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For other uses, see Zou (Disambiguation).

Zou is an island[2] located on the back of a massive, millennium old elephant named Zunisha that roams the New World.[3] It is known as a "Phantom Island" due to Log Poses being unable to point to it.[4] It is home to the Mink Tribe[5] as well as where the Heart Pirates resided while waiting for their captain to return from Dressrosa.[6]

Zou is the third island visited by the Straw Hats in the New World, and it is the primary setting of the Zou Arc.

Layout

Zunisha is a massive, living, and sentient elephant; as a result, it cannot be tracked by a Log Pose or Eternal Pose like regular islands can.[4] Having walked through the New World for over 1000 years, Zunisha's body has been left damaged by time and the elements; its ears are torn, its eyes are sunken into its skull,[7] and its skin is frail and weak.[8] Its legs are very tall, making it difficult to scale the elephant and get onto the island.[9]

The ground on Zou is made up of Zunisha's rough and rippled skin, which makes it difficult to traverse; Sanji's group was impeded by it after they arrived and were on the run from Kaido's subordinates,[10] and once Monkey D. Luffy's group arrived, they were similar inconvenienced while walking on the paths of elephant skin.[11] The ground also has strange trees sporting spherical formations of scale-like leaves growing from it.[12]

Eruption Rain

The "eruption rain".

Twice a day, Zunisha will suck up sea water into its trunk and spray it over its back, which results in a large blast of water, referred to as an "eruption rain" (噴火雨, funka-ame?), pouring down from above and washing away those who do not take cover in time.[13] The water also carries sea animals, which provide the Mink Tribe with food, and is later purified for drinking through aqueducts.[14]

The minks' civilization is known as the Mokomo Dukedom, comprised of a sprawling city with several of its ancient buildings embedded in the surrounding rock formations and an area known as the Whale Forest that features a large whale-shaped tree.[15] The entirety of the back is encircled by a large wall, with a gate located near Zunisha's tail.[16]

Whale Forest

The Whale Forest (くじらの森, Kujira no Mori?) is located near the nape of Zunisha's neck. In the center of the forest, there is an enormous tree called the Whale,[17] due to its trunk resembling a baleen whale bending upwards.[18] In the Whale's tail section, there is a secret room where a Road Poneglyph is located under the Kozuki Family crest. When Jack attacked Zou, Raizo was hidden and bound here to keep his whereabouts a secret from the pirate.[19] The forest is considered sacred because of the presence of the Road Poneglyph, which the Guardians are sworn to protect[20] from any invaders.[21]

Guardians Residential District

The Guardians Residential District is located at the base of the Whale and contains several wooden houses and buildings where Nekomamushi and the rest of the Guardians live, as well as a restaurant, a saloon, and a hotel. It sustained some damage during the battle between the minks and the Beasts Pirates.[22]

Kurau City

Kurau City (クラウ都, Kurau-to?) is a city located at the edge of the Whale Forest and at the approximate center of Zunisha's back.[23] The city has been specially designed to accommodate the "eruption rain" with multiple drains and aqueducts.[24] During the Beasts Pirates' invasion, the city was heavily damaged and Jack placed several torture racks in the middle of the streets[25] with which he crucified several minks in order to interrogate and torture them for information.[26] After Jack's invasion, the city was abandoned,[27] with most of the citizens taking shelter at the Rightflank Fortress.[28]

Rightrump Forest

Rightrump Forest (右尻 (ウシリー) の森, Ushirī no Mori?) is the forest located on Zunisha's right rump.[29]

Deep, Dark Swamp

Deep, Dark Swamp is the swamp located on Zunisha's hindquarters; if one head straight down the path from Rightrump Forest, they will find this place, and if one turns right from here, they can reach the Rightflank Forest.[30]

Rightflank Forest

Rightflank Forest (右腹 (ウバラ) の森, Ubara no Mori?) is the forest located on Zunisha's right flank (or belly).[31]

Rightflank Fortress

The Rightflank Fortress (右腹 (ウバラ) の砦, Ubara no Toride?)[32] is located within the Rightflank Forest and is the residence of many minks, particularly after Jack's invasion.[28] According to Wanda, the fortress is a residential area where the ancestors of the Mink Tribe used to live.[33]

History

Past

Zou has been home to the Mink Tribe for around 1000 years.[3]

Kozuki Momonosuke and his retainers Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Raizo were headed to Zou, but they were shipwrecked on the way there.[34]

