ONE PIECE Analysis! – Summary of the Five Elders! What are their real names? What are their Devil Fruits? And what’s their origin? (Saint Marcus Mars, Saint Topman Warcury, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nasujuro, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn) (Pentagram, Solar System, Seven Days) - Manga Analysis

With the conclusion of the Wano Country arc, the final chapter of ‘ONE PIECE’ is also looming closer. We’re truly entering the endgame of the story, yet there are still many characters whose true identities remain unknown.

Among them, the iconic antagonistic characters are the “Five Elders,” a group of enigmatic elderly figures believed to control everything in the world. Despite their early introduction in the ONE PIECE series, the true identities of the Five Elders remained largely undisclosed until the final stages.

So, this time, we’ll examine the ominous identities and list of members of the “Five Elders.” What are their real names? What are their Devil Fruits?

Table of contents

The Five Elders are the five highest-ranking authorities
1. How are the Five Elders chosen?
The Five Elders are subordinates of Imu
What are the roles of the “Warrior Gods” among the Five Elders?
Introduction of each member of the Five Elders
Reason for the inclusion of “celestial bodies of the solar system” in the names of The Five Elders
Reason why “Sun” is the only element missing from Oda-sensei’s former pen name “Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth”
The models for the Five Elders were politicians who sought “freedom”?
1. Why were models of the Five Elders, who oppress the people, chosen?
The model for the Five Elders is the pentagram
1. The use of “star” in the name prompts us to think: Was it evidence of being associated with “enemies symbolizing the night”?
Pentagrams as symbols of Satanism
Do the Five Elders merge? Five become one?
Is Satan the Five Elders? Is God the Family of D?

The Five Elders are the five highest-ranking authorities

First, let’s explain the true identity of the “Five Elders.”

The Five Elders refer to the five “supreme authorities” who reign at the pinnacle of the World Government. In the series, they are described as the “highest echelon of the Celestial Dragons”.

The Five Elders are also members of “the Celestial Dragons.” They typically reside within the Pangaea Castle in the Holy Land Mary Geoise. The Celestial Dragons are often perceived as mere figureheads due to their foolish appearance and behavior. However, the Celestial Dragons known as the Five Elders are astute statesmen. Furthermore, they possess high combat prowess as users of Devil Fruit abilities.

As a result, the Five Elders sometimes descend to the lower world to engage in battle. They have been known to speak of the need for significant cleansing, stating, “The balance of the world cannot be maintained forever. It is necessary to clean things up on a large scale.” This statement is backed by their formidable combat abilities.

How are the Five Elders chosen?

However, it is unclear how the Five Elders are selected.

The Celestial Dragons are descendants of 20 royal families who conquered an Great kingdom (associated with the Family of D) during the Void Century. Among these, there are five exceptional royal families from which the Five Elders have been chosen for over 800 years. Is it from these five families that the Five Elders are selected, or are competent Celestial Dragons regularly chosen from the remaining 19 royal families?

The details of this process are unknown.

The Five Elders are subordinates of Imu

However, the Five Elders are not the pinnacle of the World Government.

The person that controls the Five Elders is known as “Imu.” Imu can be considered the final boss of ONE PIECE, so to speak. Imu serves as the superior to the Five Elders. Even the Five Elders, who are regarded as the apex of the Celestial Dragons, must bow deeply before Imu.

Inside the Pangaea Castle where the Five Elders always reside, there existed a vacant throne. Despite the pretext that “all world nobles are equal in status, and there is no king in the world,” even the Five Elders were not allowed to sit on it. The reason being that Imu, the king of the world, would sit there.

However, Imu is just one of the 20 royal families. Therefore, it’s unclear whether there exists a hierarchical distinction among the royal families, including the Five Elders. Since Imu‘s eternal youth and immortality are almost certain, it’s also uncertain whether the same members of the Five Elders have retained power for 800 years.

What are the roles of the “Warrior Gods” among the Five Elders?

Next, let’s examine the roles of the Five Elders.

Each of the Five Elders holds the title of “Warrior Gods.” While the term “Warrior Gods” sounds quite formidable, they likely serve as bodyguards for Imu. Alternatively, given that they directly carry out the orders of Imu, who is both the king and a god, they may be named “Warrior Gods” for this reason.

Although the specific roles of each Warrior God are unclear, their titles such as Warrior God of Environment, Warrior God of Justice, Warrior God of Finance and give off a bureaucratic and formal vibe. Therefore, it might be easier to understand if we equate Warrior Gods to ministers. In this analogy, Imu would be akin to a Prime Minister or President.

