Sanji

the cigarettes ~ the Jolly Roger ~ the swirly eyebrow

Biography

Childhood

Sanji's place of birth is not known, but he was born somewhere in East Blue on March 2nd in East Blue, 3 years after the execution of pirate king Gol D. Roger and the beginning of the Great Pirate Age. The identity of his parents is unknown too and he appears to be an only child.

He was separated from his parents at a very young age and went in training as a cook on a ship.

In a funny Q & A, Oda described how it would work out if the Straw Hats were an actual family : Mom: Robin, Dad: Franky (Thug), First Son: Zoro, Second Son: Sanji (Punk), Daughter: Nami, Third Son: Usopp, Fourth Son: Luffy, Youngest: Chopper

Meeting Red Leg Zeff

During a heavy storm, the ship Sanji served on was attacked by pirate Red Leg Zeff. During the attack Zeff and Sanji met, and Zeff learned that the boy shared his dream, namely of finding the legendary sea All Blue.

Despite the fact that he took several kicks from Zeff - renowned for his superhuman kicking skills - Sanji continued to declare that he was not going to die at the hand of pirates for he had to fulfil his dream. Due to being injured by Zeff however, Sanji was swept overboard by a wave. Zeff dove after him but got his leg stuck. In order to save Sanji and himself, he cut off part of his leg and pulled Sanji to the surface.

They were not out of danger yet however. The ship sank and Zeff and Sanji were stranded on a small rocky island with no food available to them except for the bag Zeff had brought with him. He shared very little food with Sanji during the days they spent on the island, though he seemed to have a bag full. Sanji began starving slowly and eventually, near death, picked up a knife to attack Zeff in order to get more food. He pierced Zeff's bag with a dagger but it turned out to be treasure, enough to buy all the food they wanted. Sanji was shocked to discover that Zeff was even worse off - the great pirate had eaten nothing at all and had given all his food to Sanji. Sanji also noticed Zeff's leg injury then.

In that moment when Sanji realised what Zeff had sacrificed for him, a bond was formed between them that would last their entire lives. Sanji pleaded with Zeff to live, calling him shitty old gramps, and Zeff affectionately called him little eggplant.

Soon after, a ship was sighted on the horizon and Zeff and Sanji were saved.

Growing up aboard the Baratie

Zeff used the fortune he had saved to build a floating restaurant, the Baratie. His policy, and also Sanji's, was to feed people no matter who they were or what they had done. It wasn't long before pirates appeared, attracted by Zeff's fame, to collect the bounty on his head. They all failed, but some of those pirates, after being beaten by Zeff, joined the Baratie as cooks and thus the legendary reputation of the Baratie as a pirate restaurant grew, to the point where people came for the food as much for the fun of watching the cooks brawl with pirates.

Sanji turned out to be the most talented of the cooks, even being declared by a newspaper to be the finest chef in all of East Blue. Zeff appointed him Assistant Head Chef. He also learned Zeff's martial arts technique very well. Sanji's strength and endurance is almost en par with Zoro's superhuman level, and his kicks achieved a deadly power and precision. During his time on the Baratie, he developed his own range of attacks, and since he is a cook, he named them all after culinary dishes.

Zeff not only taught Sanji how to cook and fight, but also impressed upon him a deep-rooted sense of chivalry towards women.

During his time on board the Baratie, Sanji also picked up the habit of smoking, eventually turning into a chain-smoker.

Meeting the Straw Hats

When Sanji was nineteen, the Baratie was visited by the Straw Hat pirates, then numbering only three, namely Monkey D. Luffy, the captain, Zoro the first mate and Nami the navigator. Luffy, resolved to find a ship's cook, was directed to the Baratie by Zoro's friend Johnny. Shortly after the Straw Hats arrived, a starving pirate by the name of Gin came to the Baratie. He was kicked out by the cooks, but Sanji secretly fed him. This act impressed Luffy, who decided that Sanji was to be the Straw Hats' cook. Sanji was not so eager to leave though, because he felt indebted to Zeff. Shortly after Gin returned to the rest of his crew, who were also on the verge of dying of starvation. They had just returned from a crushing defeat at the hands of Hawk-eyes Mihawk, one of the Shichibukai.

Gin's captain, a fierce pirate named Don Krieg, brings his fleet to the Baratie. There he was also fed by Sanji, but rather than show gratitude, he attacked Sanji and demanded food for al his men. Sanji went off to prepare it, but was stopped by his fellow cooks who were angry at his actions. Zeff however turned up with all the food Don Krieg needed, much to his cooks' surprise. It was then they learned of both Sanji and Zeff's policy about always feeding customers. Don Krieg wasn't satisfied though and made to attack the Baratie to claim the ship as his own. His attack was briefly interrupted by Mihawk, who had followed him.

