One Piece Chapter 1057 – Yamato’s Decision

While within the realm of possibility, I am curious as to why Oda-sensei scripted Yamato in such a manner to only have him remain in Wano Kuni out of focus. I did suspect such a development, but I couldn’t see much reason for it considering the character and narrative momentum Oda-sensei has associated behind Yamato. One of the earlier theories I had which could have seen Yamato remain in Wano was the possibility of there being a seventh Wano Family and Kaido and Yamato being descendants of that family. In order to discover more about his blood and family story, Yamato would need to remain in Wano to uncover additional information. With Yamato not remaining in Wano to follow the “path” Oden took in traveling Wano, this could potentially open up an interesting path for Yamato to develop to be weaved into the story at a later point when the Straw Hat Pirates are in need of assistance.

One Piece Chapter 1056 – Preparing To Depart Wano

The Straw Hat Pirates conclude their loose ends in Wano and finally prepare to depart the land after having been disengaged from the outside world for a significant amount of time while events altering the landscapes of politics, power and possibility have transpired. The world has changed and the actions of Straw Hat Pirates on Wano have directly contributed to the reality they are about to return themselves into. The Straw Hat Pirates are now a Yonko crew with strong ally connections who are also about to get a new addition to their crew.

One Piece Chapter 1055 – Momonosuke VS Ryokugyu: Be Free Yamato

The young yet tempered mind of Momonosuke has displayed the effects of its tragic and liberated journey against the towering force of one of Wano’s enemy’s most significant assets. Ryokugyu overwhelmed the Samurai but when Momonosuke was backed into a corner, even Ryokugyu felt the searing pain of the resolve affirming Momonosuke’s heart. Momonosuke bowed his head to save Wano and now with the nation released from the shackles of tyranny and darkness due to a combined effort of alliances and friendship, he realises the need for Wano to be able to defend itself. Momonosuke takes Ryokugyu on himself in order to convey to Yamato that the burden of being Wano’s defender has been released from him. Momonosuke understands Yamato’s dream and now that an opportunity has arisen, Momonosuke wishes wholeheartedly for Yamato to embrace it. The fear of facing an Admiral dwarfs in comparison to the desire Momonosuke has in wanting Yamato to be free. Momonosuke fights to give Yamato a send-off toward a future where he too has the freedom to pursue his dreams.

One Piece Chapter 1051 – Wano’s Shogun: Kozuki Momonosuke

The land of Wano crushed under hatred and destroyed by animosity held unjustly toward the people left the hearts of all suffocating in misery for twenty years. Each dawn that arose reminded the people of the hell they resided in and of the inescapable reality governing all aspects of their lives. Freedom became a dream, a visage that would disappear and be forgotten with the rising of the sun and the opening of their eyes. Hope diminished and cries for salvation softened until nothing but silence could be heard. Yet, within that suffering, a flicker of hope endured. The last remnant of perseverance driving the nation forward through the endless torment breaking their hearts, minds, bodies and spirits down piece by piece day by day. The prophecy of Toki echoed throughout Wano and became the silent prayer the people would whisper earnestly to themselves. It became the hope that held the nation together. Twenty years later, as Toki promised, the Akazaya Samurai returned to liberate Wano and ensure the Dawn greeting the day was the signal for the end of the long night that began when Oden died. And the one ushering in the new age for Wano is none other than the son of Toki and Oden, a boy that sailed aboard Whitebeard, Roger and Luffy’s ship, a boy who became a man whose name means “invincible”, the heir of the Kozuki line and the true Shogunate of Wano, Kozuki Momonosuke.

One Piece Chapter 1050 – Wano’s Samurai

He won. Luffy won. He challenged the world’s strongest creature and together with the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai alliance, the forces of Kaido were defeated. The twenty year long night that began when Oden died has finally been illuminated by the glimmer of hope awaiting in the future. Momonosuke in turn has also saved the Samurai and arrived in the Flower Capital with the Akazaya Samurai (those that can stand) and Hiyori to declare an end to the night and usher in a new dawn for the people of Wano Kuni. The time that stopped on the day Oden died has begun to move again with the arrival of his children, Momonosuke and Hiyori, and the Samurai who believed in them.

