Shimotsuki Kuina

Kuina (くいな) was the childhood friend of Roronoa Zoro.

Appearance
The Marine officer Tashigi bears a strong resemblance to Kuina (in appearance, personality, and sword style), to the point where it makes Zoro extremely uncomfortable around her. However, they are not believed to have any greater connection than that.

Personality
She was the daughter of the sword master of a dojo Koshiro and the reason why Zoro developed the Santōryū technique, and why he treasures one of his swords, the Wadō Ichimonji, more than his others. In life she was always living with the knowledge that, as a woman, as she got older she would not be able to compete with other men. This would eventually force her to give up the swordsman life.

Eventually Zoro made her believe that its willpower, not strength, that makes a swordsman. Since she died, it is unknown how strong she would have become. She could be even stronger than Zoro, since Zoro got the inspiration for his willpower from her.

History
Zoro fought Kuina regularly, but found that in 2000 fights he could never beat her. Zoro challenged her into fighting with real swords, in which she used her family's Meito Wadō Ichimonji. Kuina had come to the conclusion that Zoro would soon pass her in skill and strength, as boys grow up to be stronger then girls, so when she started growing breasts she became discouraged, at which point Zoro told her that it was his goal to be as good as her, and together they promised that one of them would become the greatest swordsman in the world.

However, soon after making their vow, Zoro learnt she had fallen down the stairs while trying to get a sharpening block and died. Zoro was angry with her, acusing her of running away from their promise. Finally, Zoro asked her father for the honor of taking the Wadō Ichimonji with him, and with this, Zoro promised to fulfill their shared dream of becoming the greatest swordsman to fruition, in order to honor Kuina.

Major Battles

 * Vs. Zoro x2001

Dub and Translation Issues
Like Tashigi, her name comes from a flightless bird. The fact she is named after a flightless bird is a reflection of herself. In regards to the bird itself, Oda stated though a bird cannot fly, it doesn't mean it never will.

In the 4Kids dub she was injured by the friends of a man she defeated, and could never fight again. However, despite this change of storyline by 4Kids, many media based sources, such as One Piece Grand Adventure, still referenced the fact she died in the original storyline.

Merchandise
She was issued alongside Zoro in a One Piece Block Figures set featuring the Straw Hats and their past mentors/loved ones.

Trivia

 * She is a playable character in the U.S. and Australian-only video game, One Piece Grand Adventure. Surprisingly, Zoro openly says that she died, despite 4Kids' change of the storyline and their constant avoidance of death.

Related Articles

 * Roronoa Zoro
 * Wadō Ichimonji