Mihawk, being the greatest swordsman in the world, was challenged to a duel by Zoro, but Zoro was not yet ready to face him and lost. Mihawk saw the makings of a true swordsman in Zoro though and because of that and Zoro's youth, decided not to kill him. After a short conversation with Luffy, MIhawk departed, having no interest anymore in Don Krieg. Luffy and Sanji still had to deal with Don Krieg and Gin however. Sanji got badly injured during a fight with Iron Wall Pearl, one of Don Krieg's henchmen. Gin held a gun to Zeff's head and threatened to kill him if Sanji fought back, with the hope that this way Sanji would stop fighting and thus be spared by Krieg. Gin wanted to save Sanji's life to repay him for his earlier kindness. Pearl however only used it as a chance to attack Sanji without the danger of retaliation. When he threatened to kill Sanji, it was Gin who took out Pearl instead. Sanji still insisted on fighting however and he faced Gin next. He lost because he was too badly injured already.

Gin could not bring himself to kill Sanji though, and this was considered an act of treason by Don Krieg. After ordering Gin to throw his gas mask away - which he did, Don Krieg fired a poison gas bomb at the Baratie to kill Gin and the cooks. The cooks managed to jump to safety but Sanji was unable to move due to his injuries. Both Gin and Sanji seemed doomed, but Luffy took two gas mask off Don Krieg's pirates to give to them. This left him without a mask, but one was thrown to him. Luffy managed to put the mask on in time. When the gas cleared, Gin could be seen pressing a mask down on Sanji's face, who struggled against Gin's grip, realising full well Gin had signed own death warrant when he saved Sanji's life.

It was left to Luffy to defeat Don Krieg. Afterwards Gin, still alive, took Don Krieg and left. Luffy and Sanji talked and Zeff, seeing his protégé so happy when talking about All Blue, decided to force Sanji to accept Luffy's offer to join his crew by pretending Sanji was not needed or wanted anymore. It backfired because Sanji caught on, but he still agreed to become Luffy's nakama and sailed off with him.

Personality

Sanji is a charming, outgoing young man with a feisty personality. He swears like a pirate, smokes like a chimney, brawls with everyone who insults him and blatantly courts every beautiful woman he comes across. Such an incorrigible pervert is he that his own crew have given him nicknames such as Love Cook and Pervert Cook. His dream in fact was to obtain a Devil's Fruit that would make him invisible so he could spy on women. This lecherous behaviour is the reason why he' so unsuccessful with women despite being very attractive. He also goes out of his way to please beautiful women and less scrupulous ones, such as Nami, have been known to take advantage of that. He's aware of the fact though and has referred to himself as a slave of love. He also considers himself a prince who comes to save princesses, and a knight in shining armour come to save the damsels in distress. He had such a fantasy after following Robin out of Water 7.

It is something quite at odds with Sanji's uncompromising sense of chivalry. Sanji has been taught to never hurt a woman, under any circumstance. In this he shows what Oda has called his hotly "burning heart". He will not compromise his values even if it costs him his life. He did the same when he fed Gin and Don Krieg, sticking to his conviction even when he knew Don Krieg was very likely to attack them.

Appearance

These are Sanji's stats:

hair : blond (including his eyebrows)
eyes : blue
skin type : fair
height : 177 cm (5' 9½”)
star sign : Pisces (+ imaginative, sensitive, compassionate, kind, selfless, unworldly intuitive, sympathetic. - escapist, idealistic, secretive, vague, weak-willed, easily led (Nami-saaaan, Robin-chwaaaan :) )
distinguishing marks : spiral-shaped right eyebrow, three scars on his thumb

Sanji has a slim, lithe build. He keeps his hair cut short and has a distinct dressing style, alternating between his usual three-piece black suit and tie and a casual urban style. His most important item of clothing is his pair of shoes. He wears very durable shoes that are able to withstand the power of his kicks, being slammed not only into people but also very hard surfaces on a regular basis :)

Family, friends and nakama

Zeff

Zeff has saved Sanji's life twice and raised him, teaching him to cook and to fight. Sanji cares very deeply for him, feeling he has a debt to Zeff he can never repay. He has proven willing to die not only for Zeff, but Zeff's dream as well. Their interaction is that of a father and son, but pirate-cook style. This means insults and beating each other up. XD.

Roronoa Zoro

If Sanji isn't fawning over Nami and Robin or cooking, chances he'll be fighting with Zoro - either alongside or against him. And if they're not fighting, they're bickering and arguing and insulting each other, or perhaps trying to beat each other at something. Considering how much they do so, me thinks they doth enjoy it.

Make no mistake, despite their fighting, they care as deeply for each other as their other nakama.

When they do team up properly, they're a force to be reckoned with and there are very few able to stand against them. It's in those fights that you see just how well they work together.

Luffy

Luffy is the first Straw Hat Sanji gets to know better. Funnily enough, it's Luffy who serves Sanji first, as a waiter boy.

Though he has, in his own words, an idiot for a captain, Sanji is very fond of Luffy. It's something of a running gag in One Piece that Sanji is almost always the one pulling Luffy out of the water. That being said, it's not your typical captain-crewmate relationship, as Luffy regularly gets beat up by Sanji for stealing food or being an idiot.

Nami and Robin

Sanji is utterly devoted to Nami and Robin, waiting on them hand and foot and always preparing the best food for them. Both women are well aware of this and Nami has been known to take advantage of it, either ordering or tricking Sanji into doing stuff for her. Robin to this date has never done that.

