ONE PIECE Analysis! – What is the Lunarian? Is the name derived from solar eclipses? Or is it a coined term combining “Luna” and “Rear” to mean the dark side of the moon? (Summary of Characteristics) - Manga Analysis

In the popular manga “ONE PIECE,” published in Shonen Jump, various races exist, including the Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, and Giants symbolized by Elbaf. The Family of D also seems to be a subtle race among them.

Among these, one race that was considered endangered was the Lunarians. They suddenly appeared in the latter part of ONE PIECE, and they seemed to be a significant presence involved in the core of the story.

Therefore, this time, let’s thoroughly examine the “ominous identity of the Lunarians.” What is the origin and inspiration of the Lunarians? What are their characteristics?

Table of contents

The Identity and Characteristics of the Lunarians
1. Presence of Flames on their Backs
Was Sun God Nika also a Lunarian?
Did Nika lead the Lunarians, the people of the moon, to Earth?
Was the origin of “Lunaria” “the back of the moon”?
Did “Lunarians” mean “total solar eclipse”?
1. Physically, there is a “front and back” to the moon

The Identity and Characteristics of the Lunarians

First, let’s explain the identity and characteristics of the Lunarians.

Lunarians are considered a rare race that once inhabited the “God’s Land” located in the Red Line. Therefore, Lunarians were once referred to as “gods.” Temporally, this likely refers to a period approximately 800 to 900 years before the Void Century.

While Lunarians are believed to have become extinct, survivors still exist, with King of the Beasts Pirates being their leader. Even Big Mom, formerly one of the Four Emperors, desired this race desperately.

The external features of Lunarians include “black wings growing on their backs” and “flames emitted from their backs.” Additionally, “brown skin” and “white hair” are also mentioned as distinctive features. However, it’s unclear if other Lunarians shared King’s handsome appearance with tattoos around his left eye.

Presence of Flames on their Backs

When the flames on their backs are burning, they boast “near-invulnerable defense” and “high durability.” For instance, even after enduring Zoro’s intense attacks, King was almost unscathed. Recognizing this trait, King was subjected to human experimentation led by Vegapunk’s SSG during his childhood.

Incidentally, using Lunarians’ genetic factors, “Seraphim (Pacifista)” are mass-produced. Seraphim exhibited combat capabilities even capable of wiping out the Blackbeard Pirates. Given the expression “children,” it seems there is still room for Seraphim to grow.

Coupled with this near-invulnerable durability, Queen referred to Lunarians as “monsters capable of surviving in 【any environment】 in the natural world.” These flames can be freely manipulated, enhancing attack power by enveloping a sword with them or even extinguishing them at will.

On the other hand, when the flames are extinguished, while their durability decreases, their agility increases due to their “bodies stretching and shrinking like rubber.” However, details such as the mechanism of ignition and why these flames enhance physical durability remain unknown. Furthermore, the reason why such formidable Lunarians became extinct remains a mystery.

Was Sun God Nika also a Lunarian?

There was a figure reminiscent of Lunarians’ characteristic of “stretching and shrinking like rubber,” and that was Sun God Nika.

While the protagonist Monkey D. Luffy’s Devil Fruit is revealed to be the Human-Human Fruit instead of the Gum-Gum Fruit, Nika served as the model for it. Although details about the Sun God Nika remain unknown, it’s said to be a deity who once fought freely by stretching and shrinking its body like rubber.

It’s also revealed that Joy Boy was its previous owner, and when the Human-Human Fruit model Nika awakens, the entire body turns “completely white.” Luffy refers to this state as Gear 5, which coincidentally matches Lunarians’ white hair color.

Therefore, it can be speculated that Sun God Nika was also a Lunarian by race. Since Lunarians were previously referred to as gods, there seem to be many similarities between the two. The appearance of the windbag clinging to Luffy’s shoulder in Gear 5 state, resembling the wind and thunder bags of the Wind God and Thunder God, might also be interpreted as the flames on the back.

Did Nika lead the Lunarians, the people of the moon, to Earth?

