Tonight, I’m hopping on a night bus to Osaka for the long-awaited One Piece event!

But before I get swept away by the excitement and forget to write (again), I’m dropping this long-overdue summary on the infamous Rocks Pirates.

With new revelations pouring in lately, I figured I’d ride this high-energy wave and tackle both the member list and historical timeline in one go.

Warning: this post is going to be a long one

If you’re curious about the Blackbeard Pirates led by Marshall D. Teach—now confirmed to be Rocks’ son—check out my separate write-up here.

Rocks Pirates: Member Overview

Unlike other average pirate crew, the Rocks Pirates didn’t bother with formal titles—heck, even Rocks himself wasn’t called “Captain” or “Admiral.”

So for now, we’re skipping ranks and diving straight into the juicy details.

As of August 8, 2025

Rocks D. Xebec

A wild, Haki-wielding force who dared to attack Mary Geoise during the Reverie. Strategic enough to fake cooperation with the World Government and claim Pirate Island Hachinosu. Dreamed of becoming “King of the World.” Defeated by Roger and Garp at God Valley 38 years ago. Fate unknown.

Yakuza Shiki

Later known as “Golden Lion.” Once just a rogue, but gained fame in the Rocks crew. Tried to break up fights between Rocks and Kaido—possibly the only sane one aboard? Imprisoned in Impel Down after God Valley, then became its “first” escapee ( actually Morley was the first). Lost to Luffy two years ago in Strong World.

Pirate Edward Newgate

Future “Whitebeard.” Philosophically at odds with Rocks, but may have joined via Davy Back Fight. Introduced Kaido to the crew. Formed the Whitebeard Pirates post-God Valley. Revered as “Oyaji” by his crew. Died in the Marineford War two years ago.

Pirate Charlotte Linlin

Future “Big Mom.” During God Valley, snatched the Uo Uo no Mi (Azure Dragon) from Ivankov and gifted it to Kaido—big sis energy. Formed the Big Mom Pirates with her children. Ruled the New World as a Yonko until defeated by Kid and Law in Wano.

Pirate Kaido

Sold by his homeland, the Vodka Kingdom, and became notorious for attacking Navy ships. Met Rocks via Newgate. Escaped God Valley early. Formed the Beasts Pirates and ruled Wano as a Yonko. Defeated by Luffy, who awakened the Mythical Zoan “Nika.”

Pirate Captain John

Famous for treasure legends. Always seen with a bottle in hand. Death date unknown. Was zombified by Moria two years ago.

Pirate Cult Leader Wang Zhi

Triple chin, forked tongue like a snake. Survived God Valley and ruled Hachinosu until Teach took over.

Science Thief Buckingham Stussy

Money-minded since youth. Possibly the only woman in the early crew. Joined Vegapunk’s MADS and became the model for clone Stussy. Claims to be Whitebeard’s lover and mother of Weevil. Briefly a Warlord.

Yakuza Gin

Later “Silver Axe.” Famous assassin who joined Rocks voluntarily. Rival of Shiki in the underworld. Current status unknown. Sengoku mentioned him as one of the survivors who rose to fame.

West Sea Gangster Don Marlon

Dressed head-to-toe in black, but speaks with surprising intellect. Status unknown post-God Valley.

Smuggler Pirate Gansui

Long black hair, beard, armored look. Sometimes wears round black shades. Likely zombified by Moria two years ago (unnamed, but silhouette matches).

Pirate Barbell

A catfish Fishman.

Joined around the time Rocks claimed Hachinosu. Not depicted during God Valley. Status unknown.

Pirate Streusen

Chef with the “Cook-Cook Fruit.”

Raised Linlin from childhood. Head chef of Big Mom Pirates. Oversaw Sanji and Pudding’s wedding cake. Once ambitious, now a sentimental old man.

Amazon Lily Empress Gloriosa

Captain of the Kuja Pirates and ruler of Amazon Lily. Somehow part of the Rocks crew during God Valley—despite her crush on Roger.

