| Kanjuro | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kanjuro |
| Series | One Piece |
| First | "Act 2" (Wano Country Arc) |
| Affiliation | Beast Pirates (disguised), Nine Red Scabbards, formerly Kin'emon's group |
| Species | Human |
| Occupation | Samurai, artist, spy |
| Abilities | Painting-based Devil Fruit techniques (revealed), swordsmanship |
Kanjuro
Kanjuro is a fictional samurai character in the manga and anime series One Piece by Eiichiro Oda. Introduced in the Wano Country storyline, he plays a pivotal and controversial role as both a trusted member of the Nine Red Scabbards and a covert agent for the occupying forces, shaping the fate of Kozuki Oden's legacy and the rebellion against Kaido and the Beast Pirates.
Kanjuro is presented initially as one of the loyal retainers sworn to protect the Kozuki family and restore Wano's sovereignty. His importance stems from his position within the inner circle of survivors who carry the memory and mission of Kozuki Oden and Kurozumi Orochi's overthrow. As a character, Kanjuro matters for how his betrayal exposes themes of loyalty, infiltration, and the fragility of trust within resistance movements in One Piece.
A native of Wano Country, Kanjuro is depicted as a ronin-style samurai with a background as an artist whose paintings can come to life. He is a member of the Nine Red Scabbards, the retainers who served Kozuki Oden and swore to avenge his death and restore his son, Kozuki Momonosuke, to the throne. In the midst of Wano's occupation by Kaido and the shogunate under Kurozumi Orochi, Kanjuro's outward role is that of a trusted ally and protector. However, it is revealed that he has long functioned as a mole inside the Scabbards, acting on behalf of the Kurozumi family and collaborating with the Beast Pirates to undermine the revolt. His duplicity has major consequences for the planning and execution of the uprising led by the Scabbards, the Straw Hat Pirates, and allies such as the Heart Pirates and Mink Tribe.
Kanjuro projects a flamboyant, theatrical persona, often using art and performance to deflect suspicion. He cultivates the image of a loyal and easygoing samurai who appreciates traditional arts, aligning with Wano's cultural emphasis on honour and craftsmanship. Underneath, however, he is calculating and adept at deception, prioritizing survival and advancement through alliance with power.
His primary ability involves mystical painting techniques: by drawing on surfaces, he can manifest objects, create living environments, and even produce duplicate bodies. These powers function similarly to a Devil Fruit ability, though their precise classification is revealed through plot developments. Kanjuro is also skilled with a sword and familiar with Wano's martial traditions, enabling him to participate in large-scale battles such as the Onigashima raid.
Kanjuro's actions intersect with several core events of the Wano arc. He appears alongside the surviving Scabbards during the reveal of Oden's fate and the vow to reclaim Wano. His betrayal is exposed when his painted creations and covert transmissions are linked to the Beast Pirates' intelligence, culminating in strategic setbacks for the rebels. During the lead-up to the Fire Festival and the subsequent assault on Onigashima, Kanjuro's treachery leads to critical losses and the capture of key figures.
Despite his betrayal, Kanjuro participates directly in the Onigashima conflict, employing his painting powers in combat against Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, and other Straw Hat Pirates allies. His role accelerates the narrative momentum of the arc by forcing protagonists to confront internal betrayal while opposing external domination by Kaido and the Yonko-level threat. The revelation of his true allegiance influences the tactical choices of leaders such as Kin'emon and shifts the emotional stakes for survivors of Oden's execution.
Kanjuro's relationships are complex and instrumental. He is nominally allied with the Nine Red Scabbards and close to figures like Kin'emon, Kawamatsu, Kikunojo, and other retainers of the Kozuki household. Through his duplicity he also maintains ties with the Kurozumi clan, notably interacting with agents of Kurozumi Orochi and the Beast Pirates' command under Kaido and Kanjuro (alias)'s handlers.
Kanjuro's interactions with the Straw Hat Pirates—especially Monkey D. Luffy, Trafalgar D. Water Law, Eustass Kid, and the local resistance including Tomozaurus and the Minks—are defined by both cooperation and conflict as his true role emerges. The betrayal severs trust and complicates alliances between Wano's native forces and outside pirate crews who had pledged assistance in the rebellion against the shogunate and Kaido.
Kanjuro's betrayal reverberates through the Wano arc and the broader narrative of One Piece. It highlights the vulnerability of insurgent networks to infiltration and underscores the themes of loyalty, honour, and restoration that underpin the Kozuki vendetta. His actions provoke substantial narrative consequences: operational failures, emotional trauma among the Scabbards, and a recalibration of strategies by the rebels and their allies.
The character also serves as a cautionary example about the corrosion of tradition when political expediency overrides duty—echoing conservative concerns about social cohesion and the preservation of rightful authority. In literary and fan discourse, Kanjuro remains a controversial figure whose duplicity enriches the moral complexity of the Wano saga and influences character arcs for both surviving retainers and allied pirate crews. Wano Country Arc's resolution and the fate of Wano's rulership are permanently shaped by the disruption he causes, making him a notable antagonist whose legacy endures in subsequent developments of One Piece.
Category:One Piece characters Category:Fictional samurai Category:Wano Country