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Akainu, the name itself is enough to incite disgust amongOne Piecefans. His actions in the franchise have led not only pirates but also fanatics to hate him to their core. His rigid and extremist beliefs have led to several innocent deaths, and Eiichiro Oda has revealed who exactly the character is based on.
There are several hated characters in One Piece, including Kizaru, Imu, Blackbeard, and the Gorosei, but it was Akainu who played a major role in the atrocities committed during the Marineford Arc. So, of course, fans would be intrigued to know what inspired Oda to create such a despicable character.
Eiichiro Oda Reveals Akainu is Based on a Character fromBattles Without Honor and Humanity
Battles Without Honor and Humanityis a cult-classic Japanese Yakuza film series that is inspired by memoirs of a real-life yakuza, Shozo Mino. The protagonist of the movies is Shozo Hirono, who is played by Bunta Sugawara. Hirono is a brutal man who is mired between rival gangs. The movie itself is rife with yakuza whose lives have been realistically portrayed throughout the franchise.
What If Sengoku Didn’t Stop Garp in Marineford- Garp Brutally Kills Akainu in This Breathtaking Fan Made Video
Inan interview, Eiichiro Oda discussed how Luffy wants to be the Pirate King since he would be the most free person in the world. However, he acts on behalf of others, and they return the favor when the time arrives. Oda believes in this samurai spirit, which should be passed down to future generations.
That’s why I love old yakuza films, to the point where I think Bunta Sugawara (the actor who inspired Fleet Admiral Akainu) is the handsomest man on the planet.
It seems like Oda’s appreciation for Bunta Sugawara goes far beyond his portrayal of Hirono, and that is well deserved by the actor. After all, the success of the movie was so widespread that it inspired an entirely new genre of yakuza films called Jitsuroku eiga, which are quite often based on real stories.
Will Akainu’s Future inOne PieceResemble That of Shozo Hirono
Akainu’s headstrong and rigid attituderesembles those of a typical yakuza, who also has an extremist belief system. Like Hirono, he is a strong and capable leader and thinks of the power and image of his organization. However, his belief in absolute justice makes him ruthless. For him, hundreds of innocent lives are just a small price to pay if his version of justice needs to be served.
Akainu’s biggest scenes of crueltycould be witnessed in Ohara when he ordered to blow up a boat full of innocent Ohara civilians as well as Marines, just to ensure no Ohara scholars escaped. Hirono, being a yakuza, is made from the same cloth, and is often ruthless in his serving of justice.
Eiichiro Oda’s Favorite One Piece Villain isn’t Kaido, Akainu or Blackbeard – It’s the Most Unlikely Choice
Hirono was an ex-soldier who later became a street thug before joining the yakuza. He was also involved in various violent yakuza wars. After serving in prison several times, he was asked to retire by his gang as they wanted to shed their image. By the end of the franchise, Hirono faced the deaths of many of his friends before he finally retired.
Akainu’s moral code is hated by his colleagues, especially Kuzan, who has outright protested against Akainu. Garp also does not like the way Akainu conducts matters. What if, by the end ofOne Piece, Akainu isbetrayed bythe very government he serves? While Oda has not given any indication that Akainu’s character might resemble Hirono’s in the long run, you just never know when the author throws another curveball.
You can readOne Pieceon Viz Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
Aaheli Pradhan
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :1558
Aaheli is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with 1300+ published articles. With five years of experience under her belt, she is a living, breathing encyclopedia for anime and manga. From Shonen and Shojo to the most niche anime, nothing escapes her radar. Her poisons of choice are Assassination Classroom, Gintama, Ouran High School Host Club and every Ghibli movie ever. She believes in living a slow life, surrounded by incomplete art projects and her beloved cats.
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Eiichiro OdaOne Piece
