Ask John: Will Lufy & Nami Ever Become a Couple?

Question:
Many say that the relationship between Luffy and Nami from One Piece will develop into a romance. I disagree because I feel as though they have a brother/sister relationship. Do you agree? What’s your opinion on this matter?

Answer:
I’ve watched nearly 150 episodes of One Piece, but almost all of them in untranslated Japanese. Based on my observations of the characters, I don’t foresee Lufy and Nami ever developing a romantic relationship because neither of them seems to be particularly interested in the other. Lufy is obsessed with his dream of becoming the pirate king, and obsessed with food. Nami is particularly pragmatic and level headed, virtually the polar opposite of Lufy’s childlike personality. They compliment each other well but seem to respect each other as just comrades in arms. For instance, during the Arlong saga, when Nami was at her most emotionally vulnerable, Lufy stepped up as her knight, but not as a gentlemanly defender, but as a captain defending one of his crew members. He exhibited no special sentiment for Nami that he wouldn’t have shown for any of the male members of his crew. To use an analogy, the relationship between Lufy and Nami is the same as the relationship between Son Goku and Bulma Briefs in Dragonball. Lufy sees Nami asexually, as just another member of his crew. And Nami sees Lufy as nothing more than an overgrown, super strong child.

Perhaps extending the analogy, in Dragonball Bulma married Son Goku’s partner Vegeta. At least in Japanese fan drawn One Piece hentai doujinshi, Nami seems to be most often coupled with Zorro, followed by the obvious pairing of Nami with Sanji. I can imagine Nami someday settling down with Zorro because they both share a mature and serious outlook that would convert to a mutual commitment. Comparing One Piece to Dragonball, Sanji would be Yamcha, the perpetual bachelor and ladies’ man. If Lufy were to partner with one of his crewmates, I’d say his best match would be Nico Robin- a woman who, like ChiChi of Dragonball, is willing to allow some physical and emotional detachment between herself and her mate- a woman that recognizes and accepts her man’s longing for freedom and independence.