| Akazaya Nine | |
|---|---|
| Name | Akazaya Nine |
| Native name | 赤鞘九人男 |
| Founded | Unknown (former Wano retainers) |
| Founder | Kin'emon (leader) |
| Allegiance | Kozuki clan |
| Notable members | Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Raizo, Kiku, Kanjuro, Kawamatsu, Denjiro, Ashura Doji, Kin'emon |
| Location | Wano Country |
| Country | One Piece world |
Akazaya Nine
The Akazaya Nine are a group of nine loyal retainers of the Kozuki clan in the manga and anime series One Piece. Renowned for their unwavering loyalty to Kozuki Oden's lineage and their role in the Wano Country rebellion, the Akazaya Nine have become emblematic of samurai fidelity and resistance against the Kurozumi family and the Beasts Pirates.
The Akazaya Nine trace their origins to the retainers who served Kozuki Oden of Kuri in Wano Country. After Oden's death and the fall of the Kozuki household, the retainers splintered into fugitives and exiles. Led by Kin'emon, the group coalesced into a clandestine cell dedicated to restoring the Kozuki line and dismantling the shogunate faction controlled by Kurozumi Orochi. Their name, sometimes translated as the "Red Scabbards", reflects both the martial culture of Wano and the blood oath they share to avenge Oden and protect his legacy. The group's genesis is tied to pivotal events in the wider Wano arc and the ongoing struggle against imperial powers in the series.
The Akazaya Nine comprises nine principal members, each with distinct skills that complement the group's mission. Notable members include Kin'emon (leader and strategist), Kawamatsu (fish-man samurai and naval fighter), Kiku (Kikunojo, skilled swordswoman), Kanjuro (artist and infiltrator), Denjiro (undercover agent within Wano's bureaucracy), Ashura Doji (heavy assault and charismatic leader among commoners), Raizo (ninja and spy), Inuarashi and Nekomamushi are associated allies though not formal members, and other retainers who operated in exile. The group's roles ranged from intelligence gathering and guerrilla action to coordinating with external allies such as the Straw Hat Pirates, Mink Tribe, and Navy defectors. Several members undertook long-term undercover operations that influenced events inside Onigashima and throughout Wano.
After Oden's execution, the Akazaya Nine were forced into exile; some members traveled with O-Kiku and others went to distant islands like Dressrosa and Kuraigana Island. Over decades they pursued different strategies to preserve the Kozuki legacy. Key actions include Kin'emon's repeated attempts to rally support from allies like Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar D. Water Law, coordinating the return to Wano, and supporting the alliance that laid siege to Onigashima during the Wano rebellion. Their infiltration and sabotage efforts were instrumental in undermining Kaido's control through intelligence on the Beasts Pirates and inside access provided by Denjiro's covert position. The Akazaya Nine also executed targeted strikes to liberate villages oppressed by Kurozumi Orochi's regime, inspiring local uprisings that culminated in the allied assault alongside the Nine Red Scabbards's symbolic stand at the Battle of Onigashima.
The Akazaya Nine operated in complex relations with major One Piece factions. They are staunch allies of the Kozuki clan and natural adversaries of the Kurozumi family, especially Kurozumi Orochi. They coordinated closely with the Straw Hat Pirates and the Heart Pirates during the Wano campaign, aligning interests against Yonko level threat Kaido and his Beasts Pirates. Their exile years brought contact with the Mink Tribe on Zou and sympathetic contacts within the Revolutionary Army and local daimyo opposed to Orochi. While hostile to the World Government when it supported Orochi's legitimacy, the Akazaya Nine have selectively cooperated with defectors from the Navy when mutual goals arose. Their network reflects a conservative emphasis on restoring traditional rule in Wano rather than broader global revolution.
Members of the Akazaya Nine demonstrate a range of combat techniques rooted in Wano's samurai and ninja traditions. Swordsmanship is central: Kin'emon and Kiku wield classical blades with advanced Haki application, including both Busoshoku Haki and strategic use of Kenbunshoku Haki for coordination. Raizo employs covert ninja arts and infiltration techniques, drawing on shinobi-style physiology and tools. Kawamatsu contributes strength and aquatic adaptability as a Fish-Man, enabling amphibious operations. Denjiro's undercover skillset includes bureaucratic deception and concealed martial prowess. Their collective tactics emphasize disciplined formations, coordinated strikes, and guerrilla warfare adapted to Onigashima's terrain. Several members also possess signature techniques linked to their backstories and to Oden's legacy.
Within the narrative of One Piece, the Akazaya Nine symbolize the enduring values of loyalty, honor, and the preservation of ancestral order in a fractured state. They serve as a narrative anchor connecting present struggles to Kozuki Oden's historic voyage and the cultural heritage of Wano Country. Their red scabbards and oath-bound mission function as motifs of resistance against tyrannical rule and foreign domination by Yonko forces. Among fans, the Akazaya Nine are celebrated for their tragic perseverance, embodying a conservative ideal of restoring legitimate authority and communal cohesion. Their legacy influences subsequent political realignments in Wano and reinforces themes of duty and sacrifice pervasive throughout One Piece.
Category:One Piece characters Category:Fictional samurai