However, despite Nika (or precisely, the awakened Nika‘s fruit) being completely white, including clothing, there are many differences between Nika and the Lunarians, such as their brown skin. Currently, Luffy’s Gear 5 does not include black wings. Whether Nika was a Lunarian remains somewhat uncertain.

Nevertheless, considering that both the Lunarians and Sun God Nika appeared almost simultaneously towards the end of the Wano Country arc, it’s undeniable that Oda has closely linked the two.

For example, there are theories online suggesting that Sun God Nika was the leader of the Lunarians. Perhaps the descendants of mysterious slaves who once lived in the ancient lunar city are the Lunarians. Could it be that Sun God Nika was the leader who rescued those slaves and brought them to Earth?

Just as albinism exists in our real world, was Nika even rarer among the Lunarians? It’s quite significant that the real name of Lunarians’ King is “Arber.” Given that Lunarians are said to be capable of surviving in “any environment in the natural world,” it wouldn’t be surprising if they inhabited the moon, where there is no oxygen.

Was the origin of “Lunaria” “the back of the moon”?

So, let’s explore the “origin” and “inspiration” of Lunarians from my perspective. Was the origin of Lunarians indeed something that symbolizes the people of the moon?

There is a hypothesis that the origin of Lunarians is “Luna” and “Rear.” “Luna” means “moon” in Latin and also refers to the moon goddess in Roman mythology. “Rear” means “back” or “behind” in English.

In other words, the word “Lunaria” was a coined term meaning “behind the moon,” “the back of the moon,” or “opposite of the moon.”

Interpreting it in the latter sense, the opposite of the moon is logically the sun. In that case, Lunarians could be interpreted as the “people of the sun.” Therefore, the connection between Lunarians and Sun God Nika becomes evident once again.

While Lunarians are associated with the moon, they are simultaneously linked to the sun, suggesting a significant contradiction that holds a key to the story.

However, personally, I find it slightly problematic that the meanings of “rear” and “opposite” seem somewhat different. If translated as “opposite of the moon,” using words like “opposition” or “reverse” would be more natural. It’s a bit challenging to connect “rear” with the sun in terms of its meaning.

Did “Lunarians” mean “total solar eclipse”?

However, there is a celestial phenomenon where the back of the moon, interpreted as the sun, exists.

That is the “total solar eclipse.”

A total solar eclipse refers to the state where the sun appears black from Earth when the moon overlaps with the sun. More precisely, it appears as if a huge spherical shadow of the moon’s part is covering the sun during an eclipse, but at the same time, a ring-like “white light (corona)” can also be observed.

Could the “black wings” and “white hair” of the Lunarians be precisely representing the state of a total solar eclipse?

The principle behind a total solar eclipse involves the positioning of the “Earth,” “Sun,” and “Moon.” When the moon comes between the Earth and the sun, it blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth. Only the light from the corona around the sun manages to reach, making only the part of the moon appear as a shadow.

Physically, there is a “front and back” to the moon

Assuming that the side facing the “Earth” is the “front” of the moon, the part facing the “back” is where the “Sun” comes. The positional relationship becomes “Sun (back) → Moon (front) → Earth,” hence the logic Lunaria (back of the moon) ≒ SUN (sun) perfectly holds.

In reality, due to Earth’s gravitational influence, the moon always shows us only the “same side.” I’d suggest looking into the phenomenon called “tidal locking” for details, but conversely, the “backside” of the moon is basically invisible from Earth. The concept of “front and back” of the moon exists physically.

Thinking along these lines, the approach of the discussion on “Luna Rear” this time is entirely valid. In the aspect of being the unseen backside of the moon, it shares a commonality with the Lunarians, a rare species considered to be endangered.

Regardless, since the name “Lunaria” deeply relates to both the “moon” and the “sun,” it will undoubtedly become a key figure in the future “space arc” of ONE PIECE.

Why do Lunarians have black wings? Will Luffy eventually grow black wings like the Lunarians? The fallen angel Lucifer, long said to be the model for Luffy, was once a Seraphim (an archangel). Why were Pacifistas, which utilized Lunarians’ genetic factors, named Seraphim?

These mysteries will eventually be revealed.