Fanclub Temple of The Grandmaster Zoro
- Thread starter Guan Yu
- Start date
- Tags #zoro bodies your fave #zoro is unparalleled in all existence 110 cm all hail peroroncino chopper solos cruzeiro cruzeiro cryyyys kings titties > zoros nik belongs in an asylum pero a bitch weakling what happened to the good tags? woro carries mid piece zoro zoro > luffy zoro > your fav
why tho
W
I did a breakdown about the pre-battle banter at the Baratie. Please let me know what you think! Also, if you have any corrections or suggestions for my Japanese, I'm open to being corrected. I'm not a native speaker, but I do discuss my translations with a native speaker. 
This is kind of long and heavy on language nerd stuff, but I think it really shows a lot about Mihawk that's missed in the official Viz.
To Zoro, Mihawk's feat is proof that he's the WSS. His reaction shows that he's never seen someone do anything like that before, and that includes his time with Koshiro and his time as a bounty hunter.
Zoro treats this like an introduction: "So, you're the greatest! Nice to meet you! Let's fight!"
Zoro’s admission here is so blunt and almost childlike. He might as well say, “I’m your biggest fan!🤩” Just look at his smile!
His happy announcement really shows difference in experience between them. I’m sure Mihawk has heard that line a million times by now.
Mihawk doesn’t actually ask him, “Why?” in Japanese. He says:
何を目指す/ nani o mezasu
which is like, “To what aim/For what purpose?” (literally, “what are you aiming your eyes on?”)
Stephen Paul translated it as, “…What is it you seek?” which I think is a really good choice –way better than plain ol’ “Why?”– because it keeps true to Mihawk’s old-timey way of speaking.
Zoro says simply: 最強 (saikyou), meaning “strongest” or “the strongest.” That’s the same word that’s in Mihawk’s title as WSS, as well as what’s in Whitebeard’s and Kaido’s titles. He’s speaking simply, to match Mihawk.
He asks Mihawk, who is still just sitting there staring at his hands, ヒマなんだろ? (Hima nandaro?/You have time, right?) Earlier, when Mihawk spoke about killing time, he said “hima tsubushi.” Zoro is basically saying, “So, since you’re out here killing time, you have time to fight, right? Let’s have a match.” He’s calling Mihawk’s bluff to see if he really is just killing time.
It’s a gotcha. If Mihawk denied him the fight at this point, he’d potentially look like a coward since he previously said he had nothing better to do. I wonder what’s going through his head right now…
His choices are:
Show this kid what's up
Ignore him and and be perceived as lazy or cowardly
Zoro really put him on the spot in public like that.
Mihawk finally looks up from his hands and speaks to Zoro. You can tell that he senses something different about Zoro. I'm sure both of them are used to pre-fight trash talk, but look at the reactions of Johnny and Yosaku and Luffy. They know that this fight is going to be a lot different than Zoro's usual fights.
Mihawk says:
哀れなり(aware nari)
"aware" is "pitiful/pathetic" and "nari" is an archaic form of “to be.”
弱き者よ (yowakimonoyo) Yowakimono is “weak person/weakling” and the -yo at the end is a vocative (calling) poetic ending that makes it something like “O weak one!”
(“-yo” is also an everyday emphasis particle, but when Mihawk uses it, it’s usually in the sense of poetic “O!” to match his other anachronisms.)
This is the point in the anime at which Mihawk dematerializes like a vampire and/or jumps faster than the eye can see. 🤷♀️
So he warped jumped onto the wreckage of Krieg’s ship to take a closer look at Zoro. This is after he insulted Zoro, and he continues to taunt him here. Both of them are hoping for a fight at this point, but things must be done in the proper sequence, like a dance.
Mihawk appreciates that – just like when he and Vista exchanged greetings at the beginning of their fight. He likes to play the game slowly and correctly; it’s a journey not a destination; don’t rush things; live in the moment, etc., etc. More here.
Mihawk still hasn’t answered Zoro yes or no. The dance takes time.
Mihawk:
いっぱしの剣士であれば剣を交えるまでもなく
If you’re a competent enough swordsman,
おれとぬしの力の差を見抜けよう
there’s no need to cross swords to see the difference in power between us.
Mihawk uses "nushi" for "you" here. It’s from "O-nushi," which stopped being used in the Edo Period, but he's leaving off the O- because he doesn’t do honorifics.
