The Nine Red Scabbards: Kawamatsu, Denjiro, Kikunojo, and Wano’s Loyal Warriors

August 29, 2026

The essentials in 30 seconds: the Nine Red Scabbards are the samurai warriors who swore allegiance to Kozuki Oden to liberate Wano from Orochi and Kaido. While Kin'emon and Kanjuro already have stories of their own, this guide focuses on the five other essential members: Kawamatsu the Kappa, Denjiro the masked spy, Kikunojo the warrior dancer, Raizo the shadow ninja, and Ashura Doji the feared rōnin. Their discipline and loyalty made the decisive victory at Onigashima possible, twenty years after Oden's death.

In the vast cast of characters in One Piece, few groups embody the values of loyalty and sacrifice as well as Wano's Nine Red Scabbards. Formed around the charismatic figure of Kozuki Oden, these warriors agreed to live in the shadows for twenty years, preparing a rebellion that many thought impossible.

Although the stories of Kin'emon the fox and Kanjuro the crow have already been covered in detail in our articles, it was time to pay tribute to the other members of this gathering of loyal followers, essential to the victory over Kaido but often given less prominence in quick summaries of the arc.

Who are the Nine Red Scabbards?

The Nine Red Scabbards (Akazaya Kyū, literally “the Nine Scarlet Scabbards”) form the personal guard and army of Kozuki Oden, former daimyo of the Kuri fief in Wano. The group's name refers to the red scabbards of their swords. After Oden's public execution, ordered by the usurping shogun Kurozumi Orochi with the support of Yonko Kaido, the Red Scabbards should have been executed in turn. Yet they survive and disperse: some leave to seek help outside the country, while others remain behind to discreetly infiltrate enemy positions.

Their shared objective never changes over the course of two decades: to gather enough strength to overthrow Orochi and Kaido during the Fire Festival (Hiwatari Matsuri), exactly twenty years after their lord's death. This promise becomes the guiding thread of the entire Wano arc. To understand the full extent of this sacrifice, read the complete account of Kozuki Oden, the daimyo of Kuri, whose life forged his men's unwavering devotion.

Kawamatsu the Kappa: the fish samurai imprisoned in Udon

Kawamatsu is undoubtedly the most unusual member of the Red Scabbards. Nicknamed “the Kappa” in reference to the legendary half-human, half-amphibious creature of Japanese folklore, he has an appearance halfway between a fish-man and a classic samurai. Before becoming one of Oden's loyal followers, he was already a feared warrior, capable of holding his own against much larger opponents.

During the twenty years of preparation, Kawamatsu deliberately allows himself to be captured and imprisoned in the Udon Mine, one of Wano's most terrible forced-labor sites. There, he protects young Momonosuke, Oden's son, while becoming a living legend among the prisoners thanks to his storytelling talent: he recounts the history of the Kozuki clan, keeping the flame of resistance alive in the heart of the prison. This role as a guardian of memory makes him a discreet pillar of the reconquest plan, which can be explored further on our page about One Piece arcs in chronological order.

Denjiro, also known as Tonoyasu: the masked spy of the capital of flowers

Denjiro is probably the most surprising narrative twist among the Red Scabbards. For twenty years, he lives under a double identity: Tonoyasu, a cheerful and affable merchant from Ebisu Town, a district reserved for the capital of flowers' outcasts, right under Orochi's nose. This cover allows him to infiltrate the shogun's inner circles and prepare the final uprising without ever arousing suspicion.

When his identity is finally revealed, Denjiro emerges as a swordsman of astonishing speed, wielding his blade with surgical precision. His self-sacrifice—spending two decades posing as a humiliated commoner without ever cracking—illustrates the level of sacrifice demanded of the Red Scabbards. Fans of sword techniques will find a natural continuation of his story on our page dedicated to One Piece swords and Meito.

Kikunojo: the warrior dancer and her secret

Kikunojo holds a unique place within the group: renowned throughout Wano for her dancing talent, she actually hides a male biological identity, a secret she reveals only on very rare occasions. Far from being a mere anecdotal detail, this narrative choice draws on a well-known tradition in Japanese kabuki, where male actors have historically played female roles.

In combat, Kikunojo has nothing to envy in the other Red Scabbards: her fluid and elegant style remains devastatingly effective against Orochi's henchmen. During the twenty years of preparation, she carried out numerous reconnaissance and liaison missions between resistance groups scattered across the island, a coordination role without which the overall plan probably would never have held together.

Raizo, the shadow ninja

Raizo is the only authentic ninja among the Red Scabbards, trained in the ancestral techniques of the Shinobi. His mastery of camouflage and infiltration makes him the group's most discreet agent. In fact, after Oden's death, he is the one who leaves Wano with Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke aboard a barrel propelled by a controlled explosion, heading for the outside world to recruit allies.

Once back in Wano, Raizo excelled in the most perilous missions: sabotage, infiltrations of the capital's prisons, and the transmission of coded messages between resistance cells. His ability to survive desperate situations, combined with his keen tactical sense, made him an indispensable part of the final victory at Onigashima. This taste for strategy finds an interesting echo in our analysis of Conqueror's Haki, that form of mental power that several figures in the Wano arc reveal in the face of adversity.

Ashura Doji: the feared solitary rōnin

Ashura Doji stands apart from the rest of the group because of his fierce and solitary temperament. A former rōnin who once fought alongside Kozuki Oden long before the official formation of the Nine Red Scabbards, he is renowned for his impressive brute strength, to the point of being compared with the greatest names in the world of swordsmen.