Retired on Amazon Lily. Sheltered the Gorgon Sisters and helped Luffy rescue Ace. A good soul, all things considered.

Copyright © 2026 ONE PIECE World according to Zorilover All Rights Reserved.

最近はお盆とずらして夏季休暇を取ることが多かったので、この時期の道路事情を舐めてましたわ。

既に4時間半近く到着が遅れていて、「まさか午後のサンジくんのレストランの予約に間に合わないなんてことはないでしょうね」とちょっと心配です。

とはいえ焦ってもバスが速く進むわけではないので、ここは気持ちを切り替えて、今日8月9日が誕生日のベガパンクのキャラ語りでもしようかなと。

キャラ語り、ちょっと久しぶりですね。

時間がある時でないとなかなかできないので、身動きの取れない夜行バス（もう昼だけど）の車中ではぴったり。

そうなんですか？（聞いちゃったよ）

最近、アニメの感想をサボってますが、アニメはちょうどエッグヘッド編が盛り上がりを見せているので、“りんごのおっさん”こと、天才ベガパンクについて、語ってみましょう。

以前、ワンピース界の頭が良いキャラランキングでは登場してもらいましたけどね。

以下、週刊少年ジャンプに掲載された“ONE PIECE”の最新の内容に触れる可能性がありますので、コミックス派、アニメ派の方はネタバレご注意ください。

謎に包まれていた正体

エッグヘッド編が始まってついに本人が登場するまで、Dr.ベガパンクの思想や人柄の多くが謎に包まれていました。

その名前はウォーターセブン編の頃から既に出ていて、世界政府や海軍の優れた最新技術には、すべて彼が関与しているようでした。

いわく、悪魔の実の伝達条件の解明、物に悪魔の実を食べさせる技術の開発、海楼石の海軍船への応用、パシフィスタの製造などなど。

その桁外れの偉大な才能については、コビーが熱弁をふるったのをはじめ、フランキーが2年間の修行をしたベガパンクの故郷バルジモアの研究所の様子でも明らかでしたね。

でも、人類の500年先の叡智を持つ天才が世界政府側の人間であることは、ワンピースファンにとってはちょっと複雑。

だからこそ知りたかったのはその人柄なんですよね。

そしてどんな「正義」を掲げているのか。

それがエッグヘッド編でようやく明らかになりつつあります。

ベガパンクの人物像

ベガパンクの描写については、功績ばかりが先行していて、なかなかどういう考えを持った人物なのか分かりませんでした。

天才的な頭脳を世界政府の言うなりに発揮しているだけなのか。

しかしわずかながらその価値観を知るヒントが示されたのが、パンクハザード編。

人を人とも思わないマッドサイエンティストのシーザーの毒ガス実験を、ベガパンクが止めたと言うエピソードです。

それから弾丸をGPフラワーという花に変える技術で、イベル平和賞をもらったという扉絵。

こうしたことから、平和を希求する人物かと思わせる一方で。

シーザーやヴィンスモーク・ジャッジやクイーンのような人道的とは言い難い連中と研究チームを組んでいたという情報も小出しにしてくるのが、尾田っちの上手いところなんですよね。

結局、我々読者はベガパンク本人にエッグヘッド編で会うまで（しかも7人もいる！）、その思想や価値観を知ることはできませんでした。

ベガパンクの知識欲と権力欲

エッグヘッド編で最初に登場したベガパンクは、サテライトNo.2の“悪（リリス）”。

忙しすぎて手が足りないから、自分の分身を6人作ったという発想からしてぶっ飛んでいて、ルッチならずとも最初は？？？となりました。

その旺盛な知識欲は、サテライトの“想（エジソン）”や“知（ピタゴラス）”に具現化されていますが。

ゾリラバが1番知りたかったベガパンクの人間としての価値観や正義感は？

サテライトに“正（シャカ）”と“悪（リリス）”と“暴（アトラス）”と“欲（ヨーク）”を作ったのは、天才ならではのバランス感覚と人間を知る故の判断だったのでしょう。

