Ok, I’ve always wanted to write about the so-called “power of love.” Let me be clear: I don’t think it is an actual power. I think it’s just a romantic way to describe how humans can defy their limits simply by loving someone. In a way, I think it’s similar to haki.
In One Piece, ever since we discovered haki (which literally means “ambition” or "spirit"), everything changed. I’ve always thought that a character grows their haki not only through training but even more through ambition, conviction, or the strength of their ideology, mission, dream, or whatever they believe in.
In the One Piece world, the more someone trusts their beliefs, follows their dreams, or clings to their ideology, the stronger they become. Oda even said in an SBS that Luffy defeats his enemies by crushing their will—their ambition. Battles in One Piece are not only fought with blows but also by clashing the “will” of two opponents. Haki battles are physical and philosophical at the same time.
Why am I digressing with haki? Because I think the so-called “power of love” is exactly the same. I think it’s just haki, nothing else. It’s the will of a person that allows them to do something incredible, something that goes against the logic of the world.
First of all, in the translation of Vegapunk’s famous quote in chapter 1104, there’s no mention of the word “power.”
愛ゆえと説明してよいが -> One may say it was because of love, however …
This is Vegapunk right after Kuma punched Saturn in the face to save Bonney. Vegapunk was surprised that Kuma was even able to move.
A few panels earlier he says:
動き出す理由も。。。ましてや。。。ボニーのいるこの島へ辿りつける理屈もないんじゃ！！科学的に。。。！
There’s no reason for it to even start moving, let alone any logic that it could reach this island where Bonney is! Scientifically speaking!!
Then:
やはり本当なのかバッカニア族の時性は身体の強さではない彼らはかつて。。。
So it really is true… The true trait of the Buccaneer tribe isn’t their physical strength… Once, they…
Here Vegapunk leaves the reader hanging, not explaining what he’s really thinking. My interpretation is that, beyond their great physical strength, the Buccaneers also possess an indomitable spirit, or will or, as some might say, haki. Everything converges on this point: the will of a person, the ability to retain one’s individuality. That’s why I think “love” and “haki” are basically the same. They are just two different words describing will and determination.
Saturn after Kuma's punch even says:
成程。。。それは人体の盲断及び不具台である
That is the diagnosis and defect of the human body.
My interpretation is that Kuma's will was so strong that he was able to take control of his machine body.
So this so-called “power of love” is not really a power. It’s simply a philosophical way of saying that the love of a father is stronger than the cybernetic constraints that Kuma was subjected to.
If we think about it that way, then when Garp talked about the “fist of love” back in chapter 431, it wasn’t some kind of special power either. Maybe Oda later retconned it as haki, or maybe Garp is just so ridiculously strong that he can damage Luffy without haki. I personally prefer the second explanation, but either way, “love” is really just love—the manifestation of strong affection and attachment to someone.
愛ある拳は防ぐ術なし -> There is no way to defend against a fist of love.
That’s it. Nothing more. I don’t understand why some people insist on treating it as an actual new power. Well, maybe I do understand it’s probably because the official English translation took the liberty of adding the phrase “power of love”, and people took it literally.
愛はいつでもハリカーン！！！
Love is always an hurricane!!!
Even the “love is like a hurricane” line can be explained. Sanji and Nyon both use the kanji 恋, which refers more to romantic love. It’s just a saying, a way of expressing that one cannot resist the pull of romantic feelings toward someone (Nyon even says it’s a common phrase used in East Blue). It’s not a power at all.
In the end, what I wanted to say is that my interpretation of the term “love” in the manga does not refer to some new kind of power. Rather, it can be seen as the will of human beings who feel strong emotional attachment to their loved ones. In this case, both Garp and Kuma show the love a father or grandfather can have for their son or grandchild.
Just remember, this is only my interpretation and my personal point of view on this whole “love power” debate and that I started studying japanese this year so maybe I did some mistakes. Probably I’m wrong, or probably I’m right, I don’t know. I just wanted to write about it because there’s been a lot of discussion around it.
