Sentomaru is a naval officer, commander of the Naval Headquarters Research Division, and Dr. Vegapunk’s bodyguard. He led the Pacifista in both the Sabaody Archipelago and the Battle of Marine Ford, suggesting that he additionally accompanies the position of troop commander of the PX units. He additionally claims to have the best defense in the world.
In addition, Sentomaru seems to have a special relationship with Admiral Kizaru, as he always refers to him as “uncle” (オジキ, Ojiki) and joined forces with the admiral against the Straw Hat Pirates. Sentomaru also received his orders directly from Kizaru in the Battle of Marine Ford.
Contents
Appearance
Sentomaru is a tall and broadly built man of the stature of a Sumo. He has medium length black hair that goes about halfway down his neck and tapers to a point on the sides. A scar runs from the corner of his left mouth up to under his left eye. He wears only a dark red apron with a triple Tomoe printed on the front, and short brown cloth pants with a floral pattern underneath. On his back, the apron and pants are tied together by a large red and white bow – called a tsuna. On his upper left arm he has the kanji for “war” or “battle”.(戦, Sen) tattooed. He also carries his giant, double-sided Ono (axe) (鉞, meaning battle axe) with him at all times.
Two years ago, he also wore white Bandage around his right wrist, forearm, and both feet. After the time jump, Sentomaru’s appearance has changed only slightly. Instead of the bandages, he now wears an officer’s coat. As a simple marine in his younger years, Sentomaru was noticeably slimmer. He had his distinctive scar even then.
Personality
Sentomaru claims himself to be a determined and reliable man. However, he seems to have a habit of exaggerating his abilities. For example, he repeatedly referred to himself as the “most secretive man in the world” (世界一口の堅い男, Sekai-ichi Kuchi no Katai Otoko), but revised this statement in the same breath by accidentally leaking information and subsequently claiming to have done so of his own free will for once. This behavior is very reminiscent of Owl from the CP9.
Another quirk of Sentomaru is to use different forms of address for his allies. For example, he always refers to Admiral Borsalino as “Uncle Kizaru” (黄猿のオジキ, Kizaru no Ojiki) and the Samurai of the Seas Bartholomew Kuma as “Prince Bear” (くま公, Kuma-kō).
In the fight against Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, Sentomaru noted that he doesn’t really have anything against pirates. He also seems to have some degree of respect for worthy opponents, referring to the impostor DeMaro Black as scum as opposed to Luffy. What kind of justice Sentomaru pursues is therefore unclear. However, he seems to have a high level of pride for his job as a naval officer. He also expressed extreme anger over Bartholomew Kuma’s and Boa Hancock’s disloyal behavior.
Abilities and Strength
Sentomaru, by his own admission, is not a devil power user. In battle, he relies solely on his physical strength, his haki, and the use of his giant double axe. He also claims to have the “world’s best defense” (世界一ガード, Sekai-ichi Gādo). The extent to which this title is official or merely an exaggeration on his part remains unclear. However, due to the fact that Sentomaru is employed by the World Government as Dr. Vegapunk’s personal bodyguard, it is quite likely that he does indeed possess an excellent defense. Luffy’s Gomu Gomu no Gatling was thus able to fend him off with ease, and Monster Chopper also failed to hit him. Furthermore, according to Luffy, he has considerable speed for his size and stature.
Haki
Sentomaru is proficient in at least the Busōshoku (armor haki). Whether he is additionally proficient in the Kenbunshoku (observation shaki) is unknown, though likely.
Sumō
Sentomaru’s unarmed fighting style seems to focus on classic Sumō wrestling, such as his Ashigara Dokkoi attack, which aims to knock the opponent off their feet with a powerful hand thrust. When he confronted Boa Hancock during the Battle of Marine Ford, he was also in the typical fighting stance of Sumōringers, where fighters support themselves on the ground with one fist.
Masakari (double axe)
Sentomaru specializes in axe combat. His weapon of choice is a giant, double-sided masakari, which he carries at all times, but seems to be extremely flexible in combat, mainly against serious opponents. For example, he stated that he didn’t even need his axe against Luffy.
History
Sabaody Archipelago
When Devil Dias’s slave collar exploded, Sentomaru was sitting on a nearby rooftop flipping through a stack of wanted posters. Sentomaru recognized the pirate captain, but had nothing but scorn for him due to the relatively small bounty of 60 million berry, and expressed that he would have had no chance of survival in the New World anyway.