He continues:
このおれに刃をつき立てる
勇気はおのれの心力か…
Does your nerve/courage/bravery to raise your sword at this very me come from your own heart power/mind power/confidence…
Mihawk’s use of "Kono ore" has its own post here, but the tldr is that it’s quite pompous and sounds like, “this very me,” or like “this actual me” –kind of like referring to yourself in third person in English.
Also, he just straight-up invented the word "heart power/shin ryoku" by combining the 2 kanji 心力. Usually 心力 is used in a medical sense, like the heart's actual pumping power. Stephen Paul translated it as
He uses the term "shin ryoku" a few more times in the Baratie scene. He made up a word and is just forcing it out there. Quit trying to make fetch happen, Mihawk.
The Viz English is pretty much the same as the Japanese here. These two panels with the white background are so cool though. The difference in their stances and the camera angle says a lot about their personalities and what they're expecting to happen next. Zoro is getting ready to fight; Mihawk is still in conversation mode. The actual swordfighting doesn't happen until the next chapter, so I'll save that for a later post.
This is kind of long and heavy on language nerd stuff, but I think it really shows a lot about Mihawk that's missed in the official Viz.
Zoro treats this like an introduction: "So, you're the greatest! Nice to meet you! Let's fight!"
His happy announcement really shows difference in experience between them. I’m sure Mihawk has heard that line a million times by now.
Mihawk doesn’t actually ask him, “Why?” in Japanese. He says:
何を目指す/ nani o mezasu
which is like, “To what aim/For what purpose?” (literally, “what are you aiming your eyes on?”)
Stephen Paul translated it as, “…What is it you seek?” which I think is a really good choice –way better than plain ol’ “Why?”– because it keeps true to Mihawk’s old-timey way of speaking.
He asks Mihawk, who is still just sitting there staring at his hands, ヒマなんだろ? (Hima nandaro?/You have time, right?) Earlier, when Mihawk spoke about killing time, he said “hima tsubushi.” Zoro is basically saying, “So, since you’re out here killing time, you have time to fight, right? Let’s have a match.” He’s calling Mihawk’s bluff to see if he really is just killing time.
It’s a gotcha. If Mihawk denied him the fight at this point, he’d potentially look like a coward since he previously said he had nothing better to do. I wonder what’s going through his head right now…
His choices are:
Show this kid what's up
Ignore him and and be perceived as lazy or cowardly
Zoro really put him on the spot in public like that.
Mihawk says:
"aware" is "pitiful/pathetic" and "nari" is an archaic form of “to be.”
弱き者よ (yowakimonoyo) Yowakimono is “weak person/weakling” and the -yo at the end is a vocative (calling) poetic ending that makes it something like “O weak one!”
(“-yo” is also an everyday emphasis particle, but when Mihawk uses it, it’s usually in the sense of poetic “O!” to match his other anachronisms.)
This is the point in the anime at which Mihawk dematerializes like a vampire and/or jumps faster than the eye can see. 🤷♀️
Mihawk appreciates that – just like when he and Vista exchanged greetings at the beginning of their fight. He likes to play the game slowly and correctly; it’s a journey not a destination; don’t rush things; live in the moment, etc., etc. More here.
Mihawk still hasn’t answered Zoro yes or no. The dance takes time.
いっぱしの剣士であれば剣を交えるまでもなく
If you’re a competent enough swordsman,
おれとぬしの力の差を見抜けよう
there’s no need to cross swords to see the difference in power between us.
Mihawk uses "nushi" for "you" here. It’s from "O-nushi," which stopped being used in the Edo Period, but he's leaving off the O- because he doesn’t do honorifics.
He continues:
このおれに刃をつき立てる
勇気はおのれの心力か…
Does your nerve/courage/bravery to raise your sword at this very me come from your own heart power/mind power/confidence…
Mihawk’s use of "Kono ore" has its own post here, but the tldr is that it’s quite pompous and sounds like, “this very me,” or like “this actual me” –kind of like referring to yourself in third person in English.
Also, he just straight-up invented the word "heart power/shin ryoku" by combining the 2 kanji 心力. Usually 心力 is used in a medical sense, like the heart's actual pumping power. Stephen Paul translated it as
He uses the term "shin ryoku" a few more times in the Baratie scene. He made up a word and is just forcing it out there. Quit trying to make fetch happen, Mihawk.