This suggests that, within the upper echelons of the Celestial Dragons, there is significant control and coordination. The title of Five Elders may simply be one of many roles or positions, and like members of the Admiral or CP0, they may be periodically replaced.

Therefore, even though they are referred to as the Five Elders, they might be treated more like an organization of God’s Knights. At least, judging from the ominous term “Warrior God,” it implies that the Five Elders consist of members with significant combat prowess.

Introduction of each member of the Five Elders

Now let’s introduce each member of the Five Elders.

Saint Marcus Mars – Warrior God of Environment

First, we have “Saint Marcus Mars.” He hails from the Holy Land Mary Geoise. While details such as his age are unknown, he appears to be the tallest among the Five Elders.

He is bestowed with the title of “Warrior God of Environment” among the Five Elders. As we’ll discuss later, each member of the Five Elders has a celestial body from the solar system incorporated into their name. In the case of him. it directly corresponds to Mars.

His physical characteristics include long white hair, a white beard, and eyes that seem lifeless. Interestingly, he always appears standing rather than sitting in a chair. The model of his appearance is said to be Taisuke Itagaki, who led the movement for civil rights in Japan.

The Devil Fruit is called “Itsumade”

His Devil Fruit is called “Itsuzumade” belonging to the Zoan type of Mythical Beast. It’s commonly referred to as a bird ability user.

Itsuzumade is a type of “Japanese yokai.” Originally, it was a tale passed down during the Nanboku-cho period of the 13th century, which was later personified by the author Toriyama Sekien during the Edo period. Itsuzumade is said to have a habit of flocking around corpses, and its cry, “Itsumademo” (forever), is derived from the idea of “will you leave it there forever?”

Itsumade’s appearance includes a huge beak with saw-like teeth, a lower body resembling a snake, and large wings and sharp talons similar to a Roc bird or Griffin. In terms of abilities and character appearance seen in ONE PIECE, it resembles yokai like the Nue or Harpy.

It was said that there were only five types of flying Devil Fruits in the world, but it seems that this information is no longer valid.

Saint Topman Warcury – Warrior God of Justice

The next of the Five Elders is “Saint Topman Warcury”.

Hailing from the Holy Land Mary Geoise, details such as height and age are undisclosed, but among the Five Elders, he is somewhat smaller in stature, resembling Inspector Megure from “Detective Conan”.

Saint Topman Warcury carries the title of “Warrior God of Justice” among the Five Elders. He corresponds to the planet Mercury. It might be a bit obscure, but “Man” + (War) “Cury” makes “Mercury”. “War” meaning warfare in Japanese, undoubtedly implies he’s formidable even among the Five Elders.

Physically, Saint Topman Warcury is characterized by a bald head and a massive mustache, rivaling that of “Whitebeard” (Edward Newgate) in magnificence. Moreover, he bears a distinctive scar on his forehead, leading to speculation that his appearance might be modeled after Mikhail Gorbachev, the former General Secretary of the Soviet Union.

The Devil Fruit is called “Hoki”

Saint Topman Warcury’s Devil Fruit is the “Hoki”, an Animal Zoan type Mythical Beast. Essentially, he’s a user of the abilities of a boar.

The “Hoki” is a type of “Chinese monster”. The character for “xi” represents a wild boar, so it’s literally a monstrous boar. Hoki is known for its immense strength and brutality. It boasts overwhelming defensive power, often attributed to its incredibly tough skin and fur, akin to armor.

The magnificent mustache of Saint Topman Warcury appears to mimic the enormous tusks of the Fengxi.

Given that Luffy’s Devil Fruit (Huma-Human Fruit, Model: Nika) was also a Mythical Beast type, there’s a positioning in the later stages of ONE PIECE where Animal Zoan type Devil Fruits are considered the strongest.

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter – Warrior God of Agriculture

The next of the Five Elders is “Saint Shepherd Ju Peter”.

“Ju” is written in kanji as “十”. Hailing from the Holy Land Mary Geoise, his age is undisclosed, but he should be among the tallest of the Five Elders, second only to Saint Marcus Mars.

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter carries the title of “Warrior God of Agriculture” among the Five Elders. He corresponds to the planet Jupiter. This might be a bit obscure too, but “Ju” + “Peter” makes “Jupiter”. It seems they’re breaking down the obvious planetary names quite intricately. But seriously, what does the “Ju” in the middle name mean?

Physically, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter is characterized by golden hair and a golden mustache. Looking at it this way, the mustache ratio among the Five Elders is off the charts. Yet, the scars visible on Saint Shepherd Ju Peter’s chest suggest a seasoned warrior. Among the Five Elders, he exudes a sense of dandyism.