After the events at the Human Auctioning House, Sentomaru impatiently waited for Kizaru’s return call to provide him with the names of the targets and to work with the Admiral against the assassins. He was also concerned that all the Pacifista would be prematurely destroyed by the rookies if Kizaru did not hurry. In the meantime, after the Admiral had destroyed the four captains, Basil Hawkins, X. Drake, Urouge, and Apoo, and was about to execute Hawkins on the spot, his Den-den Mushi rang. On the line was Sentomaru, reprimanding Kizaru for trying to make another call to the black listening slug instead of the baby slug. He unceremoniously relayed the names of the assassins to him and grumbled that they should get to work already.
A little while later, when the Straw Hat Pirates defeated Pacifista PX-4, Sentomaru showed up out of the blue with another Pacifista. Since the Straw Hat Pirates was already battered from the fight with the first Pacifista, they decided to split up and flee in different directions. Sentomaru himself chased after Luffy’s group while sending PX-1 in the opposite direction after Sanji’s group. Luffy then tried in vain to knock Sentomaru out of the way with a Gomu Gomu no Gatling. However, Sentomaru blocked all attacks easily and put a good amount of pressure on Luffy with his Haki.
Shortly after, Admiral Kizaru appeared and attacked the already heavily battered Zoro, but was stopped at the last second by Silver’s Rayleigh. As the two crossed blades, Sentomaru ordered PX-1 to finish Zoro off while he himself continued to tackle Luffy, mockingly remarking that he didn’t even need his axe. Chopper then threw in a third Rumble Ball due to the desperate situation, transforming and attacking Sentomaru in his monster form. When Bartholomew Kuma finally arrived on the battlefield and teleported away all the members of the Straw Hat Pirates one by one, Sentomaru was visibly annoyed by the strange behavior of the Samurai of the Seas. Furthermore, when the latter teleported away the PX-1 moments before, Sentomaru yelled at him and said he better bring a good explanation for his behavior.
Battle of Marine Ford
In the wake of the battle against the Whitebeard Alliance, Sentomaru also appeared at the entrance to Marine Ford Bay with a force of around two dozen Pacifista. The Pacifista commanded by Sentomaru were a decided part of the Navy’s plan to trap Whitebeard’s allied pirate bands in the frozen bay and take them under fire from behind. Whitebeard had seen through the trap ahead of time, however, and had his men spread out in all directions, so that by the time the Pacifista arrived, the pirates were already spread out across the battlefield.
Sentomaru was extremely annoyed that their plan didn’t work and decided without further ado – after consulting with Admiral Kizaru – to let the entire battlefield come under fire. When Sentomaru asked if they had the green light to sacrifice their own warships and soldiers as well if necessary, Kizaru replied that they should keep casualties to a minimum. Sentomaru took note of this, split the Pacifista into several groups, and gave the order to attack.
After Boa Hancock destroyed several Pacifista as the war progressed, Sentomaru confronted her. He asked her what her behavior was about, since as a Samurai of the Seas, she was supposed to be fighting on the side of the government. At Hancock’s rage-filled reply that love was like a hurricane, Sentomaru was extremely irritated. Whether or not a brief battle between the two occurred is unclear. At the end of the battle, however, Sentomaru was seen again, who seemed to have survived the battle largely unscathed except for a few scrapes.
Two years later
After two years had passed during which the Straw Hats had been training in exile, word was received at the Sabaody Archipelago Naval Base that the Straw Hat Pirates and their allies had gathered at Grove 46. The Navy immediately called for reinforcements from nearby Naval Base G-1. Also at the base on Grove 66 at this time was Sentomaru, who immediately set off with the two Pacifista PX-5 and PX-7 to the supposed meeting place of the Straw Hat Pirates. When asked by the marines if the Pacifista were really necessary, he replied that the navy shouldn’t be so foolish as to think the Straw Hats were ordinary rookies, after all, two years had passed. Sentomaru also added that after Bartholomew Kuma’s mysterious behavior two years ago, he had already sensed that this day would come.
When the Pacifista hit Grove 46 and started roughing up the assembled pirates, Sentomaru realized pretty quickly that the supposed Straw Hat Pirates were just imposters. Sentomaru unceremoniously knocked out DeMaro Black, who was posing as “Straw Hat Luffy”, with the flat of his axe and placed the assembled pirates under arrest. He then gave orders to PX-5 to locate the real Luffy, whom the Pacifista had already identified in the crowd upon arriving at Grove 46. However, Luffy made short work of the Pacifista, destroying it with just a single Haki attack. Sentomaru was extremely shocked at the extreme increase in strength, but also claimed not to be the same as he was two years ago and told Luffy to stop. Fleeing, Zoro and Sanji eventually destroyed the second Pacifista. The Navy continued to pursue the Straw Hat Pirates, but was stopped by Silver’s Rayleigh.
In his report, Sentomaru stated that he had arrested all of the pirates except for the two Caribou brothers and several members of the Fake Straw Hat Pirates. He also made the Naval Headquarters understand that the Straw Hat Pirates was reunited and had undergone a shocking growth in strength.
