How Did Kizaru Admiral Earn His Admiral Rank?

Every time Kizaru shows up in 'One Piece' I grin — that lazy, drawled delivery is so distinct. In the original Japanese version, Kizaru (Borsalino) was voiced by Unshō Ishizuka, whose calm-but-ominous tone really defined the character for me. Ishizuka’s performance made even idle lines feel dangerous and oddly charming. If you’re asking about the English dub, the more widely known Funimation/English-dubbed Kizaru is voiced by Christopher R. Sabat. Sabat captures that same laid-back menace, leaning into the slow, almost bored cadence that makes Kizaru unforgettable. Fun tip: listen to the Marineford scenes or the Sabaody Archipelago appearance — you’ll hear the contrast between the silky cadence and sudden authority that both actors play so well. If you’re checking a streaming site, look at the episode credits to confirm which dub/version you’re hearing, since video games and special releases sometimes use different cast members.

I'll be honest: the exact spot where Kizaru got his formal training isn't spelled out in the manga or anime. In 'One Piece' canon, Borsalino (Kizaru) crops up as an already-established admiral with a very distinctive fighting style, but Oda hasn't given us a neat flashback scene showing the academy or base where he trained. That said, it's reasonable to assume he went through the Marines' standard career path — basics at some kind of officer training (what fans usually call the Marine Academy) followed by on-the-job experience aboard bases and fleets. We see Kizaru in action at places like Sabaody and Marineford, which gives the vibe of someone who climbed ranks through real combat and assignments rather than a single dramatic origin. Personally, I enjoy the mystery: imagining a laid-back, light-speed trainee sneaking naps in the barracks while zipping through drills fits his personality perfectly.

I've been trawling through 'One Piece' for years and the moment Kizaru shows up still gives me chills. He first appears in the manga during the Sabaody Archipelago arc — his debut is in chapter 490, when the situation around the Straw Hats goes from chaotic to downright terrifying. Oda drops him in with that languid, almost bored vibe, and you instantly understand why the Marines call him an admiral: that casual menace combined with his light-based powers flips the tone of the whole arc. Seeing Kizaru for the first time on paper felt like watching someone who could move the sun itself stroll into a playground fight. If you reread that chapter, pay attention to the art choices — the contrast, the angles, the small amused expression on his face. It’s classic Oda: a short scene that tells you everything you need to know about a character. I still get a little giddy thinking about how neatly he announces the escalation of stakes in the story.

Seeing Kizaru in action always makes me grin — there's something utterly theatrical about a guy who literally becomes light. In-universe, he ate the Pika Pika no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit that lets him create, control, and transform into light. That explains the basics: insane speed, long-range beams that slice through ships, and the uncanny ability to appear and strike almost instantly. It’s not just flashy power for show; it’s a tool that matches the role of an admiral — you need overwhelming reach and the ability to neutralize threats before they spread. Beyond mechanics, I love how his fighting style reflects his personality. He sips on tea, speaks lazily, then casually vaporizes a battlefield. Light suits that nonchalant menace — it feels clean, efficient, and a bit cruel. Practically, light attacks let him scout with photons, blind or disorient foes, and engage multiple targets at different ranges. Of course, he isn’t untouchable: Haki and Seastone still work, and environments with dampened visibility or special barriers can limit him. Rewatching his Sabaody and Marineford moments, I kept pausing on how the writers use light to show both speed and jurisdictional authority — it’s a brilliant fit that’s both tactical and thematic.

Honestly, I love how simple and weird this one is: Kizaru’s true identity in 'One Piece' isn’t some masked alter ego — he’s Borsalino, an admiral of the Marines who ate the 'Pika Pika no Mi' and moves like literal light. That’s the in-universe reveal Oda gave: a laid-back, almost lazy guy who will casually obliterate dozens with a single beam when ordered. I always chuckle at how his personality (slow, flippant) contrasts with the devastating destructive power he carries. If you dig beyond the surface, there are fun fan-theories — some people wonder if his background ties to noble families or the World Nobles because of his demeanor and how comfortably he operates near power. Still, nothing in the manga/anime explicitly makes him a Celestial Dragon or secret kingpin. For me, Kizaru’s charm is that his “true identity” is exactly what you see: Borsalino, the light-devil-fruit-wielding admiral who shows up at 'Sabaody Archipelago' and 'Marineford' and leaves an unforgettable shine. If you haven’t rewatched his fights lately, they still hit hard.

