In One Piece, there are characters whose uniqueness cut above the rest. One of these characters, whose presence relates to many of the mysteries surrounding One Piece, is the enormous elephant, Zunesha. Zunesha is an ancient, colossal elephant that has been wandering the Grand Line endlessly and aimlessly for centuries. This colossal creature relates to so many of the mysteries that One Piece fans are dying to unravel, such as Joyboy, the Void Century, the Ancient Weapons, and so much more, that one cannot help but wonder, who exactly is Zunesha? In this article, we will delve into the story of Zunesha as a being, exploring its origins and impact on the One Piece series.
Who Is Zunesha?
Zunesha is a Naitamie-Norida elephant, an unusual species with multi-jointed legs that are incredibly long and reach far down into the ocean. For reasons concealed from all but the most privileged beings, It was sentenced to wander the Grand Line for an unknown crime committed in the past and can only act otherwise when commanded to do so. It carries an island called Zou, home to the Mink tribes and other lifeforms, on its back. An incredibly large walking relic from the Void Century, Zunesha shares deep ties with the hidden history of the Void Century and Joyboy and is famous as a special being. This connection, along with the cryptic circumstances of its punishment, keeps fans speculating and anticipating the uncovering of Zunesha’s past.
Zunesha’s Power And Abilities
Zunesha is one of the biggest characters to exist in the One Piece series. Due to its enormous size, it is able to carry the entire island of Zou on its back with room to spare. It also has massive endurance as it is able to wander the Grand Line while carrying the island for centuries. Zunesha has incredible longevity, given the fact that he has been existing since the Void Century. It also has a massive trunk which it can use to manipulate water, that is, suck up and expel massive amounts of seawater. This trunk also serves as a natural weapon for Zunesha as it can wipe out entire fleets of ships with just a single swing. It was even able to defeat Jack, an All-Star of the Beast Pirates.
The Voice of All Things
Zunesha has something called “The Voice Of All Things” that allows him to communicate telepathically with others of the same ability. While he can communicate with others, only a select few can communicate with him. So far, only Momonosuke, son of Kozuki Oden, is able to speak with Zunesha and command him. Zunesha also has incredible eyesight, as he can see faraway objects in great detail. However, Zunesha is not as durable as one would think. Having lived for so long, its skin has aged and become weak. With enough force, Zunesha can suffer damage. We see this when the Beast Pirates attack Zunesha with concentrated cannon fire.
The Mink’s Treasure
Having carried the island of Zou, home to the Minks, for centuries, Zunesha and the Minks have developed a commensal relationship with each other. Although Zunesha is unable to communicate with the Minks, The Minks have come to understand most of its habits, and they care for it deeply. Zunesha bathes itself twice a day by sucking in seawater with its trunk and spraying it all over its body which leads to a temporary flood for the inhabitants of the island.
However, the Minks consider it a blessing as they are able to acquire food through this process. Zunesha also cares for the Minks as well. When Jack and his fleet were attacking it, Zunesha, using the “Voice Of All Things,” begs Momonosuke to allow him to fight back as he wants to aid the Minks in their fight. After protecting them, the Minks tend to Zunesha’s leg, in gratitude.
Zou Arc
Days before Monkey D. Luffy, Trafalgar D. Water Law, and several members of the Straw Hat Pirates arrive at Zou to meet up with the rest of the Straw Hats, Jack attacks Zou is with his fleet of the Beast Pirates. Zunesha, who had felt the massive presence of Jack, roared out in pain. Jack, who had come with an objective and was unable to fulfill it, promised to return and inflict more damage on Zou. Jack later returned with another objective, killing Zunesha. When Jack’s fleet commenced their attack, Zunesha began crying out and, upon receiving heavy damage on one of its legs, begs Momonosuke to command him into action to retaliate.
Momonosuke, who was still in confusion and pain with this voice in his head, learns of Zunesha’s past and how it requires permission to act. He then ordered Zunesha to drive Jack away, which he promptly did as he wiped out Jack’s fleet with a swing of its trunk. After Jack retreates, Chopper, Dr. Miyagi and other Minks went down to treat Zunesha’s injury. While Luffy and the likes departed for the Whole Cake Island, Momonosuke decided to stay behind and get to understand Zunesha better.
Wano Arc
While Luffy and the rest of his allies were fighting the combined forces of Kaido and Bigmom, Zunesha suddenly appeared in the seas near Wano for unclear reasons and stood in the path of a large fleet of Government ships. Through the “Voice Of All Things,” Zunesha makes Momonosuke aware of his intentions to fight and open up the borders of Wano. When Luffy awakens his Devil Fruit and unlocks Gear 5, Zunesha’s eyes shine like never before as he hears the Drums Of Liberation, the sound that signifies the return of Joyboy.
He compares the heartbeat of Luffy to that of Joyboy, after which he confirms that it is Luffy’s destiny and puts his trust in him. Following the defeat of Kaido, Momonosuke, after making a public announcement to the people of Wano, informs Zunesha that he is not ready to open the borders of Wano to the world just yet. Zunesha obliges to Momonosuke’s decision and then leaves Wano, vanishing into the mist.
