TV-Series
Description
Kawamatsu, often called Kawamatsu the Kappa, is a significant character introduced during the Wano Country arc. He is a fish-man of the tiger puffer fish variety, though he presents himself as a kappa, a decision made following his mother's dying wish to protect him from the discrimination fish-men often face. He is a samurai and a loyal retainer of the Kozuki family, holding the esteemed position of one of the Nine Red Scabbards. Having survived a shipwreck as a child and washed ashore in Wano, he was persecuted until being rescued by Kozuki Oden, an act that forged his unwavering loyalty. He is also recognized as a yokozuna-ranked sumo wrestler, the highest possible rank in the sport.
In terms of personality, Kawamatsu is defined by his profound kindness and deep-seated loyalty. He is gentle and caring, demonstrated by his silent assistance to Monkey D. Luffy in the Udon prison and his compassionate treatment of the fox Onimaru, whom he fed despite having little food for himself. His loyalty to the Kozuki family is absolute; the first thing he asked about after reuniting with his comrade Raizo after two decades was the safety of Lord Oden's son, Momonosuke. Kawamatsu carries a great deal of regret, particularly over losing track of Kozuki Hiyori, Oden's daughter, and feels a strong sense of duty to atone for past mistakes. He possesses a resilient and enduring spirit, having survived thirteen years of imprisonment on a diet of toxic fish, which he endured by comparing his suffering to a pleasant breeze next to the agony of his lord. He also has a distinct, cheerful laugh that sounds like "Kapapapa."
Kawamatsu's primary motivation is his solemn duty to the Kozuki family. His life's purpose is to avenge the death of his master, Kozuki Oden, and restore the family's rightful place as the rulers of Wano Country. He is driven by a profound sense of honor and obligation to see Oden's will fulfilled, which includes opening Wano's borders. His actions are constantly guided by his desire to atone for his perceived failures, such as when he spent years gathering weapons from the graves of fallen warriors in preparation for the final battle against Kaido and the shogun Kurozumi Orochi.
Within the story, Kawamatsu serves as a key figure in the Wano Country arc as one of the fabled Nine Red Scabbards. For years after Oden's execution, he was thought to be dead or missing. In truth, he had protected Kozuki Hiyori for seven years before being captured and imprisoned in the Udon mines. His escape with the help of Raizo and Luffy becomes a major turning point, as he provides crucial strength and morale to the rebel forces. He joins the raid on Onigashima, directly confronting Kaido and his army alongside his fellow scabbards to fulfill their long-awaited revenge.
Kawamatsu's key relationships center on the Kozuki family and his fellow scabbards. His bond with Oden is the cornerstone of his life; he is eternally grateful for being saved and follows his dream without question. His care for Kozuki Hiyori is deeply paternal; he spent seven years starving himself to ensure she had enough to eat and went to great lengths to cheer her up after the trauma of losing her parents. He shares a unique bond with the fox Onimaru, as the two worked together to protect the graves of Ringo and secretly stockpile weapons for the coming rebellion. He also holds deep respect for Shimotsuki Yasuie, the former daimyo who taught him and the other young scabbards how to be true warriors. Among the Red Scabbards, he is considered one of the strongest, alongside Denjiro and Ashura Doji, each said to be worth one hundred men in battle.
Throughout his journey, Kawamatsu undergoes significant development, transitioning from a starving, guilty prisoner to a proud and active warrior fulfilling his oath. His long imprisonment, while physically debilitating, did not break his spirit. Upon liberation and reuniting with his comrades, he demonstrates that his skills have not waned, proving his resilience and readiness to fight. His character arc is one of redemption and the fulfillment of a long-deferred promise, culminating in his participation in the final battle against Kaido.
Kawamatsu possesses a formidable set of abilities. As a fish-man, he has natural physical strength ten times that of an ordinary human. He is an exceptionally skilled swordsman who created his own fighting style called Kappa-ryu, which seamlessly blends his sumo wrestling techniques with swordsmanship. He is proficient in Busoshoku Haki, or Armament Haki, which he can use to harden his blade and enhance his attacks, allowing him to cut the indestructible skin of Kaido. He also has a unique ability to spit fish bones with tremendous force and accuracy, using them as lethal projectiles. His endurance and resistance are outstanding; he consumed only highly toxic fish for thirteen years without succumbing to the poison, though he found the taste abhorrent. His beloved sword is named Soto Muso, a blade without a tsuba, or handguard. Following the raid's success and Momonosuke's rise as shogun, Kawamatsu was appointed as the daimyo of the region of Hakumai, finally bringing honor to his long service.
