One Piece: Imu's fire-demon origins could pave the way for an ultimate clash with Luffy

Modified Sep 29, 2024 07:30 GMT

One Piece and the possible confrontation between Imu and Luffy (Image via Toei Animation). — One Piece and the possible confrontation between Imu and Luffy (Image via Toei Animation)

One Piece fans have come up with many theories regarding Imu's identity and powers, and one recently connected him or her to Japanese myths, particularly those connected to salamanders and fire-based powers. This is because of the character's recent display of power in the anime, where viewers managed to see a salamander-like entity spawning and going after Sabo.

Moreover, a One Piece fan on X has come up with the theory that Imu's powers could be based on the mythical Japanese yokai known as Hanzaki, which are monstrous versions of salamanders. This seems like a realistic source from which author Eiichiro Oda can draw inspiration, and the leader of the World Government having fire-based powers could serve as a direct contrast to Luffy's Devil Fruit.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

One Piece's Imu and his or her powers could be inspired by the Japanese yokai Hanzaki

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After displaying his or her powers against Sabo recently in the anime, a fan with username @Rex_Kroko on X came up with a theory that Imu's powers will be based on the Japanese Yokai known as the Hanzaki. According to Japanese mythology, they are extremely big, move away from places where humans are located and can be cut in half and regenerate.

These creatures are also connected to fire to some degree, which is something that could work in contrast with Luffy's "Sun God" Devil Fruit and how they are representatives of fire for good and evil. Moreover, all of the elements of the Hanzaki do fit with Imu and work well with its physical representation, especially considering how the Elders of the Gorosei have the ability to regenerate.

There are a lot of different interpretations for Imu's character, with this theory also mentioning that salamanders were another name for dragons in European culture, which could draw an obvious connection to the Celestial Dragons. That is another factor that could add to this theory.

The importance and mysteries of Imu

Imu as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

There is no denying that Imu is one of the most mysterious characters in the entirety of One Piece, and the answers to these questions are going to be pivotal for the story to reach a satisfying conclusion. The leader of the World Government is tied to several events, such as God Valley, the Void Century, the creation of said government, and even how the Elders of the Gorosei came to be.

Furthermore, there are even questions regarding what Imu is because there are a lot of plausible theories that he or she is not even human. This could explain why he or she has lived for centuries and also give a valid explanation of why he or she has managed to build and lead the World Government, with this also perhaps playing a role in the characters of Joy Boy and Nefertari Lili.

Final thoughts

Imu's appearance in One Piece will likely be inspired by mythological creatures, and the Hanzaki could be a very good theory to come up with. However, that is mere speculation, and nothing has been confirmed thus far in the series.

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Edited by Toshali Kritika