最終的にヨークが裏切ったこと、「人間から“欲”を引き離すべきではなかった」とベガパンクが悔いることは、天才でも「人間」の心の動きについては判断を誤ることを示唆していて深いですね。

エッグヘッド編の冒頭で、「生物の欲は制御できない」とリリスが言うエピソードが挿入されているところも、伏線大魔王の尾田っちの凄さです。

ヨークが犯人と分かるまで、伏線とすら気づかなかったからね。

そしてベガパンクの分身であるヨークの欲は、とりもなおさずベガパンク自身の欲ですから、「天竜人になりたい」というヨークの裏切りの動機も、ベガパンク本人の心の奥底にあった名誉欲、権力欲なのでしょう。

「欲」だけ切り離さなければ、知性や正義感で抑えられていた根深い欲求。

やっぱり天才も人間だということがよく分かる素晴らしい展開ですわ。

ベガパンクの人類愛

ベガパンク本人の深層心理にたとえ「天竜人になりたい」という欲求があったとしても、それはおそらく私利私欲のためではなく、権力にがあればもっと自由に使える研究費などが目当てなのではないかと思います。

ひょっとしたら五老星ら一部の権力者の持つ不老に見える能力も、尽きない探究心を持つベガパンクには魅力だったかも。

そう思わせるくらい、ベガパンクは、人類を自らの叡智によって進化させ幸せにしたいという大きな人類愛を感じさせます。

故郷バルジモアでの少年時代も、アイデアはあるのにそれを実現できる資金がないことを嘆き、島のみんなを幸せにしてあげられないと泣いていました。

旧知のドラゴンに非難されても、政府側の人間になったのは、自分の研究成果を具体化して人々を幸せにしたいから。

結果的に古代兵器を呼び起こすことになってしまった“消えない炎（マザーフレイム）”の開発も、エネルギーを奪い合う戦争を世の中から無くしたいからでした。

彼は、天才として生まれたゆえの使命感を強く持ち、その才能を正しく人類のために使いたかった。

だからこそ、彼の分身である“悪（リリス）”や“暴（アトラス）”は、その名前のわりにとっても良い奴らなんでしょうね。

くま＆ボニー親子との因縁

娘ボニーの幸せのために全てを受け入れる覚悟のバーソロミュー・くまと、ベガパンクのやりとりについては、これまでも熱く語ってきたので、繰り返しません。

でもベガパンクが、「事務作業」だから「淡々といくぞ」という言葉とうらはらに、号泣しつつ吐き出したくまとの別れの言葉は、名言中の名言なので挙げておきたいと思います。

いわく。

お前を愛した人の数だけ︎お前の死は迷惑である!!!

ええかくま︎お前こそがヒーローじゃ︎!

ボニーの︎!みんなの︎!

（“ONE PIECE”第1102話）

彼が命懸けで世界に発信したメッセージが、これからどう時代をうねらせていくのか。

ステラ本体のクローンの復活とともにとても楽しみでござる。

まる。

リンク

Copyright © 2026 ONE PIECE World according to Zorilover All Rights Reserved.

Today I will introduce some Japanese folk tales and other popular stories deeply rooted in Japanese culture so that you could better understand and enjoy the ongoing WANO- KUNI Arc of ONE PIECE. 

As known well, WANO-KUNI is designed based on old Japanese communities, and people’s ways of living like dressing, bathing, and eating seem to be similar to those of the EDO Era in the 17 – 19 centuries, when Japan was ruled by samurai and strictly followed a policy of isolationism.

Of course there didn’t exist octopuses to wash your back in a public bathhouse, but such facilities were so popular, and so are they even today in Japan.

I guess some tips of  Japanese culture may help you more deeply appreciate a pageant of WANO-KUNI!

History table of WANO-KUNI is here.

MOMO-TARO(PEACH BOY)

MOMO, as is seen in MOMO-NO-SUKE, means a peach in Japanese. 

TARO is a popular boy’s name, especially for the first son. 

MOMO-TARO was born from a big peach which an old wife found floating down the stream while she was washing clothes at the river. 

