New Marines

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	New Marines (新海軍)
Alias(es)	Neo Marines; former Dawn Sword faction
Founder / Leader	Tsugikuni Yoriichi
Core Leadership	Issho, Mihawk, Zephyr, and Kuzan
Affiliation	Formerly an independent force in the New World; officially returned to Marine Headquarters as the New Marine sequence
Occupation / Role	Military force, territorial administration, anti-piracy organization
Headquarters	Whole Cake Island; Thunder God Island was downgraded from headquarters to a branch
Emblem	Crimson Phoenix
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 326

Background / History

After Tsugikuni Yoriichi was removed from his Admiral post and expelled from the Marines, the Dressrosa-based Dawn Sword branch lost many personnel to resignations and uncertainty. Yoriichi reorganized the remaining force as the Neo Marines, replaced its Marine emblem with a Crimson Phoenix, and invited his subordinates to remain under his command. 326

The organization originated from the former Marine Headquarters Dawn Sword force. Its initial priority was securing a foothold in the New World, where Marine Headquarters could not sustain large-scale operations because of the region’s hazardous seas and powerful pirate forces. 155 343 425

Following the takeover of Whole Cake Island, the New Marines transferred their headquarters and Marine Academy there with Kuma’s assistance. Thunder God Island, their previous headquarters, became a subordinate branch. 426

During Tsugikuni Yoriichi’s prolonged absence, Zephyr and Kuzan helped preserve the organization’s survival. Their strength prevented the World Government and Marine Headquarters from directly crushing the New Marines, though the force struggled to maintain control over the New World without Yoriichi. 577 611

Yoriichi’s return after achieving “Nirvana” restored the organization’s symbolic leader and top combatant at a time when internal factionalism and rapid expansion were becoming major concerns. 609 611

After the destruction of Hachinosu Island, the New Marines publicly demonstrated that they remained capable of eliminating an Emperor-level pirate power. 627

The New Marines later formally returned to Marine Headquarters. Sengoku declared that their separate force had been formed for operational purposes, that their New World mission had concluded, and that Yoriichi would resume the rank of Admiral. 708

Ideology and Governance

The founding group originally pursued three goals:

• End the global slave trade.
• Remove the Celestial Dragons from power and restore autonomy to the World Government.
• Eliminate pirates. 611

Yoriichi describes the New Marines’ foundation as standing with ordinary people. Their strategy is to provide security, technology, ports, trade protection, and resource-development support to allied nations in exchange for bases, supplies, food, and a share of profits. 611 686

Unlike the World Government’s extraction of Heavenly Gold for the Celestial Dragons, the New Marines reinvest revenue from their territories into production and development. Their control over resource-rich islands allows centralized allocation of resources and limits local protectionism. 633 680

Whole Cake Island Administration

The New Marines implemented a Baojia System on Whole Cake Island:

• Grassroots community leaders are elected by residents.
• Marine Branch base commanders are appointed by the organization.
• Former ministerial residences were taken over and converted for New Marine use.
• Cake Island was militarized, housing administrative offices, armories, hospitals, and other core facilities. 427 426 475

Under New Marine rule, Whole Cake Island’s population no longer paid Big Mom’s lifespan tribute, though residents continued to provide what had formerly gone to the Big Mom Pirates. 426

Organization

Leadership

• Tsugikuni Yoriichi — Founder, former Marine Admiral, and central figure of the New Marines. 326 425
• Issho — Yoriichi’s most relied-upon subordinate; co-architect of the organization’s military and administrative development. 400 425
• Mihawk — One of the three recognized core figures and a principal source of top-tier combat power. 425
• Zephyr — Led the New Marines during Yoriichi’s absence, oversaw recruitment, and played a decisive role in maintaining the force’s stability. 577 609 611
• Kuzan — Former Marine Admiral whose presence, alongside Zephyr, helped deter an open assault on the New Marines during Yoriichi’s absence. 611

Rank System

The New Marines retained the Marine rank system rather than creating a new hierarchy. Yoriichi considered the longstanding system functional and believed retaining it would help former Marines maintain a sense of belonging. 343

Personnel

Category	Details
Total strength	Approximately 110,000 personnel dispersed throughout the New World. 609
Grassroots NCOs	Fewer than 10,000. 609
Core-member recruitment target	3,000 recruits in a single campaign. 609
Entry paths	Marine Academy education followed by internal assessment, or triennial external recruitment. 608

Sword Edge Unit

The Sword Edge Unit is Issho’s special-operations force, created to concentrate exceptional combatants rather than deploy them alongside ordinary Marines. 400

