yet again by giving him all of their food. After their eventual rescue, Sanji stays with Zeff for several years and helps him build a floating restaurant, the Baratie (バラティエ). Zeff in turn makes him a first-rate cook and teaches him his kick-based fighting style.[ch. 5659] Mirroring Zeff, Sanji will never refuse a starving person a meal and he uses only his legs when fighting to protect the hands he needs for cooking.[ch. 48, 370] He has a weakness for women and makes it a principle never to harm one, even if it means his death.[ch. 403]

Eventually, he becomes infamous as "Black Leg" Sanji (黒脚のサンジ, Kuro Ashi no Sanji).[ch. 435] While training for a period of two years in Emporio Ivankov's Kamabakka Queendom (カマバッカ王国, Kamabakka Ōkoku), he develops the Sky Walk (空中歩行スカイ・ウォーク, Sukai Wōku), a variant of the Six Powers (六式, Rokushiki) technique Moonwalk (月歩, Geppo), which allows him to essentially run through air.[ch. 635] Sanji receives his own Raid Suit from his family that grants him the ability to turn invisible[ch. 903], though he later destroys it out of fear of losing his humanity.[ch. 1031]

Sanji's standard appearance is wearing a well-fitting black suit with a skinny black tie. His hair always covers one of his eyes and he is usually smoking a cigarette.

Nefertari Vivi

Nefertari Vivi (ネフェルタリ・ビビ, Neferutari Bibi; spelled as Nefeltari in some English adaptations),[d] is the princess of the Alabasta Kingdom. She is usually accompanied by her closest friend Karoo.[ch. 109f.] She went undercover with Karoo as Baroque Works agent Ms. Wednesday (ミス・ウェンズデー, Misu Wenzudē) and initially antagonized the Straw Hats, only to sail with them to Alabasta and fight together against Baroque Works. Due to her time with the Straw Hat Crew and devoted friendship with them, she is considered a member of the crew by those who traveled with her.[34] Vivi remained princess of Alabasta for 2 years until she was abducted by CP0 at the Reverie for an enforced disappearance after Cobra's death, only to be inadvertently saved by Wapol despite their extremely hostile relationship.

Vivi was ranked as #82 in a survey conducted by Newtype for favorite anime heroine in 2002.[35]

Her voice actress is Misa Watanabe in the original Japanese version.[36] In the 4Kids English adaptation, she is voiced by Karen Neil.[37] Vivi is voiced by Caitlin Glass in the Funimation English dub.[38] In the live-action series, Vivi is portrayed by Charithra Chandran,[39] while Aroop Shergill portrays the character in her youth.[40]

Karoo

Karoo (カルー, Karū) is a Super Spot-Billed Duck, a flightless ostrich-sized duck with no webbed feet who is described to run fast. He is Nefeltari Vivi's animal companion, as well as the leader of the Super Spot-Billed Duck Troops, which also consists of similar ducks.[ch. 109f.]

His vocal effects are provided by Hiroaki Hirata in the original Japanese version and by Michael Haigney and Monica Rial in the 4Kids and Funimation dubs respectively.

Tony Tony Chopper

Tony Tony Chopper (トニートニー・チョッパー, Tonī Tonī Choppā) is an anthropomorphic reindeer and doctor. The power of the Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit (ヒトヒトの実, Hito Hito no Mi) provides him with the ability to transform into a full-sized reindeer or a reindeer-human hybrid.[ch. 140] A self-developed drug he calls Rumble Ball (ランブル・ボール, Ranburu Bōru) enables him to perform even more transformations for three minutes.[ch. 149] With help from Caesar Clown, Chopper can last in his transformations for about 30 minutes.[ch. 1014] Rejected by his herd because of his blue nose and eating the Devil Fruit, Chopper is rescued by Drum Island's quack doctor named Doctor Hiriluk. While developing a potion to create cherry blossoms when in contact with snow, Chopper is heartbroken when Hiriluk falls ill with a deadly disease. After Hiriluk's death, Doctor Kureha takes him in as his mentor. After the Straw Hats arrive at Drum Island and take Chopper with them, Kureha uses Hiriluk's potion to turn the snowy sky into cherry blossoms, fulfilling Hiriluk's life mission. When complimented, Chopper acts flustered and sometimes yells at the person who complimented him to stop trying to make him happy.[ch. 140] A running gag within the series is when other characters mistake him as a Tanuki, and he angrily corrects them, pointing out that he is a Tonakai (Japanese for "Reindeer").

When creating Chopper, Oda wanted a mascot who is both cute and feeble.[41] An IGN review of the manga praised Chopper's character as one of the best in the series and said that he was able to be both touching and funny.[42] With Chopper's backstory, Oda wanted to illustrate that one need not be blood-related to be considered family.[43]

Nico Robin

Nico Robin (ニコ・ロビン, Niko Robin) raised in Ohara (オハラ), home of the world's oldest and largest library. Robin becomes an archaeologist at the age of eight.[ch. 218,391f.] At some point she gains the power of the Paramecia-type Flower-Flower Fruit (ハナハナの実, Hana Hana no Mi), which allows her to have temporary copies of parts of her body, including her eyes and ears, which spring up on surfaces near her.[ch. 170][44] Behind her teachers' backs, she acquires from them the outlawed knowledge of how to translate the ancient stones called Poneglyphs (歴史の本文 ポーネグリフ, Pōnegurifu; alt. Poneglyphs), which are scattered around the world. She comes to share their goal of finding the elusive Real Ponegliff (真の歴史の本文リオ・ポーネグリフ, Rio Pōnegurifu), which is said to tell the world's lost history referred to as the 100-Year Void (空白の100年, Kūhaku no Hyaku-nen; Void Century).[ch. 218] However, the World Government finds out about these efforts and sends a battlefleet to stop them. Only Robin escapes the devastating attack that claims the lives of the island's entire population, including that of her mother.[ch. 218, 395] Called "Devil Child" (悪魔の子, Akuma no Ko), traumatized, and with a bounty on her head, Robin lives a life on the run, unable to trust anyone.[ch. 218]

To survive, she cooperates with various pirates and other outlaws. She eventually joins Sir Crocodile's Baroque Works group, using the codename "Ms. All-Sunday" (ミス・オールサンデー, Misu Ōrusandē)[ch. 398] and becomes their vice-president.[ch. 218]

After Baroque Works falls apart, with nowhere else to go, she tags along with the Straw Hat Pirates[ch. 218] and grows so fond of them that she gives herself up to the Government to save them. After they discover her real reason for leaving, the Straw Hat Pirates declare open war against the Government to get her back. She realizes that she has finally found people who will never betray her and joins the crew.[ch. 398] Two years later, Robin further hones her Devil Fruit powers to the point she can create a full-bodied duplicate of herself.

