| Kozuki Sukiyaki | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kozuki Sukiyaki |
| Native name | 光月スキヤキ |
| Series | One Piece |
| First appearance | Chapter 909 (flashback) |
| Creator | Eiichiro Oda |
| Occupation | Daimyō of Kuri, head of the Kozuki clan |
| Nationality | Wano Country |
| Family | Kozuki Oden (son), Kozuki Toki (daughter-in-law), Kozuki Momonosuke (grandson) |
Kozuki Sukiyaki
Kozuki Sukiyaki is a fictional daimyō introduced in the manga and anime One Piece as the former ruler of Kuri and patriarch of the Kozuki clan. He is notable for commissioning the construction of the Poneglyphs and for shaping the political and cultural identity of Wano Country during the Wano Country arc. Sukiyaki's decisions and lineage directly influence major plotlines, including the fall of Kuri, the exile of his heir, and the pursuit of the One Piece by various factions.
Sukiyaki heads the ancient Kozuki clan, a family famed for its smithing, scholarship, and seafaring legacy. The clan produced notable figures such as Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki, both central to Wano's recent history. The Kozuki family is responsible for inscribing at least one of the family of Road Poneglyphs—an act that ties them to global events and to the Void Century narrative. Sukiyaki's bloodline connects to the heir Kozuki Momonosuke and extends to retainers like the Nine Red Scabbards and Kanjuro, who affect succession and political stability.
As daimyo of Kuri, Sukiyaki exercised regional authority under the broader feudal structure of Wano Country, maintaining traditional institutions and craft guilds such as the Kozuki family forge. His rule coincided with the rise of Kurozumi Orochi and the alliance between Orochi and Kaido of the Beast Pirates/Beasts Pirates. Sukiyaki's refusal to submit to Orochi–Kaido pressures and his loyalty to the national heritage made him a focal point for both loyalists and conspirators. His policies emphasized cultural continuity, including patronage of artists and the preservation of historical records like the Poneglyphs, which later drew the attention of external actors such as the World Government and Marines.
Sukiyaki is portrayed mainly as a statesman rather than a frontline warrior; his strengths lie in governance, diplomacy, and preservation of lore. He supervised artisans and historians who created the clan's Poneglyph inscriptions. In flashbacks and accounts by characters such as Kin'emon and Kanjuro, Sukiyaki's strategic choices—ordering his heir Oden to learn outside Wano and entrusting secrets to trusted retainers—are emphasized. His notable actions include commissioning the Poneglyphs tied to the Road Poneglyphs system and arranging the escape and clandestine plans that shaped the Kozuki legacy during the occupation by Orochi and Kaido.
Sukiyaki's network spans major One Piece figures and factions. He is father to Oden, who allied with Whitebeard and later joined Gol D. Roger's voyage, linking Sukiyaki indirectly to the Roger Pirates and the discovery of Laugh Tale. Sukiyaki's relations with retainers like the Nine Red Scabbards (including Kin'emon and Kawabira-adjacent figures) ensured the survival of Kozuki traditions. His stance made him an adversary of Kurozumi Orochi and an object of interest to Kaido's regime. Sukiyaki's decisions also engaged institutions like the World Government and motivated activists such as the Straw Hat Pirates to intervene in Wano's crisis.
Sukiyaki's death—occurring during the rise of Orochi and Kaido—served as a catalyst for the scattering and resilience of Kozuki loyalists. His legacy survives through the surviving Kozuki heirs, the hidden Road Poneglyphs, and the cultural memory preserved by groups like the Kozuki retainers and Wano commoners. The restoration of Wano and the challenge to Orochi and Kaido in the Wano Country arc are framed as efforts to honor Sukiyaki's preservationist vision and to reestablish national cohesion. His role underscores themes of duty, continuity, and resistance against usurpation, making him a pivotal ancestral figure in the series' exploration of history and treasure-hunting centered on the One Piece itself.
Category:One Piece characters Category:Fictional daimyo