After arriving at Dressrosa, Trafalgar D. Water Law gave Nami a Vivre Card, which he revealed led to Zou, and told her to use it if something happened.[35] After Sanji's brief clash with Donquixote Doflamingo and the arrival of the Big Mom Pirates, who were seeking Caesar Clown, the Straw Hat Pirates on board the Thousand Sunny set out for Zou in order to keep Momonosuke and Caesar out of Doflamingo's hands while the remaining members finished their business on Dressrosa.[36]

Seven days before the arrival of Sanji's group, Jack and the Beasts Pirates came to Zou in search of Raizo.[37] The minks lied to the pirates that they had no knowledge of Raizo in order to keep him safe,[38] and the two groups fought for five days. However, Jack won the battle by incapacitating the minks with Caesar's poisonous Koro gas, after which he and his men tortured them for information before leaving a day later to rescue Doflamingo. That day, Sanji's group reached Zou. Upon entering the forest, they ran into one of the Beasts Pirates, Sheepshead, who was chasing Tristan.[39] They drove the Beasts Pirates away, cleared the gas, and saved the lives of all the minks.[40]

Having overheard the Straw Hat Pirates discussing their destination and with Pekoms, a mink, on board their ship, the Big Mom Pirates later arrived at Zou.[41] Pekoms and Capone Bege arrived on the island with the goal of capturing both Caesar and Sanji, with the latter being needed for Big Mom's tea party. Pekoms agreed to let Sanji and the other Straw Hats out of gratitude toward them for saving his country, but Bege gunned him down in anger before capturing the Straw Hats and Caesar with the aid of his men.[42] After managing to free his crewmates, Sanji threatened to kill Caesar if Bege or his men tried to recapture them. Due to this and Nekomamushi's arrival, Bege left Zou with Sanji and Caesar.[43]

Zou Arc

Two days later, Luffy and the others arrived[44] and climbed to the top of the elephant.[45] They reunited with their crew and visited of the minks, learning of Jack's attack and Sanji's predicament.[46] The next day, Kin'emon and Kanjuro entered Zou. The Straw Hats attempted to prevent the minks from seeing them, but were unsuccessful. However, the minks revealed their alliance with the Kozuki Family of Wano Country[47] and took the Straw Hats and the samurais to see Raizo.[48]

Later that day, Jack and his men returned to Zou, with Jack planning to bring it down by killing Zunisha itself.[49] However, Momonosuke discovered that he could hear Zunisha's voice, and on his command, Zunisha sank Jack's fleet with one blow, ending his threat.[50]

Trivia

  • is the Japanese word for "Elephant".
  • The island may be based on the Sanatani (Hindu) myth of the world residing on the backs of four elephants.