• Members must have awakened both forms of Haki.
• Members must have mastered more than three Marine Six Styles.
• The unit is intended for engagements with powerful pirate crews, allowing elite fighters to operate without protecting weaker personnel. 400

Internal Factions

The New Marines developed divisions around differing recruitment and promotion backgrounds. 609

• Hawk Faction — Primarily composed of orphans raised and supported by the New Marines. Strongly attached to the organization and known for harsh, forceful methods against pirates; it holds greater influence than the Dove Faction. 609
• Dove Faction — Often composed of adults attracted by the New Marines’ reputation and ideals. Its members tend to favor gentler and more empathetic methods. 609

Recruitment and Training

The New Marines conducted a global recruitment drive after securing Whole Cake Island. Initial public screening relied heavily on applicant files, supported by the organization’s intelligence network; recruits remained subject to elimination after enlistment. 427 475

Later core-member recruitment used a three-stage process:

1. Political screening.
2. Combat assessment.
3. Interviews conducted by Major Generals, Rear Admirals, and other mid- to high-ranking officers. 609

The organization also uses orphanages and schools to cultivate future recruits with long-term loyalty and systematic education. 628

Intelligence and Military Resources

Intelligence Network

The New Marines’ intelligence network has three principal sources:

• Intelligence officers trained and deployed by Yoriichi’s organization.
• Information shared through Morgans’ news network.
• Marine Headquarters intelligence files, navigational charts, and climate records brought by Tensei. 475

This combined network enables file-based recruitment screening and provides the New Marines with broad knowledge of pirate activity and conditions across the world. 475

Fleet and Equipment

Dr. Vegapunk became Director of the New Marine Technology Research Bureau, overseeing the maintenance and improvement of ships and firearms while Pure Gold research continued. 642

After equipment upgrades and training, Kuzan led a fleet of nearly 200 warships from Cake Island, including 20 main battle warships over 200 meters long, supported by escort, early-warning, navigation, and supply vessels. 645

Territories and Facilities

• Whole Cake Island — Headquarters and primary administrative center; resource-rich territory governed by the New Marines. 425 426
• Cake Island — Militarized headquarters island containing command offices, armories, hospitals, and other core facilities. 475
• Thunder God Island — Former headquarters; later reduced to branch status after the move to Whole Cake Island. 363 426
• Hachinosu Island — Conquered from an Emperor-level pirate force, dramatically expanding New Marine influence. 627
• Fish-Man Island — Site of a Marine branch established by Jinbe with support from King Neptune and Queen Otohime. 259
• Risky Red Island — Site of a Marine base established by Fisher Tiger and his group. 259

Major Operations

Event	Outcome
Reorganization at Dressrosa	Yoriichi formed the Neo Marines from the remaining Dawn Sword personnel and adopted the Crimson Phoenix emblem. 326
Whole Cake Island takeover	The New Marines gained control of Whole Cake Island and moved their headquarters and academy there. 425 426
Starting Island conflict	The New Marines fought Marine Headquarters and World Government forces; Yoriichi ordered ordinary soldiers accepted as prisoners if they disarmed. 540
Hachinosu Island conquest	The New Marines defeated Ochoku’s Emperor-level pirate force and used Morgans’ reporting to publicize the victory. 627
New World expansion	By the end of Marine Year 1510, the New Marines had absorbed most islands formerly controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates. 480
Return to Marine Headquarters	The New Marine sequence officially rejoined Headquarters, with Yoriichi reinstated as an Admiral and appointed Chief of Staff. 708

Relationships

• Marine Headquarters — Former parent organization and later adversary; Headquarters ultimately recognized the New Marines’ return and restored Yoriichi as an Admiral. 425 708
• World Government — Principal political enemy; the organization’s opposition to Celestial Dragon rule drove repeated conflict. 400 611
• Revolutionary Army — Cooperative partner whose expansion benefited from New Marine resources, logistics, and weapons support. 633
• Morgans — Intelligence and media partner; his network shares information with the New Marines and publicizes their major victories. 475 627
• Red-Haired Pirates — A powerful New World force that negotiated with the New Marines from a position of relative independence. 577
• Whitebeard Pirates — Their former territories were largely absorbed during the New Marines’ expansion. 480

Trivia

• The Crimson Phoenix emblem parallels the phoenix-like appearance of Yoriichi’s Mythical Zoan transformation. 326 360
• Pirates on Hachinosu Island reacted to news of an approaching New Marine fleet with immediate panic, treating the organization’s name as an ingrained source of fear. 617
• Marine Headquarters initially decided to avoid unauthorized conflict with the New Marines because of their growing strength and control of Whole Cake Island. 425