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How does Zoro keep on winning bros? 
Zoro vs Killer in the anime gives birth to one of the most well animated sequences in all of one piece.
The anime episode also confirms the manga panels that Zoro's hunger was a significant factor to him passing out. His stomach growls before he finally slumps down after Gyukimaru leaves.
:cheers:
Zoro vs Killer in the anime gives birth to one of the most well animated sequences in all of one piece.
The anime episode also confirms the manga panels that Zoro's hunger was a significant factor to him passing out. His stomach growls before he finally slumps down after Gyukimaru leaves.
:cheers:
The pirate who looks like Usopp’s lost uncle shoots at Mihawk with both of his guns. I mean, you have to be pretty mad to just blast both guns at the same time like that without even really aiming.
That same guy was already pretty upset with Mihawk, and when Mihawk smarts off to him about killing time, he loses it.
Yoru is still on Mihawk’s back at that point.
He draws his sword after the shots are fired and still manages to deflect the bullets.
Unfortunately, the anime showed it totally the opposite: He draws before the shots are fired.
This Toei downplay of Mihawk is just unacceptable.
As I mentioned before, one of the most important powers of a great swordfighter is their speed and ability to move faster than the eye can see. -1000 points to Toei.
ANYWAY, Zoro just walks up in the middle of this and starts talking. Both Zoro and Mihawk entirely ignore the Krieg Pirates from this point on and just talk to each other.
Zoro tells Mihawk:
あんな優しい剣は見た事がねェ
I’ve never seen such a tender sword.
And Mihawk answers:
“柔"なき剣に強さなどない
A sword without “softness” has no strength.
(You could also read both lines with “swordsmanship” in place of “sword.”)
It’s interesting that they use different words here to describe the sword. Zoro says 優しい yasashii, meaning tender, gentle, graceful. It can also be used like “affectionate” or “kind.”
Mihawk replies with 柔 juu, meaning softness, gentleness, weakness, suppleness. He puts “juu“ in emphasis quotes, as he likes to do.
He might be referencing a Japanese proverb:
柔能く剛を制す (juu yoku gou o seisu)
which is translated like: “soft and fair goes far” or “willows are weak, yet they bind other wood.”
It wouldn’t be surprising for Mihawk to be referencing the word 柔 Juu from that proverb, especially because he quotes another proverb (the frog in the well story) in just a few panels.
In the anime, though, they have different lines.
Zoro: そんなに柔らかく動く剣は見たことがねぇ (I’ve never seen a sword moved so gracefully) He’s using 柔らかく(yawaraku) here for “gracefully/softly.” (Juu and yawa are both readings of 柔)
Mihawk: 力だけの剣に強さなどない (Only force doesn’t make a strong sword) <–He doesn’t mention softness or grace at all T.T
So in the anime, they lost the “Juu” reference to the proverb, which sucks because it takes away from the beautiful and strange poetry of Mihawk’s language.
(and I'm not out to bash Toei, but these two things have always bugged me. Mihawk's introduction should show the full extent of his power and personality.)
---
BTW thank you guys for letting me post my Mihawk nonsense here. Quite honestly, I live in fear of the day when all of the Zoro fans will turn on Mihawk, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it
Yoru is still on Mihawk’s back at that point.
Unfortunately, the anime showed it totally the opposite: He draws before the shots are fired.
This Toei downplay of Mihawk is just unacceptable.
As I mentioned before, one of the most important powers of a great swordfighter is their speed and ability to move faster than the eye can see. -1000 points to Toei.ANYWAY, Zoro just walks up in the middle of this and starts talking. Both Zoro and Mihawk entirely ignore the Krieg Pirates from this point on and just talk to each other.
あんな優しい剣は見た事がねェ
I’ve never seen such a tender sword.
And Mihawk answers:
“柔"なき剣に強さなどない
A sword without “softness” has no strength.
(You could also read both lines with “swordsmanship” in place of “sword.”)
It’s interesting that they use different words here to describe the sword. Zoro says 優しい yasashii, meaning tender, gentle, graceful. It can also be used like “affectionate” or “kind.”
Mihawk replies with 柔 juu, meaning softness, gentleness, weakness, suppleness. He puts “juu“ in emphasis quotes, as he likes to do.