References

  1. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 79 Chapter 795 (p. 4-6) and Episode 739, Zou is seen for the first time.
  2. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 71 Chapter 701 (p. 6) and Episode 630, Law says that Zou is an island.
  3. 3.0 3.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 14-16) and Episode 751, Law reveals that Zou is located on the back of a massive elephant and has existed for 1000 years.
  4. 4.0 4.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 811 (p. 18), Brook explains how Zou is called a "phantom island" because Log Poses cannot point to it.
  5. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 16) and Episode 751, Law reveals that Zou is inhabited by the Mink Tribe.
  6. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 70 Chapter 700 (p. 14) and Episode 629, Law mentions leaving his crew at Zou.
  7. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 16-17) and Episode 751, Zunisha's time-worn head is seen.
  8. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 6), Jack notes that Zunisha's skin is weak due to its age.
  9. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 803 (p. 12) and Episode 753, The Straw Hats note the difficulty in scaling Zunisha's leg.
  10. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 79 Chapter 795 (p. 5) and Episode 739, Nami notes the difficulty of running on Zou's ground before tripping over it.
  11. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 804 (p. 13) and Episode 753, Zoro notes the difficulty of walking on Zou's ground, prompting Law to remind him that it is elephant skin.
  12. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 79 Chapter 795 (p. 4 & 6) and Episode 739, The strange trees on Zou are clearly seen.
  13. One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 795 (p. 5-6), The "eruption rain" is named as it washes away Brook and Momonosuke.
  14. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 5) and Episode 755, Wanda and Carrot explains the benefits of the eruption rain.
  15. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 804 (p. 10-11) and Episode 753, The Mokomo Dukedom is seen in full.
  16. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 804 (p. 9) and Episode 753, The entrance to Mokomo Dukedom is seen.
  17. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 817 (p. 12), The Whale is named by Nekomamushi.
  18. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 804 (p. 10-11) and Episode 753, The Whale is seen clearly.
  19. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 817 (p. 13-14), The secret room within the Whale where Raizo and the Road Poneglyph were hidden is seen.
  20. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 818 (p. 5), Nekomamushi reveals that the Road Poneglyph is what the Guardians are protecting and the reason why the Whale Forest is considered sacred.
  21. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 814 (p. 11), Blackback reveals that the Guardians must repel all intruders from the Whale Forest.
  22. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 814 (p. 10-11), The Straw Hats visit the Guardians Residential District.
  23. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 805 (p. 15) and Episode 754, An infobox reveals Kurau City's name and location.
  24. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 5) and Episode 755, Wanda reveals the presence of a filtration system in Kurau City meant to accomodate the "eruption rains".
  25. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 805 (p. 15-16) and Episode 754, The Straw Hats notice the damage done to Kurau City and the torture racks set up in the streets.
  26. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 7-8) and Episode 755, Wanda recalls Jack torturing the minks.
  27. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 805 (p. 15) and Episode 754, Robin notes that Kurau City has been abandoned.
  28. 28.0 28.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 14-15) and Episode 755, The Straw Hats meet the rest of the minks from Kurau City within the Rightflank Fortress.
  29. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 805 (p. 4) and Episode 754, Wanda tells the Straw Hats that Rightrump Forest lies on their right.
  30. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 805 (p. 4) and Episode 754, Wanda tells the Straw Hats to turn left at the deep, dark swamp.
  31. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 805 (p. 4) and Episode 754, Wanda tells the Straw Hats how to get to the Rightflank Forest.
  32. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 81 Chapter 807 (p. 3) and Episode 756, The Rightflank Fortress's name is stated in the infobox.
  33. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 812 (p. 3), Wanda reveals that the Rightflank Fortress used to be the residence of the minks' ancestors.
  34. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 70 Chapter 700 (p. 14) and Episode 629, Kin'emon reveals that he, his comrades, and Momonosuke were en route to Zou before being shipwrecked.
  35. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 71 Chapter 701 (p. 5-6) and Episode 630, Law gives Nami a Vivre Card that points to Zou.
  36. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 73 Chapter 730 (p. 15-17) and Episode 662, Luffy has the Straw Hats still on the Thousand Sunny head to Zou after Nami explains the situation to him.
  37. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 81 Chapter 807 (p. 17) and Episode 757, Jack and the Beasts Pirates invade Zou in search of Raizo.
  38. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 816 (p. 14-17), Nekomamushi reveals that the minks lied about Raizo's presence on Zou in order to protect him.
  39. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 810 (p. 6-13), Wanda and Inuarashi reveal the outcome of the battle with the Beasts Pirates.
  40. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 811 (p. 5-7 & 13-15), The Straw Hats rid Zou of the Koro gas, drive away the remaining Beasts Pirates, and save the minks.
  41. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 811 (p. 18-19), Brook explains how the Big Mom Pirates found Zou.
  42. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 812 (p. 9-15), Pekoms and Bege confront Sanji's group with the intention of capturing all of them, but Pekoms decides to let Sanji's group go, forcing Bege to capture them himself.
  43. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 813 (p. 12-17), Sanji frees his crewmates and holds Caesar hostage, forcing Bege to leave Zou.
  44. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 14-15) and Episode 751, Luffy and his allies reach Zunisha.
  45. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 804 (p. 8) and Episode 753, The Straw Hats and Law reach Zou.
  46. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 14-17) and Episode 755, Luffy and the others meet the minks and reunite with their fellow crewmates, who inform them of Sanji's predicament.
  47. One Piece Manga — Vol. 81 Chapter 816 (p. 2, 4, 7, 12-17), The samurais enter Zou and encounter the minks, who reveal their connection to the Kozuki Family and Raizo's safety.
  48. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 817 (p. 12-14), Nekomamushi and Inuarashi take the Straw Hats and their allies to see Raizo.
  49. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 819 (p. 17), Jack decides to kill Zunisha in order to destroy Zou.
  50. One Piece Manga — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 9-16), After learning that he can communicate with Zunisha, Momonosuke orders it to defeat Jack, which Zunisha does.

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