Why is Zoro's eye closed?
Why is Zoro's eye closed in One Piece? (and when will it open)
The One Piece saga offers fans a ton of incredibly unique and fascinating characters to discover, many of which come with a whole host of mysteries—as well as some pretty interesting One Piece theories. Zoro's left eye has sparked a flood of questions among fans, leaving many wondering why Zoro's eye is closed in One Piece, as well as when it will open.
Oda stated that he intended Zoro to be a "one-eyed swordsman" from the beginning of One Piece, but he did not explain how or why he "lost" his eye, though fans believe it was due to training with Mihawk during the time skip. There are many fan theories, the most notable of which include Zoro having Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki, complex Asura powers, or ocular dominance.
While there are still many details to be determined as to why Zoro's eye is truly closed, there are some clues as to what might actually be going on. Stick around to find out everything you need to know about why Zoro keeps his left eye closed in One Piece, as well as whether there's a chance he'll open both eyes in the future.
What happened to Zoro's left eye?
The main idea is that Zoro lost his left eye, but nothing has been clearly explained to fans. In fact, he was only shown keeping his left eye closed after the time jump.
But Oda has spoken about his decision to nearly blind Zoro in light of One Piece's 100th chapter. It actually seems that the mysterious injury was planned from the very beginning of One Piece's story, with the decision to make Zoro a "one-eyed swordsman"—though Oda still hasn't revealed exactly what happened or why.
More details about the specific interview were shared by @sandman_AP on Twitter, detailed below:
So there are certainly a whole range of possibilities. Some fans have even gone so far as to joke that Zoro has a special power from a different anime because he got lost during the time skip, as shown in the meme below thanks to fans on Quora.
Regardless, the only thing we know for sure is that there's a visible gash over his left eye. This would indicate that his left eye has been injured, lost, or altered in some way—meaning he either can't open it or chooses not to for some more mysterious reason.
Why is Zoro's eye closed in One Piece? (Theories)
One Piece holds countless unsolved mysteries that have sparked some very creative and often comical theories among fans. While Zoro's eye has been a subject of humor for some, many of these theories revolve around the fact that Zoro only keeps one of his eyes open by choice.
Some of these theories are based on real concepts, while others highlight more mystical aspects of Zoro's unique traits and techniques. However, the majority of the theories about the race revolve around Zoro being injured either by himself or by Mihawk during training (whether intentionally or accidentally).
1. Zoro has Mihawk's "Hawk Eye" Observation Haki
One of the most interesting theories is that Zoro has Observation Haki in his left eye, having received a special power from Mihawk, also known as Hawk Eyes. This theory contains some fascinating evidence, but some fans believe it could be similar to Shanks losing his arm to Luffy—passing the legacy on to the next generation.
Along the same lines, the new similarity between Shanks and Zoro could even be a reference to this theory, given his advanced Observation Haki and the coincidental scars on his left eye.
Mihawk has been training Zoro for some time, and it's possible that Mihawk wanted to help Zoro control Observation Haki. Additionally, Zoro's left eye glows in certain parts of the story when he gets really serious about fighting—most notably during the Water 7 Saga.
This theory suggests that the occasionally observed glowing effect emanating from Zoro's eye is actually a version of Mihawk's Hawk Eye or Observation Haki. Zoro may be keeping it a secret until he masters it or truly needs it.
For more information on how fans think this Haki might be linked to Zoro's left eye, along with some additional discussions and theories, check out ABD's video below:
2. Zoro's Conqueror's Haki
A popular fan theory is that Zoro possesses Conqueror's Haki, activated with his left eye—which is why he chose to keep it closed or injure it to keep it closed. However, this would imply that Zoro has proof that he possesses Conqueror's Haki and that his left eye is integral to its use.
While Conqueror's Haki affects the user's entire body and energy, Oda emphasized the eyes when this Haki is activated. However, there is still only a handful of evidence to show that Zoro possessed Conqueror's Haki to begin with.
Before the One Piece time skip, Zoro often acts as a captain and is sometimes mistaken for the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Fans have also speculated that Zoro used Conqueror's Haki against Monet in the Punk Hazard arc—mainly due to his sudden shock and immobility.
3. Demon Asura Zoro
Some fans believe that Zoro's left eye was closed to help him maintain control of his Asura powers. This theory is believed to refer to Zoro being "possessed" by the demon Asura due to his use of cursed swords throughout the One Piece saga.
Zoro has been seen using this form without opening his eye, but the theory is more plausible than many believe and may also explain his glowing left eye. This theory would suggest that Zoro chose to keep his eyes closed either by choice or because Mihawk asked him to do so.
4. Eye Dominance
While this theory is far more realistic, it proves more credible to many One Piece fans. This theory involves ocular dominance, where one eye is used more often than the other, leading to enhanced ocular abilities.
Just as pirates often wear eye patches to adjust to the dark, some samurai are said to block out their eyes to hone their fighting skills. This theory suggests that Zoro may have noticed that one of his eyes was weaker than the other during training, taking drastic measures to increase his abilities.
Zoro may have been ordered to do this by Mihawk, or Mihawk may have intentionally injured his eye in the hopes that his right eye would become stronger. This would mean that Zoro did not lose his left eye, but rather it was closed by Mihawk until a later stage.
Will Zoro open his left eye in One Piece?
With so much ambiguity surrounding Zoro's left eye, many One Piece fans have begun to wonder if Zoro will ever open both of his eyes in the future. However, it depends on which theory proves to be correct—that is, if any of these theories are actually true for the story of One Piece.
Fans aren't sure if Zoro will open both eyes in One Piece, or if he will forever remain the one-eyed swordsman Oda created. However, many hope that one day Zoro will unlock his frozen blink and reveal an epic new power or Haki that none of the other main characters in One Piece had anticipated.
There are a plethora of open questions in One Piece, and Zoro's left eye is one of them. Yet, many fans believe there's something more supernatural about Zoro's left eye suddenly closing without explanation—potentially leaving room for many more interesting twists.