Franky

Franky (フランキー, Furankī), born as Cutty Flam (カティ・フラム, Kati Furamu), is the son of pirate parents who abandoned him at age nine. Cutty Flam was taken in as an apprentice by shipwright Tom, who built Pirate King Gol D Roger's ship, the Oro Jackson, and also secretly holds the plans for a devastating ancient weapon; he eventually adopts the nickname Franky.[ch. 344, 354, 427] Franky's recklessness eventually provides an opportunity for World Government agents seeking these plans.[ch. 356] Attempting to rescue his master, Franky suffers severe injuries and only survives by rebuilding parts of his body using pieces of scrap metal, turning himself into a cola-powered cyborg with strength.[ch. 336, 339, 352, 357f.] After gaining notoriety as "Cyborg" Franky (サイボーグ フランキー, Saibōgu Furankī), and to fulfill his dream of sailing a ship he built around the world, he constructs the Thousand Sunny, a brigantine-rigged sloop-of-war, for the Straw Hat Pirates and joins the crew.[ch. 435437]

Brook

Brook (ブルック, Burukku) was already a pirate before the time of Gol D. Roger. Brook first enters the Grand Line as a member of the music-themed Rumbar Pirates. Leaving his pet, the infant whale Laboon, at Reverse Mountain, he promises to return after sailing around the world.[ch. 487] After losing his captain "Calico" Yorki (キャラコのヨーキ, Kyarako no Yōki), Brook took over the crew as the new captain. Some time later, he is annihilated, but the power of the Paramecia-type Revive-Revive Fruit (ヨミヨミの実, Yomi Yomi no Mi) allows him to resurrect as a skeleton.[ch. 443][45] Fifty years later, Brook's goal is still to fulfill his late crew's promise, and to that end he joins the Straw Hat Pirates.[ch. 459] He is an excellent musician, who says that he can play any instrument, although he is usually seen playing the violin.[ch. 486] Brook can even influence people with his music to the point of making them fall asleep.[ch. 454] While separated from the other Straw Hats, and incognito as "Soul King" Brook, he gains world fame, filling concert halls with fans.[ch. 600] He is also a skilled fencer who uses a shikomizue (a Japanese cane sword) in battle.[ch. 454] His reduced weight allows him to jump extraordinarily high and to run across water.[ch. 443, 493] Eventually, Brook learns how to use his Devil Fruit ability to leave his skeleton body and explore his surroundings as a disembodied soul.[ch. 629]

Oda first conceived the idea of a skeleton musician in 2000, about the time of Laboon's introduction and more than half a decade before the first appearance of Brook.[46]

Jimbei

Jimbei illustrated by Eiichiro Oda in the color spread of Chapter 1000.

Jimbei (ジンベエ, Jinbē; spelled Jinbe on his bounty poster), also known as "First Son of the Sea" Jimbei ((海侠のジンベエ, Kaikyō no Jinbē), is a fictional whale shark Fish-Man in the anime and manga series One Piece, created and written by artist Eiichiro Oda. The character was first mentioned in the 69th chapter of the series, which was first published in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on December 19, 1998, and made his first appearance in the 528th chapter of the series, published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on January 19, 2009.

Jimbei is the tenth member of the Straw Hats and the ninth to join, serving as their helmsman. Jimbei is from Fish-Man Island near the sea floor, and hopes to one day bring Fish-Man Island society to the surface under the sun. His dream is equality between humans and Fish-Men to overcome the long history of humans enslaving Fish-Men. Originally Jimbei was a member of the Sun Pirates, which was formed to protect formerly enslaved Fish-Men and Mermen from being re-enslaved. Jimbei joined the Seven Warlords to obtain a World Government pardon for his crew members. This included those who were once enslaved, but also the Fish-Man supremacist Arlong who went on to do great harm to Nami's hometown.

Jimbei is originally introduced as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea who is imprisoned by the World Government after he refuses to support the execution of his friend and Monkey D. Luffy's brother Portgas D. Ace. Luffy frees Jimbei, who resigns his position as Warlord of the Sea. Throughout the story Jimbei serves as a commander under three successive Emperors of the Sea in order to protect Fish-Man Island: Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Straw Hat Luffy. Jimbei, Luffy, and Whitebeard fight to stop the execution of Ace.

Two years later, Jimbei meets the Straw Hats on Fish-Men Island apologizes to Nami for setting Arlong free. The Straw Hats and Jimbei save Fish-Man Island from a coup d'état by the New Fish-Man Pirates, Fish-men supremacists were inspired by Arlong. Luffy asks Jimbei to join his crew, and he agrees but says he needs to settle his affairs with Big Mom. Jimbei later rebels against Big Mom and helps Luffy plan an unsuccessful assassination attempt against her, officially joining the Straw Hats. then reunites with his new crew to successfully defeat an alliance between Big Mom and Kaido of the Four Emperors. After the Straw Hats emerge triumphant, Jimbei becomes one of Emperor Luffy’s Senior Officers and currently has the third-highest bounty in the crew after Luffy and Roronoa Zoro.

