Nami (One Piece)

Nami (Japanese: ナミ, Japanese: [na̠mʲi]) is a fictional character in the One Piece franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. She is based on Ann and Silk, two characters from Oda's previous manga Romance Dawn. She is introduced as a thief and pickpocket who possesses cartographical, meteorological, and navigational skills. At first, she is a subordinate of the fishman Arlong, but she is eventually freed of this service and permanently joins Monkey D. Luffy to fulfill her dream of creating a complete map of the Grand Line.

Nami
One Piece character
First appearanceOne Piece chapter 8: "Nami" (Weekly Shōnen Jump No. 42, 1997)
Created byEiichiro Oda
Portrayed byEmily Rudd
Voiced bySee Voice actresses
In-universe information
AliasCat Burglar
RelativesBellemere (adoptive mother)
Nojiko (adoptive sister)
Affiliations
Age18 (debut)
20 (after the timeskip)
Bounties฿ 66,000,000 (current)
฿ 16,000,000 (first)[1][2]

In the series, Nami is the Straw Hat Pirates' navigator, who dreams of drawing a map of the entire world. Despite her initial distrust of pirates, Nami eventually changes her mind after being around Luffy and the rest of the crew. Nami is depicted as an intelligent girl who is obsessed with obtaining money. She is able to use her three-sectioned staff and her climate skills to create powerful attacks; the most prominent of these staff weapons is the Clima-Tact, in which she manipulates the climate to create weather-based attacks.

Conception and creation

Nami was based on two of Eiichiro Oda's earlier characters named Silk and Ann, from his one-shot manga Romance Dawn. In these stories, Silk and Ann were parentless and had tragic pasts. Oda designed Nami as a human girl. At first, Oda wanted Nami to use a large axe, but he replaced it with a pole-based weapon. In an early concept of the Straw Hats, Nami was the only woman on the crew.[3]

Nami is fashionable and her style changes throughout One Piece. She was first introduced wearing a white-and-blue striped shirt, an orange mini-skirt and orange boots.[4] Throughout the series, Nami is commonly seen wearing a shirt or bikini top, a skirt and high-heeled sandals. Nami often wears blue tattoos throughout the course of the series; the first is a symbol of Arlong's crew[5] which is later removed and replaced with a symbol of a tangerine and pinwheel on her left bicep.[6] Eventually, Nami starts wearing earrings and has her hair, once just barely shoulder-length, grown down to the middle of her back, while usually wearing bikini tops with blue jeans.[7] Concerning her ethnic appearance, Oda revealed that he imagines Nami to be of Swedish nationality, albeit in a real-world context.[8]

Voice actresses
Luci Christian voiced Nami in the Funimation English dub of the series.

In the Japanese version of the entire One Piece anime series, and later spin-offs, Nami has been voiced by Akemi Okamura.[9] In 2001, Okamura temporarily left the series due to her pregnancy; Wakana Yamazaki acted as a substitute for episodes 70-78.[10] In the OVA Defeat the Pirate Ganzack!, Nami was voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi.[11] In 4Kids Entertainment’s dub of the anime, Nami is voiced by Kerry Williams.[12] In Funimation Entertainment's dub of the anime, Nami is voiced by Luci Christian.[13]

Characteristics

Nami possesses several abilities. She can tell climate changes and draw sea charts.[14] She is also a pickpocket.[6] During the early part of the series, Nami possesses a three-sectioned bo staff until Usopp creates a variation of her staff, known as the Clima-Tact (天候棒（クリマ・タクト）, Kuraima Takuto, renamed "Climate Baton" in Viz Media's manga translation and "Weather Forcer" in 4Kids' anime dub), which can control the weather at will.[15] Later, Usopp upgrades her weapon to the Perfect Clima-Tact (完全版 "天候棒"（パーフェクト･クリマ･タクト）, Pāfekuto Kurima Takuto, renamed "Perfected Climate Baton" in the Viz Media manga translation and "Complete Clima-Tact" in Funimation's anime dub), using Dials to increase her attacks.[16]

Eventually, Nami adds the Sorcery Clima-Tact (Sorcery Climate Baton in the Viz manga and Funimation subs) with Weatheria's technology,[17] which not only has improved abilities, but can also be used for other uses such as producing Milky Clouds for riding across.[18] As with her original staff, these three weapons are also tri-sectional. Later, Usopp gives Nami an improved Sorcery Clima-Tact model she wanted him to make (which he had Franky help him a little bit). Using the knowledge he acquired over the time-skip with the plant-based Pop Greens, Usopp combined this with the Weatheria technology Nami provided him and designed the new Sorcery Clima-Tact to be smaller and more compact than the previous models. Instead, it uses the Pop Greens' growth abilities for the staff to extend and contract, through the use of squeezing or releasing the handle.[19] This improvement also allows Nami to now be able to directly attack with her staff from a distance.[20] Nami later teamed up with Big Mom's thundercloud-based accomplice Zeus,[21] eventually forcing him to become her servant,[22] and is currently part of her arsenal, now living inside her Clima-Tact.[23] Though Zeus' body was later destroyed by his former master,[24] his soul was able to survive and has now completely merged with the Clima-Tact, improving its capabilities and giving shape-changing abilities, such as transforming it into a mace.[25]

