ONE PIECE Episode 37 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Luffy Rises! Result of the Broken Promise!

The Marine captain Nezumi seizes the savings Nami buried in her orchard and shoots Nojiko, and Nami realizes that Arlong sent him so he would never have to give up Cocoyasi Village; Arlong insists he never broke their deal. Genzo reveals that the villagers had known what Nami was doing all along, and they march on Arlong Park despite her pleas. Left alone, Nami stabs her Arlong Pirates tattoo and finally asks Luffy for help, and Luffy places his straw hat on her head and heads for Arlong Park with his crew, while Johnny and Yosaku hold the villagers back.

• Nezumi seizes Nami's savings

  Despite Nami's pleas, the Marine captain Nezumi digs up the savings she buried in the orchard, confiscates them, and keeps a portion for himself; when Nami resists, he shoots Nojiko in the back.

• Arlong's betrayal

  Nami realizes that Arlong sent Nezumi so he would never have to give up Cocoyasi Village, and when she confronts him, Arlong insists he broke none of the terms of their deal.

• Villagers march on Arlong Park

  Genzo reveals that the villagers had known all along what Nami was doing and pretended not to know so as not to burden her, and despite her pleas they march to Arlong Park ready to die fighting.

• Nami asks Luffy for help

  Left alone, Nami repeatedly stabs the Arlong Pirates tattoo on her shoulder, then finally asks Luffy for help. Luffy puts his straw hat on her head, agrees, and sets off for Arlong Park with his crew.

• Johnny and Yosaku hold back the villagers

  The Straw Hats overtake the villagers, and Johnny and Yosaku stop the villagers from marching into Arlong Park so the crew can fight in their place.

Recent Timeline

• Navy ship lured into whirlpool (Episode 34)

  After a Navy ship fired on Arlong Park, Arlong caught the cannonball and sent only three of his officers against the vessel. Chew attacked the sailors, Kuroobi tore off the rudder, and Hatchan created an artificial whirlpool that sank the ship, showing the Arlong Pirates' overwhelming strength against the Navy.

• Arlong claims Cocoyasi Village (Episode 35)

  The Arlong Pirates invaded Cocoyasi Village and Arlong declared the entire island his domain. Every citizen was made to pay him a monthly tribute in exchange for their lives, turning the village into a place of permanent subjugation.

• Bellemere executed during Arlong's invasion (Episode 36)

  Arlong made his promise to spare Bellemere's daughters conditional on her accepting death, and the villagers' resistance was crushed. Bellemere was shot after expressing her love for Nojiko and Nami, and Arlong announced she would serve as an example to the village. Nami then returned to the village and declared 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.

• Marines seize Nami's savings (Episode 37)

  Nezumi's searchers found the 100 million berries Nami had hidden and seized them, with Nezumi claiming thirty percent for himself. Arlong's knowledge of the exact amount suggested he had sent the Marines, and the loss destroyed Nami's years-long plan to buy back Cocoyasi Village.

• Marines shoot Nojiko (Episode 37)

  During the search, the Marines shot Nojiko. She survived and insisted she was all right, and her statement that Arlong had allied with the Marines and deceived Nami for eight years revealed the betrayal behind the seizure.

Character Graph

Higuma

Mountain Bandits

Leader of a group of mountain bandits who terrorized and abducted Luffy; threw Luffy into the sea to drown and was devoured whole by a Sea King.

• Luffy (Other, Hostility)

  Threatened, abducted, and tried to drown Luffy.

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.

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.

• Luffy (Colleague, Affinity)

  Invited to join the crew as a new permanent member.

Gaimon

A man who was trapped in an empty treasure chest for twenty years on the island; refuses to join Luffy's crew and lives freely on the island.

• Past life

  Formerly a boy aboard a pirate ship that came to the island searching for treasure; after a month of failing to find any, his crew left him behind.

• Current stance

  Knowing there was no treasure gave him closure and the freedom to live as he pleased; he has befriended the animals native to the island.

• Luffy (Friend, Affinity)

  Quickly befriended by Luffy, who later invited him to join his crew; Gaimon declined.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fish-man pirate who promised to free Cocoyasi Village for one hundred million berries, then denied breaking the agreement and threatened the villagers.

• Base and claims

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

• 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.

• Broken promise

  Refused to return the village unless Nami presented the full sum, and threatened to kill everyone if she fled.

• Nami (Hierarchy, Pact, Hostility)

  Commands Nami as his officer and cartographer.

  Captain of the crew Nami joined under the promise; holds her to the debt.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Interrogates Zoro after capturing him.

• Hatchan (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Learned from Hatchan that Zoro was also searching for him.

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.

Offered to help Nami when she was cornered, but was repeatedly rebuffed before she asked him for help.

• Origin at sea

  Dinghy destroyed by a whirlpool, left trapped in a barrel

• Response to Nami's plea

  Readily agreed to help after Nami broke down and asked, then called for the others to go.

• Roronoa Zoro (Colleague, Affinity)

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

• Gaimon (Friend, Affinity)

  Befriended Gaimon and then invited him to join the crew, which Gaimon declined.

• Nami (Other, Mixed)

  Offered help, which she first refused, and later accepted when she asked 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.

Official who led the search for Nami's savings, accusing her of hiding stolen treasure.

• 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.

• Seizure of the money

  Ordered his men to search despite Nami's protest and declared thirty percent of the money would belong to him.

• 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.

  Accused her of hiding pirate treasure and seized her savings during the search.

Nojiko

Cocoyasi Village

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

Nami's sister who defended the villagers' struggle and was shot by the Marines during the search.

• Rescue of Usopp

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

• 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.

• Accusation against Arlong

  Asserted that Arlong allied with the Marines and deceived Nami for eight years.

• Nami (Family, Affinity)

  Nami is her adopted sister.

  Sister who stood against the Marines and Arlong's deception alongside her.

• Bell-mère (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

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

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

After Nami asks Luffy for help, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp set off for Arlong Park to confront Arlong, while Johnny and Yosaku hold back the marching villagers so the crew can fight in their place.

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

Arlong Park infiltration

Straw Hats march on Arlong Park · Episode 31– (Ongoing)

Location: Arlong Park

Trigger: Arlong had Nezumi seize Nami's savings, and Nami asked Luffy for help

Ability Table

Music Releases

• We Are! (OP)
• RUN! RUN! RUN! (ED)