All of Sanji's efforts to woo either ladies have been in vain, neither seems very impressed by his adorations, but they are not insensitive to them and his chivalry has left a deep impression on them. It doesn't show in obvious ways, but there is the fact that Nami calls him alone Sanji-kun. And there is that so very sweet moment when Robin returns after Enies Lobby. She's standing all hurt on the ship, looking up expectantly, having returned against all hopes. Sanji stands there looking seriously at the former criminal who had left the Straw Hats - and then he breaks into this adorable lovey-eyed smile, holding out his arms for a - perverted - hug :D

The other Straw Hats

Sanji gets along very well with all the other crewmates, often joining Luffy, Usopp and Chopper when they have some brainless fun. There are some hints that Sanji and Usopp get along quite well, Usopp was the first to give Sanji a nickname and Sanji has shown care for Usopp, like how he comforted him at Enies Lobby when Usopp was unable to kill the CP agent. He's also saved Usopp's life twice, at the very last second - in Skypeia and Enies' Lobby.

Foes

Lt. Fullbody

A handsome marine lieutenant who got humiliated in public by Sanji. As a result of the events at the Baratie with Don Krieg, Fullbody was demoted. Swearing revenge, he attacked the Straw Hats, figuring capturing Luffy would be easy. There he came face to face with Sanji again and screaming, threw himself overboard. He is later seen together with Jango in service of the marines.

Crocodile

Sanji did an incredible job infuriating Crocodile. First Crocodile found out the so-called Mr Prince, an alias Sanji adopted in Little Garden, was not a Baroque Works agent at all. Then Sanji fooled Crocodile into thinking he'd been caught, but all Crocodile found when he went outside were his men beaten up. Then finally when Crocodile went back into the casino, he found his prisoners had been freed and all of his monstrous crocodiles beat up. All that was left was a taunting note Sanji had left on one of his agents he'd just beaten up. It's a good thing they never met face to face because I'd hate to think what Crocodile would have done to him.

Jabura

A CP9 agent whose Devil Fruit ability allowed him to turn into a wolf-human hybrid. He first defeated Usopp and was about to kill him when Sanji appeared and defeated him with a new technique.

Absalom

A zombie commander who ate the Devil's Fruit Sanji craved most in the world, which allowed him to become invisible. This together with his kidnapping Nami infuriated Sanji (to the point of transformating into a human torch ^^) and resulted in Absalom being severely beaten up. Absalom's life was saved by a zombie ex machina when Sanji was interrupted by Luffy's zombie appearing. Absalom later escaped with Dr. Hogback.

Duval

A self-made criminal, Duval suddenly found himself hunted by marines with a vengeance. It turned out his face looked exactly like Sanji's horribly drawn, caricature wanted poster. He swore revenge against Sanji and would have succeeded in killing him, but luckily Caimie was able to rescue Sanji. Despite this, Sanji did Duval a favour by using his kicking techniques to remodel the bone structure of Duval's face. With a new, now handsome face, Duval no longer bore any grudge against Sanji and even offered the Straw Hats to call upon him if they needed him. Which they did, later on.

fighting styles

Sanji's Black Leg fighting style consists of hard-hitting kicking techniques, during which he also uses handstands to give added power to his kicks.

Collier Shoot
Collier
Epaule
Cotellete
Selle
Poitrine
Gigot
Mouton Shoot
Poitrine Shoot
Reception
Flanchet Shoot
Anti-Manner Kick Course
Joue Shoot
Basses Cotes
Longe
Tendron
Quasi
Queue
Cuisseau
Jarret
Flanchet
Veal Shoot
Concasse
Troisième Hache
Bouquetier Shoot
Slice Shoot
Party Table Kick Course
Diable Jambe

the cigarettes

One of the brands Sanji smokes are "King Ground" cigarettes. In Sabaody Archipelago, Sanji was so worried about Camie he smoked three cigarettes simultaneously, Smoker-style.

the Jolly Roger

I don't know if the person who posted the One Piece Jolly Rogers on Deviantart is the person who actually made them, or whether they're official or not. In any case if you click on the flag, you'll be taken to the Deviantart page where you can see a bigger version :)

the swirly eyebrow

Sanji's eyebrow resembles a growth spiral, a special kind of spiral which appears in nature. The spiral is the most ancient symbol known to man.

Q & A with Oda (manga, volume 7 chapter 55, pg 46)

Q : "Why does Sanji-san's eyebrow curl up at the end?"

Oda: "Hey! You, sit right there! Now listen! Everyone lives in circles! The sun, the moon, and the earth all spin around! And!! If the earth suddenly stopped spinning! It would be a disaster, tidal waves everywhere! Now remember that Sanji's eyebrow channels that circular energy! Reflect upon this! You may go!

Q & A with Oda (manga, volume 45 chapter 436, pg 128)

Question : Do all Devil Fruit have that swirly pattern on them?

Oda: That's right. It's what distinguishes them from other fruit. Sometimes I wonder if Sanji himself is a Devil Fruit.