One Piece theories are never in short supply, but one pairing keeps coming back no matter how many times Eiichiro Oda tries to steer the ship in a different direction: Luffy and Nami. And thanks to a recent message from the series creator, fans are once again debating whether romance between the two could actually happen.
So… is there something real here? Or is this just another harmless distraction?
The High School Spin-Off That Got Everyone Talking Again
What reignited the conversation wasn’t some subtle moment in the manga or anime, it was One Piece in Love (also known as Koisuru One Piece), a spin-off series that places familiar characters into a modern-day high school setting. Luffy Yamamoto and Nami Coyama are not just classmates, they’re crushing on each other.
It’s light, goofy, and obviously not tied to the main storyline. But here’s the kicker: Oda officially acknowledged the series and even called it “funny.”
Oda confirmed in yesterday's message that "Loving One Piece," featuring student characters named Luffy and Nami in love, is an "official" spin-off anime/manga. Does this mean LuNami ship is canon?🥰 pic.twitter.com/Ae8yrvYBmI
— sandman (@sandman_AP) April 2, 2025
That small bit of approval opened the floodgates. Fans started asking the same question again: if Oda is okay with this pairing in another universe, does that mean he’s hinting at something deeper in the main story?
The spin-off anime, which dropped five episodes between April 1 and 5 this year, is available on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. It even brought in some well-known voice actors: Ria Kaneoto (the original Luffy), Ayanosakura (as Nami), and Yuichi Nakamura as an alternate Usopp.
It blurs the lines just enough to keep fans engaged.
But Oda’s Comments From the Past Still Stand
Let’s rewind to 2009, when Oda made one of his clearest statements about romance in One Piece. In an SBS (the manga’s Q&A section), he responded to a question about relationships within the crew by saying:
“I don’t want to write a love story between the Straw Hat Pirates. This is an adventure manga, not a romance.”
Later that year, he expanded on that in an interview, saying the characters are “just good friends” and that romantic plotlines don’t fit with what he’s trying to do. His reasoning is based on genre and audience, he sees One Piece as a series primarily for boys, and romance isn’t something he wants to build into that foundation.
It’s not just a soft preference. The showrunner for the live-action Netflix adaptation even said Oda gave a firm “no” to any kind of romance between the Straw Hats—whether on the page or on screen.
A Long History of Saying “No,” But Always with a Joke
Even when Oda’s having fun with fan questions, he keeps his stance consistent. In Volume 34, when someone asked about love on the crew, he replied:
“Of course they’re in love—with adventure.”
He’s clearly aware that fans enjoy these ships, and sometimes he teases “what if” scenarios just to play along. But he always makes sure to clarify that these alternate versions aren’t tied to the main continuity.
This is part of what makes One Piece in Love feel like a wink to fans. It’s not trying to rewrite canon, it’s just giving a popular fan pairing some space to play out in a separate setting.
So Why Is the Luffy x Nami Ship So Persistent?
Despite Oda’s consistent answers, fans continue to read into certain moments. Luffy giving Nami his hat at Arlong Park, the quiet emotional beats during the Skypiea and Enies Lobby arcs, his fierce protection of her in Strong World, they all add to this sense of unspoken closeness.
And with One Piece in Love back in circulation, fans are more energized than ever. The spin-off shows what their relationship might look like if romance was part of the story. For some, that’s enough to keep the theory going strong.
Even though it’s not canon, the fact that Oda acknowledged the spin-off adds just enough legitimacy for fans to enjoy the possibility, even if it stays on the sidelines.
So… Are They Ever Going to Be a Couple?
Probably not. Oda’s been very clear for years now. One Piece is about big dreams, freedom, friendship, and pushing forward together, not romantic entanglements among the core crew.
The Straw Hats are built more like a family. Adding romance into that mix would change the tone and possibly shift focus away from what’s made the series resonate with so many people for decades.
But that doesn’t mean the idea can’t exist elsewhere. One Piece in Love gives fans a place to explore the “what if” without changing the foundation of the original story. And that, in its own way, keeps the dream alive, just in a different form.