In One Piece, ever since we discovered haki (which literally means “ambition” or "spirit"), everything changed. I’ve always thought that a character grows their haki not only through training but even more through ambition, conviction, or the strength of their ideology, mission, dream, or whatever they believe in.
In the One Piece world, the more someone trusts their beliefs, follows their dreams, or clings to their ideology, the stronger they become. Oda even said in an SBS that Luffy defeats his enemies by crushing their will—their ambition. Battles in One Piece are not only fought with blows but also by clashing the “will” of two opponents. Haki battles are physical and philosophical at the same time.
Why am I digressing with haki? Because I think the so-called “power of love” is exactly the same. I think it’s just haki, nothing else. It’s the will of a person that allows them to do something incredible, something that goes against the logic of the world.
First of all, in the translation of Vegapunk’s famous quote in chapter 1104, there’s no mention of the word “power.”
愛ゆえと説明してよいが -> One may say it was because of love, however …
This is Vegapunk right after Kuma punched Saturn in the face to save Bonney. Vegapunk was surprised that Kuma was even able to move.
A few panels earlier he says:
動き出す理由も。。。ましてや。。。ボニーのいるこの島へ辿りつける理屈もないんじゃ！！科学的に。。。！
There’s no reason for it to even start moving, let alone any logic that it could reach this island where Bonney is! Scientifically speaking!!
Then:
やはり本当なのかバッカニア族の時性は身体の強さではない彼らはかつて。。。
So it really is true… The true trait of the Buccaneer tribe isn’t their physical strength… Once, they…
Here Vegapunk leaves the reader hanging, not explaining what he’s really thinking. My interpretation is that, beyond their great physical strength, the Buccaneers also possess an indomitable spirit, or will or, as some might say, haki. Everything converges on this point: the will of a person, the ability to retain one’s individuality. That’s why I think “love” and “haki” are basically the same. They are just two different words describing will and determination.
Saturn after Kuma's punch even says:
成程。。。それは人体の盲断及び不具台である
That is the diagnosis and defect of the human body.
My interpretation is that Kuma's will was so strong that he was able to take control of his machine body.
So this so-called “power of love” is not really a power. It’s simply a philosophical way of saying that the love of a father is stronger than the cybernetic constraints that Kuma was subjected to.
If we think about it that way, then when Garp talked about the “fist of love” back in chapter 431, it wasn’t some kind of special power either. Maybe Oda later retconned it as haki, or maybe Garp is just so ridiculously strong that he can damage Luffy without haki. I personally prefer the second explanation, but either way, “love” is really just love—the manifestation of strong affection and attachment to someone.
愛ある拳は防ぐ術なし -> There is no way to defend against a fist of love.
That’s it. Nothing more. I don’t understand why some people insist on treating it as an actual new power. Well, maybe I do understand it’s probably because the official English translation took the liberty of adding the phrase “power of love”, and people took it literally.
愛はいつでもハリカーン！！！
Love is always an hurricane!!!
Even the “love is like a hurricane” line can be explained. Sanji and Nyon both use the kanji 恋, which refers more to romantic love. It’s just a saying, a way of expressing that one cannot resist the pull of romantic feelings toward someone (Nyon even says it’s a common phrase used in East Blue). It’s not a power at all.
In the end, what I wanted to say is that my interpretation of the term “love” in the manga does not refer to some new kind of power. Rather, it can be seen as the will of human beings who feel strong emotional attachment to their loved ones. In this case, both Garp and Kuma show the love a father or grandfather can have for their son or grandchild.
Just remember, this is only my interpretation and my personal point of view on this whole “love power” debate and that I started studying japanese this year so maybe I did some mistakes. Probably I’m wrong, or probably I’m right, I don’t know. I just wanted to write about it because there’s been a lot of discussion around it.
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