ONE PIECE Episode 36 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Survive! Mother Bellemere and Nami's Bond!

In a flashback, the Arlong Pirates come to collect Bellemere's tribute; she resists but is quickly subdued, and with only 100,000 berries she pays for Nojiko and Nami instead of herself and is shot dead by Arlong. Impressed by Nami's map-making, Arlong takes her into his crew as a surveyor and promises to sell the village back to her for 100 million berries, and for eight years she steals from pirates and buries her savings. In the present, Nami nears her goal of 100 million berries, and the Marine captain Nezumi arrives to seize her hidden treasure.

• Bellemere's final stand

  With only 100,000 berries, Bellemere could pay the tribute either for herself or for her two daughters. She refused to let the villagers pass Nojiko and Nami off as not hers, declared them her family, paid for them instead of herself, and was shot by Arlong after telling them she loved them.

• Nami's pact with Arlong

  Impressed by a map Nami had drawn, Arlong took her into his crew as a surveyor and promised to sell Cocoyasi Village back to her for 100 million berries.

• Present-day theft and confrontation

  Nami stole from pirates to accumulate berries, came within seven million of her goal, and was confronted by Nezumi who demanded her hidden treasure.

Recent Timeline

• Usopp captured and Nami's betrayal (Episode 33)

  Chew brought the captured Usopp to Arlong Park, where he realized Zoro had been involved. Zoro reached Cocoyasi Village after Hatchan delivered him unknowingly, learning Usopp had already been taken to Arlong Park. When Kuroobi suspected Nami of helping Zoro escape, Nami stabbed the captured Usopp in the stomach to prove her loyalty to the Arlong Pirates; he fell into the pool, and Johnny, who witnessed it, believed he had been killed. Meanwhile, Luffy, Yosaku, and Sanji crash-landed near Zoro after a collision during the approach to Arlong Park, and Luffy explained they had come to bring Nami back.

• Navy ship sunk by Arlong's crew (Episode 34)

  After the Navy ship fired on Arlong Park, Arlong intercepted the cannonball and sent three of his officers against it. Chew attacked the sailors, Kuroobi tore off the rudder, and Hatchan created an artificial whirlpool that sank the ship.

• Arlong claims Cocoyasi Village (Episode 35)

  The Arlong Pirates invaded Cocoyasi Village and Arlong declared the entire island his domain. Every citizen was required to pay him a monthly tribute in exchange for their lives.

• Bellemere executed during the invasion (Episode 36)

  Arlong made his promise to spare Bellemere's daughters conditional on her accepting death, and the villagers' resistance was put down. After telling Nojiko and Nami that she loved them, Bellemere was shot, and Arlong announced she would serve as an example.

• Nami joins Arlong as surveyor (Episode 36)

  Nami returned to the village and announced she would serve Arlong as a sea chart surveyor, rejecting her family's pleas. She agreed to draw charts for Arlong in exchange for the chance to buy the village's freedom for 100 million berries, and was ordered out of the village.

Character Graph

Buggy

Buggy Pirates

Captain of the Buggy Pirates; a fearsome pirate with his own Devil Fruit ability; his territory is where Luffy lands after being dropped by the bird.

Former fellow apprentice of Shanks in the same pirate crew; plotted to steal a Devil Fruit and treasure map before being caught.

• Power

  Can separate his body parts and is immune to being cut apart, due to the Bara Bara Fruit.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Fought Zoro and stabbed him; claimed Zoro's wound decided the fight.

• Nami (Hierarchy, Hostility)

  Accepted Nami into his crew as a supposed defector; ordered her to fire a Buggy Ball at Luffy as proof of loyalty.

• Luffy (Other, Hostility)

  Fights Luffy and pierces his straw hat with knives, enraging him.

  Luffy struck Buggy down during the attempt to seize his treasure and later blasted him out of town.

Ninjin

Child follower of Usopp who joined his group and confirmed Kaya has become much more cheerful.