Appearances

In One Piece

Nami first appears in the manga chapter "Nami" (ナミ登場, Nami Tōjō), first published in Japan's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on September 22, 1997.[4] She first appears as a thief who robs treasure from pirates, and partners with Luffy and Zoro after joining forces to obtain a map of the Grand Line from the clown-like pirate Buggy. As the crew defends the seafaring restaurant Baratie from Don Krieg's pirates, Nami learns of a bounty on the fish-man pirate Arlong and departs with the crew's ship and accumulated treasure, intending to buy back her home village Cocoyashi from Arlong's control.

The crew learns of Nami's past from her adoptive sister Nojiko: Nami and Nojiko were orphaned infants rescued from a war-torn kingdom and adopted by the Marine Bellemere, who raised them as her own. As a child, Nami developed a love for cartography and navigation, dreaming of creating a map of the entire world. One day, Arlong and his crew invaded Cocoyashi and demanded a monetary tribute from the villagers. Bellemere used her entire remaining fortune to spare Nami and Nojiko, and was killed by Arlong to set an example for the villagers. Arlong then kidnapped Nami upon discovering her talent for cartography and forced her to chart maps for him, while promising that the village would be freed for a price. Nami was driven for the following eight years to rob from pirates in order to buy back her village. When Nami's loot is confiscated by a corrupt Marine, she learns that Arlong has been bribing the Navy into ignoring his crimes, and she begs Luffy for help in her despair. Luffy and the others successfully defeat Arlong, freeing the village as a result. Nami rejoins the crew as they sail off to the Grand Line to pursue their dreams.

At Whiskey Peak, the crew is entrusted to escort the princess Nefertari Vivi to her kingdom Alabasta. While fending off pursuers of Vivi on Little Garden, Nami is bitten by a poisonous tick and falls ill. She is treated and cured on Drum Island, where the medic Tony Tony Chopper joins the crew. In an effort to better protect Vivi, Nami requests a weapon – the Clima-Tact – from the crew's sniper Usopp, which she uses (with some initial difficulty) to defeat Miss Doublefinger in Alabasta. When the crew rescues their archaeologist Nico Robin at Enies Lobby, Nami receives a bounty along with the rest of the crew. In Thriller Bark, Nami is kidnapped by the zombie Absalom, who tries to force her to marry him, but Sanji eventually rescues her. While attempting to reach Fish-Man Island, the crew rescues a friend of the mermaid Camie, who turns out to be Hatchan, a former member of Arlong's crew. While Nami does not yet completely forgive Hatchan for his previous association, she appreciates his takoyaki.

After being separated from the crew by Bartholomew Kuma, Nami ends up on the floating island Weatheria, where she masters the meteorological arts. Two years later, Nami reunites with Luffy and the others and they head to Fish-Man Island. Reuniting with Camie, the crew is invited to King Neptune's palace. There, they encounter a new crew of fish-man pirates led by Hody Jones, who has inherited Arlong's will. Nami and Camie escape to the Sea Forest, where they meet Jimbei, a fish-man pirate who formerly served as a World Government Warlord and released Arlong into the East Blue. Nami comforts Jimbei after he tells the history of discrimination rooted into Fish-Man Island and expresses his guilt over Arlong. At Jimbei's request, Nami steals a letter in Hody's possession, and engages with the New Fish-Man Pirates. When the crew travels to Punk Hazard, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, and Franky are abducted by Caesar Clown, and they decide to rescue the children being used in Caesar's experiments. Upon escaping the laboratory, they encounter the World Government Warlord Trafalgar Law, whose ability swaps Nami's mind into Franky's body. When Luffy and Law form an alliance, Law swaps Nami's mind into Sanji's body (as Nami's body is not present) when attempting to return the crew members to normal. While rescuing the children from Caesar, Nami regroups with the crew and is returned to her own body. She later prevents Caesar's escape with Usopp's help, and she entrusts the children with the Marine Tashigi.

In Dressrosa, Nami stayed on the Thousand Sunny to guard Caesar. Due to Big Mom's forces also targeting him, Nami and half of the crew were forced to head to Zou to avoid creating more problems for the Dressrosa mission. In Zou, Nami learns that Sanji is a member of the Vinsmoke Family and is forced to go with the representatives from Big Mom's forces. Out of guilt, Nami decides to join Luffy's team bound for Totto Land to save Sanji.

In other media
Emily Rudd will portray Nami in the upcoming live action series.