In terms of personality, Kawamatsu is defined by his profound kindness and deep-seated loyalty. He is gentle and caring, demonstrated by his silent assistance to Monkey D. Luffy in the Udon prison and his compassionate treatment of the fox Onimaru, whom he fed despite having little food for himself. His loyalty to the Kozuki family is absolute; the first thing he asked about after reuniting with his comrade Raizo after two decades was the safety of Lord Oden's son, Momonosuke. Kawamatsu carries a great deal of regret, particularly over losing track of Kozuki Hiyori, Oden's daughter, and feels a strong sense of duty to atone for past mistakes. He possesses a resilient and enduring spirit, having survived thirteen years of imprisonment on a diet of toxic fish, which he endured by comparing his suffering to a pleasant breeze next to the agony of his lord. He also has a distinct, cheerful laugh that sounds like "Kapapapa."
Kawamatsu's primary motivation is his solemn duty to the Kozuki family. His life's purpose is to avenge the death of his master, Kozuki Oden, and restore the family's rightful place as the rulers of Wano Country. He is driven by a profound sense of honor and obligation to see Oden's will fulfilled, which includes opening Wano's borders. His actions are constantly guided by his desire to atone for his perceived failures, such as when he spent years gathering weapons from the graves of fallen warriors in preparation for the final battle against Kaido and the shogun Kurozumi Orochi.
Within the story, Kawamatsu serves as a key figure in the Wano Country arc as one of the fabled Nine Red Scabbards. For years after Oden's execution, he was thought to be dead or missing. In truth, he had protected Kozuki Hiyori for seven years before being captured and imprisoned in the Udon mines. His escape with the help of Raizo and Luffy becomes a major turning point, as he provides crucial strength and morale to the rebel forces. He joins the raid on Onigashima, directly confronting Kaido and his army alongside his fellow scabbards to fulfill their long-awaited revenge.
Kawamatsu's key relationships center on the Kozuki family and his fellow scabbards. His bond with Oden is the cornerstone of his life; he is eternally grateful for being saved and follows his dream without question. His care for Kozuki Hiyori is deeply paternal; he spent seven years starving himself to ensure she had enough to eat and went to great lengths to cheer her up after the trauma of losing her parents. He shares a unique bond with the fox Onimaru, as the two worked together to protect the graves of Ringo and secretly stockpile weapons for the coming rebellion. He also holds deep respect for Shimotsuki Yasuie, the former daimyo who taught him and the other young scabbards how to be true warriors. Among the Red Scabbards, he is considered one of the strongest, alongside Denjiro and Ashura Doji, each said to be worth one hundred men in battle.
Throughout his journey, Kawamatsu undergoes significant development, transitioning from a starving, guilty prisoner to a proud and active warrior fulfilling his oath. His long imprisonment, while physically debilitating, did not break his spirit. Upon liberation and reuniting with his comrades, he demonstrates that his skills have not waned, proving his resilience and readiness to fight. His character arc is one of redemption and the fulfillment of a long-deferred promise, culminating in his participation in the final battle against Kaido.
Kawamatsu possesses a formidable set of abilities. As a fish-man, he has natural physical strength ten times that of an ordinary human. He is an exceptionally skilled swordsman who created his own fighting style called Kappa-ryu, which seamlessly blends his sumo wrestling techniques with swordsmanship. He is proficient in Busoshoku Haki, or Armament Haki, which he can use to harden his blade and enhance his attacks, allowing him to cut the indestructible skin of Kaido. He also has a unique ability to spit fish bones with tremendous force and accuracy, using them as lethal projectiles. His endurance and resistance are outstanding; he consumed only highly toxic fish for thirteen years without succumbing to the poison, though he found the taste abhorrent. His beloved sword is named Soto Muso, a blade without a tsuba, or handguard. Following the raid's success and Momonosuke's rise as shogun, Kawamatsu was appointed as the daimyo of the region of Hakumai, finally bringing honor to his long service.