Creation and conception

Jimbei is based on an honorable yakuza gangster. Though he did not appear in the story until Chapter 528, Jimbei was first mentioned in Chapter 69. Jimbei was originally designed to look like an Umibōzu with a gallant but hotheaded personality suitable for a yakuza boss,[47]

Jimbei was originally supposed to be an actual antagonist, similar to the introduction of Nico Robin and Franky. In this conception Jimbei would have been pulling Arlong’s strings from the shadows.[48] This version of Jimbei was based on a Japanese sea demon and a mafia boss, and was not intended to join the Straw Hats.[49] Instead, an early member of the Straw Hats would have been the Fish-Man "Saigo”, a good friend of Roronoa Zoro.[50]

Jimbei first appears in the Impel Down arc, which stands in as a metaphorical hell modeled after Dante Alighieri’s Inferno.[51][52] Jimbei’s treatment illustrates “the World Government as a corrupt and tyrannical regime that subjugates its citizens, engaging in practices such as slavery, torture, and arbitrary imprisonment.” Jimbei's character is seen as representing the theme of tolerance and anti-racism since he "rejects the discriminatory practices of the World Government and joins the Straw Hats, embracing more egalitarian values" as he "aims to achieve unity between humans and Fish-Men. His wisdom and strength make him a valuable addition to the crew," and "a symbol of unity within the diverse crew of the Straw Hat Pirates."[53] The World Government tolerates the enslavement of Fish-Men, mermaids, and mermen, especially by the World Nobles. In one instance a World Noble even attempted to enslave Princess Shirahoshi of Fish-Man Island.[54] One analysis highlights this incident as showing the banality of evil in One Piece regarding the theme of slavery during the 1500s.[53]

Description

Jimbei is a Whale Shark Fish-Man who wears a jinbei and has a red tattoo of the Sun Pirates on his chest.

Personality

Jimbei is honorable and dedicated to equality between peoples of all races. Jimbei embodies loyalty and "standing up for your ideals no matter what obstacles you face." Unlike most of the Straw Hats, Jimbei does not have a running gag but often acts as the straight man during a comedic sequence.[55] Jimbei’s decision to save Luffy’s life at Fish-Man Island with a blood donation despite the taboo on Fish-men donating blood humans showed his moral code and was described as among "the series’ most memorable and striking images."[56]

Abilities

Jimbei's abilities include Fish-Man Karate & Jujutsu, super strength, water manipulation, Armament and Observation Haki.[ch. 528] He is the slowest of all the Straw Hats on land, but is a much faster swimmer than a runner.[49]

One reviewer considered Jimbei's "most impressive feat” to be "facing down Big Mom in her Life or Soul attack. She exerts her Soul-Soul Fruit power, which usually allows her to absorb the souls of those she chooses. This only works so long as they feel fear or doubt toward Big Mom though, and Jimbei shows none of that. He’s steadfast in his commitment to joining Luffy, so even while the army of Big Mom succumbs to her power out of fear, Jimbei stands tall."[52]

Fish-Man Karate

A master of Fish-Man Karate (魚人空手, Gyojin Karate) and Fish-Man Jujutsu (魚人柔術, Gyojin Jūjutsu), Jimbei is capable of manipulating water as if it were a tangible cloth.[ch. 546] Jimbei can communicate with fish, an ability more usually associated with merfolk, allowing him to enlist the help of whale sharks.[ch. 547549]

Haki

Jimbei has the ability to use Haki (覇気; ambition). This ability has three types: Armament Haki (武装色の覇気, Busōshoku no Haki), an armor-like force, which can amplify defense and the force of attacks and negate a Devil Fruit user's defense, allow physical contact and damage; Observation Haki (見聞色の覇気, Kenbunshoku no Haki), a sixth sense, which can read a person's moves and detect their presence; and Conqueror's Haki (覇王色の覇気, Haōshoku no Haki), which can render weak-willed people or animals near him unconscious.[57]

Jimbei was the first Fish-Man shown to use Armament Haki and Observation Haki.[49]

Appearances

One Piece

Jimbei was born and raised on Fish-Man Island beneath the Grand Line.[49] After growing up in the marginalized Fish-Man District, Jimbei became a soldier in the nation's royal army.[58][59] Jimbei's mentor Fisher Tiger frees many of those enslaved in the World Government's capital of Mery Geoise, turning him into a wanted outlaw. Fisher Tiger forms the Sun Pirates (タイヨウの海賊団, Taiyō no Kaizokudan). Jimbei, the members of the Arlong Pirates and the Macro Pirates unite under Fisher Tiger's Sun Pirates. Arlong and Jimbei considered Fisher Tiger a big brother, although they were not biologically related.[ch. 624] The Sun Pirates were made up of fish-men and mermen and attacked any pirate ship they saw, but no matter who is on it, they would never kill directly. Their Sun insignia was created to cover up the mark of the Celestial Dragon's enslavement, "Hoof of the Soaring Dragon". Fisher Tiger reveals upon his deathbed that he was actually enslaved and escaped, later returning to free other enslaved peoples, including Boa Hancock and her two sisters. With the Sun insignia, the World Government was unable to claim the formerly enslaved due to confusion over whether they were Sun Pirates or not.[ch. 620]

