The recent chapters of One Piece’s Elbaph arc have been full of surprises. After Saint Imu Nerona decided to travel to Warland, fans anticipated answers to the many mysteries surrounding this character. Now, creator Eiichiro Oda has officially confirmed Imu’s gender – and it’s male.
Why The World Sovereign’s Gender Was Hidden By Oda
Imu Nerona, a character introduced in the One Piece series eight years ago during the Reverie Arc, was revealed as the person sitting on the Empty Throne and declaring themself the King of the World. This immediately suggested that Imu would ultimately be the main antagonist of the One Piece story.
Readers were surprised when Oda intentionally concealed Imu’s appearance, showing only a silhouette. He did this to build suspense and avoid diminishing the impact of immediate threats like Kaido and Big Mom before the Wano Country Arc began. Oda wanted to carefully set the stage for the final story arc. Now, with a war against the World Government looming, the timing is right to reveal Saint Imu Nerona’s true form, which he’s done in the Elbaph Arc. As the latest chapter shows, Imu has arrived in Warland and fully revealed their appearance.
How The Elbaph Arc Confirmed Imu As A Man
The recent Elbaph arc of One Piece has heavily featured Saint Imu Nerona, the leader of the World Government and a member of its original founders. The latest chapter dramatically increased Imu’s importance by bringing them to Elbaph to battle Nika and Nidhogg. From the start, it’s been revealed that Imu is male, with white hair and tanned skin. He also possesses dark wings, a pointed tail, and seems to have a powerful, awakened ability.
The Five Elders have announced that Saint Imu Nerona will be temporarily leaving the Holy Land. — One Piece Chapter 1178
While Imu’s appearance is somewhat feminine, the character is definitively male. This caused initial confusion, but evidence within the story confirms Imu’s gender. Specifically, the way the Five Elders refer to Imu in the Japanese version uses a male honorific (“-sei”), which is distinct from the one used for female celestial dragons (“-guu”). This, along with other details, officially confirms that Imu is a male character.
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Analyzing Imu’s Connection To The Major Races Of The World
The revelation that Imu is male is significant, but their character design hints at even more. It seems Imu is likely connected to one of the major races in the world of One Piece. Specifically, Imu has tanned skin and white hair – characteristics strongly associated with the Lunarian race – suggesting a possible connection to them.
Honestly, I’m completely captivated by Imu! Did you notice those horns? They strongly suggest a connection to the Ancient Giants, which is HUGE. We’re all trying to figure out if those horns are a result of a Devil Fruit or if Imu was born with them. If it’s the latter, that could mean Imu is actually descended from the Ancient Giants themselves, and has some sort of history with Elbaph – the very place they’re now targeting! It would be incredible if Imu ended up returning to their ancestral home, wouldn’t it? This whole thing with Imu and Elbaph is seriously raising the stakes and making the story so much more thrilling. I, for one, am on the edge of my seat waiting to learn more about this mysterious character, and I know fans everywhere feel the same!
One Piece chapter 1179 is available to read on Manga Plus starting April 5, 2026.
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2026-04-04 04:34