One Piece: How Oda Wasted Tashigi

Summary

Tashigi started as a key aspect of Zoro’s story in “One Piece.”
Tashigi fails as both a Marine and a swordswoman in the series.
Tashigi could have been a compelling rival for Zoro but was ultimately wasted by Oda.

Tashigi has always been an interesting character in the world of One Piece. While she isn’t the most relevant character in terms of One Piece’s story, based on her first interaction with Zoro all the way back during Loguetown, fans have expected a bit more from the swordswoman. Mainly, there are so many different directions a character like Tashigi could go, though more often than not, outside of a few key moments, Yashigi has been relegated to being a background character.

This has led many fans to wonder whether or not Oda wasted Tashigi’s character in One Piece. While some believe that she had her moments to shine during Punk Hazard, most others feel that she could have been a much more important character, potentially acting as a legitimate rival to Zoro. Based on the amount of potential she had in the early stages of One Piece, Tashigi could have been far more than just another character who looks like Zoro’s old friend Kuina.

Tashigi Started As An Important Aspect Of Zoro’s Story In One Piece

The Poor Marine Was Quickly Left Behind

Tashigi first made her appearance in One Piece before the Straw Hats began their adventures on the Grand Line, during the Loguetown Arc. Here, Zoro met the Marine swordswoman and was shocked to see that she greatly resembled his old friend, Kuina. After a brief encounter, the two part ways, setting up a bit of a rivalry to echo Zoro’s previous friendship with Kuina.

Roronoa won’t get away with this! I’ll capture him with my own hands! – Tashigi

However, from this moment onward, Tashugi’s relevance to the story has become less and less important leading to a point where she is barely featured anymore. Since this appearance, it was quickly made clear that Zoro was on an entirely different level than hers, leaving her too far behind to be relevant in his story any longer. This was made especially clear in the last arc where Tashigi was given a major plot line, One Piece’s Punk Hazard. In this arc, Zoro demonstrated how much stronger he was than Tashigi by easily defeating Monet, an opponent Tashigi was heavily struggling to even hit.

Tashigi Fails In Almost Every Category She Is Apart From

She Fails As Both A Marine And A Swordswoman

Tashigi Fails As A Marine In One Piece
Tashigi Also Never Followed Through With The Kuina Parallel

Overall, Oda has wasted Tashigi in three separate ways; he wasted her potential as a rival to Zoro, as a powerful swordswoman who echoes Kuina, and as a strong and just Marine who could prove there is still good in the system. Looking at the simplest and last aspect first, as a Marine, while Tashigi has strong morals, oftentimes, she is overshadowed by other characters in the Navy that share a similar level of justice. While this isn’t a bad thing on its own, the One Piece swordswoman, Tashigi did have the potential to be someone who made a difference in the Marines, and although she’s willing to help a group like SWORD, she still doesn’t seem willing to join them. Having Tashigi join SWORD and prove herself as a just Marine may be a good way to continue this arc.

Next, Tashigi, in the eyes of many fans, was meant to echo Kuina, Zoro’s friend who died during his One Piece backstory. Kuina was a powerful swordswoman, who aimed to be the best in the world, similar to Zoro, and although she felt potentially limited competing in a male-dominated field, she vowed to train hard in order to succeed. In many ways, based on how the One Piece Marine, Tashigi, resembles Kuina and is also a swordswoman looking to collect the rarest swords in One Piece, something that would require being one of the best in swordsmanship, fans thought Tashigi could inherit Kuina’s will. However, this storyline, once again, seems to be wasted by Oda, who made Tashigi into one of One Piece’s weakest swordsmen, not even close to reaching a list of strongest swordsmen.

Tashigi Could Have Been An Interesting Rival For Zoro

Zoro Is On An Entirely Different Level Of Power To Tashigi

Finally, and the worst case of wasted potential for Tashigi in One Piece, Tashigi could have been a powerful rival for Zoro, helping him grow as a character and fighter. While she does emotionally challenge Zoro at times, though not nearly as much since the start of the Grand Line, as a physical rival, Tashigi’s weakness makes her seem more like a helpless Marine, and not a character who has a relevant place being compared to Zoro. At the same time, paired with her somewhat basic personality and exaggerated emotions, fans have found the character to be fairly sexist, especially when compared to many of One Piece’s stronger female characters.

Because you’re so inferior to me. – Zoro to Tashigi

For these reasons, and probably many more, Oda has wasted Tashigi, though it doesn’t ruin One Piece completely. Plus, this doesn’t mean that Tashigi needs to be wasted for the rest of the series. In fact, if Tashigi and Smoker were to return to the Final Saga of One Piece, there could be a moment that redeems her character in the eyes of fans.

2025-03-15 17:23