Various
Differences in the manga and anime
- In Chapter 497, shortly after Devil Dias’s slave collar explodes, Sentomaru is seen sitting in silhouette on a nearby rooftop flipping through a stack of wanted posters. In the anime episode 391, this scene was not implemented.
- In episode 401, Sentomaru eats peaches while impatiently waiting for Admiral Kizaru to call him back, which is probably meant to be a figurative reference to his name.
Trivia
- Sentomaru, along with the samurai of Wano Country – e.g. Kinemon, Momonosuke, and Kanjuro – are among the few characters whose Japanese names include kanji.
- Like many characters in One Piece, Sentomaru has a word for “I” that is typical of himself. His variant is Wai (わい).
- A tsuna (綱) like Sentomaru wears is traditionally only worn by Sumōringers of the highest rank, the yokozuna.
- Just like god Enel, Sentomaru also wears the triple tomoe. While in Enel’s case it is a reference to thunder god Raijinthe meaning of Sentomaru’s tomoe is not entirely clear. However, the tomoe symbol is particularly strongly associated in Japan with the Shinbutsu-shūgō god of warriors Hachiman. Both the Samurai warrior caste and the Japanese Wokou worshipped Hachiman as a patron god and used the tomoe as a coat of arms. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the tomoe, like Sentomaru’s name and tattoo, is also a reference to his warrior nature.
- In the 2012 One Piece Premier Show at Universal Studios JapanSentomaru appears alongside Chameleone as the central antagonist. At the beginning of the stage play, he shows up with a squad of marines and arrests the Fake Straw Hat Pirates. Later, he appears on Samba Island and fights the Straw Hat Pirates, but is fooled by Copy Fruit user Chameleone (disguised as Kizaru). At the end of the show, Sentomaru reappears and eventually arrests Chameleone, who is floating in the water.
- In the cover of One Piece Green, amidst many concept drawings by Eiichirō Oda, there is also an older sketch of Sentomaru, which made him appear slimmer and less like saga hero Kintarō.
- A detailed figure of Sentomaru exists in the One Piece Figuarts Zero series from November 2011.
- Sentomaru’s title “Uncle Kizaru” (黄猿のオジキ, Kizaru no Ojiki) is, contrary to some misconceptions, not a kinship title, but merely a respectful title for an older authority figure (but younger than one’s father). The form of address is particularly common within the Yakuza. Comparable to the expression “father(Padre) in the Shishilian Mafia. So the term only implies that Sentomaru has a high level of respect for the Admiral.
- For Bartholomew Kuma, Sentomaru uses the salutation Kuma-kō (くま公), which means something like “Prince Bear”, “Duke Bear” or even “Master Bear”. However, as a suffix, -kō can also be read simply as “lord”, which can be meant respectfully (addressing a high-ranking person) or condescendingly. Since he calls him a “scoundrel”/”bastard” (野郎, Yarō) in the same sentence, the intention behind the salutation is not entirely clear.
- His favorite foods are Onigiri and sweet potatoes.
Inspiration and name origin.
- Sentomaru – like the admirals of the navy – appears to be an allusion to Japanese mythology. While his appearance and battle axe recall Kintarō, a legendary hero raised by the mountain witch Yama-uba and known for his strength and courage, his name is once again a reference to the folk tale of Momotarō, which is also often translated as “The Saga of the Peach Boy.” (桃, Momo – “peach”; 太郎, tarō – typical ending of Japanese boy names). Thus, the kanji for peach is also found in Sentomaru’s name, but combined with that for “war” or “battle” (戦, Sen). Therefore, it is read here as tō rather than momo. The name ending maru (丸) is also very common for boy names.
- In the “Saga of the Golden Boy”Kintarō grows up in the forests of Mount Ashigara and spends his youth befriending forest animals, fighting Sumō duels with them, and battling all sorts of Yōkai. The two most famous battles are against a black bear, which became his best friend and mount, and against Shuten-dōji, the feared leader of the Oni Mount Ōeyama, whom Kintarō subsequently captured. All of this is very reminiscent of Sentomaru, who is the leader of the bear-like Pacifista and fights pirates. Sentomaru’s attack Ashigara Dokkoi, moreover, is a direct reference to Mount Ashigara. Furthermore, after the two-year time jump, he referred to himself as an “official or prescriptive marine” (正式に海兵, Seishiki ni Kaihei), which is also reminiscent of the saga of Kintarō in traits. By the end of the story, the brave forest boy comes to the attention of the regent of the Fujiwara clan, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, and Kintarō eventually becomes the adult samurai. Kintoki Sakata and one of the Four Heavenly Kings (disambiguation) in Yorimitsu’s service.
