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Zunesha[2] is a Naitamie-Norida elephant[5] that was affiliated with Joy Boy 800 years ago.[6] It now wanders through the New World and carries the island of Zou on its back[1] as punishment for an unspecified crime it committed in the past.[7]

Appearance[]

Zunesha is a gargantuan elephant, comparable to an island in sheer scale; its two-jointed[5] legs are disproportionately and extremely long, such that it can walk on the sea floor while its upper body, including about a third of each leg, remains above the water. However, Zunesha has comparatively small eyes (shown to have turquoise, ringed irises in the anime)[8] sunken deep into their sockets, being barely visible at most times and giving the impression that it has no eyes at all. Its gray skin is heavily wrinkled, reflecting its old age, and its ears are tattered and frayed at the edges.[1]

Gallery[]

Zunesha Full Body
Zunesha's full body and leg structure.
Zunesha Anime Concept Art
Zunesha's concept art from the anime.
Zunesha Digitally Colored Manga
Zunesha in the Digitally Colored Manga.
Zunesha's Eye
Zunesha's eye.
Zunesha Everyday
Zunesha in One Piece Everyday's Chopper Pedometer.

Personality[]

Most of Zunesha's personality is a mystery, but it does not mind carrying a civilization on its back,[9] and in fact cares greatly about the Mink Tribe.[10]

As part of the sentence for a crime it supposedly committed in the past, Zunesha is not allowed to do anything but wander around, requiring permission from someone who can understand it to act against threats to its well-being.[7] Miyagi speculates that Zunesha is not walking aimlessly and may, in fact, be looking for a certain location.[11]

Relationships[]

Allies[]

Mink Tribe[]

Zunesha has a commensal relationship with the Mink Tribe and the island of Zou; twice per day, it showers itself with seawater, which helps the minks acquire food in the form of fish and water via a filtration system, causing them to consider it a blessing.[12] When Jack and his fleet were attacking it, Zunesha worried about the minks dying if it were to fall into the sea and begged Kozuki Momonosuke to allow it to fight before this happened. After Zunesha defeated Jack, the minks were surprised to learn that it possessed a will of its own in all the time that they have lived there.[13] The minks also tended to Zunesha's leg, which had been injured by Jack's attack, as they expressed gratitude to it for protecting them. Miyagi was excited to learn that Zunesha could understand his tribe and wanted to ask where it is going after traveling over a millennia.[14]

Kozuki Momonosuke[]

While under attack from an enemy fleet, Zunesha used the "Voice of All Things" to telepathically speak to Momonosuke so that he can give him the order to retaliate. Momonosuke obliged and gave the order, allowing the elephant to save itself. Zunesha came to Wano to assist Momonosuke and await his orders.

Joy Boy[]

According to Momonosuke, Zunesha was a comrade of Joy Boy back during the Void Century. Outside of that, the specifics of their relationship are still a mystery.[6]

Zunesha itself states that it holds nostalgic feelings for Joy Boy and was able to recognize the sound of the Drums of Liberation even after a span of 800 years. When Monkey D. Luffy managed to awaken his Devil Fruit during the Raid on Onigashima, his presence was comparable to the individual Zunesha knew long ago.

Enemies[]

Jack[]

During his second attack on Zou, Jack decided to slaughter the minks by bringing down Zunesha.[15] He planned to force the elephant to its knees in order to reach its head and kill it in sadistic ways; however, Zunesha was determined to protect the minks, and with Momonosuke's permission, it annihilated Jack's fleet with one swing of its trunk.[16]

Abilities and Powers[]

Physical Abilities[]

Zunesha has immense longevity, given its so-far more than 1000 years of life. Due to its gigantic size, it can carry the whole island of Zou on its back, and as a result of its seemingly incredible endurance has been able to spend an entire millennium continuously carrying Zou whilst walking.[1]

Zunesha can suck up and expel massive amounts of sea water, and with it lots of fish, using its trunk.[17] With a single swing of its trunk, it can wipe out entire fleets of ships and swiftly defeated Jack, an All-Star of the Beasts Pirates.[18] Zunesha has extraordinary eyesight and can see faraway objects in great detail.[19]

However, due to having lived for so long, it is not very durable, so its weak and aged skin can be heavily damaged by concentrated cannon fire.[20]

Voice of All Things[]

Zunesha has the "Voice of All Things", allowing it to telepathically communicate with others with the same ability.

History[]

Past[]

Zunesha was born a thousand years ago in the New World. At one-point, Zunesha became a companion of Joy Boy. 800 years ago, Zunesha committed a crime[6] and was sentenced to walk the seas for eternity and only act upon being ordered to do so.[7] Since then, it had wandered the sea of the New World and lived for centuries carrying the Mink Tribe and the other lifeforms on Zou.[1]

Seventeen days before the Straw Hat Pirates landed on Zou, Jack and the Beasts Pirates invaded Zou. Jack's massive presence was felt by Zunesha, who roared in pain.[21]

Whole Cake Island Saga[]

Zou Arc[]

Zunesha Wipes Out Jack's Fleet

Zunesha wipes out Jack's fleet.

Jack and his men returned to Zou, with Jack intending to kill Zunesha.[15] As Jack and his fleet's attack commenced, Zunesha began shaking and crying out.[22] As Jack's fleet heavily damaged one of its legs, Zunesha begged Kozuki Momonosuke to give it permission to fight back. After Momonosuke explained Zunesha's past and how it could not act without permission, he ordered it to drive Jack away, prompting Zunesha to wipe out Jack's fleet with a powerful swing of its trunk before resuming its walk.[23]

With Jack defeated, Chopper treated Zunesha's injured leg alongside Miyagi and many other minks.[14]

Wano Country Saga[]

Wano Country Arc[]

Elephant Appears

Zunesha appears behind the fleet of World Government ships.