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter’s appearance is said to be modeled after Abraham Lincoln, the former President of the United States who issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Devil Fruit is called “Sand Wyrm”

Saint Shepherd Ju Peter’s Devil Fruit is the “Sand Wyrm”, an Animal Zoan type Mythical Beast. Essentially, it grants the user abilities akin to a caterpillar.

The “Sand Wyrm” is a fictional monster appearing in games like Final Fantasy.

Despite its massive size, it exhibits cunning attack methods, such as burrowing into deserts to conceal itself. Leveraging its enormous body, it employs various attack methods, including swallowing enemies whole.

Similarly, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter also swallows Luffy, suggesting the inspiration likely comes from games as well. The allure of Animal Zoan type Mythical Beasts lies in their combined abilities resembling those of Paramecia types. If the source is indeed games, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter might also be capable of summoning tornadoes.

Additionally, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter’s role as the Warrior God of Agriculture might also stem from his ability to freely burrow underground.

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro – Warrior God of Finance

Next up is The Five Elders’ “Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.”

The “V” stands for the alphabet “V.” He is likely from the Holy Land Mary Geoise. His age and other details are unknown, but judging from the wrinkled appearance of his skin, he might be the eldest among the Five Elders.

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro holds the title of “Warrior God of Finance” among the Five Elders. On the planet, he corresponds to Venus. His name’s pronunciation is indeed distinctive, with “V+Nus” forming “Venus.”

Considering Venus sounds feminine in English, I was curious about how they would address it, but the character’s name seems rather forced.

Could he possibly be from Wano Country?

Juro, a rare Japanese-named character even in ONE PIECE, but Nusjuro’s origins are unclear. It’s unlikely that Wano Country is among the 20 royal families, so he might be a half-Wano Country native. This might also relate to why Kozuki Hiyori fled 800 years ago.

Physically, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro has a bald head, round glasses, and notably, he’s the only one among The Five Elders who wears white attire. He has an average height but always carries what appears to be a famous sword. With an aura reminiscent of someone from Wano Country, he seems quite distinct among the Five Elders.

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro’s appearance is modeled after Mahatma Gandhi, the father of Indian independence.

His Devil Fruit is “Bakotsu”

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro’s Devil Fruit is a Mythical Zoan type called “Bakotsu,” which manifests as horse abilities.

Bakotsu is a type of Japanese yokai, a horse monster depicted in the Edo period’s “Tosa Ghosts and Strange Stories.” It’s said to be a monster born from a horse that died in a fire. Hence the name “horse bones.” The idiom “whose bones are those?” also originates from this Bakotsu.

While it’s a yokai born from fire, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro’s attacks also possess the ability to “freeze opponents” like the Revive-Revive Fruit and Ice-Ice Fruit. So, being mythical creatures like the other members of the Five Elders, they likely possess various additional abilities.

Also, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro takes on a human-beast hybrid form resembling Cerberus.

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn – Warrior God of Science and Defense

The final member of The Five Elders is “Saint Jaygarcia Saturn.”

He hails from the Holy Land Mary Geoise. While he’s the first character whose name is revealed among the Five Elders, details such as his age and height remain unknown.

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn holds the title of “Warrior God of Science and Defense” among the Five Elders. In terms of planets, he corresponds to Saturn. The reason for including planetary names in the Five Elders’ characters will be explained later.

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn is known to take proactive measures alongside Admiral “Kizaru” Borsalino in apprehending Dr. Vegapunk, even among the Five Elders. True to his title of Warrior God of Science and Defense, he exhibits considerable combat prowess among the Five Elders.

Indeed, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn bears visible scars, especially on the left side of his face, indicating his involvement in intense battles among the Five Elders. Despite often seen with a cane for mobility, he is likely quite the martial artist. It’s safe to assume he’s proficient in Haoshoku Haki as well.

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn’s appearance is said to be modeled after the communist Karl Marx.

His Devil Fruit is “Gyuki”

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn’s Devil Fruit is a Zoan-type Mythical Beast known as “Gyuki,” which manifests as abilities akin to a spider.

Gyuki is a type of Japanese yokai, a monstrous spider predominantly found in Western Japan’s folklore. True to its name, it has the head of an ox and the body of a demon. With sharp, massive horns and claws, it exhibits ferocious characteristics. As per tradition, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn is adept at poison attacks, much like the Gyuki of legend.

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn’s demeanor mirrors that of the Gyuki.

