Onimaru

Onimaru
Statistics
Japanese Name:	牛鬼丸
Romanized Name:	Gyūkimaru
Official English Name:	Onimaru
Debut:	Chapter 936
Occupations:	Warrior Monk; Highway Robber
Status:	Alive

Gyukimaru is a warrior monk and highway robber who resides in Wano Country.

Appearance

Gyukimaru is a very large man with a face resembling a mask. He wears a dark kimono, light pants, and a light cape, and carries many weapons on his back. He also wears a very large bead necklace.

Personality

Gyukimaru greatly reveres the legends of Ryuma, and so went to great lengths to return Shusui to his grave. He is rather pragmatic in battle and always looks for an opening on his opponent, even when they are distracted or caught up by something else altogether.

Abilities and Powers

Gyukimaru is a skilled thief, being able to successfully steal Shusui from Zoro and make his way halfway across Wano Country at a fast pace.

Spearmanship

Gyukimaru has shown to be extremely skilled in wielding his naginata, able to clash evenly with the extremely powerful swordsman Roronoa Zoro. He has been shown using the handle of the staff to counter Zoro's sword strikes.

Weapons

Gyukimaru's main weapon is a very long naginata, which grants him great size and range in addition to cutting power.

He also carries around a very large variety of weapons on his back.

History

Wano Country Arc

Gyukimaru was in Ebisu Town when he spotted the sword Shusui and took it. He went to Ringo and returned it to Ryuma's grave before he was confronted on Oihagi Bridge by Roronoa Zoro, from whom he had taken Shusui. Refusing to believe Zoro rightfully earned the sword, Gyukimaru battled him to take his other two swords. A woman and a girl named Toko then came onto the scene being chased by Kamazo, and as Zoro turned his attention to Kamazo, Gyukimaru repeatedly tried striking at his openings, annoying the swordsman.

After Zoro defeated Kamazo, Gyukimaru walked away as Zoro fainted from the wound he received from the assassin.

Major Battles

• Gyukimaru vs. Roronoa Zoro

Trivia

• Gyukimaru is possibly based on Benkei, a Japanese warrior monk who was said to have stolen weapons from samurai that he believed to be arrogant and unworthy.
• "Gyūki" (牛鬼, ox demon/ogre^?) is another pronunciation for ushi-oni, a creature in Japanese folklore with a bovine head and horns. "Maru" (丸, ring" or "perfect"^?) is a common suffix for Japanese male names.
  • Gyukimaru's name may also be based on Benkei's childhood name, Oniwaka (鬼若, demon/ogre child^?) or Oniwakamaru.
  • It may also be a portmanteau, combining 牛 ("ushi", cow^?) from Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸^?), the childhood name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune who earned Benkei's loyalty by defeating him, 鬼 ("demon/ogre"^?) from Oniwakamaru, and the "-maru" suffix from both.