Some fans of One Piece have noticed that many of the characters from Dressrosa and Wano Country are named after cards or card games. Eiichiro Oda clarified in a Q&A issue that this is not a coincidence.
Which characters are named after card games? The Flying Six are among the strongest subordinates of Kaido. Most of them are named after a card game known in one or more countries:
- Ulti is named after a Hungarian card game for three players.
- Page One is named after a Japanese card game.
- Who’s-Who is named after a card game invented by David Parlett.
- Black Maria is not only a character in One Piece, but also a British card game.
- Sasaki, also known as 44A, is primarily known as a card game in North Korea.
- X Drake is the only one not named after a card game. He is already part of the Worst Generation in One Piece anyway.
Above them are the three Calamities, King, Queen, and Jack. They are named after the playing cards king, queen, and jack, which appear in several games like Rummy or Poker. Even Ace, Luffy’s blood brother, would fit perfectly into this concept, as he symbolizes the ace.
Among the Flying Six, there are other commanders who are named after, for example, Holed’em (Texas Hold’em), Poker, or Solitaire. All of Kaido’s subordinates are named after cards or card games.
But there is another pirate crew named after cards. Donquixote Doflamingo himself has the nickname Joker, and Pica, Diamante, Trebol, and Vergo are said to be named after the card suits Spades, Diamonds, Clubs, and Hearts (via reddit).
Meanwhile, Luffy and his crew are on Egghead Island:
Kaido and Doflamingo should collaborate
Why are the two pirate crews named after cards or card games? Eiichiro Oda revealed in SBS issue 98 that Doflamingo does not have the nickname Joker for nothing. In an original idea, he was supposed to serve as a high-ranking pirate under Kaido along with King, Queen, and Jack.
This original connection is still highlighted by Doflamingo’s nickname. He was supposed to meet Luffy and his crew in Wano Country with the other members of the Beast Pirates. But Oda was glad that Luffy got rid of the villain beforehand.
What is the connection between the two now? Oda ultimately discarded the idea and made Doflamingo the ruler of Dressrosa. He commissioned Caesar Crown to produce SAD, which was used to create artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruits.
Kaido was one of Doflamingo’s best customers. He bought the manufactured Devil Fruits to create an army of beasts. But Luffy and his crew thwarted all plans: They kidnapped Caesar Crown, destroyed the factories, and ultimately defeated both villains. The fight against Kaido is one of the longest in anime history: The longest anime battle in history is over – finally has a winner after a year and 61 episodes
