I mean, the question is, where do you caterorize Shanks within this definition and where do you categorize Kamusari in terms of skill. Shanks is far from a brute just randomly swinging around an iron bar, he has great swordskill, which is mentioned in both manga and databooks, which is the reason Mihawk considered him a rival in the first place. So let's say, Mihawk has more skill than Shanks (better moves, more grace, better philosophy), yet Shanks just simply by having more powerful Haki, obliterates Mihawk. Is Mihawk now still the WSS? Did Mihawk and Shanks only agree to using a certain set of skills?
Powers & Abilities Kamusari is obviously swordsmanship
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Pirates in fiction often make wide, sweeping slashes with their cutlasses, sort of like Kamusari. I think the main reason why only Roger and Shanks can use Kamusari is because, to Oda, they most closely fit his mold of what an ideal pirate is. Basically, I think Oda will have Roger and Shanks’s fighting style be that they “fight like pirates,” which is why I think there’s a good chance that Shanks may also use a flintlock pistol as a part of his fighting style, since fictional pirates fight with a pistol and cutlass (and we already saw in Chapter 0 that Roger fought with one, so Shanks should too since he’s clearly copied Roger’s style).
So Shanks should have good sword skill, but to Oda, Shanks fights as a pirate first, swordsman second (whereas Mihawk is a swordsman first, pirate second).
Who Oda classifies as a swordsman is arbitrary af. Cabaji somehow is one, but King isn’t despite King using his sword more often than Cabaji did
So Shanks should have good sword skill, but to Oda, Shanks fights as a pirate first, swordsman second (whereas Mihawk is a swordsman first, pirate second).
Who Oda classifies as a swordsman is arbitrary af. Cabaji somehow is one, but King isn’t despite King using his sword more often than Cabaji did
Would that matter for Zoro though? Speaking of Cabaji, who is even more of a trickster, Zoro specifically said, that if he calls himself a swordsman, he cannot afford to lose to him. I highly doubt Shanks will use a gun as a one armed man. Even Roger's flintlock was kinda retconned and just a panel in strong world, while in recent feats, he was seen exclusively using a blade, his "beloved blade", just like Shanks' blade is labelled as his "beloved blade". You can see that they at least take pride in their blade and have great skill, even if you argue Mihawk takes the philosophy more strict.
Let's say Shanks fights as a pirate first and a swordsman second, why would Zoro exclude him? Especially since he and Mihawk are too pirates. I think this distinction is a bit too artificial. And if Mihawk considers Shanks a rival, why wouldn't Zoro?
Let's say Shanks fights as a pirate first and a swordsman second, why would Zoro exclude him? Especially since he and Mihawk are too pirates. I think this distinction is a bit too artificial. And if Mihawk considers Shanks a rival, why wouldn't Zoro?
I think the problem with this whole debate is that we’re putting way more thought into what counts as a swordsman than Oda himself ever has. I think to Oda, it’s totally arbitrary and based just on vibes. As with most other SHs, Zoro’s dream is basically an afterthought to him, and Zoro’s dream gets very little actual progress in the story. I mean, most of Zoro’s opponents aren’t even swordsmen, which I think is reflective of how Oda hasn’t really thought out what a swordsman should be and who exactly the WSS title applies to.
Cabaji was mainly just a “guy who carries a sword around” rather than an actual swordsman.
Those two clowns he fought in Syrup Village weren’t swordsmen
Hatchi actually was a swordsman, but he was fodder to Zoro and would’ve been stomped if Zoro wasn’t heavily nerfed
Daz Bones himself said he wasn’t a swordsman
Ohm fought with iron clouds and a dog, and never declared himself to be a swordsman iirc.
Kaku kinda was one pre-TS, but the dude just straight up threw his two swords in the trash post-TS. He never once used a sword on Egghead.
Zombie Ryuma was one, but he was only a mid diff fight
Hyouzou was one, but was fodder to Zoro
Pica only carried a sword around as a decoration, and his fighting style was instead creating large stone golems and attacking by manipulating the stone around his enemies
King was stated to not be a swordsman.
So the only actual swordsmen Zoro actually fought were Hatchi, Zombie Ryuma, and Hyouzou, who were all easy fights
Cabaji was mainly just a “guy who carries a sword around” rather than an actual swordsman.
Those two clowns he fought in Syrup Village weren’t swordsmen
Hatchi actually was a swordsman, but he was fodder to Zoro and would’ve been stomped if Zoro wasn’t heavily nerfed
Daz Bones himself said he wasn’t a swordsman
Ohm fought with iron clouds and a dog, and never declared himself to be a swordsman iirc.
Kaku kinda was one pre-TS, but the dude just straight up threw his two swords in the trash post-TS. He never once used a sword on Egghead.
Zombie Ryuma was one, but he was only a mid diff fight
Hyouzou was one, but was fodder to Zoro
Pica only carried a sword around as a decoration, and his fighting style was instead creating large stone golems and attacking by manipulating the stone around his enemies
King was stated to not be a swordsman.
So the only actual swordsmen Zoro actually fought were Hatchi, Zombie Ryuma, and Hyouzou, who were all easy fights
That rather hardens the case for Zoro though. It means to become the strongest, it is not enough to have fencing duels, he literally has to overcome all kinds of abominations; be it simple tricksters, be it people with an iron body that can turn any part of their body into a blade, be it a swordsman that can weaponize his entire body with Rokushiki, be it a walking mountain or a Lunarian with invincible defense, flame and DF abilities who uses a wide range of martial arts, to which Zoro even replies that he would have to tear through him with his teeth if that's what it takes. After defeating King, he remembers his dream of surpassing Mihawk.
The fact Shanks was not only Mihawk's rival, but in the reveal of Mihawk's bounty, Shanks' great swordskill was pointed out again and put into comparison with Mihawk, rather cements that Oda does indeed has thoughts revolving this matter, rather than acting arbitrary without a clue.
The fact Shanks was not only Mihawk's rival, but in the reveal of Mihawk's bounty, Shanks' great swordskill was pointed out again and put into comparison with Mihawk, rather cements that Oda does indeed has thoughts revolving this matter, rather than acting arbitrary without a clue.
Stephen paul headcanons are not facts
The word used in Mihawk title is the exact same as for Kaido and Whitebeard, by this logic they should be translated "world greatest man" and "world greatest creature".
Kaido too
Mihawk : Sekai Saikyō no Kenshi
Whitebeard : Sekai Saikyō no Otoko
Kaido : Saikyō no Seibutsu
The word used in Mihawk title is the exact same as for Kaido and Whitebeard, by this logic they should be translated "world greatest man" and "world greatest creature".
Kaido too
Mihawk : Sekai Saikyō no Kenshi
Whitebeard : Sekai Saikyō no Otoko
Kaido : Saikyō no Seibutsu
I'm no japanese translator, so I just asked GPT.
In Japanese, 最強 (saikyō) means "the strongest" or "the most powerful."
Would you look at that.
In Japanese, 最強 (saikyō) means "the strongest" or "the most powerful."
- 最 (sai) is a prefix that indicates the highest or most extreme degree of something, similar to "the most" in English.
- 強 (kyō) means "strong" or "powerful."
Would you look at that.
Any sword technique can be performed with any blade. Heck, Zoro was performing sword techniques bare handed.
Being a swordsman just means, you are at your strongest with swords and can most effectively utilize those techniques using a sword. Shanks with his beloved blade Gryphon > Shanks with an axe.
Being a swordsman just means, you are at your strongest with swords and can most effectively utilize those techniques using a sword. Shanks with his beloved blade Gryphon > Shanks with an axe.