Luffy shares a different bond with Jinbe than the other Straw Hats, making him the most important crew member in the One Piece protagonist’s life.
One Piece has a strong reputation for portraying iconic characters. Chief among them is Jinbe, the strongest Fishman and a former Warlord who is highly respected by pirates all around. Jinbe joining the Straw Hat pirates was one of the most highly anticipated moments in all of One Piece, as fans had waiting for him to fight alongside Luffy and his crew ever since he proved his might in the Summit War.
Luffy has stubbornly saved the likes of Zoro, Nami, Chopper and others and let them join his crew, thereby giving them a place to call home. His bond with the Straw Hats is always so touching, easily making them the best crew in the series. However, Jinbe is a slightly different existence for Luffy; he has been there for the protagonist when no one else was. Luffy was at his lowest point in life after his brother’s death, so much so that he almost gave up entirely. It was Jinbe who saved him time and again, all while helping him break from his trauma. Here’s how Jinbe is different from the other Straw Hat pirates — and why Luffy truly needs him.
Why Jinbe and Luffy Respect Each Other So Deeply
One Piece introduces Jinbe in a rather unusual way as he is imprisoned in Impel Down alongside Ace. Ace asks Jinbe to help Luffy along the way, to which the latter replies that he only supports those he has high regard for. Nonetheless, Jinbe soon realizes just how amazing the reckless captain of the Straw Hat pirates can be. He is instantly impressed by Luffy’s efforts to save his brother despite the risks involved. Therefore, Jinbe does whatever he can to save the young pirate, even to the point of directly taking hits from Akainu. He had only shown respect for a handful of pirates over the years — including Whitebeard — but he saw great potential in Luffy and decided to save him at any cost.
Even after seeing Luffy at his lowest point, Jinbe never loses faith and supports him in every way imaginable. He’s also highly grateful to Luffy for defeating the evil Arlong, whom Jinbe had wrongly freed from prison despite Arlong committing horrible crimes in the East Blue. Jinbe does whatever he can to protect the Straw Hat captain from harm’s way. He was once again impressed by Luffy’s dedication to saving Fish-Man Island from Hordy Jones, so much so that he wants the up-and-coming pirate to be the island’s hero.
The level of respect Luffy and Jinbe hold for each other is mutual. Unlike others, Luffy doesn’t strive to gather the strongest fighters for his crew. Despite how One Piece portrays him, the protagonist has repeatedly shown that he is an excellent judge of character. His readiness to believe people instantly may make him seem naive, but never once has his trust in others failed him. After arriving at Fish-Man island, Luffy’s first intention is to reunite with his friend; even meeting the Royal Family doesn’t excite him as much as the thought of seeing Jinbe does. Even the anime’s 24th opening theme credits show the Straw Hats in pairs with those they are closest to. As expected, Luffy and Jinbe are shown together, further solidifying their relationship that transcends races and the boundaries of a captain and subordinate.
Why Jinbe Is the Most Important Straw Hat in Luffy’s Life
What separates One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda from his peers is the unique elements he uses to build the story’s entire structure. There is a certain pattern he likes to follow with the Straw Hat pirates in particular. Every character has a tragic backstory that leaves them emotionally struggling for years or even decades, as well as their own dreams they want to follow. Most importantly, every Straw Hat member has dedicated their life to helping Luffy become King of the Pirates while still seeking their own goals. This loyalty to Luffy stems from the protagonist’s stubborn ways of always being there for his friends and helping them break from their past shackles.
Luffy always seems so cheerful and mischievous, so no one would ever imagine seeing someone like him fall apart in such a devastating way. It was bad enough that he got separated from his crew because of his mistake, but to make matters worse, he lost his own brother right in front of him. As a result, he also loses his will to live. Jinbe is the one who’s there to pull him from the depths of despair. With his introduction, Oda deliberately broke the pattern he had built for the rest of the Straw Hat crew.
Whether it’s joining the Sun Pirates or becoming a Warlord, Jinbe sacrifices a great deal for those he believes in — and Luffy is the same. Jinbe centers his life around others more than any other character in One Piece. The main reason he didn’t join Luffy and the crew on Fish-Man Island was to avoid creating trouble for the future Pirate King. He genuinely believes Luffy can bring about a brighter future for his people, which would honor Fisher Tiger and Otohime’s legacy. Jinbe is introduced as Luffy’s savior, then becomes his ally and finally his crew member. In fact, he joins the crew primarily to support the future King of the Pirates as best he can. The mighty Jinbe sailing under a young pirate’s captainship is a big deal in the New World, going to show how much the former Warlord is respected.