She and her husband brought up MOMO-TARO with love and care, and he grew up rapidly in a strong boy. 

One day MOMOTARO decided to go to ONI- GA-SHIMA(ogre’s island) and to fight with ogres who suffered people.

The old couple made some KIBI-DANGO (millet dumplings) for the boy to take with him. 

On the way to ONI-GA-SHIMA, MOMO-TARO met a dog, a pheasant, and a monkey, who begged KIBI-DANGO.  

MOMO-TARO gave his KIBI-DANGO on the condition that they follow him and join forces to fight with ogres.

They fought together at ONIGASHIMA, and ogres finally surrendered and offered many treasures to MOMO-TARO.

MOMO-TARO brought the treasures back home where the old couple waited and lived happily together.

Now you see ONIGASHIMA off WANO-KUNI mainland where KAIDO lives, and KIBI-DANGO which oTAMA-chan makes from her cheek with her ability of devilfruit(and have an effect to make animals obey her), and probably MOMO-NO-SUKE, too, are based on the story of MOMO-TARO.

YAMATA-NO-OROCHI(eight-headed snake)

According to Japanese Myths compiled in 8th Century, one of the ancient 3 pillar gods SUSANOO met a young girl who was about to be sacrificed to YAMATANO-OROCHI, a large eight-headed  snake.

SUSANOO killed the snake with his sward AME-NO-HABAKIRI, and helped out the girl and married her.

Now I imagine MOMONOSUKE should defeat OROCHI with his sward AMENO-HABAKIRI handed down by his father ODEN, with a help of ZORO!

Other episodes

The name of bandit ASURA led was ATAMA-YAMA(head mountain, if literally translated), and this comes from one of rakugo, traditional Japanese comic storytelling.

The rakugo “ATAMA-YAMA” is a story about an impatient man who ate cherries without taking seeds.   

One day, a cherry tree came out from the top of his head, and people gathered to enjoy HANA-MI(sakura viewing).

ASURA’s hairstyle as well as the view of ATAMA-YAMA where INUARASHI and ASURA fought against each other reminds me of this rakugo story!

There are so many motifs of Japanese culture included in WANO-KUNI episodes, I could not mention all here at one time.

I will add again on step by step basis when time allows.

A chronological table of history related to WANO-KUNI is here.

A Treasury of Japanese Folktales―バイリンガルで読む日本の昔ばなし (Bilingual Text)

ワンピース GLITTER&GLAMOURS NAMI WANOKUNI STYLE ナミ フィギュア 全2種セット 【A:通常カラー (水色) ver./B:レアカラー (紺色) ver.】

Copyright © 2026 ONE PIECE World according to Zorilover All Rights Reserved.

I’ve come up with an idea of listing terms and quotes we ONE PIECE fans are familiar with in the form of  JAPANESE – ENGLISH bilingual table for those who are learning Japanese/English.

That would be a tough, time-consuming job to complete since ONE PIECE is such a magnificent masterpiece of long and elaborated story full of original terms and moving words, but l’d like to try and add its terms and quotes to the table on step-by-step basis as my curiosity continues.

Whoops, my ambition slipped out.

There are often observed several different versions of English translation for one Japanese term, and in these cases, I choose the one I feel more close to the original Japanese considering ODA-cchi’s sense of word juggling humor.

Copyright © 2026 ONE PIECE World according to Zorilover All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to ZORILOVER’s blog for ONE PIECE OTAKU(geek) 

As the WANO-KUNI Arc will be close to its climax, the story and correlation among a lot of characters are getting more and more complicated, so I have translated a chronological table of WANO-KUNI I post in Japanese  into English.

(SPOILER ALERT: This table reveals some pieces of infomation included in the latest episode as of September 2021(WEEKLY JUMP #1023, comics #100 SBS, and latest VIVRECARDs)  .

Let’s enjoy the WANO-KUNI Arc!!