The Sun Pirates were made up of several Fish-Men and mermen. Fisher Tiger (フィッシャー・タイガー, Fisshā Taigā) was a sea bream-type fish-man who was the crew's founder. After he died from blood loss following an ambush by the Marines, he was succeeded as captain by Jimbei. Aladine (アラディン, Aradin) is a goatsbeard brotula-type merman who is the crew's doctor and became first mate during Jimbei's leadership. Aladine would later marry Charlotte Praline (シャーロット・プラリネ, Shārotto Purarine), Big Mom's 21st daughter who is a hybrid of a human and a hammerhead shark-type merman. "Saw-Tooth" Arlong (ノコギリのアーロン, Nokogiri no Āron), a sawshark-type fish-man and fish-man supremacist.[ch. 69, 71] Arlong's powerful jaws have rapidly re-growing teeth capable of rending stone.[ch. 90] His favorite weapon is the sword-like Shark Saw (キリバチ, Kiribachi) with its six tooth-shaped blades.[ch. 92] There are three Arlong Pirates officers: Kuroobi[e] is a manta ray-type fish-man who also uses "Fish-Man Karate", and Choo[f] is a Japanese whiting-type Fish-man who spits water as if they were firing bullets. Hatchan (はっちゃん), often called Hachi (ハチ), is an octopus-type fish-man first introduced as the first mate of the Arlong Pirates.[ch. 73] Being half octopus, he can spit large quantities of black ink and use suction pads to stick to walls.[ch. 83f.] He fights using six swords, holding one in each arm-tentacle.[ch. 84] After his crew is defeated by the Straw Hats, he escapes from captivity and opens a floating takoyaki restaurant.[ch. 182228: chapter cover pages] He becomes close friends with Camie (ケイミー, Keimī), a kissing gourami mermaid, and Pappag (パッパグ, Pappagu), her pet starfish and master.[ch. 490f.] Hachi makes things right with the Straw Hats and reunites with Jimbei on Fish-Man Island.[ch. 620] The final faction of the Sun Pirates was composed of the former Macro Pirates (マクロ一味, Makuro Ichimi), formed by Macro (マクロ, Makuro), Gyaro (ギャロ, Gyaro) and Tansui (タンスイ).

While originally Jimbei and Arlong saw humans similarly, Jimbei would go on to clash philosophically with Arlong.[ch. 623] Jimbei believed diplomacy could resolve the inequality between Fish-Men and humans.[52] The Arlong Pirates and the Macro Pirates split off from the Sun Pirates when Jimbei joins the Seven Warlords of the Sea.[ch. 624] In exchange for the World Government granting him Warlord status and amnesty to the Sun Pirates members who were once enslaved, Jimbei disbands the crew, freeing Arlong from his recent imprisonment in Impel Down.[ch. 69, 624] Jimbei also sought to use his position as the first Fish-Man Warlord to strengthen the relationship between Fish-Men and humans.[49] In time Jimbei would support the goals of Fish-Man Island's Queen Otohime to life in peace with humans and move Fish-Man Island to the surface.[ch. 621] One of Jimbei’s main characer traits are his selflessness and dedication to honoring his obligations. Although Fisher Tiger was betrayed by humans, Jimbei refuses to give up hopes of equality between species.[52]

After Jimbei became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he became close with Whitebeard, one of the four pirate Emperors of the Sea. A strong factor in their friendship came when the Whitebeard Pirates proclaimed Fish-Man Island a protectorate, deterring crimes by weaker pirates.[ch. 529][52]

Jimbei fought Portgas D. Ace to a draw in five days on Whitebeard' behalf.[ch. 552] Ace later informed Jimbei that Luffy was the pirate who defeated the Arlong Pirates, shocking Jimbei.[ch. 1102] When the World Government goes to war with the Whitebeard Pirates to execute Ace, Jimbei opposes the war because Whitebeard's death could destabilize Fish-Man Island. For his refusal to serve in the war, Jimbei is imprisoned in the underwater prison Impel Down.[60][61]

Jimbei is then freed by Luffy during his mission to rescue his brother Ace.[62][63][52] Together, they break out of Impel Down.[64][65]

After the Impel Down breakout, Luffy and Jimbei head to the Summit War at Marineford and make their entrance in the war falling from the sky.[8][9] Jimbei then resigns his position as Warlord of the Sea.[ch. 557] Luffy wins Jimbei's respect during the Summit War.[66][67] Jimbei witnesses the death of both Portgas D. Ace and Whitebeard.[ch. 575][ch. 578] After Admiral Akainu kills Portgas D. Ace, Jimbei risks his life to save Luffy from the same fate, and in the process is burned by Akainu's magma power.[52][ch. 578] Jimbei was crucial in ensuring Luffy did not end up killed by the Admirals.[56]

After the war ends, Luffy is distraught at the death of his brother Ace.[68][69] Jimbei encourages Luffy to "remember what you still have", to which Luffy responds, "I have my crew!!"[ch. 590][70][52] Luffy decides his crew will train for two years to become stronger so none of them will be killed while looking for the One Piece.[ch. 597]

After resigning his position as Warlord of the Sea and with Whitebeard dead, Jimbei joins the crew of Emperor of the Sea Big Mom in order to protect Fishman Island from pirates.[ch. 649][71]

Two years later, Jimbei waits for Luffy to arrive at Fish-Man Island. Jimbei tells the Straw Hats about his past with Fisher Tiger, Arlong, Hatchan, and Queen Otohime. They learn that Jimbei released Arlong into the East Blue, and also learn of the island's history.[58][59] Nami forgives Jimbei for his actions and reveals she holds no resentment towards Jimbei, only Arlong. This causes Jimbei to break down in tears. Jimbei then enlists the help of the Straw Hats to prevent the Flying Pirates and New Fish-Man Pirate alliance's coup d'état against Fish-Man Island's royal family.[72][73] Jimbei and Sanji team up to defeat the giant Umibōzu Wadatsumi of the Flying Pirates.[74][75]

After the Straw Hats succeed, Jimbei gives his blood to a dying Luffy and tells the citizens that the law on Fishman Island is a farce, defying the taboo on Fish-men donating blood humans.[71][56] Jimbei and Luffy share the blood type F.[49] Luffy then invites Jimbei to join his crew.[ch. 648] Jimbei initially turns this invitation down, saying he must wait to sever ties with Big Mom.[ch. 649] Jimbei later befriends Wadatsumi (ワダツミ), a giant tiger blowfish-type fish-man who is a former member of the Flying Pirates. Wadatsumi and Jimbei deliver a Poneglyph from the sea floor to Big Mom.[ch. 785][76][77]

Jimbei reunites with half the Straw Hats when Luffy, Nami, Tony Tony Chopper, and Brook go to Big Mom's capital in Whole Cake Island to rescue their crewmate Sanji.[78][79] Big Mom initially refuses to accept Jimbei's request to leave her crew for the Straw Hats.[80][81] Jimbei rebels against her to free an imprisoned Luffy, a role reversal from two years ago.[82][83]

