Shogun

The Shogun is the official title for the monarchic ruler of the Wano Country.

Overview
The shogun is the supreme ruler of the Wano Country and all that reside within it. Below them are the daimyo, who rule over the different regions of Wano, while the shogun and their family mainly reside in the Flower Capital.

The title of shogun is usually inherited from parent to child. However, if an heir proves to be unworthy of the status, then the parent can disavow them of their birthright, though they can be regained in some way. If the shogun has no legitimate heirs to pass the title to by the time they pass on, then one of the daimyos will become the next shogun.

Shoguns

 * Kozuki Sukiyaki was the shogun long ago and ruled it with great responsibility and compassion. He was presumably killed by the Kurozumi Family in their plot to take the country for themselves, but was actually imprisoned by them. By the time he managed to escape, his son Kozuki Oden had already been killed and Wano was drastically changed by Orochi and the Beasts Pirates. Out of shame, he disguised himself as the tengu hermit Tenguyama Hitetsu and let everyone believe that he was dead. He revealed his true identity to Nico Robin after his grandson Momonosuke took over as shogun, and eventually decided to let his grandchildren and family retainers know about his survival as well, but he intends to continue keeping his survival a secret from everyone else and wishes to live a full life of seclusion once he passes down his knowledge to his grandson.
 * Kurozumi Orochi was the shogun from the disgraced Kurozumi Family. After deposing of Sukiyaki and earning the support of Kaidou and his crew, he was able to take control of the country and use his authority to make its people suffer for the indignity he was forced to endure while young. However, he was then betrayed by Kaidou, who sought to make his son Yamato the new shogun even though Yamato does not want to, and was later killed by Denjiro, thus ending his reign for good.
 * Kozuki Momonosuke is the current shogun of Wano, following the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance's defeat of Kaidou and Orochi during the Fire Festival. He promised to free the country's citizens from tyranny and slavery, to return the land to a paradise, and to demolish the toxic factories.

Shogun Candidates
While the position of shogun is generally inherited, if the position of shoguns heir is empty, then the daimyos are considered candidates for the position. And as Orochi demonstrated, the position can be usurped.


 * Kurozumi Daimyo: Before Sukiyaki was born, Orochi's grandfather, who was a daimyo, aimed for the position of shogun, as the shogun of the time had yet to birth an heir. In an attempt to ensure his succession, he murdered of his fellow daimyo by stealthily poisoning them. However, when Sukiyaki was born, his duplicity was brought to light, with the shogun sentencing him to commit seppuku. What's more his actions caused the Kurozumi Family to lose all their power and assets, while the remainder of his family was succumbed to lynching by the citizens of Wano, with only five members surviving the persecutions.
 * Kozuki Oden: The son of Sukiyaki and rightful heir to the position of shogun, Oden never received the post due to the Kurozumi Family's scheming. Oden was at first disinherited from his position due to his troublemaking but was welcomed back after proving himself by revitalizing Kuri and being appointed its daimyo. However, Oden left to travel with the Whitebeard Pirates (where he soon met his wife-to-be Amatsuki Toki) and later the Roger Pirates. During his journey, he fathered two children, Momonosuke and Hiyori. He left his family in Wano when the Roger Pirates stopped by to look for Poneglyphs. After they discovered the One Piece, Oden returned to find his country changed by the "acting" shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, and the pirate, Kaidou. When he tried to take back his position, the two blackmailed him with the lives of the citizens, forcing him to do demeaning acts to preserve the citizens. Eventually, Oden was captured when he attempted a coup, after Orochi did not keep his word, and executed, in the incident known as the Legendary Hour.
 * Shimotsuki Yasuie: After Oden was disowned by Sukiyaki and stripped of his birthright, many people in Wano suggested that the daimyo of Hakumai, Yasuie should be the next shogun due to his dedication to protecting Wano from invaders; a sentiment that even Oden agreed with. However, Yasuie didn't seem to be interested in the position, as he insisted that Oden rise up to the challenge and prove himself worthy of being his father's successor.
 * Yamato: The son of Kaidou, the Emperor planned to make him shogun as part of his New Onigashima Project. However, Yamato had no interest in being his father's puppet ruler and sided with the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance during the Raid on Onigashima. In the end, the project failed when the Beasts Pirates lost the battle.

Trivia

 * In real-life Feudal Japan, the shogun was the commander-in-chief while the country was ruled by the emperor. However, the emperor was actually a mere figurehead who possessed little to no actual power while the shogun was the de facto ruler of Japan.
 * Ironically though, the reverse can be said with Shogun Orochi being the figurehead while the Emperor Kaidou was the true ruler of Wano.
 * The shogun of Wano being seen as the ruler of the country is not far from the vision that the first European explorers had of the position in real life.
 * When Portuguese explorers (the first European people to visit Japan) came into contact with the Japanese, they mistakenly believed that the shogun was the country's emperor and that the emperor himself was a kind of "high priest" similar to the pope.
 * The term "shogun" is often translated "generalissimo" and is also used for such military leaders of foreign nations by the Japanese.

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