The world of One Piece is massive, with lore that stretches across oceans, islands, and centuries of history. But not every detail makes it into the manga panels. Creator Eiichiro Oda often shares additional secrets through the SBS (fan question corners), cover story side tales, or interviews.
Here are 10 fascinating One Piece secrets Oda revealed outside the main story.
1. Zoro’s Hidden Family Tree
For years, Zoro seemed like a lone swordsman with no family ties. But in SBS Vol. 105, Oda confirmed Zoro’s full lineage. He is descended from Shimotsuki Ushimaru, a Wano daimyo who closely resembles him, and from Ryuma, the legendary swordsman introduced in Thriller Bark. This revelation gave Zoro one of the most prestigious bloodlines in Wano’s history.
2. Kozuki Connection: Gecko Moria’s Secret
In Yamato’s cover story (Chapter 1158), fans spotted a grave marked “Kozuki Moria.” This shocking reveal suggests Gecko Moria is tied to the Kozuki clan. It reframes his rivalry with Kaido and hints that his “moonlight” name was foreshadowing all along.
3. Ace Defeated a Forgotten Warlord
In SBS Vol. 109, Oda explained that Portgas D. Ace once defeated a Warlord named Hanafuda, the King of Lizards. This victory removed Hanafuda from the Shichibukai and allowed Kuma to join. Hanafuda was also tied to Kaido and revealed as the father of Ulti and Page One, though he died before appearing in the manga.
4. The Sky People Came From the Moon
Enel’s cover story revealed murals on the moon showing the ancestors of the Shandorians, Skypieans, and Birkans. They left the moon after losing resources and settled on the “Blue Planet.” This lunar connection adds cosmic depth to One Piece’s history.
5. Why Luffy Never Kills His Enemies
In SBS Vol. 4, Oda answered a fan’s question about why Luffy never kills. His reasoning: defeat is more painful than death. By shattering his opponents’ dreams and forcing them to live with failure, Luffy delivers a harsher punishment than ending their lives.
6. X Drake’s Secret Work for Kaido
A Caribou cover story revealed X Drake working alongside Kaido’s forces, avenging Scotch and spying on weapon production. This detail foreshadowed his double life within the Beast Pirates and his eventual alliance shifts in Wano.
7. The True Name of the One Piece World
After decades of storytelling, Oda finally revealed the name of the planet: the Blue Planet (SBS Vol. 111). This aligns with Enel’s cover story, where the Moon People saw the Earth as a great blue world from space.
8. The Mystery Photographer Behind Bounties
In SBS Vol. 24, Oda revealed that Flaming Attach (Atta-chan) is the photographer responsible for all those perfectly timed bounty posters. Once part of the Marines’ Photography Department, he later joined Morgans’ newspaper. His signature quirk? He yells “Fire!” when snapping pictures.
9. How Kidd Stole Big Mom’s Poneglyph
During the time skip, Kidd attacked Snack, one of Big Mom’s commanders, and stole the Road Poneglyph he was guarding. This revelation in SBS Vol. 111 explains Kidd’s possession of a critical piece of the puzzle to Laugh Tale.
10. Alternate Futures Reveal Strange Aging Rules
In several SBS installments, Oda showed how characters could look depending on whether their lives turned out good or bad. For example, Usopp has one version where he looks calm and fulfilled, and another where he’s aged horribly, still lying about being Luffy’s master. These glimpses show Oda’s quirky take on how misfortune changes physiology in One Piece.
Conclusion
Eiichiro Oda’s worldbuilding doesn’t stop at the manga panels. From family trees and forgotten Warlords to moon civilizations and bounty photographers, the secrets revealed in SBS corners and cover stories prove just how deep One Piece truly is.
Fans who follow these hidden details get a richer, more complete understanding of the series — and even hints about where the story may go in its final saga.
