Summary
TheOne Pieceseries is well known for its elaborate world-building and intriguing settings, both of whichallow mangaka Eiichiro Oda a lot of creative freedom. These serve as backdrops to the arcs, setting the tone and allowing for the introduction of new elements and themes.
To craft this elaborate and detailed universe, Oda often finds inspiration in real-world places, which he then elaborates on and adapts to fit the story. A commonly referenced example of this is how both Wano and Arabasta are based on Edo Period Japan and Ancient Egypt respectively, but these aren’t the only parallels there are. In fact,One Pieceis full of direct references to famous landmarks, many of which have been eagerly identified by fans all over the world.
Water 7 and Dressrosa Were Both Inspired by Italy and Spain
Oda finds inspiration forOne Pieceislands from countries all around the world, with Southern Europe being no exception to this. In fact, Italy and Spain have inspired Water 7 and Dressrosa respectively, with Water 7 being based on Venice, and Dressrosa drawing inspiration from Spain’s Park Güell.
The parallels between Venice andOnePiece’s Water 7are evident. Just as is the case with Water 7, Venice is built on water and susceptible to high tides and flooding. People use canals to travel between places, and the small islands are connected by a system of bridges that allow pedestrians to move around. On the other hand, the connection between Dressrosa and Park Güell may be harder to spot for those who haven’t visited this destination, but it is obvious to anyone who has been there and compares them. Antoni Gaudí’s characteristic architectural style features heavilyin the entire Dressrosa arc, and alongside the lush gardens and use of characteristic tiles, it clearly references this very distinguished park.
England And France Inspired Some of One Piece’s Most Gaudy Kingdoms
Two locations in theOne Pieceworld draw inspiration from England and France. These are the Rommel Kingdom, clearly inspired by London, and Mary Geoise, which references Château de Chambord in France. The Rommel Kingdom features London’s classic architecture and a tower that is very reminiscent of Big Ben, whilstMary Geoise’s elegant architectureis a clear reference to the French Renaissance.
In both these cases, these real-world landmarks inspired not only the setting but also the themes. Rommel introduces the story of Hakuba, a serial killer that references London’s Jack the Ripper and is responsible for cutting people down throughout the city. Mary Geoise is insteadhome to the World Nobles, who are based on the French Aristocracy. As Château de Chambord is one of the most famous noble mansions in France, it is a fitting reference that highlights the lavish and entitled lifestyles shared by both groups.
Asbestos And Smokey Mountain In TheOne PieceWorld
In theOne Pieceuniverse, the Gray Terminal is a testament to both thetoxic attitude of the rulersof the Goa Kingdom, and the subsequent extreme poverty in those territories. This tragic location is a city of garbage, inspired by the real-world Smokey Mountain in the Philippines. Known as the slums of Manila, this so-called mountain consists of over two million metric tons of waste, and gets its name from the frequent fires caused by the decomposing flammable waste.
Another instance of Odadrawing inspiration from a sad realityof the real world was the case of Asbestos, a Canadian town named after the substance Asbestos that served as the basis forOne Piece’s Flevance. Just as Flevance was given the moniker “White City” after the Toxic Amber Lead that was mined there, Asbestos was once home to one of the largest asbestos mines and gets its name from there. Similarly to what happened in Flevance, the Canadian government and the companies involved in the mining lied about the negative health effects of mining the mineral, leading to high cancer rates in its community to this day.
Iceland’s Elephant Rock In TheOne PieceWorld
AsOne Pieceis quirky in nature, Oda often draws inspiration from unusual and fascinating locations he comes across. One such landmark can be found in Iceland, and it inspired an equally strange island in theOne Pieceworld. This place is Iceland’s Elephant Rock, a large elephant-shaped mass that likely inspiredZunesha, the elephant that carries the civilization Zouon its back.
The variety of the locations ensure fans never get bored of theOne Pieceworld. The detail and care put into this world are a testament to Oda’s skill as a mangaka, and his ability to take inspiration from the real world and adapt it to suit the needs of the story shows both great creativity and forethought. TheOne Piececommunity is excited to see where the Straw Hats will travel too next, and many fans hope that, as stated, once they escape Egghead Island they will be heading to Elbaf.
