Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has recently been at the center of a significant wave of discussion, particularly focused on the character Roronoa Zoro. Zoro, alongside Luffy, is one of the most iconic and beloved characters in One Piece. However, recent discussions have sparked controversy surrounding his character development, which Oda has meticulously crafted to create a distinctive symbolic representation of Zoro.
Roronoa Zoro: The Most Beloved Symbol of One Piece
Roronoa Zoro is the first member to join Luffy’s crew and is an indispensable part of the Straw Hat Pirates. Fans have admired Zoro since the very beginning of One Piece.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Zoro consistently ranks among the most beloved characters. He has never fallen out of the top three in various popularity polls, which is quite remarkable. Fans have come to love him even more through each arc, particularly due to the development of his personality and the strength he has built over time.
Zoro has grown significantly throughout the series, including his combat abilities and his leadership skills. Now that the Final Saga has begun, every moment seems to resonate more deeply with this character, especially as he approaches his goal of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman.
The “Controversial” Inspirations Behind Zoro
Roronoa Zoro is one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in the One Piece series, and Oda has drawn from various sources of inspiration to build this character. The most notable inspiration is the infamous French pirate François l’Olonnais, from whom Oda derived the name Roronoa.
However, Zoro also draws from another figure, which has become a point of contention. Many of Zoro’s distinctive traits were inspired by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of the manga Rurouni Kenshin. This connection has raised eyebrows among fans.
Zoro’s signature bandana is another symbolic element inspired by Watsuki. Nobuhiro Watsuki wore a bandana similar to Zoro’s when he wanted to focus on his manga work. Watsuki is also of a similar height to Zoro (182cm compared to Zoro’s 181cm), which many fans have pointed out. It has also been noted that Watsuki possesses a “cool demeanor,” particularly when he began working seriously, resembling Zoro.
Understandably, this has caused a major wave of controversy, and discussions have reignited regarding the reverence afforded to Watsuki’s work by many Jump authors, including Eiichiro Oda.
It’s worth noting that Nobuhiro Watsuki has faced legal issues due to inappropriate content in his works, which is one of the most serious accusations a creator can face.
As a result, the One Piece fandom has been quite divided regarding Oda’s close relationship with Watsuki, especially after Watsuki’s past actions were revealed. Recently, Oda even included a detailed illustration of Watsuki’s main character, Kenshin, in a recent SBS (Shitsumon o Boshū Suru?, or “I’m Taking Questions”) segment, stating that a character is a direct homage to him.
It is indeed perplexing that many fans of One Piece struggle with the idea that Zoro, a widely loved character, has inspirations from someone like Watsuki. This raises significant questions about the boundary between art and inspiration, and whether an artist’s personal behavior can detach from the character they create.
Source: Gamerant
