Aokiji

Overview

Kuzan, predominantly known by his Marine alias Aokiji, is a character from One Piece. Formerly an Admiral representing the World Government's highest military power, he resigned from the Marines following a duel against Sakazuki for the position of Fleet Admiral. He subsequently aligned himself with the Blackbeard Pirates as the captain of their 10th ship. As a user of the Logia-class Hie Hie no Mi, he possesses immense battle strength alongside an unconventional moral framework.

Appearance

Kuzan stands nearly three meters tall with a slender build, brownish skin, and perm-style black hair gathered at the back. As an Admiral, he wore a blue suit with a white vest and trousers, a yellow tie, a sleep mask on his forehead, and a Marine coat. During his time as a Vice Admiral, he donned a black coat, hat, and black sunglasses. Following his duel with Sakazuki, he sustained severe burn scars across his right side and right hand, lost his left leg below the knee, and uses a prosthetic leg crafted from his own ice. In the New World, he wears a dark coat and black sunglasses.

Personality

Kuzan displays an aloof and extremely relaxed demeanor, often appearing unmotivated when facing tedious matters. Adopting the doctrine of Lazy Justice, he operates according to his personal moral judgment rather than uncritical obedience to the Marines. While remaining composed and relentless against harmful criminals, he exhibits deep humanity by showing mercy or respect to specific individuals regardless of standing. He holds high regard for Monkey D. Garp, whose philosophy deeply shapes his lifestyle and outlook.

Abilities

Having eaten the Logia-class Hie Hie no Mi, Kuzan is a Freezing Human capable of transforming his body into ice and exerting control over extreme cold. He can instantly freeze massive expanses of ocean, construct solid ice weaponry, launch ranged cold attacks, and shatter frozen targets. His ice body grants regeneration from physical damage, and he can bypass the standard devil fruit weakness by solidifying water beneath him. Furthermore, he possesses advanced Armament and Observation Haki, mastery of high-speed movement skills like Sori, and exceptional physical striking power honed through training on warship hulls.

Background

Hailing from the South Blue, Kuzan joined the Marines thirty years ago and eventually rose to the rank of Admiral. During the Buster Call on Ohara twenty-two years ago, he was disturbed by Sakazuki's ruthless tactics, yet chose to honor his friend Jaguar D. Saul's wish by allowing the young Nico Robin to escape. After the Paramount War, he contested Sakazuki for the leadership of the Marines in an intense ten-day duel on Punk Hazard. Following his defeat, he resigned from the Marines and subsequently joined the Blackbeard Pirates under Marshall D. Teach.

Relationships

Kuzan holds Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp in high esteem as a mentor. Conversely, his contrasting ideals led to a bitter rivalry with Sakazuki, culminating in their duel for the Fleet Admiral position. He valued his friendship with former Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul, which motivated him to spare and keep track of Nico Robin over the decades. He also recognized the dangerous potential of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, though he chose to spare them during their initial encounter out of obligation for their defeat of Crocodile.

Trivia

Kuzan's birthday, September 21, is derived from the birthdate of actor Yusaku Matsuda, who served as the visual model for his character design. His favorite beverages include Tio Pepe sherry, dairy milk, and his own custom coffee blend, whereas he dislikes overly complex dishes. His hobbies consist of taking naps and going on casual bicycle trips. His designated animal motif during his time as an Admiral was the pheasant.