East Blue

Biodata

Reputation and Conditions

East Blue is described as the weakest of the Four Seas and a region that symbolizes peace. It lacks a major pirate comparable to the great powers of the wider world, partly because Garp’s campaigns made pirates unusually scarce 4.

Its peaceful reputation does not mean it is free from oppression. Bandits, pirate crews, corrupt Marines, and Arlong’s Fish-Men operated against civilians across the region. Arlong’s forces enslaved nearly twenty villages with the cooperation of corrupt Marines 16 47.

The sea also contains individuals whose strength far exceeds its reputation. During a Conqueror’s Haki clash in East Blue, Dragon realized that the unknown opponent’s power was crushing his own 7.

Dongze’s early campaign made the region even safer for ordinary civilians while making it nearly uninhabitable for predatory pirates. Later, Kuina and Zoro became known as the East Blue Twin Heroes, continuing the tradition of powerful bounty hunters emerging from the supposedly weak sea 12 109.

East Blue was eventually absorbed into the expanding realm of the Soust Kingdom. Soust forces unified the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line within ten days, replacing the region’s former political order with strict centralized rule and immediate execution for qualifying pirates and criminals 187.

Notable Locations

• Shimotsuki Village — Home of Isshin Dojo, where Dongze trained under Koshiro alongside Kuina and Zoro. The village was later reported to have suffered a pirate attack while Dongze was reading the news in Loguetown 1 2 11.
• Isshin Dojo — A major swordsmanship school and the site of Dongze’s early mastery of the thirteen foundational sword forms 2 3.
• The Bandit’s Lair — A mountain hideout containing 127 bandits. Dongze infiltrated it and began his first major real-combat test there 4 6.
• Foosha Village — Garp’s home village and the starting point of Luffy’s voyage. It was later struck by a massive tsunami generated by Dongze’s battle far away from the East Blue 119 175.
• Loguetown — The location of a Marine branch commanded by Captain Harry. Dongze collected pirate bounties there and helped make the town exceptionally safe 12.
• Shells Town — The Marine-controlled town where Luffy first met Zoro in the altered timeline. Zoro’s inability to leave the East Blue had kept him trapped in the region until fate brought the two together 119.
• Orange Town — A base of operations for the Buggy Pirates and the site of Nami’s first encounter with Luffy and Zoro. It later became the scene of Kuina and Zoro’s battle with World Government agents and Dongze’s reunion with Kuina 109 112 119 121.
• Sunflower Village — Destroyed by the Iron Wolf Pirates, according to a newspaper report read by Dongze 11.
• Cocoyasi Village — Held under Arlong’s control for ten years before Dongze intervened and destroyed Arlong Park 16 19.
• Arlong Park — Arlong’s base of operations. Dongze destroyed it with a single sword slash after defeating the Arlong Pirates 19.
• Syrup Village — The home of Usopp and the location where the future Straw Hat crew recruited him and obtained the Going Merry 121.
• Baratie — The floating restaurant where Zoro fought Dracule Mihawk after Mihawk entered the East Blue. The battle established the extraordinary gap between Zoro and the world’s greatest swordsman 122 123.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Isshin Dojo and Dongze’s Early Training

East Blue is introduced through Dongze’s time at Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village. After two years of difficult sword training, he remains far behind Kuina and even the newly arrived Zoro. His ability to see skill proficiency gives him a measurable path forward and changes his attitude toward training 1.

Through deliberate practice, Dongze perfects the dojo’s thirteen basic sword forms. His rapid progress astonishes Koshiro and eventually leads to a decisive victory over Zoro, revealing that his mastery has surpassed the other students’ expectations 2 3.

The Bandit Campaign

Koshiro eventually tells Dongze that swordsmanship cannot reach its full potential through practice alone. Dongze therefore returns to the bandits who had threatened him and attacks their mountain hideout 4.

The campaign becomes Dongze’s first major experience of real combat. He kills the Black Ape Zoan user who serves as the bandits’ second-in-command, using the fight to advance his Sword-Draw Technique before finishing the battle with Hundred-Pace Flying Sword 6.

The Pirate Hunter of East Blue

After leaving Shimotsuki Village, Dongze operates independently as a Pirate Hunter. He hunts violent pirate crews, claims their bounties in Loguetown, and uses the battles to develop his Haki and sword skills 11 12.

His campaign becomes so extensive that pirates nearly disappear from the East Blue. Violent crews fear him, while peaceful adventurers are generally left alone. This selective approach earns him the reputation of the Crime Buster 12.

One of his most significant early victories is the destruction of the Iron Wolf Pirates. After learning that the crew had massacred Sunflower Village, Dongze boards their ship, kills the crew, defeats their Hyena Wolf-Man captain with an Armament Haki-infused strike, and spares only the navigator for future use 11.

Robin, Nami, and Arlong

Dongze’s activities repeatedly bring him into contact with Nico Robin, whom he spares because he fears attracting Aokiji’s attention. He later takes her aboard his ship and hides her identity from the World Government 12 13 14.

His journey also brings him to Nami and the Black Merchants. Dongze kills the pirates holding her captive but initially leaves Nami to return to Cocoyasi Village, giving her the opportunity to inspire resistance against Arlong 15 17.

When Nami’s rebellion fails, Dongze returns to the village. He uses Conqueror’s Haki to defeat nearly all of Arlong’s forces while protecting Nami and the villagers from its effects. He then kills Arlong, defeats the remaining officers, and destroys Arlong Park 19.

Dongze spares Hachi because Hachi had once saved Rayleigh’s life and appears not to have participated in the worst of Arlong’s crimes. This decision later allows Hachi’s future connection to the Straw Hat Pirates to remain possible 19 47.