He might be referencing a Japanese proverb:
柔能く剛を制す (juu yoku gou o seisu)
which is translated like: “soft and fair goes far” or “willows are weak, yet they bind other wood.”
It wouldn’t be surprising for Mihawk to be referencing the word 柔 Juu from that proverb, especially because he quotes another proverb (the frog in the well story) in just a few panels.
Zoro: そんなに柔らかく動く剣は見たことがねぇ (I’ve never seen a sword moved so gracefully) He’s using 柔らかく(yawaraku) here for “gracefully/softly.” (Juu and yawa are both readings of 柔)
Mihawk: 力だけの剣に強さなどない (Only force doesn’t make a strong sword) <–He doesn’t mention softness or grace at all T.T
So in the anime, they lost the “Juu” reference to the proverb, which sucks because it takes away from the beautiful and strange poetry of Mihawk’s language.
(and I'm not out to bash Toei, but these two things have always bugged me. Mihawk's introduction should show the full extent of his power and personality.)
---
BTW thank you guys for letting me post my Mihawk nonsense here. Quite honestly, I live in fear of the day when all of the Zoro fans will turn on Mihawk, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it
Anyway nice anlysis. Keep them coming
W
Samurai are supposed to hide their hunger because showing it is considered shameful. In the Hagakure, it says a samurai should always have a toothpick so they can appear as if they just finished eating. It's important to hide your poverty or unmet needs when you're a samurai, because someone can use that against you. There's another bushido saying about how even if your stomach is empty, it's shameful to feel hunger.
All of the stomach issues and poisoned water and Bepo having the runs is just samurai story stuff, for real. That's why Otama was hiding her stomach pains, too. I think Momo has a similar line somewhere. You guys read Vagabond? The samurai diarrhea is real, man. Zoro was ignoring his stomach and gut problems for so long that he didn't even feel it, like a real samurai would. That's Zoro hype from Oda, not an insult. I don't get the controversy-- I'm not trying to be snarky. I just don't understand what the other side was arguing.
All of the stomach issues and poisoned water and Bepo having the runs is just samurai story stuff, for real. That's why Otama was hiding her stomach pains, too. I think Momo has a similar line somewhere. You guys read Vagabond? The samurai diarrhea is real, man. Zoro was ignoring his stomach and gut problems for so long that he didn't even feel it, like a real samurai would. That's Zoro hype from Oda, not an insult. I don't get the controversy-- I'm not trying to be snarky. I just don't understand what the other side was arguing.
I was re-reading Wano and I noticed something
So,
here we can see that Toko is sleeping to the right side of Zoro in chap 939
But,
when we later see Zoro and the gang, we can see that Toko is on his left side almost like she was thrown their lmao due to her position but it may be she moves a lot during sleep but to go from left to right is too much...
I think Hiyori put Toko to other side and slept in Zoro's right side because as Zoro's left eye is closed he would not be able to see her IMMEDIATELY after waking up so Hiyori using her big brain decided to sleep on Zoro's right side so that when Zoro wakes up the first thing he sees is Hiyori ( but he saw Brook or maybe just heard his voice and assume it was him lol). Hiyori had already started to woo our Grandmaster lmao as immediately following this scene
we see Hiyori making a big deal out of Zoro sleeping with her.
So,
here we can see that Toko is sleeping to the right side of Zoro in chap 939
But,
when we later see Zoro and the gang, we can see that Toko is on his left side almost like she was thrown their lmao due to her position but it may be she moves a lot during sleep but to go from left to right is too much...
I think Hiyori put Toko to other side and slept in Zoro's right side because as Zoro's left eye is closed he would not be able to see her IMMEDIATELY after waking up so Hiyori using her big brain decided to sleep on Zoro's right side so that when Zoro wakes up the first thing he sees is Hiyori ( but he saw Brook or maybe just heard his voice and assume it was him lol). Hiyori had already started to woo our Grandmaster lmao as immediately following this scene
we see Hiyori making a big deal out of Zoro sleeping with her.
They look pretty cute all sleeping together like that though
Yeah, Momonosuke was very adamant about not being hungry when he was first introduced. They even had regular citizens in Wano saying stuff about how it's shameful to complain about being hungry in the Leftover Town in Kuri. And then there's Zoro, who only apparently ate Rika's onigiri while he was tied to that post back in his intro...
