The Straw Hat Pirates are the primary protagonists of One Piece, led by Monkey D. Luffy. This crew was created in One Piece chapter 6, which was released on September 1, 1997, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 40. It was in this chapter that Roronoa Zoro joined Luffy on his adventure, and thus began this legendary crew from the East Blue.
Up until this point in the story, Luffy and the Straw Hats have amassed many powerful members, and they now stand as one of the Emperor crews of the seas in the New World. At the same time, they have also made countless friends and gained many allies, some of whom might even go on to join the Straw Hat Pirates in the future. One such character is the legendary protector of Wano, Yamato. Surprisingly, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, most recently confirmed to us that, in a potential future that may or may not come to pass, Yamato could end up dying at the age of 60 under very tragic circumstances.
Eiichiro Oda Confirms The Death Of Yamato At 60 In A Bad Future
Yamato was introduced as Kaido’s child in One Piece chapter 971, released on February 17, 2020, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 12. Immediately after, it was established that Yamato was actually an ally of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates and hated Kaido just as much as the people of Wano.
“If I don’t fight for the sake of this country against you, then I won’t be able to call myself Oden!” — Yamato fights Kaido, One Piece Chapter 1024
Yamato originally idolized Kozuki Oden, the prodigal son of Wano who went on to sacrifice his life for his country. Unfortunately for them, imprisonment meant that they could not leave Onigashima and carry out their role as the protector of the country. When Luffy liberated the land of Wano after defeating Kaido in One Piece chapter 1049, Yamato, just like many other people of Wano, was fully freed from their shackles. This set up a new adventure for them, as they decided to stay back in Wano and protect the country from any threat.
At this point in the story, many expected Yamato to join the Straw Hat Pirates, and even Luffy wasn’t against the idea of Kaido’s very own child joining. However, due to Wano’s weakness post-war, Yamato decided to stay behind and embark on a journey across the country, just as Oden once did.
“You know what happened, right? When the Woodsman attacked, it was someone’s incredible Haki that kept him at bay and saved the country. Kaido isn’t around anymore, but it’ll be someone like him who will attack the country next. I can’t turn my back on Wano right now!” — Yamato stays behind, One Piece Chapter #1059
Yamato’s journey is not only a pilgrimage but also a journey of self-acceptance, where they go on to truly understand what it means to embody the spirit of Kozuki Oden and defend the country of Wano. Interestingly enough, in One Piece volume 114, which was officially released in Japan on March 4, 2026, and is set to be released on March 2, 2027, in the U.S., Eiichiro Oda describes the death of Yamato in a bad future. On many occasions, Eiichiro Oda shows what each Straw Hat or an ally would look like at 40 and 60 years of age in both a good and a bad future. Yamato’s case was no different, but while the vast majority of the characters survive in either future, Yamato’s case is different. In Yamato’s bad future, they would be dead at 60, burned alive to a crisp and fully embodying Kozuki Oden. In other words, the obsession with Oden could get to the point where Yamato could die.
Why Yamato Must Embrace Themself To Avoid Death
Eiichiro Oda showing Yamato’s tragic death at 60 in a bad future makes a lot of sense when considering the fact that there are multiple ways to go about embodying Oden. Yamato admires Oden a lot, and that was evident in the Wano Country arc, but they did not do it in a way where they were completely obsessed with the idea of becoming Oden. Yamato recognizes the fact that, at the end of the day, they are their own self and not Kozuki Oden.
Kaido: If you want to bear the name Oden, you must be ready for war. This isn’t a game, Yamato!
Yamato: What is the crime in admiring someone? I loved Kozuki Oden! But I also know there are people who believe in me and have accepted me! Who are you to steal my freedom? Who are you to steal Wano’s freedom?
— Yamato explains their true identity, One Piece Chapter #1024
Yamato’s admiration for Oden comes from a place of love, and their hate for Kaido comes from the trauma that they endured as a kid. All these things make Yamato the person that they are, and if their future continues along the same line, Yamato would most certainly not die at the age of 60. However, in an alternate reality where Yamato were to become obsessed with the idea of being Oden, they would eventually burn to a crisp at the age of 60.
Yamato has already embraced themselves, so for them to meet a tragic end at 60 is not plausible. The proof of the fact that Yamato has embraced themselves and separated admiring Kozuki Oden and wanting to be like them from being obsessed with them is the fact that they wield the Color of the Supreme King.
“The unshakable essence that fuels Conqueror’s Haki is one’s sense of self!” — Dracule Mihawk, One Piece Chapter #1194
In the Elbaf arc of One Piece, specifically in One Piece chapter 1194, it was officially confirmed that the Color of the Supreme King is essentially one’s sense of self. If one does not possess this sense of self, they cannot wield the Color of the Supreme King. In other words, Yamato distinguishes being like Oden from being themselves and fully understands what it means to embody their own self.
Yamato’s Role Alongside Luffy In The Future
Interestingly enough, One Piece Volume 114 also confirms that Yamato and Luffy will reunite and sail together as part of a pirate crew in the future. In Yamato’s good future, which is what we are currently following in the story, they end up sailing together with the Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy, at age 40.
“Luffy, look! It’s Wano! It’s been a while; let’s stop by!” — Yamato sails with Luffy at Age 40, One Piece Volume 114
The two pass by Wano Country while sailing on the seas, and Yamato asks Luffy to stop by Wano to pay a visit. By the age of 60, Yamato seems to have retired from being a pirate and resides in Wano once again. It is at this point that Yamato is offered a big role in the country, which Oda did not describe. Just like Oden, embodying his spirit in a positive manner, Yamato rejects this opportunity, not wanting to become a big shot and embracing their freedom instead. For now, Yamato remains in Wano Country, but we can only hope that Eiichiro Oda brings this legendary character back to the story and expands upon them significantly in the months and years to come.
All chapters of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.