Nami, the first female member of the Straw Hat Crew in One Piece, has become a favorite character for many fans of the series, including me. Not only am I a sucker for the spunky, red-headed characters in anime, but she is so much deeper than fans may think. On the outside, Nami is a sassy, quick-witted, sunshine protagonist. However, in addition to her expert navigation and cartography skills, Nami is deeply caring and has an overwhelming sense of responsibility, which immediately made her my favorite Straw Hat.

Before starting One Piece, I was told that some of the best arcs in the series were Enies Lobby, Marineford, and Wano Country. However, while everyone had their own opinion about the most outstanding arc, only one was consistently mentioned. Veteran watchers repeatedly told me that it’s not Orange Town, Syrup Village, or even the Baratie arcs that truly kick off One Piece; it’s Arlong Park.

Several backstories are briefly explored in One Piece’s first few episodes. In the series’ 4th episode, we discover how Luffy gained his Devil-Fruit Powers. In the Syrup Village arc, Usopp’s parental trauma is discussed. Finally, in Baratie, the audience learns a bit about Sanji’s backstory (later covered in Whole Cake Island). However, Eiichiro Oda chose to start his series with a deep dive into Nami’s backstory. The Arlong Park arc sets the tone for the rest of the anime and provides viewers with a surprisingly relatable backstory (especially for eldest daughters).

One Piece’s Most Beloved Backstory: Nami & the Arlong Pirates

Nami’s Backstory Is the First One Delivered in Detail in One Piece

Born to unknown parents, Nami and her adopted sister, Nojiko, were rescued by a heavily injured female Marine, Bell-mère, during a war with the Oykot Kingdom. Together, the three lived in Cocoyasi Village. As a child, Nami’s love for adventure and dream of drawing a complete map of the world began to grow. Bell-mère’s mikan trees (a Japanese fruit similar to oranges) provided only the necessary funds for survival, so Nami could not afford to buy the navigation books she wanted. Bell-mère scolded Nami for trying to steal the books from the local bookstore, but she also applauded her mapping abilities, which fueled Nami’s dream even more.

As Nami grew up, money grew tighter, which led her to lash out, complaining that she was tired of wearing Nojiko’s hand-me-down clothes. After a brief argument with her mother, Nami ran away from home. However, even at a young age, Nami’s feelings of responsibility towards her family were already setting in. The young redhead approaches Genzo, the village sheriff, and explains that Bell-mère and Nojiko would be better off without her. Not only would they have more money to go around, but now that Nami has a criminal record, she believes the entire town despises her.

Just as Nojiko comes to retrieve Nami, the Arlong Pirates raid the Conomi Islands, including the girls’ hometown. Under the Arlong Pirates’ rule, the village’s citizens were required to pay a fee for each person living in their household. For a short time, Bell-mère was able to hide her two daughters from the pirates, thus avoiding the fees. However, their secret was soon discovered, and Bell-mère was shot in place of Nami and Nojiko.

After realizing Nami’s gift of cartography, she is kidnapped by Arlong and forced to chart maps for his crew. Eventually, Nami struck up a deal with the Arlong Pirate’s captain. If she brought him 100 million berries, he would free her village. For the next eight years of her life, this goal would be the driving force behind all her decisions.

While Nami Isn’t an Eldest Daughter, Her Story Made Me Feel Seen

Nami’s Unwavering Sense of Responsibility and Self-Reliance Are All Too Familiar to Eldest Daughters

As part of the deal with Arlong, Nami was prohibited from revealing her bargain to anyone else. Despite being seen as an enemy in her village’s eyes for joining the Arlong Pirates, Nami persevered. I remember being shocked by her strength and determination, even at such a young age. The majority of her willpower that carries her through eight years of slavery comes from the guilt that she feels for criticizing Bell-mère, and then witnessing her death shortly after. The feelings of guilt over common childhood mistakes are all too relatable for eldest daughters and siblings.

Additionally, Nami consistently insists on fighting alone. Even when the Straw Hats follow her to the Conomi Islands, she turns them away, refusing their help. It is not until she reaches her lowest point, after stabbing her own arm, which is tattooed with Arlong’s Jolly Roger, that she asks Luffy for help through her tears. Similarly, I rarely consider asking for help until I reach my breaking point, but it takes friends like Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat Crew to truly be there for those like me who insist on accomplishing their goals alone.

Quite a few videos are circulating on social media surrounding the role of eldest daughters and sisters. As the oldest, we are expected (whether by our parents or ourselves) to be a perfect example to our siblings. Not only do we have to provide them with a roadmap for life, but in some cases, we must serve as a third parent, a mentor, or a guide.

Nami’s story of self-reliance and feelings of responsibility towards her loved ones hit home for me, as I am sure it did for many other oldest daughters. Nami isn’t technically the eldest daughter, but her story is the perfect depiction of our journeys and strive for hyper-independence.

Why I Relate More to Anime Nami Versus Live-Action Nami

While Emily Rudd’s Portrayal of Nami Was Terrific, It Was Missing One Key Element

One of the key similarities that I have discovered in my favorite anime characters is a bright, full-of-life personality. In fact, because my favorite characters tend to be red-headed, I’ve noticed a few prevalent stereotypes that are attributed to them, including stubbornness, bravery, and grit.

Some of the most notable redheads in modern anime with stereotypical redhead personalities or character traits include Nobara Kugisaki from Jujutsu Kaisen, Shoyo Hinata from Haikyuu!, and Nami from One Piece. While it does not apply to all, the “sassy redhead” trope has become one of my favorites, and I believe it is something that was missing in the live-action remake of One Piece.

Emily Rudd’s portrayal of Nami was a new spin on a well-known character. Her acting was incredibly enjoyable to watch, and I believe she fit the role perfectly. However, like Mackenyu’s Zoro, one key element was missing: the One Piece quirk. Oda’s anime is known for its odd art style and goofy sense of humor. Furthermore, the darker backstories are often shocking, given how light-hearted the series appears on the outside.

While anime/manga Zoro has an air-headed, loveable-doofus personality, Nami is an energetic, high-spirited sailor. On the other hand, Rudd and Mackenyu chose to lean into the sober realities behind their character’s backstories. While these choices make sense within the context of the whole story, they are missing the heart behind what makes One Piece so admired by fans of all ages: its merriment. Anime Nami’s zest for life and boisterous personality perfectly contrast her introspective feelings of responsibility, which I related to on a deeply personal level.

Nami’s passion and determination to save her town without burdening her loved ones are incredibly related to us eldest daughters. No matter the consequences, she plans to save those she cares for, even if it means giving up her life to do so. While I have not been in as severe a situation as Nami’s, I can relate to the deep-seated feelings of familial responsibility that One Piece so accurately captured.