Why Do People Hate Nami?

One Piece hosts a colorful cast of lovable characters, but one of the original crew members, Nami, has many fans divided. The busty red-head has proved to be a somewhat divisive character from the start, and the live-action adaptation has led even some new viewers to dislike this well-known face from the series. That being said, the navigator still has plenty of loyal supporters standing in her corner. Some may hate Nami with a passion, but others will gladly die on the hill in her defense. What is it about this girl that has fans of One Piece

going head-to-head?

Nami first appears in chapter eight of the manga, and as early as episode one of the anime. Being one of the founding members of Luffy’s crew as his third recruit, the manipulative cat burglar has been a constant in the series since nearly the beginning. Known as one of the weakest members of the Strawhats, she, Usopp, and Chopper are nicknamed “the coward trio”. She is able to fight thanks to her knowledge of meteorology combined with her trusted Clima-Tact that was gifted to her by the aforementioned sniper. While Nami has held her own time and time again when the chips are down, it’s common for her to hide behind the stronger members of her crew when they’re available to protect her. Considering the immeasurable power of some of the Strawhat’s enemies, this behavior may seem warranted, but to some fans, this is simply unacceptable.

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What Makes Nami a Lightning Rod for Hate?

She Doesn’t Like to Fight

One Piece is many things. It’s a tale of adventure and friendship, overcoming all odds to build a better future, the oppression of a flawed ruling class, and sometimes, even romance, despite Oda’s aversion to including it. All that said, One Piece is marketed under the Shōnen umbrella. Something people have come to expect from this genre is action, typically in the form of impressive battles.

While countless fans come to Oda for more than just flashy fights and tense encounters, a huge portion of his fans want to see swords clashing and fists meeting jaws. Nami just doesn’t fit that bill. Despite the impressive feats she’s managed to accomplish with nothing but her wits and a fancy stick, many consider her contributions to the battles to be lackluster at best. More than a few would argue that her true value lies off the battlefield, but Nami’s lack of muscle isn’t the only complaint being lobbed her way.

Her Loyalty is Still Being Questioned

An often-heard complaint about the prodigious cartographer is her lack of loyalty. This is often cited by fans who haven’t quite caught up in the series. It’s easy to see why fans might remain a little raw after getting through the Arlong Park arc. Despite the backstory and justifications given for Nami’s betrayal, not everyone can let bygones be bygones. She did steal their ship and leave them stranded on the Baratie, after all. It certainly wasn’t her best moment, even if it wasn’t exactly out of character for the woman with the title of “cat burglar”.

Nami’s defenders will insist that she had not yet joined the crew, and robbing pirates was her only route to saving Cocoyasi Village, which, to be fair, is a compelling argument. Once she denounced Arlong and officially became a Strawhat, her loyalty to Luffy and the others has only grown.

Putting Hourglasses to Shame

Now, onto the most commonly vocalized issue with the accomplished navigator; or perhaps “issues” would be better phrasing. Nami’s proportions have raised quite a few brows, among other things, over the duration of the series. She’s certainly not the only woman in the lineup that’s built like a blow-up doll, but with hers being the most prominent female face, Nami tends to be the one looked at whenever Oda’s unrealistic body representation comes up. In an SBS, the manga-ka revealed that her measurements post-timeskip are ninety-eight, fifty-eight, and eighty-eight centimeters (38.6″, 22.8″, 34.6″ when converted to inches).

There’s no need to pull out a measuring tape to figure out how ridiculous that is. What can only be viewed as an artistic choice has raised a lot of doubt about the depth of the characterization of not only Nami, but any of the female members of the story. Anyone who’s watched or read can attest to the humanity of all the story’s heroes and villains, sometimes joking that Oda can write women far better than he can draw them. Despite this, there are people who turn their nose up at the show entirely, purely for this reason.

Navigating Through the Haters

This Girl is Here for the Long Run

With all this information in mind, it’s reasonable for some to dislike this character. Opinions are like… mouths: everyone has one. Love her or hate her, Nami is unlikely to go anywhere any time soon. In addition to her importance to Luffy as a nakama, her navigation expertise is crucial to the crew’s survival. Many would argue that the Strawhats could still be wandering East Blue, if not dead at the bottom of the sea without the crafty thief.

She’s certainly proven her loyalty to the future Pirate King enough times by now to assuage most naysayers, but that won’t stop the dedicated haters. From the ones who raise her up on a pedestal, to others who would rather hold her head underwater, those feelings are valid. Fans don’t have to agree to enjoy the show. Just don’t rain on anyone else’s parade if you fall into the latter category. As the saying goes, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t post it in a comment section. Or something like that.