The highly anticipated Elbaf arc of One Piece introduced a host of impressive new characters, including Gunko, a member of the Holy Knights. She arrives on Elbaf Island alongside Shamrock using Abyss, a pentagonal Devil Fruit that allows long-distance teleportation.
Gunko and Shamrock come to claim Elbaf, with their first target being the cursed prince Loki. Loki was invited to join the Holy Knights but clearly did not hesitate to refuse.
Through their interactions, fans learned more about Gunko and her contrasting personality. However, her introduction sparked a major debate within the fan community due to her outfit.
Despite its vast world and deep storyline, One Piece is a shonen manga that often leans into fan service. Fans frequently criticize the creator for how female characters are portrayed, and this time was no exception. While some defended Gunko’s outfit as typical of the series’ design choices, others felt differently.
Now that the debate has died down, Eiichiro Oda has finally addressed the issue, and his response has made many fans laugh.
Oda Explains Gunko’s Outfit in One Piece Volume 112 SBS
One Piece Volume 112 was released on July 4, 2025. Currently, it is only available in Japan as the English release date has yet to be announced. Each volume includes special SBS segments (short for Shitsumon o Boshū Suru, meaning “I’m Taking Questions”), where Oda answers fan questions ranging from jokes to important story details.
Since there is no official English version yet, the popular One Piece account @pewpiece on X (formerly Twitter) shared an unofficial translation for global fans. When asked why Gunko wears underwear as part of her outfit, Oda replied humorously:
“Ah, I keep getting comments like ‘underwear this’ and ‘underwear that.’ But listen, technically it is underwear, but if we call it that, Gunko would become a pervert. That’s absolutely not the case.”
The author also used the outfits from Egghead as an example to explain further: “You know Nami and Bonney’s outfits on Egghead? Those are coats with extended cuffs. Actually, they help reduce the amount of exposed skin. So those outfits are totally fine.” Oda ended with a joke: “That’s really rude.”
Naturally, Oda’s playful explanation didn’t fully satisfy everyone, as One Piece has a long history of fan service, especially regarding female characters. Many fans took his answer lightly, being used to his controversial portrayals of female characters, especially knowing some would later become iconic to longtime readers and viewers.
Despite the initial controversy, the issue of Gunko’s outfit was quickly overshadowed as fans focused on the intense battles. Gunko turned out to be an intriguing character with a complex past, surprisingly connected to a member of the Straw Hat crew.
According to Comicbook