One Piece Chapter 1049 – Luffy VS Kaido: Joy Boy

The chapter framed itself within the context of Luffy representing Joy Boy, an existence prophecised to precipitate change. Within the narrative of an unfair world ruled by the whims of unjust nobles, the suffering of the people gave rise to a longing for liberation. Those aware of the legends of Joy Boy came to believe in its manifestation and approached life with such a thought in mind. King saw Joy Boy in Kaido. And despite Kaido’s doubt in Joy Boy’s existence, he had hoped for the contrary. The World Government feared Joy Boy and attempted to hid his existence from the world. Oden came to find out the importance of Joy Boy and desired to open Wano for this person. And finally, there is Yamato, who realised the identity of Joy Boy while grieving over Ace’s death. The man Yamato has waited for since that day. Within this chapter, the threads of Joy Boy all converged onto Luffy who drove his fist down from the heavens and sent Kaido flying into the depths of the Earth. A display that illustrated the overwhelming nature of Luffy’s Haki that has now knocked down the world’s strongest creature.

One Piece Chapter 1047 – Luffy VS Kaido: Battle Of Haki

Kaido came out and straight said it, no matter how powerful someone’s Devil Fruit, if their opponents Haki is stronger, they will be the overwhelmed. Both Kaido and Luffy possess Mythical Zoans and both possess Haoshoku Haki. They have been evenly matched and are now in their last legs in terms of endurance. What Luffy seeks to do is send one last attack Kaido’s way that is impossible to dodge and defend against. A fist so massive that it covers the skies and almost rivals Onigashima in size. Onigashima is in Luffy’s way and Momonosuke is tasked to move it before the hammer of Luffy drops.

One Piece Chapter 1045 – Luffy VS Kaido: Gear Five

After witnessing the sheer madness unfolding before them, both Momonosuke and Yamato should now realise who Luffy is and how necessary his presence is to the arrival of the Dawn. Yamato suspected it and believed in it. Now he is getting the confirmation that Luffy truly is the individual Oden had been waiting on. Momonosuke as well is coming to a realisation of how special Luffy is. By being spectator to the battle Luffy is having against the world strongest creature, Momonosuke and Yamato will arrive at a path that they will realise would need to be traversed on. Supporting Luffy will be the result of what they are both currently seeing. As for Kaido, he too will come to realise the freedom on display before him is the embodiment of “Joy Boy”.

One Piece Chapter 1043 – The Return Of Joy Boy

After this chapter Yamato’s relevance has begun to touch the realms of essential. The path forward is very much set-up to be alongside the Straw Hat Pirates. As the story begins to embrace the significance of Joy Boy more, Yamato becomes more necessary as the agent of Oden who intends to assist the one the world has been waiting for. Dissenters can can disapprove. They can disillusion themselves. They can attach their hope onto something that may or may not manifest. But what they can’t ignore is the direction of the plot and the writing of Oda. Joy Boy has returned and with it a will spanning 800 years has been inherited by Luffy who now takes on such a role. No one expected this out of Luffy, except Yamato, who realised Luffy’s importance to the person the world has been waiting for after Ace’s execution two years ago. The pieces of information Yamato possessed in the form of Oden’s journal, the newspaper articles and even what little information they had from Kaido and the Beast Pirates, he pieced it all together to arrive at the conclusion that the one person capable of fulfilling the promise left unfulfilled by the ancient figure is Monkey D. Luffy.

One Piece Chapter 1040 – Kid & Law VS Big Mom: Convictions

The fall from a summit toward the depths awaiting below is a solitary and desolate occurrence. In a realm where one sits above all, the only companion to the journey on the way down are the echo’s of anguish perpetuating the regrets confounding the mind. Big Mom stood against the generations but when faced with those emboldened by the life of the Pirate King, her incomprehensible throne cracked and shattered. She cursed the dead but in the end, she had her time and failed to consolidate on it. Now, in face of her Emperor status, challengers arose to sweep across a new era to replace the old. In the eyes of this generation, Big Mom was not an enemy beyond their capabilities but merely an obstacle in the way of their journey toward their personal destinations. The era of the Yonko is over and it is time for the New Generation to step forward and grab the Age by its reigns.