Jimbei and the Straw Hats confront Big Mom, leading to Jimbei to proclaim, "a man who would be crewmate of the future king of the pirates cannot afford to tremble in the presence of a mere emperor!!! ... As of this moment, I quit the Big Mom Pirates! I appreciate all you have done for me."[ch. 863][84][85]Big Mom chases the Straw Hats as they attempt to fleer her domain, catching up to their ship the "Thousand Sunny". She nearly capsizes the “Sunny" with a tsunami, but Jimbei skillfully guides the ship by tube riding, noting that the ship is of such high quality and needs a good helsman.[86][87] Jimbei, Nami, Chopper, and Brook work together and manage to drive her away.[88][89] As they prepare to escape, the Sunny is caught, but Big Mom's forces are repelled by the Sun Pirates, who have come to see Jimbei off and wish him well.[88][89]

Jimbei elects to help his Sun Pirates delay Big Mom so the rest of the Straw Hats can make their escape. Jimbei and the Sun Pirates save Luffy, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, and Brook from Big Mom's empire. Luffy tells Jimbei to reunite with his new crew in the Wano Country.[90][91][ch. 901]

Jimbei keeps his word and joins the Straw Hats as the crew's helmsman when he reaches Wano.[92][93][ch. 976][52][94] Emperors of the Sea Big Mom and Kaido form an alliance on Wano to take down the Straw Hats and their Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance with Wano revolutionaries.[95][96] During a war between the two alliances, Big Mom attacks Luffy, but is intercepted by Franky, Jimbei, and Nico Robin.[97][98] As the Straw Hats divide into individual fights with Kaido’s officers, Jimbei confronts and defeats Who's-Who, a former CP9 agent with racist attitudes about Fish-Men.[99][100][101][102] The Straw Hats’ allied ninja Raizo and Jimbei use stored water to extinguish a fire threatening to kill all on both sides of the alliance.[103][104]

Ultimately the Straw Hats' Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance prevails.[105][106] [ch. 1051] Jimbei becomes recognized as one of Emperor of the Sea Monkey D. Luffy's Senior Officers.[ch. 1058][107][108]

Aboard the Sunny, the Straw Hats rescue Jewelry Bonney from a robotic sea beast; in the chaos, Luffy, Bonney, Chopper, and Jimbei are separated and wash up on Egghead Island, where Dr. Vegapunk, leader of the Navy's Special Science Group, has his laboratory; Bonney has traveled there to ask Vegapunk to restore the mind of her father, Bartholomew Kuma, and plans to kill Vegapunk if he is unable to do so. Jimbei mentions Kuma's bad reputation as a tyrant, which Bonney insists is World Government propoganda.[107][109]

On Egghead, Jimbei learns the World Government cloned the Seven Warlords into a new force called the Seraphim; Jimbei’s clone is called S-Shark.[110][111] As the world reacts to Vegapunk's revelations about the mysterious Void Century 800 years ago, Jimbei and Zoro repel one of the Five Elders Nusjuro's attack on the Sunny.[112]

In other media

Jimbei is a playable character in several One Piece video games, including but not limited to:

Jimbei appears as a supporting character in One Piece Odyssey.

Cultural impact and legacy

Critical Reception

One reviewer noted Jimbei "taught us a lot about loyalty and about standing up for your ideals no matter what obstacles you face."[55] Another wrote admiringly of "his commitment to joining Luffy."[52] Another noted how Jimbei saving Luffy’s life at Fish-Man Island with a blood donation despite the taboo on Fish-men donating blood to humans as "One of the series’ most memorable and striking images".[56]

Popularity
A cosplayer dressed up as Jimbei.

Jimbei is one of the more popular characters in One Piece, ranking in the Top 20 of several Shōnen Jump character popularity polls.[n 1][56] The highest Jimbei ever placed in a popularity poll was sixth place in the sixth Japanese Jump popularity poll, after Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.[113] Jimbei ranked as the 18th most popular character in the next popularity poll, the first to be held worldwide.[56]

Pirate Ships

Going Merry

Replica of the Going Merry in Odaiba.

Kaya gifts the Straw Hats the Going Merry after they save her town. Usopp joins the crew while the Straw Hats sail away to their new ship. The Merry sails from the East Blue into Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line. At one point it is converted into a form able to fly to reach the Sky Island Skypiea. On Skypiea, Usopp works with Luffy and Sanji to rescue Nami and the others, who had been taken to a sacrificial altar, and they engage in combat against the priest Satori. That night, Usopp witnesses a mysterious figure repairing the Going Merry, which had been damaged in an attack by the priest Shura.

Upon landing back in the Blue Seas, the Merry is heavily damaged and Luffy seeks a shipwright to repair it. The crew arrives at Water 7, the island with the best shipwrights in the world. They explore the city, have the loot they took from Skypiea appraised, and have Galley-La, a team of shipwrights, look at their ship. Though willing to pay any price to repair the Merry, the damage it sustained during their adventures is too great to be fixed. Luffy reluctantly decides to abandon the ship. Usopp, having grown attached to the Merry, is unwilling to take this course of action and challenges Luffy's captaincy. Once defeated, Usopp decides to leave the Straw Hats, and the others go searching for a new ship. Meanwhile, the Aqua Laguna, an annual storm that strikes Water Seven, is about to return. To coincide with this Iceburg, the owner of Galley-La, is attacked, and Nico Robin is labeled as the prime suspect. Knowing Robin is a member of the Straw Hats, all of Water Seven turns against them.

The Straw Hats are on the run and Robin is nowhere to be found. In order to determine where her allegiances lie, the Straw Hats decide to break into Galley-La's headquarters to find her. To their surprise, they are not the only ones laying siege to Galley-La; a masked group has already infiltrated the headquarters looking for the blueprints to the ancient weapon Pluton. After finding the blueprints and discovering that they are fake, the masked individuals approach the recovering Iceburg. They remove their disguises, revealing themselves as Robin and some of the workers of Galley-La. Members of the secret government organization, Cipher Pol #9, they joined Galley-La to gain Pluton for the government's use. After speaking with Iceberg, they learn that the real blueprints are with Franky, a shipwright and friend of Iceberg.