日本語の記事はこちらから。

One Piece Box Set: East Blue and Baroque Works (Volumes 1-23 with premium) (1)

Copyright © 2026 ONE PIECE World according to Zorilover All Rights Reserved.

Thank you for visiting ZORILOVER’s blog for ONE PIECE otaku(geek).

Let me share my personal view on VIVRECARD STARTER SET rolled out on September 4 nationwide in Japan.. 

What is VIVRECARD exactly?

Is it useful to understand more deeply the ONE PIECE world?

The answer is definitely YES.

You can find new pieces of geeky information on vivrecards.

MAKINO-san, for example, wear shoes with thick sole to make her look taller!  

SHANKS and the 3 officers of the Red Hair Pirates are all from different Seas of four!

Putting MAKINO’s shoes aside, the information of the Red Hair Pirates has inspired my imagination.

It had been already revealed in the story of ONE PIECE that SHANKS is from the West Blue, and YASOPP from the East Blue.

BENN BECKMAN and LUCKY ROUX are, according to their vivrecards, from the North Blue and the South Blue respectively.

Is there any meaning hidden behind the fact all of them are from different Seas?

Did SHANKS visit all of the four Seas to recruit crew as he did in case of YASOPP?

….

……

………

Ooops.

Today I should rather concentrate on discussing VIVRECARD.

Let’s shelve speculation on the Red Hair Pirates.

CONCEPT OF VIVRECARD

 VIVRECARD is a ONE PIECE databook, released on September 4, 2018 in Japan.

This is the VIVRECARD Starter Set including a folder and 32 cards.

VIVRECARD STARTER SET

The folder features several characters, but some of them are too tall to appear.    Their lower bodies only are drawn, probably due to ODA-sensei’s commitment to exact scale ratio of the characters.

So we cannot see faces of SHIRAHOSHI nor of KATAKURI on the folder.

haha.

It is interesting to speculate on why ODA-sensei chose these characters for the first folder of VIVIRECARD.

There is something mildly amusing about  ENEL standing at attention with solemn expression.

The folder has a wraparound belt which says:

Collect them. Arrange them.

The first, last, and best dictionary in ONE PIECE history. 

And inside the folder appears ODA-chi’s message!

ODA’s message inside the folder

He says it took 10 years to finalize VIVRECARD’s concept before it came out.

To tell the truth, I had underestimated VIVRECARD before I actually got them in hand, thinking this way.

Well, probably I will learn few new things from Vivrecards since I already have all the databooks of ONE PIECE(“RED”, “BLUE DEEP” ex.) and read repeatedly all the SBSs, but I’d better have them as a hard core fan of ONE PIECE…

VIVRECARD is, however, much more than expected.

Already-published databooks like RED or BLUE DEEP are books, so information included in these books cannot help but become obsolete as the story goes.

But VIVRECARD dictionary consists of binders and cards, so you can add new pieces of information one after another.

NEW cards come out every month in a form of Booster Set.

Actually I already have collected 4 cards of LUFFY: age 7 version, age 17 version, age 19 version, and

WANOKUNI version.

LUFFY’s four vivrecards

Well, this is something, isn’t it? 

It is difficult to resist a strong temptation for a completion as a ONE PIECE geek.

INFORMATION INCLUDED IN A VIVRECARD

Each vivrecard has two sides of printed information on a certain character.

The information includes not only those which have been already revealed in the main stories, SBS, databooks, but also totally new one.

Let me take some examples.

SHANKS loves kimchi fried rice.

萌え～(MO-E)

It is also moving info that YASOPP loves seasonal fish like his son USOPP does.

Another new piece of info is that the meat with bone Lucky Roux always hold is chicken, because he is on a diet in his sense.

In addition to these basic personal profiles like age, height, birthday, or birthplace,  convenient is biography. 

I owe this personal history a lot when I write this blog since this save me from searching data and facts through comics.

ROGER’s personal history

VIVRE CARD~ONE PIECE図鑑~ STARTER SET Vol.1 (コミックス)

Copyright © 2026 ONE PIECE World according to Zorilover All Rights Reserved.