Oda reveals Zoro’s Family Tree
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, has at last provided insights into a long-debated topic among fans of his immensely popular manga. He has addressed a significant question regarding Zoro and his family background, a topic that has generated numerous theories among the fan base.
Fan speculation about Zoro’s potential ties to the land of the Samurai has been a persistent theme, and this conjecture gained momentum following Yamato’s flashback. This particular narrative shed light on Shimotsuki Ushimaru, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Zoro. Adding another layer to the mystery, a subsequent flashback unveiled the connection between Zoro’s village and Kozaburo, who not only resided there but also presented Zoro with his inaugural set of swords. This revelation sparked a flurry of diverse theories and speculations among the fan community.
Although Wano is widely regarded as one of the best arcs in One Piece, it left many fans dissatisfied as it did not delve into the enigma surrounding Zoro’s relationship with Ushimaru and his legendary samurai ancestor, Ryuma, also known as “Sword God”.
Here’s what Oda said in SBS Volume 105:
“There were so many people who asked question “After all, what is Zoro’s lineage!?”, I don’t think there’s anything to explain in the main story anymore, so I’ll announce it.“
“The younger brother of Shimotsuki Furiko, who was on the ship that set sail from Wano and who encountered “so-and-so” who met Yamato as child, was Shimotsuki Ushimaru, a former daimyo of Ringo and the descendant of Wano’s mythical samurai, Shimotsuki Ryuma, whom Zoro met back at Thriller Bark. In other words.. what does that mean..?! This is a strange and mysterious story of fate that even Zoro himself does not know about.“
And there it is, the secret of Zoro‘s lineage is revealed. Grandchild of Pinzoro, child of Arashi, grandnephew of Ushimaru.