The Straw Hats arrive on the scene and find Robin with CP9. Although she claims to want nothing more to do with them, Luffy and company attack CP9 so that they can talk to her. They are quickly defeated, and CP9 departs to look for Franky. As the Aqua Laguna approaches, Franky has given Usopp and the Merry shelter. Franky tells Usopp he saw the spirit of the Merry in Skypiea repairing itself, known as a Klabautermann. Soon enough CP9 arrives looking for Franky and his blueprints. Because his teacher, entrusted him with the blueprints years earlier, and forfeited his own life to insure Pluton never fell into the government's hands, Franky refuses to reveal their location.

After the Straw Hats recover from their injuries they discover that Robin has sided with the government in order to save the rest of the crew from destruction. CP9 captures Franky and Usopp and takes them and Robin to Enies Lobby, the government's judiciary island, using a sea train. Sanji sneaks on board in an effort to save them, freeing Usopp and Franky before continuing on to Robin. The rest of the Straw Hats, the loyal members of Galleyla, and Franky's friends, follow on a sea train of their own, unimpeded by the Aqua Laguna.

As they move through the train looking for Robin, Sanji, Usopp, and Franky deal with the lesser members of Cipher Pol. Although they find her, Robin does not allow herself to be saved. CP9 captures Franky again, kicks Sanji and Usopp from the train, and continues on to Enies Lobby. Sanji and Usopp wait along the tracks, and reunite with Luffy and the others when they go by. They arrive at the judiciary island soon after CP9 does and engage the forces of the world government in order to get Robin back.

The Straw Hats lay waste to Enies Lobby, defeating anyone who tries to keep them from Robin. As the rest of the crew deals with the less formidable guardians of the island, Luffy goes ahead and calls out to CP9. Only one member of CP9, Blueno, agrees to fight him, remembering how quickly Luffy was defeated in their last encounter. As the battle progresses Luffy demonstrates his ability to use one of CP9's abilities. After using his "Gear Two" and before demonstrating his "Gear Three", Luffy defeats Blueno and calls out to Robin that he is there to rescue her.

The Straw Hats and CP9, and their two captives, face each other down. Nico Robin tries turning the crew away again, but when Monkey D. Luffy tells her that she can die as part of the crew instead, Robin experiences a flashback to her childhood. Raised on an island of archaeologists, Robin and the rest of the islanders attempt to discover the secret of the void century, a period in time that the government forbids anyone to know. To prevent knowledge of the void century from spreading, the island and its inhabitants (except Robin) are destroyed. Aokiji allows Robin to escape, challenging her to find friends and to live. Realizing that she had almost given up on both, Robin decides she wants to live with the rest of the Straw Hats. Touched by their words, Franky reveals that the blueprints CP9 have been searching are hidden on his person, but they are not that of Pluton, but an "opposing weapon" and he promptly destroys them, giving CP9 no further reason to keep him in custody.

The Straw Hats and Franky break off and engage CP9 in battle. Unsuited for the initial pairings, the crew exchanges opponents to improve their chances of victory, allowing two members of CP9 to be defeated. Meanwhile, Luffy follows Robin's captors, CP9 leader Spandam and CP9's strongest member Rob Lucci. Lucci fights Luffy in order to give Spandam time to take Robin to the government's inescapable prisons. Instead, while trying to call for help, Spandam accidentally triggers the destruction of the Straw Hats, summoning the world government to destroy Enies Lobby and whoever is on it.

With the destruction of Enies Lobby imminent, all government personnel begin to evacuate. The Straw Hats continue fighting and, with the exception of Luffy versus Lucci, defeat the remaining members of CP9. Their battles won, they team up and hurry to stop Robin from being taken past the point of no return. They succeed and Robin is freed.

As the battle between Luffy and Lucci rages on, the destruction of Enies Lobby commences. The members of Galley-La and the "Franky Family" evacuate as the government employees have done, and the Straw Hats secure an escape route to use after Lucci's defeat. Once Luffy wins however, Enies Lobby's destroyers unite in their efforts to finish off the crew that beat CP9. Just when they lose their last piece of refuge, the Straw Hats are able to escape on the Merry, it having come to save them in their time of need. The crew joins with Galley-La and the Frankies and returns to Water Seven. The Merry begins to break down during the trip, so with heavy hearts the crew says goodbye to the vessel and gives it a Viking funeral.[ch. 41430]

Thousand Sunny

When the Straw Hats return to Water Seven, Franky decides to build a new ship for the Straw Hats and joins them to fulfill his dream of sailing a ship he built around the world. Frankly and Galley-La construct the Thousand Sunny, a brigantine-rigged sloop-of-war for the Straw Hats.[ch. 435437]

Jolly Roger

Quick facts Use, Proportion ...
Straw Hats' Jolly Roger
麦わらの一味の旗
UseOne Piece
ProportionVarious
Adopted22 July 1997
Designed byEiichiro Oda
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The Straw Hat's Jolly Roger (Japanese: 麦わらの一味の旗, Hepburn: Mugiwara no Ichimi no Hata) is a pirate flag of a skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat. The flag represents the straw hat worn the crew's captain, Monkey D. Luffy. It has become a symbol for global youth-led protest movements such as the August 2025 Indonesian protests where people began using the flag in lieu of the national flag as a form of protest against the government, and the practice was emulated in other countries. Notably, the flag saw widespread use during protests in Nepal and Madagascar which overthrew their respective governments. The flag has also seen use in protests in other countries across Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia.

