One Piece: How Did Kuina Die?

Summary

• Every Straw Hat member has a key figure from their childhood - for Zoro, it was his friend Kuina who inspired his swordsmanship.
• Kuina, as a child, was a much more skilled swordsman than Zoro, creating a rivalry between them.
• There are important bits of info when you check Kuina's legacy, the Shimotsuki Clan.

In One Piece, every Straw Hat member has that person who made a great impact in their childhood. Whether it be Shanks to Luffy or Zeff to Sanji, these people molded the Straw Hats we know today. While most of the members had a father or mother figure to help them along the way, Roronoa Zoro had a friend of a similar age in Shimotsuki Kuina.

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Kuina was an excellent sword fighter, whose skill was envied by Zoro, yet she went her whole life believing that she could not match up to other swordsmen due to her being a girl. Although her appearance was quite short, her impact was long-lasting.

Spoilers ahead for the Land Of Wano Arc

Who Is Shimotsuki Kuina?

Shimotsuki Kuina is a childhood friend of the vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Roronoa Zoro. They both grew up in Shimotsuki Village, a small town in the East Blue, named after her family. She and the swordsman studied swordplay under Kuina’s father, Shimotsuki Koushirou. She was the star pupil of the Isshin Dojo, while Zoro was left to play catch up.

The two children became rivals, constantly trying to push each other further beyond.

Why Is Kuina Important?

Not only was Kuina the driving force within Zoro’s dream of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman, but her family name is quite important to the story.

Her Legacy

The Shimotsuki Clan was a renowned family from the Land Of Wano. Kuina’s grandfather was a swordsmith that created two of the Great Grade Blades, the Wado Ichimonji and Enma.

These two blades are currently in the possession of Zoro. The Wado Ichimonji being the blade that he inherited from Kuina as a symbol of their promise, and Enma, the blade previously wielded by Kouzuki Oden.

The Family Name

During an SBS, the questions column included in the manga, Eiichiro Oda confirmed that Shimotsuki Ryuma, the legendary swordsman from Wano, is a long distant relative to Zoro, making him a descendant of the Shimotsuki Clan.

Ryuma is not Zoro's great-grandfather — they are many generations apart.

What Happened To Kuina?

Sadly, after Zoro and Kuina recognized each other as equals and promised that one of them would become the world’s greatest swordsman, Kuina accidentally fell down a staircase and was fatally injured.

After Zoro was informed, he begged Koushirou for the Wado Ichimonji, as he felt it was now his duty to carry on her will.

If you know One Piece, then you’re aware that characters do not die for any reason. Kuina’s death is still quite mysterious and opportune. There is no doubt that Oda will uncover the entire story of the Shimotsuki clan in the near future.

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