• Role

  Joined Usopp's group and, while searching for their captain, led Luffy, Zoro and Nami to Kaya's mansion.

• Usopp (Hierarchy, Affinity)

  Follower of Usopp.

Usopp

Village youth who invents tall tales and leads a small group of followers; wants to become a pirate.

Village liar who joins the crew as a new permanent member after his backstory is revealed.

• Tall tales

  Invents an alarm, claims to command eighty million followers, and tells extravagant stories to entertain Kaya.

• Reputation as a liar

  His repeated lies make the villagers refuse to believe his pirate warning.

• Retraction and resolve

  He claims the pirate threat was invented, then decides to intercept the pirates at the coast himself.

• Childhood and father's departure

  His father Yasopp left to become a pirate with Shanks, leaving Usopp and his wife behind. His mother later died of illness, and Usopp became the village liar hoping his father would return.

• Ninjin (Hierarchy, Friend, Affinity)

  Follower who joins Usopp's group.

  Follower who was disappointed and left him when Usopp claimed his pirate warning had been a lie.

• Luffy (Colleague, Affinity)

  Invited to join the crew as a new permanent member.

Luffy

Would-be pirate who set sail to begin a pirating career; cast adrift at sea in a barrel after his dinghy was destroyed by a whirlpool. Aims for the Grand Line to search for the One Piece, and first sets out to recruit Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro into his crew.

Pirate who fights bare-handed; caught in Buggy's crew hostage situation and tells his companions to escape rather than give up.

• Origin at sea

  Dinghy destroyed by a whirlpool, left trapped in a barrel

• Roronoa Zoro (Colleague, Affinity)

  Rescued by Zoro in the fight against Buggy's men; Luffy told him to run.

Roronoa Zoro (Zoro)

Straw Hat Pirates

Pirate-hunter swordsman whom Luffy first finds crucified at the Marine base in Shells Town and sets out to recruit.

Swordsman pursuing a specific target he went to sea to find.

• Crucified at base

  Held on a cross at the Marine base and refuses to be fed by others; he eats the dirt-stained rice Rika brought.

• Childhood training

  Was a dojoyaburi who challenged local dojos; after defeat by Kuina he joined her father's dojo and trained harder than peers.

• Vow to Kuina

  After Kuina's fatal fall, decided to become the world's greatest swordsman; received Kuina's katana Wado Ichimonji from her father and trained eight more years before becoming a pirate hunter.

• Pursuit of the hawk-eyed man

  Revealed that the attacker on the Grand Line is the man he went to sea to find, and became more determined to head there.

• Buggy (Other, Hostility)

  Fought Buggy, who wanted to kill him to enhance his reputation; stabbed during the clash.

Genzo

Cocoyasi Village

Genzo is a villager of Cocoyasi Village who was nearly executed by Arlong for possessing a weapon and was treated for his wounds afterward.

• Near execution

  Arlong decides to execute Genzo for possessing a weapon, which he treats as rebellion; Usopp interferes.

• Arlong (Other, Hostility)

  Arlong tried to execute Genzo for possessing a weapon.

Arlong

Arlong Pirates · fish-man

The most notorious pirate in East Blue, a fish-man originating from the Grand Line, who claims fish-men are far superior to humans.

Arlong rules Cocoyasi Village through monthly tribute and has destroyed Gosa Village over a single unpaid tribute.

• Base and claims

  Operates from Arlong Park; bribes a corrupt Marine officer; asserts fish-men surpass humans in strength and underwater breathing.

• Tribute rule

  Arlong forces the citizens of his territory to pay a monthly tribute and intends to use the funds to dominate East Blue.

• Gosa destruction

  Arlong destroyed Gosa Village because one person failed to pay the tribute.

• Commanding the pursuit

  Ordered the hunt for Usopp and suspected the captured swordsman was a bounty hunter come for his head.

• Nami (Hierarchy, Pact, Mixed)

  Commands Nami as his officer and cartographer.

