"Shusui" has been featured, meaning it was chosen as an article of interest.
Shusui is one of the 21 Great Grade swords and a "Black Blade" (黒刀,Kokutō?) that was once wielded by the legendary samurai Shimotsuki Ryuma. It is prized as the national treasure of the Wano Country.[3] After his death, the katana was buried with Ryuma, until his grave was robbed by Gecko Moria 23 years ago.[4][5]
Ryuma appeared as a zombie on Thriller Bark, who had been givenBrook's shadow. After his defeat, Ryuma bequeathed the sword to Roronoa Zoro, and said he was satisfied with Zoro as the sword's master.[6] The sword then replaced Zoro's Yubashiri which was destroyed by Marine Captain Shu at Enies Lobby.[7] It was then stolen by Gyukimaru and returned to Ryuma's grave. After that, Zoro agreed to leave Shusui behind to replace it for the offered Enma by Kouzuki Hiyori.
Shusui is a black blade[2] that has as distinct white (reddish-purple in the anime) reverse wave hamon (hardening line) that is of a Kanemoto style and its tsuba (handguard) has flower-like edges in the shape of an octofoil. It also has no accessories on the hilt, being wrapped with black silk. Kashira, tsuba and kojiri end cap are golden, and the sheath is black, decorated with dark red circles split into even thirds.
In descriptive terms, Shusui is a Hira Zukuri katana with a black blade. Shusui has a solid hilt with a samegawa wrapped around it. The kashira is identical to the kojiri found at the end of the sheath. The crossguard is in the shape of a flower, with the sides being dark gold but the edge is normal gold. There are two half-circle holes on each side of the blade. A saw hamon pattern adorns the sides of this blade in a shining dark magenta while the hamon of the blade is colored purple, though it is equally as dark as the black bo-hi. Shusui has a traditional sheath, but a pattern of circles in their thirds can be found stretching across it.
After the Thriller Bark Arc, Zoro wrapped a sageo rope around the upper part of the sheath,[8] although this was not shown in the anime until after the timeskip.[9]
During the Dressrosa Arc in the manga, Shusui's hamon was changed to red, most likely to match its anime color.
Gallery
Shusui's sheath.
Shusui's original color in the manga.
Shusui's new color in the Dressrosa arc.
Abilities
Ryuma beheading a Dragon.
As one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, Shusui is one of the finest swords in the world and the national treasure of Wano. It was most known as the signature sword of the legendary Samurai, Shimotsuki Ryuma, which became a permanent Black Blade.[10] As such, Zoro commented such a trait makes Shusui durable, to the point where even if a dinosaur stepped on it, the blade would not bend a millimeter.[11] In the past, Ryuma was most known using it to behead an enormous dragon that appeared over Wano with little effort.[12]
Shusui is heavier than swords like Yubashiri, making its attacks much stronger and more destructive. This can be problematic if the sword is not properly controlled and causes too much destruction when cutting.[13] While fighting Ryuma, Zoro also noted that Shusui would eventually break Sandai Kitetsu and Wado Ichimonji,[14] both swords created by some of the best Wano swordsmiths.
Zoro's hardened swords cut through Pica's hardened body.
After training with Dracule Mihawk for the next two years, Shusui is noted as having become Zoro's favored blade[citation needed] and has overcome its negative attributes. In conjuncture with his improved strength and skills, Shusui enhances the effectiveness of Zoro's One Sword Style much greater than Wado Ichimonji or Sandai Kitetsu. Zoro even recreated Ryuma's legendary feat of decapitating a dragon.[15] During the battle at Dressrosa, Shusui, as well as Sandai Kitetsu and Wado Ichimonji, easily cut apart Pica's stone golems[16] and his completely Armament Haki-hardened body.[17]
The sword originally belonged to Shimotsuki Ryuma, and was buried with its original master in Wano Country upon his death, where it was prized as a national treasure.[3] It was said that Shusui was not always a "black blade", and it became one after many battles alongside its master.[10] 23 years ago, Gecko Moria stole both the sword and Ryuma's body, and Wano Country was brought to its knees in shock.[4][5]
As a zombie, Ryuma wielded Shusui once again, but later bequeathed it to Zoro upon his defeat.[6]
Years later, Kin'emon recognized the sword and became determined to challenge Zoro so the sword could be returned to Wano Country.[18] While at a restaurant in Acacia, Shusui was stolen by the dwarfWicca,[3] but Zoro managed to catch up to the dwarf and reclaimed his sword.[19]
Shusui put in Ryuma's grave
While in Wano, Zoro was accused of being behind a series of attacks due to his possession of the sword and was sentenced to commit seppuku, and the corrupt magistrate Toyama Tsujigiro took Shusui for himself. Zoro managed to identify the magistrate as the real culprit and struck him down, regaining Shusui.[20]
Shusui was later stolen by Gyukimaru, who returned it to Ryuma's grave.[21] In order to have Shusui remain in Wano Country, Kouzuki Hiyori offered her own Great Grade sword, Enma, to Zoro as a replacement for Shusui,[22] a proposal which Zoro accepted.[23][24]
Trivia
Shusui as a human.
Shūsui (秋水?) is a Japanese term for the clear, cool, and tranquil waters of autumn; it is also a metaphor for a well-sharpened sword (one whose well-polished blade glints like sunlight on clear water).
In SBS Volume 92, Oda drew Zoro's swords personified as humans. Shusui took the form of a man with a long face and a prominent chin, with neck-length light hair and a thin dark mustache.[25]
In Chapter 599, Zoro's Shusui was shown with a different sheath strongly resembling that of Trafalgar Law's nodachi, Kikoku. Although Oda did not write anything about it, it could be taken as a mistake as Zoro is then seen holding Shusui with its traditional sheath with no comments about the change. This error is fixed in the anime episode that adapts this scene from the manga.
In Chapter 937, Gyukimaru states that Shusui "became" a black blade in the hands of Ryuma. In Chapter 955, Kouzuki Sukiyaki states that by becoming a black blade, Enma could raise in rank into a Supreme Grade sword, which means that before becoming a black blade, Shusui could have been a Skillful Grade blade.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 49Chapter 474 (p. 3-5) and Episode 369, Zoro uses a more powerful Hyakuhachi Pound Ho and commented on Shusui's weight.
