Did Ryuma Know Joyboy? The One Piece Theory That Changes Everything
One question is quietly taking over the One Piece fandom: did Ryuma know Joyboy? At first glance, it seems like a stretch. One is a legendary samurai revered across Wano. The other is the mythical first pirate whose will echoes through history. But the deeper you dig into the lore, the more this theory starts to feel less like speculation and more like something Oda has been building all along.
Let's break it all down — the evidence, the timeline, and what it means for the future of the story.
Who Is Shimotsuki Ryuma in One Piece?
Shimotsuki Ryuma was a legendary, world-famous samurai hailing from the Shimotsuki Family of Wano Country, who lived during Wano's "Country of Gold" era around 400 years ago. He was revered for his mastery of swordsmanship that earned him the title Sword God, as well as his feat of slaying a dragon.
Ryuma followed a strict personal philosophy centered around justice and honor. He wasn't just a great fighter — he was an icon, a protector, and eventually a national hero of Wano posthumously.
Roronoa Zoro is a direct descendant of Ryuma. Their bond is further solidified when Zoro inherits Ryuma's sword, Shusui, after defeating his zombie on Thriller Bark. That sword, the Shusui black blade, is one of the only 12 Supreme Grade swords in the world — and one of only two known black blades ever created.
You can explore Ryuma's full history on the One Piece Fandom Wiki.
The Void Century Connection: Did Ryuma and Joyboy Coexist?
This is where the theory gets serious. The Void Century — the 100-year blank period the World Government has erased from history — is the central mystery of One Piece. Almost everything that matters happened there.
The thesis is that at the time of Ryuma, Wano Country had its borders open and was not protected by the current geography. Many pirates and nobles managed to invade the country and were subdued by Ryuma. After the subjugation, the country gained respect and the World Government never had the courage to invade it again.
Ryuma is most likely from the Void Century One Piece era — a time when the planet had 7 moons and the Ancestral Weapons were active.
If Ryuma was active during the Void Century, then he was alive at exactly the same time as Joyboy — the first pirate in history. That's not a coincidence. That's a setup.
The Theory: Was Ryuma Part of Joyboy's Crew?
Joyboy was the first pirate in history and perhaps the strongest character ever, so naturally, he also had a crew. The most common theory of another potential member is the legendary Sword God of Wano, Shimotsuki Ryuma — said to be the greatest swordsman of all time.
The fan theory claims that Ryuma could be the vice-captain of Joyboy's crew. In almost every crew in One Piece, the vice-captain or first commander is a swordsman. So it could be possible that Ryuma was on Joyboy's ship.
This mirrors the modern-day dynamic almost perfectly:
- Luffy is the reincarnation of Joyboy's will
- Zoro carries the Inherited Will of Ryuma
- Luffy recruited Zoro first — just as Joyboy may have recruited Ryuma first
Because of this, many fans believe that the first person Joyboy may have ever recruited would have been Zoro's ancestor, Shimotsuki Ryuma, mirroring the journey of Luffy and his first crewmate.
The Monsters Anime Prequel: What It Revealed
The release of the Monsters anime prequel on Netflix in early 2024 reignited this entire debate. Netflix adapted Eiichiro Oda's one-shot manga Monsters into an anime movie, vividly showing Ryuma's journey. After Monsters, a new fan theory surfaced connecting Ryuma and Joyboy, with the connection even bringing Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro into play. Fandom
In Monsters, Ryuma bears a striking resemblance to a young Zoro — same face, same energy, same iron sense of principle. Zoro has the same appearance, personality, ideals, philosophy of life, and devotion to promises as Ryuma. This wasn't accidental on Oda's part. It was a deliberate narrative mirror.
The Inherited Will Theory: Why This Matters
Luffy and Zoro share a connection since the Void Century, embodying the Inherited Will of Joyboy and Ryuma respectively. Their legend also seems to be on a relative scale — Joyboy is known as the greatest pirate ever, while Ryuma has always been considered the greatest swordsman in history. This is eerily similar to the aspirations of both Luffy and Zoro.
The Inherited Will theory in One Piece states that ideas, dreams, and destinies pass from generation to generation — not through blood alone, but through soul and resolve. We've seen it with:
- Roger → Luffy (will of the Pirate King)
- Jiraiya/Ace → Sabo (inherited name and spirit)
- Oden → Momonosuke (freedom of Wano)
The Gomu Gomu no Mi actively sought out Luffy as its first user after Joyboy, and Zoro was the first to inherit the legendary Shusui after Ryuma himself. Two legendary wills, passed through time, landing in the same crew — again.
What the Country of Gold Era Tells Us
The Country of Gold era in Wano's history is marked by its wealth and constant threats from pirates and nobles seeking its riches. This era is also notable for Ryuma's defense of the country, including his famed dragon slaying. During this period, Wano was at sea level, with the Ancient Weapon Pluton located beneath Mt. Fuji.
This detail is massive. If Pluton was beneath Wano during Ryuma's era, and Pluton is directly connected to the Ancient Weapons that Joyboy was trying to use to fulfill his promise to Fishman Island — then Ryuma and Joyboy's worlds were geographically and historically intertwined.
It's hard to imagine the greatest swordsman in the world living through the same era as history's greatest pirate without their paths ever crossing.
Was Ryuma Part of Joyboy's Monster Trio?
Fans speculate that Joyboy was also part of a Monster Trio in his crew, similar to the Straw Hats and Roger Pirates. Many believe that Ryuma may have been part of Joyboy's Monster Trio. Seeing as how Luffy is essentially the reincarnation of Joyboy in the modern era, something like this would track perfectly for Ryuma, since he is the confirmed Roronoa Zoro ancestor.
Inherited Will is one of the central components of the overall One Piece story, so it's hard to believe that such connections are mere coincidences.
The counterpoint? Ryuma's exact timeline remains debated. Many state that the Sword God was active as early as 400 years before the start of the main story. However, this has never been confirmed.
Oda's Clues: Has This Already Been Confirmed?
Nothing is officially confirmed yet — but the breadcrumbs are undeniable:
- Both Joyboy and Ryuma are treated as mythological figures whose names the World Government couldn't erase
- The World Government never had the courage to invade Wano after Ryuma subdued its enemies — suggesting Ryuma wielded power that even global authorities feared
- Zunesha felt Luffy's heartbeat as "an old friend" — connecting Luffy to Joyboy on a spiritual level
- Zoro inheriting the Shusui black blade directly mirrors how Luffy inherited Joyboy's Devil Fruit
Luffy and Zoro's journey could mirror exactly what Joyboy and Ryuma went through. Emet and Zunesha are possible ancient crewmates of Joyboy, implying the future of the Straw Hats.
For the full Joyboy character deep-dive, explore the One Piece Fandom Wiki on Joy Boy.
Conclusion
So — did Ryuma know Joyboy? The honest answer is: Oda hasn't confirmed it yet. But the evidence is stacking up in a way that's very hard to ignore.
Shimotsuki Ryuma lived during the Void Century One Piece era, defended Wano during the Country of Gold period, wielded the Shusui black blade as the greatest Sword God of Wano, and left behind an Inherited Will that now lives in his descendant Roronoa Zoro — the first mate of the man who carries Joyboy's will.
The Monsters anime prequel has only deepened the mystery. And with the Final Saga of One Piece in full swing, the inevitable Void Century flashback may finally answer the question once and for all.
Was Ryuma Joyboy's right hand? Was he the Zoro to Joyboy's Luffy? If Oda delivers on 25 years of foreshadowing — the answer is almost certainly yes.
