Eiichiro Oda first introduced the legend of ‘Sun God’ Nika in Volume 101, Chapter 1018 of One Piece. Wano Country Arc of One Piece was incredibly crucial in establishing the real nature of Monkey D. Luffy. As the ending of the arc got closer, one of the most unexpected twists in the story was introduced.
Luffy’s Devil Fruit finally awakened, making him incredibly powerful; strong enough to go toe-to-toe against the likes of Kaido. Moreover, the legend of Sun God Nika was properly explained for the first time in the story. However, it seems like Oda had the concept of Nika planned out way earlier!
Eiichiro Oda Planned The Concept Of Nika Before One Piece
Eiichiro Oda is not called the greatest mangaka of our times for no reason. An X user and a credible source of all things One Piece posted an unpublished early work of a 19-year-old Oda titled “Forward” featuring proto-One Piece concepts that Oda’s first editor revealed.
According to the post, the protagonist of “Forward” is an optimistic boy named “Monkey D. Pao”, who bears a striking resemblance to Luffy. Moreover, the character wears a bandana with a pattern reminiscent of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. The story also includes a girl thief named Rizel, similar to Nami.
https://twitter.com/pewpiece/status/1809557536887939396
The second work, titled “The Spirit of the Rubber Tree” has a character named Merry, who is 5008 years old and has a distinctive laugh like Nika’s “Wahahaha.” The post also includes a note from Oda that reads: “The person who can laugh off their weaknesses is the strongest.”
It is incredible that Oda conceptualized One Piece when he was only 19 years old, even before the manga was ideated. An X user tweeted that it is amazing that Oda had the core concept of the story in his mind since the beginning.
Who Exactly Is Sun God Nika?
First mentioned for the first time in Chapter 1018, Nika was a renowned warrior revered almost as a deity. He was revered as a god in the past, according to Who’s Who, and lived in the One Piece universe centuries ago. Nika is also known to have been highly valued by the slaves of the ancient world.
The story goes that during difficult and trying times, Nika would make every slave smile and spread laughter. But Nika’s legend extends beyond their ability to make people smile and laugh.
A popular belief in the ancient One Piece world was that Nika would eventually free all the slaves of the world and eventually liberate them in the process. Moreover, there’s the fact that Nika is somehow related to the protagonist of the story, Luffy.
Although not much is known about Nika apart from the irregular flashbacks and bleak connections, knowing how Oda writes his stories, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Nika is going to feature as an important part of the series.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Sun God Nika in One Piece, and how is the legend connected to Luffy?
Nika is a legendary figure revered as a Sun God who, according to the tale, brought laughter and freedom and was believed by enslaved peoples to one day liberate them. During the Wano Country Arc it is revealed that Luffy’s Devil Fruit is actually the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and Luffy awakens it into his Gear 5 form during his fight against Kaido.
When was the Sun God Nika legend first revealed in the One Piece manga?
The legend of the Sun God Nika was first told by Who’s-Who in Chapter 1018 (Volume 101) during the Wano Country Arc. The bigger reframing of Luffy’s powers came later, in Chapter 1044, when it was revealed that his Gomu Gomu no Mi is really the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, which he awakens as Gear 5.
Did Eiichiro Oda really plan Nika’s laugh before One Piece began?
This is an unverified fan-shared claim, not something confirmed by Oda or his publisher. The article cites an X user referencing comments attributed to Oda’s first editor, who reportedly described unpublished early works (such as a proto-Luffy character and a figure with a Nika-like ‘Wahahaha’ laugh) drawn when Oda was around 19. Treat it as an unconfirmed report.