Thus, as most had anticipated, the majority of The Five Elders’ abilities are inspired by “yokai.”

It gives off the impression that they draw heavily from the works of Toriyama Sekien. Sabo’s words, “Who would have thought there’s hell at the top of the world,” resonate well with their grotesque nature.

Reason for the inclusion of “celestial bodies of the solar system” in the names of The Five Elders

Next, let’s delve into the mystery behind the character names of The Five Elders.

As expected, the names of The Five Elders indeed incorporate the “major celestial bodies of the solar system.” Specifically, they are Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. The order of these characters was introduced in the order of celestial bodies.

In the real world, the celestial bodies of the solar system are utilized for the “days of the week.” These celestial bodies of the solar system combined with the concept of the Five Elements in China form the concept known as the “Seven Luminaries.” The seven types of celestial bodies: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Sun (Sunday), Moon (Monday), are concepts deeply rooted in both the real world and this setting.

However, if we exclude The Five Elders from the seven celestial bodies, “Sun” and “Moon” remain.

For instance, it seems plausible that “Sun God Nika” is being referenced. Since Nika refers to Luffy and Joy Boy, it’s natural to consider that the moon refers to Imu through process of elimination.

This leads some to propose the theory that Imu‘s race is the Mink Tribe. Lunarians, inspired by the moon (Luna), are also considered as candidates, suggesting the possibility of Imu being associated with the moon.

The closer characters are to Imu, such as the Five Elders and God’s Knights, the more settings related to space are incorporated, which is their characteristic.

Reason why “Sun” is the only element missing from Oda-sensei’s former pen name “Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth”

On the other hand, during his high school years, Oda-sensei was semi-finalist in the Tezuka Award under the pen name “Tsuki-Hi-Mi-Sui-Kin-Do.” Since the inspiration for the work “ONE PIECE” is said to have come during his junior high school years, this demonstrates Oda’s knack for incorporating even his amateur-era pen names into foreshadowing.

Moreover, it’s significant that only “Sun,” symbolizing the sun, is absent from “Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth.”

The key lies in the work awarded under the former pen name “Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth.” The work Oda-sensei won the Tezuka Award with under this pen name during his high school years was “WANTED!” This “WANTED” translates to “wanted,” “on the run,” and similar meanings in Japanese.

In other words, Oda-sensei’s former pen name indirectly hinted at “Imu + The Five Elders ≒ Enemies.”

That’s why Luffy’s Sunday, symbolizing the sun, is not included. Subsequently, Oda-sensei drew the pirate manga “ROMANCE DAWN,” which would become the precursor to “ONE PIECE,” indicating that the true identity of the final boss of ONE PIECE was planned from the very beginning.

The models for the Five Elders were politicians who sought “freedom”?

Next, let’s delve into the models for The Five Elders.

Though the images used as reference might be informal, as mentioned earlier, The Five Elders’ models are often “prominent figures from around the world.”

From right to left, they closely resemble: Japanese politician from the Meiji era, “Itagaki Taisuke”; Indian political leader, “Mahatma Gandhi”; former Soviet statesman, “Mikhail Gorbachev”; German philosopher, “Karl Marx”; and former American president, “Abraham Lincoln,” in terms of their physical features.

Why were models of the Five Elders, who oppress the people, chosen?

On the other hand, there is a “commonality” among the prominent figures who served as models for the Five Elders. That is, they were all politicians who pursued “freedom.”

Itagaki Taisuke was a leader in the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement. Gandhi, known as the father of Indian independence, worked towards the abolition of the caste system. Gorbachev dismantled the Soviet Union and founded democratic Russia. Lincoln was the first American president to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

While Karl Marx, a communist, is a slight exception, it’s deeply meaningful that the models for The Five Elders, who oppress the world, were “politicians who loved freedom.” Considering that the character who loves freedom the most in ONE PIECE is the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, there seems to be a significant implication.

The model for the Five Elders is the pentagram

Finally, let’s examine the model of the name “The Five Elders” itself.

The model for the name “The Five Elders” is the “pentagram.”

The pentagram is commonly known as the “star symbol.” It’s a geometric pattern formed by connecting five points, known for its beauty as one of the marks composed of the golden ratio. It’s also referred to as the pentacle or the five-pointed star and has been historically associated with magic and devil worship.

For example, the emblem of the Freemasons is also based on the “pentagram” design.

In fact, pentagrams are engraved in Masonic lodges and facilities. The speculation about the connection with Freemasonry increased when the Five Elders appeared around the time the Sun Pirates, a family of stone masons, were introduced in “One Piece,” but it means that there was a connection with Freemasonry by the time the Five Elders appeared.

