[Theory] The one piece world has real ghost

[Tomato God]

This will be short

At the end of thriller bark these giant towering objects are never explained.

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I submit that they are a japanese spirit named an umibozu

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Umibozu are large black figures that only are shown with eyes and no more real defining features.

Umibōzu (海坊主?, "sea bonze") is a spirit from Japanese folklore. The Umibōzu is said to live in the ocean and capsize the ship of anyone who dares speak to it. This spirit's name, which combines the character for "sea" with the character of "Buddhist monk," is possibly related to the fact that the Umibōzu is said to have a large, round head, resembling the shaven heads of Buddhist monks. Alternatively they are demons Yōkai (spectres) that appear to shipwreck victims and fishermen. They are believed to be drowned priests, and exhibit the shaven head and typically appears to be praying. It is usually reported as having a grey, cloud-like torso and serpentine limbs.

According to one story, if angered, they ask that the crews provide a barrel that it proceeds to fill with sea water to drown them. To avoid this disastrous fate, it is necessary to give him a bottomless barrel.


Edo-period obake karuta card depicting an umibōzu
This folktale is likely related to another Japanese tradition, which says that the souls of people who have no one to look after their graves take refuge at sea

They were most likely brooks dead crew watching over him since they all died at once no of them have someone to look after their graves. Ontop of that it means brooks crew had three priests on the ship.

Most likely indicating the need for priest in the one piece world, i.e. ward off yotai (Japanese demons, like umibozu)

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Off topic prediction

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The straw hats will get a priest.

 

[ministerC4]

It takes the form of an ass, interesting.

 

[Tomato God]

It takes the form of an ass, interesting.

What in those two pictures look like an ass?

 

[Dr Doom]

Good theory, knowing Oda we could be seeing them late in the series.

 

[ministerC4]

What in those two pictures look like an ass?

I can't describe what ass is not, I only can describe what it is.
By such I can't separate it from anything.
Ass is all.
Just know there was an ass drawn in there.

 

[Kai NB]

What in those two pictures look like an ass?

Don't mind him, that's apparently his "thing" to relate everything to ass

I like the idea. Or maybe a Sky Island Version of Sea Kings (Nah)

 

[scorezor]

there are a lot of things that i missed in one piece , but i don't care , for now ^^

 

[Ryuma720]

Beware.............

 

[jiraiya lives]

Maybe they are...

Huge ass pirate ships
Rock formations
An island
mountains

or ooooo maybe the claw of a giant rare sea king

 

[Punk Hazard]

According to one story, if angered, they ask that the crews provide a barrel that it proceeds to fill with sea water to drown them. To avoid this disastrous fate, it is necessary to give him a bottomless barrel.

This stood out to me because the arc they were seen in happens because the Strawhats found a barrel that Robin concluded may be a tribute.

 

[Aømine]

Hmm interesting..