Unlike Denjiro or Kawamatsu, Ashura Doji chose to live in isolation during the twenty years of preparation, maintaining his strength alone in the mountains of Wano. This choice illustrates the diversity of strategies employed by the Red Scabbards: some infiltrated the enemy from within, while others remained ready for battle away from all the commotion, waiting for the signal to begin the great uprising. His mastery of the sword naturally makes him a point of reference for anyone interested in the 12 Supreme Grade Swords (Saijo O Wazamono).

Summary Table of the Nine Red Scabbards

Member	Distinguishing feature	Role during the 20 years
Kin'emon	Fox, master of Observation Haki	Recruiting allies from outside (already covered in detail in another article)
Kanjuro	Crow, artist, and infiltrated traitor	Double game in Orochi's service (already covered in detail in another article)
Kawamatsu	The kappa, storyteller fish-man samurai	Imprisoned in Udon, protector of Momonosuke
Denjiro	Fast swordsman, alias Tonoyasu	Spy infiltrated into Ebisu Town
Kikunojo	Warrior dancer with a well-kept secret	Liaison and coordination among the resistance members
Raizo	Ninja, master of infiltration	Sabotage and clandestine communications
Ashura Doji	Solitary ronin of formidable strength	Isolated training in the mountains

Oden's Oath and the Battle of Onigashima

Twenty Years of Waiting and Silent Preparation

What sets the Nine Red Scabbards apart from most other alliances in One Piece is the length and discipline of their commitment. Twenty years during which each one endures their own ordeal, never giving up on the promise made before the ashes of their lord. This patience, rare in a shonen manga accustomed to rapid reversals, gives full weight to the moment when the group finally reunites during the Fire Festival, ready to take on Orochi and Kaido. To place this event within the saga's overall chronology, our page on One Piece arcs in chronological order helps convey the scale of this wait.

A Battle Alongside Luffy and the Alliance

When the battle of Onigashima finally breaks out, the Red Scabbards do not fight alone: they ally themselves with Luffy and his crew, as well as with other forces determined to end the reign of terror imposed by Kaido the Beast. Each member of the group faces opponents worthy of their abilities, drawing on twenty years of training in the shadows. Oden's own son, Yamato, also joins the fight alongside those who swore allegiance to his father, creating one of the most emotionally powerful reunions of the entire arc.

Militarily, the Red Scabbards also clash with Kaido's direct commanders, particularly the duo of King and Queen, two opponents of an entirely different caliber who force the group to fight in complete coordination. Once Orochi is defeated, the question of rebuilding the country arises immediately, centered on the young Momonosuke, who was protected by Kawamatsu for years and is now expected to become Wano's new shogun.

One Piece TCG Roronoa Zoro Triple Swords Card

Why do these characters deserve more recognition?

In quick summaries of the Wano arc, attention often focuses on Kin'emon and Kanjuro, or on the clashes between Luffy and Kaido. Yet Kawamatsu, Denjiro, Kikunojo, Raizo, and Ashura Doji are the true backbone of the internal resistance in Wano. Without their two decades of subversive work, no uprising could have succeeded.

Their diverse backgrounds, from ninja to dancer, lone rōnin, and merchant spy, showcase the richness of the writing in the Wano arc, considered one of the series' narrative peaks. The samurai style and traditional weapons of this arc continue to inspire a large range of Wano merchandise, from cosplay sword replicas to the most detailed figures.

Frequently asked questions

How many Red Scabbards are there really?

The group's name refers to the number nine. The historical members most often cited are Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Kawamatsu, Denjiro, Kikunojo, Raizo, Ashura Doji, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi, the latter two being the Mink leaders of Zou Island rather than humans from Wano.

Why did Kawamatsu deliberately allow himself to be imprisoned?

By allowing himself to be captured at Udon, Kawamatsu gains direct access to the other prisoners, many of whom will become allies during the final assault. This strategy also enables him to discreetly watch over Momonosuke, who was sent to the same mine under a false identity.

What is the connection between Denjiro and Tonoyasu?

Denjiro and Tonoyasu are one and the same person: Denjiro adopts the identity of Tonoyasu, the easygoing merchant from Ebisu Town, for twenty years in order to infiltrate circles close to those in power without arousing Orochi's suspicions.

Do the Red Scabbards appear after the Battle of Onigashima?

Yes, several members of the group continue to play an active role in rebuilding Wano alongside Momonosuke, while others set off to explore the world alongside certain members of the Straw Hat crew.

Are there any merchandise inspired by the Red Scabbards?

Yes: figures in traditional Japanese outfits, such as the Luffy Gear 5 Nika figure, sword replicas, and Japanese trading card packs regularly draw on Wano's samurai aesthetic.

To Explore the One Piece Universe Further

Key takeaways

The Nine Red Scabbards embody one of the most complete forms of loyalty in all of One Piece: twenty years of patience and discretion in service of a vow made to a fallen lord. Kawamatsu the imprisoned storyteller, Denjiro the masked spy, Kikunojo the warrior dancer, Raizo the shadow ninja, and Ashura Doji the solitary rōnin join Kin'emon and Kanjuro to form a group whose victory at Onigashima remains one of the saga's most memorable moments. To continue exploring Wano's samurai universe, head to our collections of One Piece katanas and swords, One Piece figures, official trading cards, One Piece posters, pirate flags, and One Piece gift ideas.

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