A pentagram is called a “five-pointed star” in English. It’s also referred to as a pentagram, but the name used for The Five Elders is “five elders” in English. Why wasn’t it “five stars”? Perhaps to avoid easily evoking the image of the pentagram for the readers.

The use of “star” in the name prompts us to think: Was it evidence of being associated with “enemies symbolizing the night”?

While The Five Elders have few elements suggesting “stars,” such as character designs, when we consider that the model was the pentagram, they had to be named “Five Stars” instead of “Five Elders.” The pronunciation in Japanese for “Five Stars” and “Five Elders” is very similar. By placing the two terms side by side, one can understand how similar they are phonetically.

Pentagrams are also known as the “pentacle” or the “five-pointed star,” but they all include the word “star” in their names. From this, it’s evident that Oda intended to emphasize the “star” aspect of The Five Elders’ name.

When we think about it, stars are visible only during the “night.” Stars shine in the night sky, hence the association. They are hardly visible during the day. Therefore, for the Family of D aiming for dawn, the name “The Five Elders” could have been a name strongly implying “enemies.”

Pentagrams as symbols of Satanism

On the other hand, pentagrams have been used as “amulets against evil” in the past.

For example, in “Onmyodo,” represented by Abe no Seimei, pentagram motifs were frequently used. Therefore, in movies and manga dealing with onmyoji, you may often see pentagram marks.

Therefore, in the past, the regular army of the Imperial Japanese Army had pentagrams embroidered on their caps as a charm against bullets.

However, when the pentagram is inverted, it is also commonly used as a symbol of Satanism (devil worship). As mentioned earlier, pentagrams have been used in magic and devil worship since ancient times, which is why pentagrams have negative connotations.

When used as a symbol of devil worship, the pentagram is called the “Devil’s Star.” In “ONE PIECE,” when it comes to demons, it’s about Devil Fruits. Therefore, it’s entirely plausible that The Five Elders were conceived as “a group of Devil Fruit users with incredible abilities.”

Furthermore, since Satan possesses characteristics of both sexes, the theory that Imu‘s gender is female could be supported.

Do the Five Elders merge? Five become one?

As mentioned above, the model for the name “The Five Elders” was the pentagram. To prove this, The Five Elders have the ability to teleport their bodies at will, moving in and out of the pentagram pattern.

It seems that each of them can perform instant teleportation using similar pentagram patterns. However, the abilities of each of The Five Elders were unique, each being a mythical Zoan. Even if one of them had an additional ability to teleport using Zoan, it’s unnatural to think that all of the Five Elders could use it.

Therefore, the theory that the Five Elders are not “human” is also plausible. For example, they could be creatures created by Imu, and even if they all had the same teleportation ability, it wouldn’t be unnatural. In fact, when the Five Elders activate their Zoan, they all have “similar eyes.”

Considering this, could the Five Elders eventually merge into one? Instead of the Trinity, it would be the Quinary. Or perhaps they could return to Imu‘s body.

Is Satan the Five Elders? Is God the Family of D?

In the world of “ONE PIECE,” celestial dragons like the Five Elders are considered “gods.” However, as mentioned earlier, there’s a high possibility that the Five Elders are modeled after the pentagram, symbolizing Satanism or devil worship. Therefore, assuming celestial dragons as gods, the name “The Five Elders” becomes extremely unnatural.

However, Satan is considered the “adversary of God,” but in Christian theology, Satan was originally an angel serving God. He was, so to speak, God’s right-hand (or left-hand) man, but he later fell from grace, becoming a devil in hell.

So, if celestial dragons were once “traitors who opposed God,” then it’s conceivable to speculate that the Five Elders were originally “members of the Family of D.” The 20 nobles who later became celestial dragons betrayed the Family of D 900 years ago, triggering a great war and initiating the Void Century.

In other words, if we place celestial dragons as Satan, then the Family of D would have originally been God. If the pentagram served as the model for naming, then the name “The Five Elders” may have been hinting at the “relationship between the Family of D and celestial dragons” from the beginning.

Additionally, in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 12 or 13, a red dragon appears. This dragon is considered the incarnation of the serpent in the Garden of Eden and the incarnation of Satan, the Great Demon King. If we assume Satan as the Five Elders, then the red dragon could be likened to Red-Haired Shanks. Why was Shanks colluding with the Five Elders?

Perhaps because they were “united enemies.” Looking at it from the perspective of the red dragon in the Book of Revelation, it might shed light on theories like Shanks and Blackbeard becoming allies.