Does One Piece compare Sanji to Scopper Gaban? Discover the answer to this question and the similarities between them.
![Gaban as seen in the One Piece manga (Image via Shueisha)](https://static.deltiasgaming.com/2025/02/Gaban-1.jpg)
In the expansive storyline of One Piece, characters often mirror each other, with the similarities potentially foreshadowing their future growth. Along with popular cases such as Luffy and Joyboy, chapter 1139 of the One Piece manga has created yet another comparison. This is in reference to the newly introduced Scopper Gaban and Sanji. So, does One Piece compare Sanji to Scopper Gaban?
Yes, One Piece does compare Sanji to Scopper Gaban, specifically referring to their similar mannerisms. However, since we are accustomed to the subtle hints scattered by Oda, this connection between the two may be more significant than we anticipate. Here is a closer look at this.
Who Are Sanji and Scopper Gaban in One Piece?
![Sanji as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)](https://static.deltiasgaming.com/2025/01/One-Piece-21.jpg)
Sanji is the chef of the Straw Hat Pirates, joining the crew in the Baratie Arc to chase his dream of finding the All Blue. Along with cooking up delicious meals for Luffy and the other members, Sanji is also one of the crew’s main fighters. His Black Leg fighting style, combined with his prowess in Haki has defeated the likes of Queen in Wano.
Sanji is undoubtedly dedicated to Luffy, but his standout trait is his love for women. He constantly chases after Nami and Robin, getting gobsmacked whenever a new beautiful female is introduced. This is to the degree that he refuses to fight against them, even when they may be evil villains. While this may serve to frustrate some, his core beliefs are the reason why he has become so powerful.
![Gaban and the Roger Pirates as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)](https://static.deltiasgaming.com/2025/02/Gaban-4.jpg)
Scopper Gaban, on the other hand, is one of the most important members of the now-disbanded Roger Pirates. He joined Roger’s adventures across the Grand Line, reaching Laugh Tale and discovering the One Piece. Following his retirement, Scopper has settled in Elbaph. He is the lover of Ripley and the father of Colon.
As a youngster, Scopper was extremely loyal to Roger, destroying multiple enemies who attempted to take advantage of the Pirate King’s illness. As he has grown older, he has become more carefree, jumping into action whenever he finds something enjoyable. This even leads to him fighting against Luffy after being captivated by the Straw Hat’s troublesome nature.
When Does One Piece Compare Sanji to Scopper Gaban?
As mentioned earlier, One Piece compares Sanji to Scopper Gaban in chapter 1139 of the manga. This happened soon after Gaban introduced himself, sharing his connection to Ripley and Colon.
![Gaban as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)](https://static.deltiasgaming.com/2025/02/Gaban-6.jpg)
Gaban, who went by “Ya-san” at this point, proudly expressed how love couldn’t be restricted by race. He cared little about loving a giant, only regretful that he would grow older quicker than her. After declaring how open-minded people existed in every era, he called himself the “Preacher of Love.”
Gaban’s intense passion for love and the relations between people reminded Luffy of Sanji. Hence, the protagonist shared how Sanji would likely grow up and be like Gaban. While this might seem like a passing quip, there are several similarities between the two when looking closer.
The Similarities Between Sanji and Scopper Gaban
Sanji and Scopper Gaban are extremely similar in terms of their views on love and romance. The Straw Hat has shared his philosophy regarding women and his unending love for them multiple times. Likewise, Gaban’s presence in Elbaph is also marked by his promotion of unrestricted love between races.
![Gaban as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)](https://static.deltiasgaming.com/2025/02/Gaban.jpg)
Even going past this, Gaban was popularly called the “Left Hand of the Pirate King,” indicating his relation to Roger. Identically, Sanji is considered by most fans to be Luffy’s left-hand man and is one of the “Wings of the King of Pirates”.
The roles of both Gaban and Luffy in their respective crews also mirror each other. Gaban held the third-highest authority after Roger and Rayleigh, with his strength being comparable to theirs. Sanji is also arguably the third most important Straw Hat when considering his cooking, fighting, and impact.
Hence, Sanji and Gaban are closer to each other than what is apparent at first glance. This may also serve as foreshadowing for the future.
Theories Regarding Sanji’s Connection to Scopper Gaban
![Zoro and Sanji as seen in the anime (image via Toei Animation)](https://deltiasgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sanji_and_Zoro_Save_Toko.webp)
Due to the connection between Sanji and Gaban, several theories have emerged regarding the future of the series. The most popular one suggests that One Piece has all but confirmed Sanji’s meteoric rise in strength.
Gaban is considered one of the strongest in the series, and Sanji mirroring him sets up his growth for the future. We may see him gaining a vital skill that puts him on par with Luffy and Zoro, potentially even propping him up to an Emperor-level figure.
To achieve this, we could see Gaban becoming a mentor to Sanji. The Straw Hats’ chef is one of the few who wasn’t present during Gaban’s introduction. This may set up a grander meeting in the future, where Sanji meets a great man who shares his personality.
![One Piece](https://static.deltiasgaming.com/2025/01/Sanji.jpg)
Since Sanji has been lagging behind in his growth in strength when compared to his rival Zoro, he could take advantage of Gaban being a like-minded individual with immeasurable experience.
These theories are popular among fans because it has already been proven that Luffy mirrors Roger and Zoro is similar to the swordsman Rayleigh. Hence, fans have high expectations for Sanji and Gaban, who come right after them in terms of importance in their crews.
Conclusion
The answer to whether One Piece compares Sanji to Scopper Gaban is a yes, and it happened in the most recent chapter as well. While the similarity between the two was pointed out by Luffy, fans were quick to notice that both pirates mirrored each other in many more ways.
As we go deeper into the Final Saga, we will discover whether this was an innocent moment of reference or if Oda actually has bigger plans for Sanji and Gaban’s dynamic.
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