This article contains spoilers for the One Piece Manga.
One Piece is the world’s biggest manga series ever, and in the grand world created by Oda, fans can find almost anything. Oda's story has been serializing for almost 3 decades now, and yet, romance remains rather underused in the story, especially when the main characters, the Straw Hat Pirates, are concerned.
3 Years After Gear 5, One Piece Finally Confirms Luffy's Next Power Up
Luffy's next power-up has been revealed, and it will take his haki to the next level in One Piece.
Of course, that doesn't stop fans from creating their own pairings, and one of the most popular ships among the fans is undoubtedly that of Luffy and Nami. While many fans would love to see it happen in the Final Saga, it’s rather unlikely, if not outright impossible. In 2009, Oda stated that no romance would happen between the Straw Hat Pirates. Over a decade later, Oda once again implied that he still shares the same viewpoint as he wouldn’t allow the live action to feature Straw Hat romance.
Luffy And Nami Will Never Be A Couple As Oda Is Against Straw Hat Romance
The One Piece series, despite not really focusing on romance within the crew, still features many popular ships among the fans. When it comes to Luffy, two major ships stand out, that of Luffy and Nami, and Luffy and Boa Hancock. One of these ships, however, is rather unlikely to ever happen in the series, and it’s that of Luffy and Nami.
In 2009, Oda answered a fan question during Jump Festa. That question was inquiring about Nami’s love life, and Oda was quick to say that no romance would happen between the Straw Hat pirates. Oda considers One Piece to be a manga aimed at boys, and as such, romance will never be a priority for him, and it most certainly won't unfold between the main characters.
Q: Who does Nami like?
Oda: Hmm, in a romantic sense? I don't think there will be any romance among that crew. Nami probably sees all the good aspects/qualities of those guys, but One Piece isn't a romance. Maybe a lot of female readers ask this kind of question. The boys are not interested at all. One Piece is basically a shonen manga, manga for boys, so romance isn't depicted.
Oda Doubled Down On His No Romance Rule With The One Piece Live Action
While Oda clearly stated he doesn't want to depict romance in the crew, he did so in 2009, and some fans claim that was a long time ago so it doesn't hold any weight. Many fans like to think that in 16 years, Oda could’ve possibly changed his mind.
One Piece: Oda Drops A Major Hint About The Next Straw Hat In Volume 113 SBS
The next Straw Hat pirate has just been hinted at, and they might well be the final one to join the crew in One Piece.
However, Oda made this point clear all over again with the production of the One Piece Live Action. One of Oda’s non-negotiable rules to Netflix was that there was to be no romance among the Straw Hat Pirates. Even over a decade after his first statement, Oda has not changed his mind at all about the subject. It seems that keeping the Straw Hat Pirates romance-free remains something Oda feels very strongly about.
Don't you dare make my navigator cry! — Luffy in Arlong Park
One Piece Has Some Good Romance Stories
While Oda doesn’t take romance as a priority in his story and doesn’t allow it between the main characters, it doesn’t mean that it’s non-existent. One Piece, throughout its run, has showcased many couples, even recently with the Elbaf Flashback.
In God Valley, Oda showcases Rayleigh, one of the Roger pirates, rescuing his future partner, Shakky. God Valley reveals even more romance through Eris and Rocks D. Xebec, a couple that has become a fan favorite among fans. One also can’t forget the endearing romance between King Harald and Ida.
Oda has even set up some interesting romance plot lines for the Straw Hat Pirates with other outside characters. Luffy and Hancock are one, but it doesn’t stop there. Sanji and Pudding will have great moments in the Final Saga, and Usopp and Kaya might be an interesting endgame couple for the series as well.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece will be featured in this week's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1167 is December 1, 2025. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday, which is 11:00 AM EST, or 8:00 AM PT. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps.