Sabaody Archipelago: A One Piece special exploring the crossroads of the world and hidden slavery

Among the adventures of One Piece, the Sabaody Archipelago is known as the place where particularly important episodes unfold. This archipelago serves as a "crossroads of the world" where many pirates and adventurers visit as a stopover point on their way to the New World after completing the first half of the Grand Line. However, deep darkness lurks behind the beautiful, soap-bubble scenery of the Sabaody Archipelago. The existence of slavery, the arrogance of the Celestial Dragons, and the reality of human auctions make the Sabaody Archipelago more than just a stopover. In this article, we will delve into the geography, culture, and social issues of the Sabaody Archipelago, as well as its role in the story, to explore its charm and horror.

1. Geography and Characteristics of the Sabaody Archipelago

The Sabaody Archipelago is an archipelago located at the foot of the Red Line, and is made up of a total of 79 small islands. The archipelago is surrounded by the roots of a giant tree called a "soap tree," whose sap reacts with the air to produce soap bubbles. These soap bubbles cover the entire archipelago, creating a unique landscape.

Bubble Tree: A huge tree that is the symbol of Sabaody Archipelago. The sap that flows from its roots forms soap bubbles. The sap of the soap tree reacts with oxygen to form bubbles, and these bubbles help people and objects float. This gives Sabaody Archipelago a fantastical landscape that looks like an island floating in the air.

Sabaody Archipelago as a tourist destination: The islands are also famous as a tourist destination, and you can travel on soap bubbles and enjoy bubble attractions. Not only pirates and adventurers but also many tourists visit the islands, so there is a lively atmosphere. There are also many cafes and shops, and the area has a strong tourist aspect.

Soap Coating: Another important element of Sabaody Archipelago is "soap coating". This is a technique that allows ships to navigate underwater by wrapping them in soap bubbles. Sabaody Archipelago is the gateway to the New World, and many ships visit to have this soap coating applied.

The beautiful scenery and advanced technology of the Sabaody Archipelago attract many visitors, but on the other hand, the islands hide serious problems.

2. Sabaody Archipelago as a crossroads of the world

The Sabaody Archipelago is a stopover point to enter the New World, and as such, it is a "crossroads of the world" where pirates, adventurers, and merchants from all over the world gather. Here, various people and information come and go, and a wide variety of cultures and societies intersect.

Importance of a stopover: For those traveling the Great Route, the Sabaody Archipelago is a place to rest and resupply, as well as a place to prepare for the New World. In order to proceed to the New World, you must pass through "Fishman Island", which is located under the Red Line, and for this, soap coating is essential. For this reason, the Sabaody Archipelago functions as an important stopover point.

Diverse residents and visitors: In addition to coating craftsmen, merchants, and residents working in the tourism industry, the islands are home to aristocrats, merchants, and pirates from various countries. In particular, powerful pirates and executives of the Four Emperors sometimes visit the islands, and there is always a sense of tension within the islands. In addition, famous merchants such as the Rothschild family have set up shop on the islands, trading valuable goods and information.

The Sabaody Archipelago is not just a collection of islands, but a place where people from all over the world interact and information and cultures mix, and this diversity symbolizes the breadth of the world of One Piece.

3. The Celestial Dragons and Slavery: The Darkness of Sabaody Archipelago

Behind the superficial splendor of Sabaody Archipelago, a dark secret is hidden. At the center of it all are the privileged class called the Celestial Dragons. The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of the 20 former kings and the descendants of the founders of the World Government. They call themselves "gods", look down on other people, and enjoy their privileges.

The Presence of the Celestial Dragons: The Celestial Dragons have legalized slavery and are allowed to treat other people as slaves. When they visit Sabaody Archipelago, they wear special bubble helmets to block the view of others. Defying the Celestial Dragons means immediate death, and rebellion against them is not tolerated.

Slavery: Sabaody Archipelago has a human auction where slaves are bought and sold. Slaves are mainly captured from pirates and poor people, and sometimes from other races (such as fishmen), and are purchased by the Celestial Dragons and the wealthy. This slavery system symbolizes the dark side of Sabaody Archipelago and also the power of the Celestial Dragons.

The existence of the Celestial Dragons and slavery highlights the darkness of Sabaody Archipelago and symbolizes the social inequality and corruption in the world of One Piece. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates face this reality, which gives the story a deep social message.

4. Human Auction and Fishman Discrimination

The symbolic presence of slavery in Sabaody Archipelago is the "human auction." In this auction, humans and other races are traded as commodities and purchased by the wealthy and Celestial Dragons. The human auction is one of the elements that best represents the dark side of Sabaody Archipelago.

Auction Venue: The human auction is held in a special venue set up in a corner of Sabaody Archipelago. Here, captured people and creatures are put up for sale, and the wealthy buy them as slaves. The auctions are very expensive, and the profits go into the pockets of the underworld and the Celestial Dragons.

Fishman discrimination: Fishmen and mermaids are the objects of high price trade at human auctions. They have a long history of discrimination and persecution in human society, and this discrimination is still strong in Sabaody Archipelago. Fishmen are traded at high prices due to their high physical abilities and rarity, and often become slaves of the Celestial Dragons.

The existence of human auctions symbolizes the ugly reality of Sabaody Archipelago and highlights the suffering of people treated as slaves. With Luffy and his friends standing up to this auction, the story of One Piece becomes a strong appeal for the fight for human dignity and freedom.

5. Straw Hat Pirates and Sabaody Archipelago: The Beginning of a Major Incident

In the Sabaody Archipelago arc, Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates get caught up in various incidents here, and the story begins to move forward. Their actions will uncover the hidden darkness of Sabaody Archipelago and open the door to a new adventure.

Kidnapping of Camie: Luffy and his friends find themselves faced with the situation of their friend, the mermaid Camie, being put up for auction at a human auction. Luffy and his friends enter the auction venue to rescue Camie. Luffy's actions disrupt the order of the auction and cause a conflict with the Celestial Dragons.

A strike against the Celestial Dragons: When the Celestial Dragons try to buy Camie as a slave, Luffy takes the bold step of punching him. This strike marks the beginning of a major incident at Sabaody Archipelago, and the rebellion against the Celestial Dragons develops into a major incident that shakes the World Government.

Luffy and his friends' actions are a strong protest against the slavery system on Sabaody Archipelago and the oppression of the Celestial Dragons, and show their sense of justice and their will to protect their comrades. This incident triggers a new development in the Sabaody Archipelago arc, and the story becomes even deeper.

6. Shakky's Bar and Rayleigh: The intersection of past and present

In Sabaody Archipelago, there is a bar called Shakky's Bar, where Luffy and his friends meet Silvers Rayleigh, the "Dark King," who was once the right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger. Rayleigh's presence adds an important element to the story of the Sabaody Archipelago arc.

Shakky's Bar: Shakky is a woman who was once famous as "Shakky the Highwayman," and now runs a bar in Sabaody Archipelago. Her bar is a place where information is gathered and where pirates and adventurers can interact. Shakky is a close friend of Rayleigh and a reliable presence for Luffy and his friends.

Silvers Rayleigh: Rayleigh is known as the vice captain of the Roger Pirates and was the right-hand man of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. He currently lives in retirement in Sabaody Archipelago and works as a soap coating craftsman. His knowledge and experience give Luffy and his friends a new perspective and direction.

Through their encounter with Rayleigh, Luffy and his friends learn more about the secrets of the Grand Line and the legend of the Pirate King. Rayleigh's presence makes Sabaody Archipelago more than just a stopover point, and it becomes the stage for a story where the past and present intersect.

7. Admiral Kizaru and the Navy's intervention: Intensifying the battle

In the Sabaody Archipelago arc, Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates make a move on the Celestial Dragons, which triggers the Navy to take action and leads to a fierce battle. In particular, the appearance of Borsalino, also known as "Kizaru," an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, instantly increases the tension of the story.

Kizaru's abilities: Kizaru is a user of the "Pika Pika no Mi," which allows him to move at the speed of light and attack using light. His overwhelming speed and attacking power make him a major threat to Luffy and his friends, and the battle at Sabaody Archipelago becomes even more intense.

Deploying the Pacifista: Under Kizaru's command, the Navy deploys human weapons called "Pacifistas." Pacifista is a robot modeled after Bartholomew Kuma, a former Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea), and has high combat abilities. Luffy and his friends struggle to fight the Pacifista, and the entire Sabaody Archipelago becomes a battlefield.

With the Navy's intervention, the situation on Sabaody Archipelago suddenly becomes tense, and it becomes a major test for Luffy and his friends. Their battle will determine the future of Sabaody Archipelago and the fate of the people who live there.

Summary

In the story of One Piece, Sabaody Archipelago plays an important role as a crossroads of the world, and at the same time, it is a place where serious social issues such as slavery and the oppression of the Celestial Dragons are depicted. Behind the beautiful scenery wrapped in bubbles, the corruption of power and human sadness are hidden, and the story will enter a new phase as Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates confront this reality.

The experience on Sabaody Archipelago was a major turning point for Luffy and his friends, deepening their growth and their bonds with their comrades. This episode depicts the fight to protect freedom, justice, and human dignity, and is a moving episode that strongly conveys the theme of One Piece.

References

Eiichiro Oda, One Piece, Shueisha

Anime One Piece, each episode of the Sabaody Archipelago arc