Man, talking about Kizaru always gets me hyped — he’s flashy but he’s not untouchable. His power comes from the 'Pika Pika no Mi', which basically turns him into light. That gives him insane mobility and ranged offense, but it also carries the classic Devil Fruit baggage: he can’t swim and is vulnerable to seastone (kairoseki). Those are the blunt, undeniable constraints you can rely on if you’re writing counterplay in a story or imagining a fight scene. Beyond that, there are more tactical and personality-based weaknesses. Logia intangibility only lasts until someone uses Armament Haki, so strong haki users can actually land blows or stop him. He’s also dependent on line-of-sight for many of his attacks — cover, thick obstacles, or clever reflections can reduce the effectiveness of pure light-beam tactics. And don’t forget the human side: Kizaru’s famously laid-back, arrogant attitude can make him underestimate opponents or react slowly to unexpected moves. That combination — physical counters like haki/seastone plus clever battlefield control and exploiting his temperament — is what makes him beatable in 'One Piece'.

Whenever I dive into 'One Piece' theory threads late at night I get pulled into this delightful mess of speculation about Kizaru's fate. People toss around everything from dramatic deaths to sneaky undercover plots, and honestly I love how creative some of the takes are. The most common ideas I see: that he's been fatally wounded off-panel (so dramatic!), that Vegapunk-style technology or a mysterious Devil Fruit counter erased or trapped his light powers, or that he was quietly reassigned by shadowy higher-ups to do some Gorosei-level dirty work. A fun, darker theory is that Blackbeard or some other power-scaling villain managed to remove him as a threat; fans point to narrative convenience and the pattern of shifting power balances. Another recurring suggestion is that Kizaru's laid-back personality masks a strategic withdrawal—maybe he's playing a longer game, sent to monitor pirates or weaponize intel. Personally I lean toward the idea that Oda will use whatever happens to Kizaru to shift the political chessboard of the world, not just to kill off a strong fighter. Whatever the truth, the threads are a blast to read — part detective work, part fanfiction fuel — and they keep me glued to every new chapter and theory update.

Man, the moment Kizaru (Borsalino) shows up on 'Sabaody Archipelago' it feels like the air gets thinner—like the whole island is suddenly under a spotlight. I was watching the scene and kept thinking about how his arrival isn't just about raw power; it's theatrical dominance. He strolls in with that blasé tone, and because his Hie Hie—no, sorry, his Pika Pika no Mi is light-based—he literally makes conflicts feel trivial. Fights that were buzzing with bravado moments before suddenly look worthless; pirates and even the more cocky Supernovas have to recalibrate what “danger” means. The immediate effects are brutal but clear: chaos is stamped out, smugglers and slavers get rattled, and civilians panic or hide. Kizaru's presence forces a retreat in many skirmishes, and that chill helps the World Government assert control without a drawn-out battle. On a character level, his arrival is a narrative hammer—it's what shows the Straw Hats and their allies that they're not just up against stronger people, they're up against a global force that can show up anywhere, anytime. That sets the stage for later shocks, like how the crew gets separated; the whole vibe becomes far more dangerous and immediate. I still get a little thrill thinking about how Oda uses that contrast: Kizaru’s almost lazy personality paired with terrifying capability makes him one of the best “threat escalators” in 'One Piece'. Watching it, you feel the story tightening its screws—and honestly, I love how it forces characters to grow or run. It’s one of those moments where the art, dialogue, and music all conspire to make you sit forward in your seat.