Herald Of The Void Century
Zunesha, as a character, plays a massive role in the One Piece narrative. Existing since the Void Century, an era erased from the historical records by the World Government, Zunesha is a keeper of ancient knowledge and secrets that is central to the narrative of the series. It is evident that Zunesha holds vital information concerning mysteries such as the Ancient weapons, Joyboy, and so on, combined with its ability to communicate using the Voice Of All Things and its connection to the Road Poneglyphs, Zunesha plays a role that could reshape the One Piece world.
Beyond being a harbinger of secrets, Zunesha’s role embodies the theme of endurance and retribution. Zunesha is said to have committed a crime 800 years ago. It is a crime whose nature is still a mystery and has brought about different theories and speculations from fans. Zunesha serves its punishment for that crime with determination as he has been walking ceaselessly since the Void Century. Bearing the consequences of past actions, Zunesha’s sentence raises questions about the justice of the world. Zunesha also carries an entire ecosystem on its back. It is in this ecosystem that the island called Zou, home to the Minks, is found. This creates a unique environment that supports a myriad of lifeforms, including the Mink tribe. Additionally, Zunesha’s large size and mobility make it a valuable asset when navigating the Grand Line and reaching locations that are otherwise inaccessible.
Will We See Zunesha Again?
After Kozuki Momonosuke, the head of the Kozuki clan and present Shogun of Wano, informed Zunesha of his decision not immediately to open the borders of Wano to the world, the colossal elephant respects his decision and vanishes from Wano. However, this will not be the last we see of Zunesha, as its role in the series is far from over. With its ties to many mysteries in One Piece, Zunesha is more than a passing character. Its presence is very pivotal to the narrative of the One Piece series. Zunesha’s parting in Wano is merely temporary, as it is bound to resurface later on in the series.
Frequently Asked Questions on Zunesha
Who is the Tallest Character in One Piece?
Zunesha is one of the largest characters in the One Piece series. Standing at an impressive height of 35 kilometers or 10,582 stories, Zunesha is the tallest character fans get to see in One Piece yet. While there’s some speculation that the Florian Triangle Beasts are much taller than Zunesha, we haven’t seen much of these beasts, and their shadows are not enough to measure them. So Zunesha remains the tallest for us at Gamescooper.
How Old Is Zunesha?
Zunesha has been roaming the seas for centuries as punishment and has even existed long before the Void Century, which raises the question of its age. Zunesha is over a thousand years old and is the oldest character in the One Piece series by a large margin. With a lifespan stretching over a millennium, it is a living relic and testament of the Void Century.
Why Did Zunesha Come To Wano?
Zunesha suddenly appearing at Wano during the Onigashima raid came as a shock to most fans and a lot were asking “Why did it come to Wano?” Oda has not provided any specific answers to this mystery but there are different speculations. A logical theory proposed by a fan is that Zunesha was called by Momonosuke. Zunesha being able to communicate with certain people with the “Voice Of All Things” and converse with Momonosuke, Momonosuke might have called for it knowingly or unknowingly. When it seemed that Kaido had defeated Luffy and Luffy was drowning in the seas, Luffy was still able to communicate with Momonosuke, telling him that he is not dead and he will come back.
If Luffy was able to communicate with Momonosuke using the “Voice Of All Things” while unconscious, it is most likely that Momonosuke called for Zunesha, probably in fear, at one time or another. The speculation is further backed up by the fact that Momonosuke forged a deep bond with Zunesha when he stayed behind on Zou. Factually, there’s no proof for these theories, but it is something Oda would likely reveal to us fans later on in the series.
What Happened To Joyboy?
We are aware of the fact that Joyboy and Zunesha are companions, close friends, if you will. Fans speculate they may have not been just companions. They think that Zunesha must have surely been a part of Joyboy’s crew. However, for some reason, the former Joyboy is no more, and Zunesha is punished to walking the seas for eternity. Considering the liveliness and joy that Joyboy oozes, most fans begin to ask, “What could Zunesha have done?”. Although the answers to this mystery have not been revealed, the fans of the series have formed many theories and speculations on the matter.
Some say that Joyboy must have fought the ancestors of the Celestial Dragons with Zunesha and were exterminated apart from Zunesha, and was sentenced to walk the seas since then. Others say that Zunesha probably could not forgive himself for the death of Joyboy and imposed the punishment on himself till Joyboy returns again. These and many more are the many conclusions fans of the series have reached. Nonetheless, considering the World Government went to great lengths to erase the events that occurred during the Void Century, Zunesha holds a lot of massive secrets since it has been existing even before then. Oda revealing the past of Zunesha will uncover many of the mysteries surrounding One Piece, including this one.
Who Punished Zunesha?
Zunesha has been roaming the seas endlessly for an unknown crime committed centuries ago. However, it seems incomprehensible that a magnificent being such as Zunesha could be punished to begin with. The question lingering in the minds of fans is, “Which character is powerful enough to be able to punish Zunesha?”. Some believe it to be the Gorosei, the rulers of the world. Others believe the punishment is self-inflicted. While many theories are circulating, we do not know the identity of the entity or the authority responsible for imposing this punishment yet. This is another mystery that we may unravel when Oda decides to disclose Zunesha’s past along with the events that occurred during the Void Century.
