The final saga of One Piece keeps getting bigger and more mysterious. Fans have been trying to figure out the link between Imu, the secret ruler of the world, and the giant frozen Straw Hat hidden in Pangea Castle. Many thought it belonged to Joy Boy. But new evidence from the manga and anime suggests a different story. The connection might point to someone else entirely, and it could change how we see the final battle.
When Imu was first shown walking into a cold chamber with a giant Straw Hat preserved in ice, the moment sent shockwaves through the One Piece community. That was back in Episode 885. Since then, everyone has asked the same question: Whose hat is that, and why does Imu keep it?
Joy Boy’s Silhouette Raises Questions About the Giant Hat
The recent One Piece anime episodes gave fans the first clear look at Joy Boy’s silhouette. The reveal created more confusion than answers. Joy Boy did not look like a giant. His figure appeared close to Monkey D. Luffy’s size, meaning he was likely a normal sized human. This is a big problem for the theory that the giant frozen hat belonged to Joy Boy.
If Joy Boy was not a giant, then the massive Straw Hat in Imu’s possession cannot be his. This means there are two different Straw Hats in the One Piece world. One is the normal sized hat passed from Gol D. Roger to Shanks and now worn by Luffy. The other is the giant hat frozen in the Holy Land.
This discovery changes the meaning of the Straw Hat as a symbol. It is not just one item passed down through time. The Straw Hat represents an idea, a will of freedom that multiple people have carried across different eras. Some of those people may have been giants, and one of them might have a direct link to Imu.
The Giant Hat Might Belong to a Failed Successor
If Joy Boy was not a giant, then who wore that giant Straw Hat? The most likely answer is someone who came before Joy Boy or someone who tried to carry the same will but failed. One Piece has already shown that the World Government has crushed many rebellions over 800 years. The giant Straw Hat could be a trophy taken from a giant sized freedom fighter who challenged Imu long ago.
This idea fits with how Imu operates. Keeping the frozen hat is not just about storage. It is a warning. Imu wants to remember every threat that has ever risen against the empty throne. By freezing the hat, Imu shows that no one, no matter how big or strong, can win. The hat is a symbol of victory over past enemies.
Gunko’s Powers Hint at a Deeper Link to Imu
Recent chapters have introduced new characters that may hold the key to understanding Imu’s connection to the Straw Hat. Gunko, a member of the Holy Knights, has shown abilities that look very similar to Imu’s powers. In Chapter 1146, Gunko took a direct hit from Usopp’s Skull Exploding Grass that blew away half her body. She simply regenerated, just like the Five Elders did on Egghead.
This regeneration ability is not normal. The Egghead Arc showed that the Five Elders got their powers from Imu. Gunko having the same skill means she likely has a direct connection to the ruler of the world. But Gunko might be even closer to Imu than the Elders were.
Gunko’s arrow based attacks look exactly like the way Imu killed King Cobra in Chapter 1085. She also created the abyss pentagram that summoned the Holy Knights to Elbaf, something only the Five Elders had done before. These clues suggest Gunko might share a consciousness with Imu or serve as a host for Imu’s power.
“Gunko may share a connection with Imu that far surpasses that of the Five Elders. Perhaps Gunko may partly share consciousness with Imu or be a satellite or host of sorts for him.” – Fan theory analysis
Nami and the Wildest Imu Theory
Some fans have taken the connection even further. A theory going around social media suggests that Nami, the Straw Hat crew’s navigator, might have a hidden link to Imu. The theory claims Nami could be Imu’s secret child. If this turned out to be true, it would put the Straw Hats in serious danger.
The idea comes from Nami’s unknown past. Unlike many crew members, Nami’s biological parents have never been shown. She was found as a child by Bellemere after growing up in a war torn country. Some fans think this missing background could hide a royal or even a world noble connection.
If Nami is connected to Imu, it would create a difficult situation for Luffy and the crew. Would Nami have to choose between her found family and her bloodline? Most fans do not believe Nami would ever betray the Straw Hats. But Oda has surprised readers before with unexpected backstories.
Imu’s Full Appearance Finally Revealed in Chapter 1179
The mystery around Imu became less unclear with the release of Chapter 1179 spoilers. After years of being shown only as a shadowy figure with piercing eyes, Imu’s full look has finally been revealed. The leaks describe Imu as a male figure with handsome features, long curved horns, and a devil like tail.
Imu has tanned skin similar to a Lunarian king. White circular tattoos cover the body, including an eye tattoo on the right hand and another on the left side of the face. Black clouds surround Imu, but unlike the swirly clouds seen with awakened Zoan users, these clouds have eyes, like biblical descriptions of angelic beings.
The design connects Imu to multiple races and powers seen in One Piece. The horns resemble Kaido’s and the ancient giants. The Lunarian like skin ties to King and his nearly extinct race. The awakened Zoan clouds show that Imu has mastery over a powerful Devil Fruit. Imu is not just a political ruler. Imu is a physical force that Luffy will have to fight directly.
The Depths Covenant Shows How to Beat Imu
Chapter 1171 gave fans the first real hint about how Imu can be defeated. The chapter showed that Imu shares a bond called the Depths Covenant with servants like the Five Elders and the Holy Knights. This bond gives them regeneration and teleportation powers. But it also creates a weakness.
When King Harald of Elbaf died, Imu felt physical pain and exhaustion. Harald was bound to Imu through the Depths Covenant. His death proved that damage to Imu’s servants can hurt Imu directly. This is a major change in how fans think about the final war.
The Egghead Arc already showed that Imu can take away these powers at any time. Saint Saturn lost his immortality when Imu decided to end him. But if a servant is killed by an outside force, the damage goes back to Imu. This means the Straw Hats do not have to fight Imu directly at first. They can weaken Imu by defeating the Holy Knights and other servants one by one.
This strategy makes the final war more about teamwork and planning than just Luffy getting a new power up. Every victory against Imu’s followers will bring the crew closer to bringing down the ruler of the world.
The Two Straw Hats Theory Gains More Support
With all these new clues, the idea of two separate Straw Hats is becoming more accepted. The hat Luffy wears is a symbol of inherited will, passed from Roger to Shanks to Luffy. The giant frozen hat is something else entirely. It might belong to a giant who tried to free the world before Joy Boy’s time. Or it could be connected to someone Imu personally defeated and wants to remember forever.
Oda has spent years building up the mystery of the Straw Hat. The reveal that there are two hats adds more depth to the story. It shows that the fight for freedom in One Piece has been going on for centuries. Luffy is not the first to wear a Straw Hat and fight the World Government. He is just the latest in a long line of rebels.
“There are currently two Straw Hats in the series: The one that Imu has kept in Pangea Castle, and the one that was passed from Roger to Shanks and then landed in the hands of Luffy.” – One Piece chapter analysis
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What This Means for the Final Battle
The connection between Imu and the giant Straw Hat points to a personal history. Imu does not keep the hat as just a decoration. It means something. The hat likely belonged to someone who came very close to defeating Imu but failed in the end. Keeping the hat frozen in ice is Imu’s way of making sure that failure is never forgotten.
For Luffy, seeing that giant hat would be a powerful moment. It would show him that he is not alone in his fight. Others have worn the same symbol and fought the same enemy. But it would also be a warning. Those others lost. Luffy will have to succeed where they could not.
The final war of One Piece is coming. Imu is no longer just a shadowy figure. The ruler of the world has a face, a body, and powers that make Imu one of the strongest enemies Luffy has ever faced. But Imu also has a weakness. The Depths Covenant that gives power to servants also creates a path to victory. If the Straw Hats and their allies can defeat Imu’s followers, they can weaken Imu enough to win.
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