I know, I know, just bear with me; there might be more to this magma-spewing marine than meets the eye.
Now, I get it—Akainu is a character that has earned his fair share of disdain from the One Piece community.
But what if I told you that Eiichiro Oda, the brilliant mind behind our beloved pirate epic, has been subtly trying to paint Akainu in a more positive light? Intrigued? Good, let’s explore.
First off, let’s talk about the man behind the character.
Ever heard of Bunta Sugawara?
Well, he was Akainu’s real-world inspiration, a legendary Japanese actor with bone structure that earned him Oda’s deep respect. When Sugawara passed away in 2014, Oda paid tribute, vowing to draw Akainu with great respect.
Oda himself also commented on Bunta Sugawara’s passing in the Weekly Shônen Jump issue of Dec. 15: Bunta Sugawara, the greatest looking guy in the world with the best bone structure, Rest in peace. I have no words. ***I will draw Akainu with great respect.***
Would he turn this homage into a terrible, despicable character? Probably not.
But why the hate?
Maybe it’s because we’ve been viewing Akainu through Luffy-tinted glasses.
Let’s peel back the layers and examine some key moments.
Take Robin’s hometown devastation (Ohara), for instance.
From her perspective, those were innocent historians thirsting for knowledge.
But Akainu knew that these people are devils in the eyes of the ones above him (tenryuubito) and if he did not kill everyone, soon they would threatened the tenryuubito and then it would not be a simple buster call. it could be hundreds or thousands of buster call that would affect more people.
Remember the clash with Whitebeard?
Akainu reminded Whitebeard to focus on the enemy right in front.
Why?
To emphasize his commitment to fair, no-nonsense combat.
Admirals don’t ambush, not even the strongest like Whitebeard.
The bout with Aokiji showcased Akainu’s generosity.
He gave Aokiji a chance to fight for the position of Fleet Admiral, displaying an unexpected depth of character.
He could have ended Aokiji but let him walk away. Admirable, right?
Jinbei praised Akainu’s leadership, bringing the Marine to its prime after Garp and Sengoku’s retirement.
Akainu’s ability to elevate the entire organization showcases his remarkable leadership skills.
Now, the infamous incident with Koby and the fleeing soldier.
Some argue Akainu’s cruelty, but Oda showcased his leniency.
Akainu didn’t execute the deserter immediately; he listened to excuses, a rare display of compassion in the chaos of war.
In our history, during war, desertion is immediately prosecuted, no one would listen to your foolish excuses, everyone have family, everyone is afraid to die.
During Marineford, Akainu’s focus on protecting civilians often goes unnoticed.
While Whitebeard threatened an entire town, Akainu prioritized shielding innocent lives, raising questions about the perceived morality of our characters.
And why the animosity toward Akainu’s ruthlessness against pirates?
Maybe it’s a necessary evil in a world filled with rogues.
Not every pirate is “a Luffy”, some are downright scourges.
Akainu is cruel to pirates because most of the pirates out there are scrouge that killed random innocent people, and there are very few like Luffy that goes around helping others.
Lets all try to stand at the perspective of a normal person to really appreciate Akainu’s good characters.
So, let’s not be hasty with those comments.
Perhaps, just maybe, it’s time to appreciate the complexity and shades of gray within the character of Akainu.
After all, in the world of One Piece, things are rarely as black and white as they seem.
Let the discussions and disagreements flow like the Grand Line current!