TV-Series
Description
Izo is the former commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' 16th division and a samurai of Wano Country. He was born in the region of Ringo in Wano as the eldest son of a family that ran the Hanayanagi dancing school, making him the heir to this traditional dance style. His life took a difficult turn when his father was arrested, which led to his family being torn apart. To survive on the streets, he and his younger brother, Kikunojo, would perform dances for the public. Their fortunes changed when they encountered Kozuki Oden, the charismatic daimyo of Kuri, who gave them food and purpose. From that point on, Izo became a devoted retainer of the Kozuki Family, swearing loyalty to Oden.
When the legendary pirate Whitebeard brought his crew to the shores of Wano, Oden became obsessed with sailing overseas. Izo, aware of his master's intentions, chased after Oden as he secretly boarded the Whitebeard Pirates' ship. Once aboard, he refused to leave, and after a tense period where he was tied up on the vessel, he was eventually allowed to join the crew. Izo sailed with Oden and Whitebeard for several years, building a new life on the sea. When Oden later decided to leave Whitebeard's ship to join Gol D. Roger's crew for a final voyage, Izo made the difficult choice to stay behind. He had grown to love the Whitebeard Pirates and felt a strong sense of belonging, choosing to wait for Oden's return instead of following him. Tragically, this meant he was not present in Wano when Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido betrayed and executed his beloved master, an event that would haunt him for decades.
Izo served under Whitebeard for over twenty-five years, eventually rising to the rank of 16th Division Commander. He was present at the Summit War of Marineford, where the Whitebeard Pirates attempted to rescue Portgas D. Ace from execution. During this battle, he displayed his remarkable skill with a pair of flintlock pistols, even breaking a Marine's sword with a precisely aimed shot. He also tried to reason with Ace, urging him to ignore Admiral Akainu's taunts, though his pleas went unheeded. Following the deaths of Whitebeard and Ace, he attended their funeral and later took part in the Payback War against the Blackbeard Pirates, a conflict that the remnants of the Whitebeard crew ultimately lost. For a time, he went into hiding.
Years later, driven by a lingering sense of duty to his fallen master, Izo finally returned to his homeland of Wano. He arrived with Marco and Nekomamushi to join the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance in their raid on Onigashima to avenge Oden. There, he reunited with his younger brother Kikunojo after more than two decades, fighting alongside the other Akazaya Nine members as they confronted Kaido. He demonstrated that his marksmanship had only grown more formidable, using advanced armament Haki to fire bullets capable of wounding the Yonko. After the initial assault on Kaido failed, Izo continued to fight across the battlefield. While protecting his allies, he sustained heavy injuries. In his final act, he single-handedly confronted two elite agents of CP0, the World Government's intelligence agency, to prevent them from interfering with the battle. Though mortally wounded in the fight, his sacrifice ensured that the Straw Hat Pirates and their alliance could continue their mission.
Izo possessed a personality defined by deep loyalty and a strong sense of duty. He was willing to risk his life for his crewmates, both for Ace at Marineford and for the samurai of Wano in the later raid. He had a very long memory for debt and honor, staying loyal to Oden for decades after his death while also forming unbreakable bonds with his pirate family. Despite his gentle and refined appearance, which included traditional geisha makeup, a pink kimono, and an elegant hairstyle, he was a fierce and pragmatic warrior. He also believed that a samurai is defined by their actions and way of life, not strictly by their choice of weapon, as he favored pistols over the traditional sword. Izo valued a meaningful death, feeling he had narrowly avoided it many times before, and ultimately gave his life for a cause he believed in. He stands as a figure who bridged two worlds: the isolated, traditional samurai of Wano and the free, chaotic life of a New World pirate.
When the legendary pirate Whitebeard brought his crew to the shores of Wano, Oden became obsessed with sailing overseas. Izo, aware of his master's intentions, chased after Oden as he secretly boarded the Whitebeard Pirates' ship. Once aboard, he refused to leave, and after a tense period where he was tied up on the vessel, he was eventually allowed to join the crew. Izo sailed with Oden and Whitebeard for several years, building a new life on the sea. When Oden later decided to leave Whitebeard's ship to join Gol D. Roger's crew for a final voyage, Izo made the difficult choice to stay behind. He had grown to love the Whitebeard Pirates and felt a strong sense of belonging, choosing to wait for Oden's return instead of following him. Tragically, this meant he was not present in Wano when Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido betrayed and executed his beloved master, an event that would haunt him for decades.
Izo served under Whitebeard for over twenty-five years, eventually rising to the rank of 16th Division Commander. He was present at the Summit War of Marineford, where the Whitebeard Pirates attempted to rescue Portgas D. Ace from execution. During this battle, he displayed his remarkable skill with a pair of flintlock pistols, even breaking a Marine's sword with a precisely aimed shot. He also tried to reason with Ace, urging him to ignore Admiral Akainu's taunts, though his pleas went unheeded. Following the deaths of Whitebeard and Ace, he attended their funeral and later took part in the Payback War against the Blackbeard Pirates, a conflict that the remnants of the Whitebeard crew ultimately lost. For a time, he went into hiding.
Years later, driven by a lingering sense of duty to his fallen master, Izo finally returned to his homeland of Wano. He arrived with Marco and Nekomamushi to join the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance in their raid on Onigashima to avenge Oden. There, he reunited with his younger brother Kikunojo after more than two decades, fighting alongside the other Akazaya Nine members as they confronted Kaido. He demonstrated that his marksmanship had only grown more formidable, using advanced armament Haki to fire bullets capable of wounding the Yonko. After the initial assault on Kaido failed, Izo continued to fight across the battlefield. While protecting his allies, he sustained heavy injuries. In his final act, he single-handedly confronted two elite agents of CP0, the World Government's intelligence agency, to prevent them from interfering with the battle. Though mortally wounded in the fight, his sacrifice ensured that the Straw Hat Pirates and their alliance could continue their mission.
Izo possessed a personality defined by deep loyalty and a strong sense of duty. He was willing to risk his life for his crewmates, both for Ace at Marineford and for the samurai of Wano in the later raid. He had a very long memory for debt and honor, staying loyal to Oden for decades after his death while also forming unbreakable bonds with his pirate family. Despite his gentle and refined appearance, which included traditional geisha makeup, a pink kimono, and an elegant hairstyle, he was a fierce and pragmatic warrior. He also believed that a samurai is defined by their actions and way of life, not strictly by their choice of weapon, as he favored pistols over the traditional sword. Izo valued a meaningful death, feeling he had narrowly avoided it many times before, and ultimately gave his life for a cause he believed in. He stands as a figure who bridged two worlds: the isolated, traditional samurai of Wano and the free, chaotic life of a New World pirate.