Straw Hat Grand Fleet

More information Crew, Leader ...
Straw Hat Grand Fleet
CrewLeaderKey member(s)
NameDevil Fruit NameRoleDevil Fruit
Beautiful CavendishN/a SuleimanMercenaryN/a
FarulCavendish's PetN/a
Barto Club BartolomeoBarrier-Barrier GambiaStaff officerN/a
Happosui Army SaiN/a BooVice-leaderN/a
ChinjaoLeader emeritusN/a
Ideo IdeoN/a Blue GillyMartial artistN/a
AbdullahN/a
JeetN/a
Tontatta LeoStitch-Stitch BianAvian Squad, Pink Bee LeaderBug-Bug: Model Hornet
CubAvian Squad, Yellow Kabu LeaderBug-Bug: Model Rhinoceros Beetle
New Giant Warrior HajrudinN/a StansenShipwrightN/a
RodoNavigatorN/a
GoldbergCookN/a
GerdDoctorN/a
Yontamaria Fleet OrlumbusN/a ColumbusAdvisorN/a
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The Straw Hat Grand Fleet (麦わら大船団, Mugiwara Dai-sendan) is a fleet composed of seven pirate crews, whom after having helped Luffy in Dressrosa, swore allegiance to him. A total of 5,639 pirates make up the entire fleet.[ch. 799,800][114][115][116]

Beautiful Pirates

The Beautiful Pirates (美しき海賊団, Utsukushiki Kaizoku-dan) are the first crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Their ship is the Sleeping White Horse of the Forest. The crew consists of a total of 74 members[ch. 799] including:

  • Cavendish (キャベンディッシュ, Kyabendisshu): The captain of the crew, a former prince who became a pirate, becoming a super rookie, and has a dangerous alternate personality named Hakuba. He was one of the participants in the Corrida Colosseum at Dressrosa. He hates the members of the Eleven Supernovas because they took away his popularity as a super rookie.[116] Cavendish is voiced by Akira Ishida in the original Japanese version and by Matt Shipman in the Funimation dub.
  • Suleiman (スレイマン, Sureiman): A former mercenary who was one of the participants in the Corrida Colosseum at Dressrosa. After it, he joined Cavendish after the events in Dressrosa. Suleiman is voiced by Ken Narita in the original Japanese version and by Jordan Cruz in the Funimation dub.
  • Farul (ファルル, Faruru): Cavendish' white horse.

Barto Club

The Barto Club (バルトクラブ, Baruto Kurabu) are the second crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. All the members of the crew are big fans of Luffy and named their ship "Going Luffy-senpai" after him. The crew consists of a total of 56 members[ch. 799] including:

  • Bartolomeo (バルトロメオ, Barutoromeo): A former super rookie and captain of the crew who has the power to create invisible barriers around him thanks to the Barrier-Barrier Fruit.[116] He was one of the participants in the Corrida Colosseum at Dressrosa. He is an extremely dedicated admirer of Monkey D. Luffy to the chagrin of his peers.[117] His admiration for the Straw Hat Pirates inspired him to become a pirate, becoming a super rookie. Despite his vulgar and disrespectful demeanor, he is an altruistic and honorable individual to his friends or enemies, though this did not stop him from suffering defeat after disrespecting Shanks. Bartolomeo is voiced by Showtaro Morikubo in the original Japanese version and by Tyson Rinehart in the Funimation dub. In the live-action series, Bartolomeo is portrayed by Nahum Hughes.[118]
  • Gambia (ガンビア, Ganbia): The Barto Club's staff officer with jaguar spot tattoos on his arms. Gambia is voiced by Hiroshi Yanaka in the original Japanese version and by Blake McNamara in the Funimation dub.

Happosui Army

The Happosui Army (八宝水軍, Happō Suigun) are the third crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. They have one Happosai boat that has a white tiger figurehead and seven Ipposai boats that resemble turtle ships with sea serpent figureheads. The crew consists of a total of 1000 members[ch. 799] including:

  • Sai (サイ): The leader of the Happosui Army. After a face-to-face encounter with Baby 5, he ended up marrying her.[116] Said is voiced by Kōichi Hashimoto in the original Japanese version and by Kyle Igneczi in the Funimation dub.
  • Boo (ブー, ): Sai's younger brother and vice-leader of the organization. Boo is voiced by Masaya Takatsuka in the original Japanese version and by Jeff Johnson in the Funimation dub.
  • Chin Jao (チンジャオ, Chinjao): The grandfather of Sai and former leader of the Happosui Army, who was once a rival to both Garp and Roger. He also is capable of utilizing all three types of Haki.[116] Chin Jao is voiced by Shin Aomori in the original Japanese version and by Bradley Campbell in the Funimation dub.
  • Baby 5 (ベビー5, Bebī Faibu): A girl with the powers of the Arms-Arms Fruit (ブキブキの実, Buki Buki no Mi) which allows her change any part of her body into any kind of weapon.[44] She was an officer of the Donquixote Pirates as part of the Pica Army until she later defects to the Happosui Army and marries Sai. Baby 5 is voiced by Rina Satō in the original Japanese version and by Katelyn Barr in the Funimation Dub.

Ideo Pirates

The Ideo Pirates (イデオ海賊団, Ideo Kaizokudan) are the fourth crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. All of them were participants in the Corrida Colosseum at Dressrosa. Initially, they were named "XXX Gym Martial Arts Alliance" (XXXジム格闘連合, Toripuru-Ekkusu Jimu Kakutō Rengō; pronounced "Triple X Gym Martial Arts Alliance") before being renamed after obtaining their own ship. The four members of the crew are:

  • Ideo (イデオ): A martial artist, leader of the Ideo Pirates, and member of the Longarm Tribe with bandaged feet and calves.[115][116] Ideo is voiced by Masaki Aizawa in the original Japanese version and by Eric Rolon in the Funimation dub.
  • Blue Gilly (ブルー・ギリー, Burū Girī): A martial artist and member of the Longleg Tribe. Blue Gilly is voiced by Makoto Naruse in the original Japanese version and by Kellen Goff in the Funimation dub.
  • Abdullah (アブドーラ, Abudōra) and Jeet (ジェット, Jetto): Two former criminals and bounty hunters. Abdullah is voiced by Keiji Hirai in the original Japanese version and by Sean O'Connor in the Funimation dub. Jeet is voiced by Koji Haramaki in the original Japanese version and by Robby Gemaehlich in the Funimation dub.