Nami has made several appearances in other media, including, but not limited to, every One Piece licensed electronic video game to date, including Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars. In 2006, she is featured in the Dragon Ball/One Piece/Naruto crossover game Battle Stadium D.O.N.. In addition to her in-game appearances, Nami has also been featured and mentioned in some songs. "Music" features Nami singing about herself listening to music while chasing her dreams.[26] "Between the Wind" features Nami singing about weather and drawing sea charts.[27]

Nami will be portrayed by Emily Rudd in Netflix’s live action adaptation of One Piece.[28]

Reception

Nami ranked in the Top 10 of all three Shōnen Jump character popularity polls.[vol. 7:148 (ja),][vol. 24:206–209 (ja),][vol. 43:214–219 (ja)] Her backstory has been found to be a "touching story" as it "unfolds with a lot of emotion" by Mania Entertainment writer, Jarred Pine. Pine also mentioned Nami was his favorite character from the series, and satisfied with how the manga showed her past.[29] While reviewing the eighth DVD from Viz Media, Activeanime mentioned Nami is one of the best characters from the series as "She’s got guts, smarts, and can heft a mean punch when needed". Like Pined, Activeanime liked Nami's background and added that his "itty bitty heart went out to her".[30] Nami was ranked as #28 in a survey conducted by Newtype Japan for Favorite Anime Heroine in 2002.[31] In the SPJA 2008, Nami was nominated in the category "Best Female Character".[32]

Further reading
  • "One Piece: Collection One". DVDTalk.

References
  1. Oda, Eiichiro (2007). "435 You Have My Sympathies". You Have My Sympathies. One Piece. Vol. 45. Shueisha. ISBN 1-4215-3461-4.
  2. Oda, Eiichiro (2015). "801 Opening Speech". Opening Speech. One Piece. Vol. 80. Shueisha. ISBN 978-1-42-159024-0.
  3. cite book|title=One Piece Magazine Vol. 10|publisher=Shueisha|author=Eichiro Oda|date=September 16, 2020|isbn=978-4-08-102406-3}}
  4. Oda, Eiichiro (w, a). "ナミ登場" Weekly Shonen Jump v29, 41 (September 22, 1997), Japan: Shueisha
  5. Oda, Eiichiro (2001). "71 万物の霊長". 死なねェよ. One Piece (in Japanese). Vol. 8. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-872712-6.
  6. Oda, Eiichiro (1999). "95. まわれ風車". 東一番の悪 (in Japanese). Vol. 11. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-872797-5.
  7. Oda, Eiichiro (2011). "598 2年後". Romance Dawn: For the New World. One Piece (in Japanese). Vol. 61. Shueisha. ISBN 978-4-08-870175-2.
  8. Ashcraft, Brian (September 7, 2019). "The Real-World Nationalities of One Piece Characters". Kotaku.
  9. Toei Animation (October 20, 1999). "俺はルフィ! 海賊王になる男だ!". One Piece. Season 1. Episode 1. Fuji TV.
  10. Toei Animation (May 27, 2001). "太古の島! リトルガーデンに潜む影!". One Piece. Season 2. Episode 70. Fuji TV.
  11. One Piece 倒せ！海賊ギャンザック！！ (DVD). Shueisha. 1998.
  12. Toei Animation (October 9, 2004). "I'm Gonna Be King of the Pirates". One Piece. Season 1. Episode 1. 4Kids TV.
  13. "Funimation Confirms One Piece Dub Cast". Anime News Network. July 1, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  14. Oda, Eiichiro (2000). "130. 最高速度". まっすぐ!! (in Japanese). Vol. 15. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-873009-7.
  15. Oda, Eiichiro (2001). "191. 天候を操る女". 理想郷. One Piece (in Japanese). Vol. 21. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-873194-8.
  16. Oda, Eiichiro (2005). "368. 海列車バトルゲーム". 争奪戦. One Piece (in Japanese). Vol. 39. Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-873872-1.
  17. One Piece Volume 61 Chapter 598
  18. One Piece Volume 66 Chapter 655
  19. One Piece Volume 82 Chapter 822
  20. One Piece Volume 83 Chapter 835
  21. One Piece Vol. 87 Chapter 874-875
  22. One Piece Volume 89 Chapter 890
  23. One Piece Vol. 90 Chapter 903
  24. One Piece Chapter 1013
  25. One Piece Chapter 1016
  26. One Piece Music & Song Collection I (CD) (in Japanese). Akemi Okamura. Japan: Nippon Columbia. 2000. COCX-30383.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. Between the Wind (CD) (in Japanese). Akemi Okamura. Japan: Avex Entertainment. 2003. AVCA-14780.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. Otterson, Joe (November 9, 2021). "'One Piece' Netflix Live-Action Series Sets Main Cast". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  29. Pine, Jarred (January 21, 2006). "One Piece Vol. #09". Mania Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
  30. "One Piece (Vol. 8): Belle of the Brawl". Active Anime. April 25, 2007. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2006.
  31. Newtype USA, Vol 2 - Issue 4. April 2003.
  32. "Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Announces SPJA Industry Award Finalists at Tokyo International Anime Fair". Anime News Network. March 27, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
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