| Red Scabbards | |
|---|---|
| Name | Red Scabbards |
| Native name | 赤鞘九人男 |
| Caption | Symbolic group of retainers loyal to the Kozuki clan |
| Founded | During the Wano Country era prior to the Onigashima Raid |
| Founders | Retainers of the Kozuki clan |
| Headquarters | Kuri, Wano Country |
| Leaders | Kin'emon (de facto) |
| Allies | Kozuki Oden, Kozuki Momonosuke, Straw Hat Pirates, Mink Tribe, Kurozumi Family (opposed) |
| Opponents | Kaido; Big Mom; Kurozumi Orochi |
| Notable members | Kin'emon; Kawamatsu; Kikunojo; Inuarashi; Nekomamushi; Raizo; Kanjuro; Denjiro; Ashura Doji |
| Universe | One Piece |
Red Scabbards
The Red Scabbards are a group of nine loyal retainers and samurai serving the Kozuki clan in the manga and anime series One Piece. Formed around the surviving vassals of Kozuki Oden, they play a central role in the Wano arc as agents of resistance against the tyranny of Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido of the Beasts. Their actions are critical to themes of justice, restoration of sovereign rights, and communal rebuilding in Wano.
The Red Scabbards function as both military commanders and symbolic stewards of the Kozuki legacy in Wano Country. After the execution of Kozuki Oden and the fall of the Kozuki house, the Scabbards coordinated guerrilla tactics, intelligence gathering, and plans to restore Kuri and the Kozuki line to power. Their resistance highlights issues of feudal oppression under the alliance of the pirate emperor Kaido and the puppet shogun Kurozumi Orochi, and emphasizes collective action to overturn entrenched violence and exploitation.
The core group traditionally comprises nine figures whose backgrounds vary across samurai, retainers, and exiles. Prominent members include Kin'emon (a samurai from the Windmill Village region), Kawamatsu the fish-man retainer, Kikunojo the skilled swordswoman, and Raizo the ninja of Wano. Also central are the two mink leaders Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who joined the cause due to their historic ties with Kozuki Oden and the pirate voyages. Denjiro (a former lord who lived undercover), Ashura Doji (a powerful bandit leader), and Kanjuro (a painter and samurai whose later betrayal complicates the group) round out the nine. Each member contributes distinct tactical skills: swordsmanship, espionage, diplomacy, and alliance-building with groups such as the Straw Hat Pirates.
The Red Scabbards emerged from the retainers and allies of Kozuki Oden, bound by a code of loyalty and the political aim of restoring Oden's heir, Kozuki Momonosuke, to leadership. Their motivation is rooted in resistance to the oppressive policies enacted by Kurozumi Orochi and the extraction of Wano's resources by Kaido's crew. Their loyalty blends personal honor with a civic vision: the abolition of brutal rule, reopening Wano's borders to free trade, and reparations for communities exploited by warlords and pirates. This aligns them with broader justice narratives in One Piece that critique unchecked authority and colonial-style plunder.
During the Wano arc, the Red Scabbards orchestrated reconnaissance, coordinated uprisings in provinces such as Kuri and the Flower Capital, and led participants in the climactic Onigashima Raid. They fought directly against officers of the Beasts Pirates and confronted the hybrid forces of Kaido and Big Mom during the Onigashima assault. Critical engagements included attempts to sabotage supply lines, assassinate key collaborators, and the eventual battle within the Skull Dome. The group's sacrifices, strategic missteps (notably betrayal by Kanjuro), and final confrontations with high-ranking opponents influenced the defeat of Kaido's domination.
Allied relationships extended beyond the Kozuki loyalists. The Red Scabbards allied with the Straw Hat Pirates led by Monkey D. Luffy, the Heart Pirates under Trafalgar D. Water Law, and the Mink Tribe. They leveraged international pirate solidarity, naval intelligence, and indigenous resistance networks within Wano. Their primary enemies were the Beasts Pirates under Kaido and the corrupt shogunate run by Kurozumi Orochi, who represented feudal collaboration with imperial piracy. The Kurozumi family's historical conspiracies and Orochi's manipulation of samurai structures exemplify themes of elite capture and collaboration against popular welfare.
The Red Scabbards' role extends beyond martial victory: they symbolize communal restoration and the pursuit of equitable governance in Wano. The defeat of Kaido and Orochi opened pathways for legal reform under Kozuki Momonosuke and efforts to repatriate stolen wealth and rebuild communities devastated by forced labor and weaponized violence. Their sacrifices catalyzed alliances across social groups—the minks, peasants, and former samurai—underscoring reparative justice and decentralized power. Post-conflict, several members assumed formal roles in reconstruction and cultural revival, championing education, rebuilding of port access, and memorialization of victims of repression. The Red Scabbards remain a resonant example in One Piece of localized resistance confronting globalized predation by pirates and corrupt elites.
Category:One Piece characters Category:Fictional samurai