Tontatta Pirates

The Tontatta Pirates (トンタッタ海賊団, Tontatta Kaizokudan), formerly known as Tonta Corps (トンタ兵団, Tonta Heidan), are the fifth crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, and the armed forces of the Tontatta Tribe. The organization is made up entirely of dwarfs and their ship is named Usoland.[115] The crew consists of a total of 200 members[ch. 799] including:

  • Leo (レオ, Reo): The leader of the Tontatta Pirates whose Devil Fruit called the Stitch-Stitch Fruit gives him the ability to stitch and un-stitch objects together. Leo is voiced by Kurumi Mamiya in the original Japanese version and by Rachel Glass in the Funimation dub.
  • Bian (ビアン): An Avian Squad leader of the Pink Bee Squad whose Devil Fruit called the Bug-Bug Fruit: Model Hornet gives her the ability to transform into a hornet or a hornet-dwarf hybrid while also granting her flight. Bian is voiced by Rie Kugimiya in the original Japanese version and by Kristen McGuire in the Funimation dub.
  • Cub (カブ, Kabu): An Avian Squad leader of the Yellow Kabu Squad whose Devil Fruit called the Bug-Bug Fruit: Model Rhinoceros Beetle gives him the ability to transform into a rhinoceros beetle or a rhinoceros beetle-dwarf hybrid while also granting him flight. Cub is voiced by Masami Kikuchi in the original Japanese version. In the Funimation dub, Cub is voiced by Clay Wheeler in the "Episode of Sabo" special and by Shawn Gann in later episodes.

New Giant Warrior Pirates

The New Giant Warrior Pirates (新巨兵海賊団, Shin Kyo Hei Kaizoku-dan) are the sixth crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Their ship is called Nagifar. They worked for Buggy's Delivery prior to joining the Grand Fleet. The organization is composed of five giants from the island of Elbaph where they operated after Hajrudin's return.[115]

  • Hajrudin (ハイルディン, Hairudin): The crew's captain who is the son of King Harald through the foreign giant Ida from Samuwanai Island and the half-brother of Prince Loki. Due to his illegitimate status, he suffered from prejudice since childhood and developed an ambition to unite Elbaph's giants, forming the pirate crew as a result. He despises Prince Loki for his extreme abuse, but is oblivious of his covering up of his father's death. Hajrudin is voiced by Tsuyoshi Koyama in the original Japanese version. In the Funimation dub, Hajrudin is voiced by Randy E. Aguebor in the "Episode of Sabo" special and episodes 639 to 658 and by Chris Guerrero in later episodes.
  • Stansen (スタンセン, Sutansen): The crew's shipwright who was imprisoned at the Auction House in Sabaody until he escaped with Rayleigh. Stansen is voiced by Eiji Takemoto in the original Japanese version and by Dan Caskey in the Funimation dub.
  • Rodo (ロード, Rōdo): The crew's navigator. He imprisoned the sleeping Straw Hat Pirates into his diorama, The Land of Gods, after they passed through the Sleeping Mist between Egghead and Elbaph. He is an eccentric and perverted individual who is nevertheless a competent navigator.
  • Goldberg (ゴールドバーグ, Gōrudobāgu): The crew's cook. Goldberg is voiced by Masaya Takatsuka in the original Japanese version.
    • Nash (ナッシュ, Nasshu): A shield Homie that is owned by Goldberg. He was claimed during an expedition by Goldberg's dad to kill Charlotte Linlin.
  • Gerd (ゲルズ, Geruzu): The crew's doctor. She and Big Mom were childhood friends until their friendship was strained when Big Mom's eating disorder for semla led to her rampage throughout Elbaph, which injured many giants. Gerd is voiced by Natsuko Kuwatani in the original Japanese version and by Sarah Wiedenheft in the Funimation dub.

Yontamaria Fleet

The Yontamaria Fleet (ヨンタマリア大船団, Yonta Maria Dai-sendan; lit. Yonta Maria Grand Fleet) are the seventh crew of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. They have one Yonta Maria, five Santa Maria ships, and fifty Nita Maria ships. The crew consists of a total of 4,300 members[ch. 799] including:

  • Orlumbus (オオロンブス, Ōronbusu): A former adventurer who worked for the Standing Kingdom. He was one of the participants in the Corrida Colosseum at Dressrosa.[116] Orlumbus is voiced by Jiro Saito in the original Japanese version and by Brandon Potter in the Funimation dub.
  • Columbus (コロンブス, Koronbusu): A girl who is a trusted subordinate of Orlumbus.

Cultural impact

The Straw Hats’ Jolly Roger become a symbol for global youth-led protest movements such as the August 2025 Indonesian protests where people began using the flag in lieu of the national flag as a form of protest against the government, and the practice was emulated in other countries. Notably, the flag saw widespread use during protests in Nepal and Madagascar which overthrew their respective governments. The flag has also seen use in protests in other Asian countries, as well as in Africa, Europe, South America, Mexico and the United States.

As part of an effort to help Kumamoto Prefecture recover from the 2016 earthquakes, Oda helped set up 10 statues of the Straw Hat Pirates around the prefecture. Luffy was the first statue to be unveiled in front of the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Office on November 30, 2018. Jinbe was the last statue, unveiled at Sumiyoshi Kaigan Park on July 23, 2022.[119][120]

In 2025, the black pirate flag of the Straw Hat Pirates became a prominent protest symbol in Indonesia ahead of the nation's 80th Independence Day, reflecting widespread discontent with the country's democratic backsliding.[121][122] Indonesian authorities condemned its display as a threat to national unity,[123][124] with reported instances of police and military confiscating flags during raids.[125] The same flag was also used as a protest symbol in the 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests, as well as in the Philippines, in France, and in Madagascar, among others.[126][127][128]

Notes

  1. In Viz Media's traslation of the manga and in One Piece Card Game.
  2. In the English dub of the anime and in the live-action series.
  3. Often referred to simply as the crew's Swordsman; in the live-action series, his position is changed to First Mate of the crew.
  4. クロオビ, Kuroobi
  5. チュウ, Chū

References

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