  Keeps her under a pact and claims never to have doubted her loyalty.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Interrogates Zoro after capturing him.

• Hatchan (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Learned from Hatchan that Zoro was also searching for him.

Hatchan (octopus fish-man)

Arlong Pirates

An octopus fish-man who met Zoro and guided him to Cocoyasi Village, mistaking him for a guest.

• Guiding Zoro

  Took Zoro to Cocoyasi Village without knowing his identity and later admitted doing so.

• Arlong (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Serves Arlong as a fish-man crew member who reports on his movements.

Kuroobi

Arlong Pirates

A fish-man of the Arlong Pirates who suspected Nami of betraying the crew and questioned her loyalty.

• Accusing Nami

  Argued that someone freed Zoro and accused Nami of letting him infiltrate the crew, and suspected her of hiding a treasure map.

• Nami (Colleague, Hostility)

  Suspects Nami of betrayal and questions her motives for buying Cocoyasi Village.

• Arlong (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Serves Arlong within the Arlong Pirates.

Bell-mère

Marine (former)

Adoptive mother of Nami and Nojiko, who farmed mikan in the outskirts of Cocoyasi Village to survive; she formerly travelled overseas as a Marine.

• Adoption

  Met Nojiko and infant Nami overseas, then took them back to Cocoyasi Village to raise them as her own children.

• Nami (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

  Adoptive mother who went without food so she could feed Nami, and who regretted their quarrel and prepared Nami's favorite meal.

• Nojiko (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

  Adoptive mother who raised Nojiko alongside Nami on a low income.

Nojiko

Cocoyasi Village

A human resident who rescues Usopp by diverting an Arlong Pirate away.

Elder adoptive sister who was raised alongside Nami by Bell-mère.

• Rescue of Usopp

  Intervenes when a revealed Arlong Pirate attempts to capture Usopp, diverting the pirate away.

• Tribute explanation

  Nojiko explains that Arlong treats humans as inferiors and forces citizens to pay a monthly tribute for their lives.

• Introduction

  Arrived, introduced herself as Nami's sister, and asked the crew to stop interfering with the village and leave Nami alone.

• Search for Nami

  Went looking for Nami at Bell-mère's request and reunited with her before they returned home for dinner.

• Nami (Family, Affinity)

  Nami is her adopted sister.

  Adoptive younger sister whom she shared clothing with and later reunited with.

• Bell-mère (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

  Adoptive mother who raised her and Nami on a low income.

Nami

Straw Hat Pirates · Arlong Pirates · Arlong Pirates (surveyor)

A thief who targets pirates and steals sea charts; infiltrates Buggy's crew under a false pretext while secretly aiming to recover the chart and steal his treasure.

Nami, a young navigator and surveyor who joined Arlong's crew to draw sea charts in order to buy Cocoyasi Village's freedom for 100 million berries.

• Ambition

  Aims to earn one hundred million berries for reasons she keeps secret.

• Arlong's plan

  Arlong called her indispensable to his planned empire and affirmed his promise from eight years earlier to free her and Cocoyasi Village if she accumulated one hundred million berries.

• Family background

  Stole books from a local bookstore to support her cartography interest, and wore only hand-me-down clothing from Nojiko.

• Motive

  Works for Arlong to earn 100 million berries for the village's freedom, and vows to earn it alone.

• Luffy (Colleague, Neutral)

  Met Luffy after he defeated armed men; proposed a partnership, then declined his invitation to join his crew upon learning he was a pirate.

  Gave Luffy the Grand Line map and agreed to sail with the crew temporarily to acquire Bellies.

• Buggy (Hierarchy, Other, Hostility)

  Infiltrated Buggy's crew by claiming to have quarreled with her boss; privately plans to steal from him.

  Nami was attempting to leave with Buggy's treasure when he spotted her, and she restrained him with rope.

• Arlong (Hierarchy, Pact, Hostility)

  Serves under Arlong as his officer and cartographer.

