When Sanji and his past life were highlighted in Whole Cake Island, the majority of the fandom was ready to see the same for Zoro. However, throughout Wano, we have never introduced to Zoro’s past, especially his relationship with the Shimotsuki family. However, with the release of Vol. 105 of One Piece, Oda revealed Zoro’s family!
“Nobody Important” Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Zoro’s Family
In chapter 1023 of One Piece, Kawamatsu and Hyogoro talk about how Zoro and Shimotsuki Ushimaru are like each other. Also, Shimotsuki Ushimaru is a descendant of Ryuma, the God of Blade. Ryuma and Zoro are both one-eyed swordsmen. Then, Kawamatsu stress how their fighting style looks almost the same!
However, the interesting part starts in chapter 1024. Here, we saw a clear face of Shimotsuki Ushimaru, and all people believed that it was Zoro’s father or grandfather. That is because Ushimaru and Zoro were like two peas in a pod
However, in the recent SBS, Oda clearly stated that Shimotsuki Ushimaru is not the father of Zoro. This statement brought some other questions to mind. People were assuming that Ushimaru may be the grandfather of Zoro.
Shimotsuki Kozabura: The Person Who Left Wano
During his fight against King, Zoro remembers some of his childhood memories. Here we are introduced to another member of the Shimotsuki clan, Shimotsuki Kozaburo. He was the creator of Emma and Wado Ichimonji. He was also the grandfather of Kuina, Zoro’s childhood friend. Unfortunately, there was no further information regarding Zoro’s family here.
Zoro’s Family and Relationship with Shimotsuki Clan
Here, I will tell you the exact story Oda mentioned in SBS:
55 Years Ago: Shimotsuki Kozaburo and 25 people including Shimotsuki Fumiko who was Shimotsuki Ushimaru’s older sister, and a carpenter. That year, he created Emma, and Oden was 4 years old.
3 Years Later (52 Years Ago): They arrive at a small village while it was attacked by bandits. After saving the village, 10 of them decide to stay there and establish Shimotsuki Village. This Shimotsuki Village is the village we saw in Zoro’s backstory.
Zoro’s Family: His Father and Grandfather
After establishing a village there, Shimotsuki Fumiko, Ushimaru’s older sister, marries a village swordsman, Roronoa Pinzoro (Zoro’s grandfather). After years, their child, Roronoa Arashi marries a criminal’s daughter, Tera. Interestingly, here, Oda does not give us Tera’s surname. It is possible that it may be linked in the future. Moving forward, Arashi, unfortunately, dies in a battle against pirates, and Tera dies because of an ilness.
Here, we can relate that Zoro and Kuina are two members of the same clan, the Shimotsuki clan. Another interesting fact is that the rest of the crew who also left Wano is not mentioned. We, for now, do not know where did they go. It may be very unimportant information. However, we also know someone who looks exactly like Kuina: Tashigi. They looked exactly the same. This may indicate that Tashigi is a child of the crew who did not stay in Shimotsuki Village.
