One Piece is one of the biggest manga series out there, and it's rare to find a manga fan who hasn't heard of it. Since the manga started publication back in 1997, One Piece has grown to have not only an anime adaptation, but several movies, video games, and even more.
Its main character, Monkey D. Luffy, is one of the most recognizable faces in anime, and his signature straw hat is familiar to anyone who has given the series a passing glance. However, there is a lot about the straw hat that even viewers of the show might not be aware of.
10 It Originally Belonged To Gol D. Roger
Everyone knows that Luffy's straw hat was given to him by Red-Haired Shanks, his hero, and role model. However, what might not be known by everyone is that it was originally owned by the legendary Gol D. Roger.
Roger wore the hat until he eventually handed it off to Shanks, who handed it to Luffy when he was a child. Luffy promised to give the hat back after he became Pirate King, but for now, it remains in his possession. The straw hat has a secret legacy only known to a few people even within the world of One Piece.
9 It Has Only Been Damaged Twice
Since the straw hat is one of Luffy's most prized possessions, he always does his best to avoid letting it get damaged. Of course, with One Piece being as long as it is, it getting damaged was bound to happen at some point.
It was damaged early on by Buggy, who also stomped on it when he learned that it used to belong to Shanks. Nami later repaired it, but Luffy damaged it again by poking right through the repairs. Luffy has generally taken care to keep it undamaged since then.
8 It Has Been Modified A Few Times
Despite Luffy's attempts to avoid letting the hat get damaged, he is often less careful about losing it. Generally, he avoids being separated from his hat, but considering the hectic nature of his many adventures, sometimes the situation doesn't allow for that kind of attention.
Starting with the Skypiea arc, Luffy's straw hat now has a string that he can hang around his neck. This allows it to stay on his person even when it is blown off his head. Another time, Nami sewed Ace's vivre card into the hat's red band, so Luffy could avoid losing that as well.
7 Luffy Lost His Hat During Marineford
Even with the string attached to the hat, Luffy lost the hat once during the chaos of the battle at Marineford. It fell off of a depressed Luffy who was being carried away by Jimbei. Since he was broken by the death of Ace, Luffy didn't notice that his precious hat had fallen off.
The hat would be recovered by its previous owner Shanks, and after a series of hand-offs, it was eventually given to Rayleigh, who finally returned to Luffy as he was recovering. It would be one of the few times that Luffy would unwillingly go without his straw hat.
6 Luffy Didn't Wear His Straw Hat During The Timeskip
During the series, there was a two-year timeskip where Luffy and his crewmates were separately training on different islands. Luffy was training on Ruskaina Island with Rayleigh, where he was learning to control his Haki powers while fighting an endless amount of powerful monsters.
Since he was worried about his straw hat, Luffy decided to leave it in the only safe place on the island. The hat remained there until Luffy retrieved it at the end of his training two years later. It was most likely the longest time Luffy went without wearing his signature straw hat.
5 Luffy Has Worn The Hat With Other Clothing
Outside of situations where it can't be helped, Luffy generally does his best to avoid having to take off his hat. Even in situations where Luffy must wear something over his head, he often finds a way to wear both at once.
This often leads to silly situations like Luffy wearing a chef's hat over his straw hat, or putting his straw hat over a samurai kabuto helmet. Even in situations where he can't fit the hat, such as when he is wearing a helmet as "Lucy", he still prefers to keep the hat on his person.
4 Only Five People Have Worn Luffy's Hat
Luffy greatly dislikes having to go without his straw hat, to almost extreme lengths, and he is very protective of it. Still, there are times where other characters have managed to put on Luffy's hat, whether or not he wants them to have it or not.
Luffy has allowed other people to wear his hat. The most well-known example is Nami, but Usopp and Tama have also worn his hat as well. In addition, Nico Robin and Sweet Pea have also worn Luffy's straw hat without his permission.
3 Straw Hats Have Been Worn In Luffy's Honor
Luffy's straw hat is not unique, and other characters have worn straw hats before. However, Luffy's prominence and heroics have caused many to associate the straw hat with him, making it a part of his image.
In places where Luffy is hailed as a hero, people wear straw hats in his honor. The Tontatta dwarves, for example, can be seen wearing straw hats in celebration of Luffy's victory over Donquixote Doflamingo. The children of Fishman Island have also worn straw hats in honor of Luffy.
2 Luffy's Straw Hat Has Become The Symbol Of One Piece
Straw hats are not only used in the world of One Piece to symbolize Luffy's pirates. They have become the universal symbol of One Piece in real life as well. Whenever a red-banded straw hat appears in media, there is a good chance that it is a reference to One Piece.
One well-known example of this is the Straw Hat Pikachu that players of Pokemon Go could catch during One Piece's 22nd anniversary. While a straw hat does not immediately signify a reference to One Piece, it is one of the go-to images to choose for anyone wanting to symbolize One Piece as a story.
1 The Straw Hat May Be More Important Than We Realize
While Luffy's straw hat is an important symbol for him, it does not play much of a role in the overall story. It is Luffy's most recognizable feature and a symbol of his pirate crew, but not much more.
However, a short scene in a recent episode may change that. In that scene, a large frozen straw hat can be seen hidden away deep within Mary Geoise. While the significance of the straw hat is yet unknown, it is clear that it and Luffy's own hat may have more to do with the overall story to come.