Attention from the Marines

Dongze’s strength and activities in East Blue attract the attention of Captain Harry, Vice Admiral Garp, and Admiral Aokiji. Harry recommends him to Garp as an exceptional swordsman, while Aokiji travels to the region after Robin disappears 17.

Garp later confronts Dongze near Jaya Island, while Aokiji’s interest centers on Robin and the danger posed by her pursuit of the Void Century’s history 24 28. Dongze ultimately leaves East Blue for Alabasta, beginning his wider journey on the Grand Line 20.

The East Blue Twin Heroes

After Dongze’s disappearance and later travels through time, Kuina and Zoro set sail together as bounty hunters. They hunt pirates across the East Blue and rapidly earn the title of the East Blue Twin Heroes. Kuina approaches Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral level, while Zoro follows closely behind her 109.

Their activities revive the fear that Dongze had once inspired among the region’s pirates. The pair regularly delivers defeated pirates to Marine branches in exchange for bounties, while also seeking stronger opponents capable of helping them develop Sword Intent 109.

The World Government eventually sends three agents to investigate or eliminate them. The agents possess strength comparable to Admirals and initially overwhelm the two swordsmen. Kuina and Zoro kill two of them with Dongze’s wooden swords, while Dongze later arrives in Orange Town and kills the remaining agent 109 110 112 129.

Dongze then reunites with Kuina in East Blue. After a brief clash with Garp and learning that Kuina requires medical attention, he brings her and the others back to Shimotsuki Village, reconnecting the later events of East Blue with his original home 112.

The Beginning of the Straw Hat Voyage

East Blue becomes the starting point of the next major generation. Luffy leaves Foosha Village and meets Zoro in Shells Town, where the two form the foundation of the future Straw Hat crew 119.

Nami soon joins their route after hiding in a barrel to escape the Buggy Pirates. In Orange Town, Luffy defends her instinctively while Zoro recognizes that she stole Buggy’s nautical chart and negotiates with her over a copy of it 120 121.

The crew then travels through Syrup Village, recruits Usopp, and obtains the Going Merry before reaching the Baratie. There, Zoro’s encounter with Mihawk demonstrates that the East Blue’s rising swordsmen are still far below the world’s highest level, even when compared with the unusually strong version of Zoro produced by the altered timeline 121 122 123.

Mihawk’s arrival also confirms that East Blue’s reputation as a weak and peaceful sea does not prevent world-class fighters from appearing within or entering the region. Zoro survives the defeat and continues pursuing his promise to surpass Dongze and reach the summit of swordsmanship 122 123.

East Blue Under a New Order

The region remains connected to the wider upheavals caused by Dongze’s actions. Elemental disturbances and falling meteors affected the East Blue during the battle involving the mysterious white-robed man and Dongze in the past 127. Years later, Dongze’s world-shaking attacks also produced tsunamis that reached Foosha Village and other distant locations 175.

After Dongze destroyed Mary Geoise and the World Government’s central authority collapsed, the Soust Kingdom moved rapidly into the Four Blues. East Blue was among the first regions affected by the expansion. Within ten days, Soust had unified all four seas and the first half of the Grand Line, raised its flag over former independent territories, and imposed severe criminal law enforced by the Marines and Soust forces 187.

Associated Figures

• Dongze — The swordsman whose rise from Isshin Dojo trainee to feared Pirate Hunter transforms East Blue’s criminal landscape and establishes the region as the origin of a world-shaking legend 1 12.
• Koshiro — Master of Isshin Dojo and Dongze’s early mentor. He tests Dongze’s limits and helps prepare him for life beyond East Blue 2 4 10.
• Kuina — Koshiro’s daughter and one of Dongze’s childhood rivals at Isshin Dojo. She later becomes one half of the East Blue Twin Heroes and remains closely connected to Dongze 1 2 109.
• Roronoa Zoro — Dongze’s early rival and junior fellow disciple at the dojo. He later becomes Kuina’s bounty-hunting partner, joins Luffy, and openly declares his goal of surpassing Dongze 3 109 122 129.
• Captain Harry — Marine officer stationed in Loguetown who recognizes Dongze’s strength and recommends him to Garp 12 17.
• Monkey D. Garp — Marine hero whose campaigns helped suppress piracy in East Blue. He later seeks Dongze after hearing about his talent and remains connected to the region through Foosha Village and his confrontations with Dongze 4 17 24 112 119.
• Nico Robin — The fugitive archaeologist whom Dongze protects after repeatedly encountering her in East Blue 12 13 14.
• Nami — A young navigator from Cocoyasi Village whom Dongze rescues from pirates and supports in opposing Arlong. She later begins her journey through East Blue with Luffy and Zoro 15 17 19 120.
• Arlong — Fish-Man pirate who established a system of extortion and enslavement across East Blue villages before Dongze destroyed his organization 16 19.
• Buggy — East Blue pirate whose crew operates in Orange Town and pursues Nami after she steals one of his nautical charts. He avoids confronting Dongze when the Pirate Hunter enters town 14 120 121.
• Monkey D. Dragon — Revolutionary leader whose Conqueror’s Haki was overwhelmed during an encounter with a powerful figure in East Blue 7.
• Monkey D. Luffy — East Blue-born pirate who meets Zoro in Shells Town and begins the voyage that eventually leads to the Straw Hat Pirates 119 120.
• Usopp — Resident of Syrup Village who joins Luffy’s crew during its East Blue journey 121.
• Dracule Mihawk — The world’s greatest swordsman, whose arrival at the Baratie and duel with Zoro reveals the remaining gap between East Blue’s strongest young swordsmen and the pinnacle of swordsmanship 122 123.
• The World Government agents — Three powerful agents who target Kuina and Zoro in Orange Town because of their connection to Dongze. Two are killed by the young swordsmen, while Dongze defeats the third 109 110 112 129.