Zunesha came to the waters near Wano Country and encountered a large fleet of World Government ships.[24] It then conversed with Momonosuke through the Voice of All Things and declared its intention to fight under his command and open the borders of Wano.[25][26]

Soon afterwards, Zunesha heard the "Drums of Liberation" (解放のドラム, Kaihō no Doramu?), which herald Joy Boy's return.[27] The elephant then compared Monkey D. Luffy to the ancient Joy Boy and affirmed that it was the boy's destiny, placing his trust in him.[28]

Following Kaidou's defeat, Momonosuke decided not to have Wano's borders open yet and informed Zunesha of his decision.[29] In respect for Momonosuke's judgment, Zunesha left Wano and vanished within the nearby mist.[30]

Major Battles[]

Merchandise[]

Video Games[]

Non-Playable Appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • Zunesha is the oldest living creature introduced in the series, with its lifetime predating even the Void Century.
  • Zunesha's design was based on the painting The Elephants by the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí; its species name read backward is "ダリノエミタイナ象", which means "Elephant resembling Dalí's painting".[5] The Elephants are notorious for being quite gigantic elephants with buildings on their back and extremely long legs similar to those of the animals on Long Ring Long Land.
  • Zunesha may be based on the "World Elephant", a myth in Hindu cosmology in which a turtle supports four elephants which carry the whole world on their backs.
  • The kanji 象主 means "elephant lord".
  • "Zunesha" as a word may stem from "Ganesha", the elephant-headed Hindu deity.
  • Zunesha's serving as inhabited island in punishment for a crime, needing a permission to act, may be derived from Russian animated film The Humpbacked Horse.
  • Zunesha's favorite foods are sky island apples and giant seaweed.[2]
  • At 35 kilometers, Zunesha is the largest character ever introduced in the series so far.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 14-17) and Episode 751, Zunesha is seen for the first time.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Vivre Card - One Piece Visual Dictionary (Card #0949), Information about Zunesha is revealed.
  3. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 16-17) and Episode 751, Luffy realizes that Zunesha has been alive for 1000 years.
  4. SBS One Piece Manga — Vol. 90, https://one-piece.com/special/sbs/detail/9.html, Zunesha's birthday is revealed.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 SBS One Piece Manga — Vol. 83 (p. 156).
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 103 Chapter 1040 (p. 15) and Episode 1067, Momo describes Zunesha as having been a comrade of Joy Boy.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 10) and Episode 774, Momonosuke reveals that Zunesha was sentenced to walk for eternity and only act when ordered due to a crime it committed long ago.
  8. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 8) and Episode 774, Zunesha's eyes are seen clearly.
  9. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 802 (p. 16) and Episode 751, Law reveals that the Mink Tribe lives on Zunesha's back.
  10. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 9) and Episode 774, Zunesha warns Momonosuke and Luffy that they and the Mink Tribe will be in danger if it falls.
  11. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 822 (p. 3) and Episode 776.
  12. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 5) and Episode 755, Wanda explains how Zunesha's washing benefits the Mink Tribe.
  13. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 9-11) and Episode 774, Zunesha expresses concern for the safety of the minks and begs Momonosuke to allow it to fight.
  14. 14.0 14.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 822 (p. 2-3) and Episode 776, Chopper treats Zunesha's injured leg alongside Miyagi and many other minks.
  15. 15.0 15.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 819 (p. 17) and Episode 772, Jack decides to kill Zunesha in order to wipe out the minks.
  16. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 6, 12-16) and Episodes 773774, Jack plans to brutally kill Zunesha, but has his fleet wiped out by its trunk at Momonosuke's command.
  17. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 80 Chapter 806 (p. 2-6) and Episode 755, Zunesha sucks up seawater and washes itself with it, resulting in large amounts of water and fish filling the streets of the Mokomo Dukedom.
  18. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 14-16) and Episode 774, Zunesha wipes out Jack's fleet.
  19. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 8-9) and Episode 774, Zunesha allows Momonosuke to see Jack and his fleet through its eyes.
  20. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 5-6) and Episode 773, Jack notes that Zunesha's skin must be weak if it is 1000 years old while having his men blast its leg with cannons.
  21. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 81 Chapter 807 (p. 17) and Episode 757, Zunesha roars in pain as the Beasts Pirates invade Zou.
  22. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 820 (p. 16-17) and Episode 773, Zunesha begins shaking and crying out as Jack and his fleet attack it.
  23. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 82 Chapter 821 (p. 4-17) and Episodes 773774, Zunesha begs for permission to fight back against Jack's fleet and does so before resuming its walk.
  24. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 103 Chapter 1037 (p. 17) and Episode 1064.
  25. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 103 Chapter 1039 (p. 3) and Episode 1066, Zunesha calls out to Momonosuke.
  26. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 103 Chapter 1041 (p. 2) and Episode 1068, Zunesha awaits Momonosuke's orders.
  27. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 103 Chapter 1043 (p. 16-17) and Episode 1070, Zunesha hears Joy Boy's return.
  28. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 103 Chapter 1046 (p. 2-3) and Episode 1072.
  29. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 104 Chapter 1050 (p. 10-11) and Episode 1077.
  30. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 104 Chapter 1052 (p. 2-3) and Episode 1079.

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