  Serves Arlong as a surveyor drawing sea charts; smiles in front of him while resenting him for killing Bellemere.

• Nojiko (Family, Mixed)

  Nojiko is her adopted sister.

  Sister who condemned her decision; Nami keeps her in the dark about her plan to fight alone.

• Usopp (Other, Hostility)

  Threatened to eliminate Usopp because his companions could ruin her work, and Usopp accused her of deceiving Luffy.

• Bell-mère (Family, Guardian, Mixed)

  Adoptive mother with whom Nami quarrelled before running away from home; Bell-mère later prepared her favorite meal to make up for it.

Nezumi

Navy

Captain of the 16th Branch who arrived with another Navy ship and demanded that Genzo guide him to Nami's home without explaining his purpose.

Nezumi, a figure who arrives with Genzo while Nami prepares her final theft and identifies her as the thief he has been seeking.

• Arrival

  Identified himself as a captain of the 16th Branch and demanded guidance to Nami's home.

• Role

  Claims Nami hid pirate treasure in the tangerine grove and demands its surrender for government confiscation.

• Genzo (Other, Hostility)

  Demanded that Genzo guide him to Nami's home without explaining his purpose.

• Nami (Other, Hostility)

  Confronts Nami as the thief he is seeking and demands she surrender the stolen treasure.

World Memo

• Weapon possession treated as rebellion

  Under Arlong's rule, merely possessing a weapon is regarded as a form of rebellion.

• Monthly tribute under Arlong

  Citizens under Arlong's reign must pay him a monthly tribute in exchange for their lives.

  Arlong's pirates demanded 100,000 berries per adult and 50,000 per child for survival, and villagers could barely afford their tribute.

• Cocoyasi freedom price

  Cocoyasi Village's freedom from Arlong could be bought for 100 million berries.

Battle Record

Arlong Pirates invade Cocoyasi Village and claim the island as their domain, demanding monthly tribute from its citizens; smoke from Bell-mère's house draws the group there while Nojiko and Nami rush to warn her about the tribute.

Usopp's sniping at Arlong

Cocoyasi Village standoff · Episode 32

Location: Cocoyasi Village

Trigger: Arlong threatens to execute Genzo for possessing a weapon

Usopp vs Arlong

• Usopp's side — attacker: Usopp / protected: Genzo
• Arlong's side — attacker: Arlong / restraining crew: Arlong's crew

Outcome: Arlong is restrained by his crew before he can destroy Cocoyasi Village.

Aftermath

• Genzo's wounds are treated.
• The neighbouring house is damaged by the thrown house.

Navy assault on Arlong's crew at sea

Naval ship vs Arlong's officers · Episode 34

Location: waters off the island

Trigger: The naval commander decided that justice required attacking Arlong's crew rather than overlooking their stronghold

Navy vs Arlong's crew

• Navy — attackers: naval commander
• Arlong's crew — defenders: Chew, Hatchan, Kuroobi

Outcome: Arlong's three officers sink the Navy ship: Chew attacks the sailors, Kuroobi tears off the rudder, and Hatchan creates a whirlpool that swallows it

Aftermath

• Naval ship left unable to steer and headed toward a whirlpool

Arlong Pirates' invasion of Cocoyasi Village

Tribute demand on the island · Episodes 35–36

Location: Cocoyasi Village

Trigger: Arlong declares the entire island, including the village, his own domain and demands monthly tribute from all citizens

Invaders vs villagers

• Arlong Pirates — invaders: Arlong
• Cocoyasi Village — residents: Nojiko, Nami, Bell-mère

Outcome: Arlong takes over Cocoyasi Village; Bell-mère, who can pay the tribute only for her two daughters, refuses to deny them and is shot dead by Arlong

Aftermath

• Arlong takes Nami into his crew to draw sea charts, and she sets out to raise 100 million berries to buy the village back

Ability Table

Music Releases

• We Are! (OP)
• RUN! RUN! RUN! (ED)