My theory on Yamato’s backstory and their gender (THREAD):

The mask that Yamato is wearing is called a “Hannya Mask”, and it’s a mask that is used in theatre to represent a jealous or obsessive woman who becomes a demon.

Naturally, this make sense for Yamato as they were obsessed with Oden soo much that they chose to become him fully and entirely.

But it also represents the duality of human emotion. With the mask being used to convey fear, and fury but also the feelings of tragicness and sadness. So why is Yamato wearing this?

We know that Yamato was wearing this mask even before seeing oden’s inspiring execution. So we know that Yamato must’ve been tormented from an early age, at least 8 years old.

We know that Yamato was beaten as a child by Kaido.

We also know that Yamato had hope that Kaido values them as his child. A desperate cling to be loved by Kaido in some way or fashion.

And we also know that Kaido is the type of father who plans out his child’s future with little regard to what the child may actually want. Kaido’s a demanding, “might equals right” type of individual. So I think know what Yamato flashback may entail.

I’ll cut to the chase, I think Kaido always planned to turn Wano into New Onigashima, and I feel like he always intended for his son to become the shogun of it, so that Kaido can still enforce his rule over Wano without the threat of the shogun standing up to him.

I believe Kaido was expecting a son. And we know that in one piece men are perceived to be stronger than women.

Now, I personally don’t believe Kaido is a open minded father that respects gender pronouns, it seems out of character for him. So I believe after his initial disappointment in Yamato being his daughter, he decided to raise and treat Yamato like his son. Forcibly changing her ID.

Kaido shows no empathy towards those who are weak. So naturally, he would be remorseless to his own child, to make Yamato into a strong fighter. When Yamato challenges the notion of her identity being decided by Kaido and her life also being dictated by Kaido, Kaido beats on her.

Kaido was the one that gave Yamato that mask, and it was to hide her feminine qualities and emphasis Yamato as frightening and powerful. This cycle continued onwards to a point where Yamato broke, and just decided to go along with Kaido. Embracing the idea of being a man.

Yamato, beaten into disillusion of her identity, is in the flower capital and watching the execution of Oden. And Yamato watches as Oden freely and confidently conquers death itself, lasting an entire hour in boiling hot oil. And this is when Yamato is inspired.

Yamato, who still seeked some form of validation from Kaido, tells Kaido that if she is to be a man, then she wants to be a man like Oden. Which only enrages Kaido, and to stop Yamato from leaving and seeking freedom like Oden, he places the cuffs on her.

This adds yet another form of control and restriction that Kaido has over Yamato’s freedom. However, Yamato becomes hopeful when finding and reading oden’s journal. Oden’s adventures inspired Yamato to eventually go out to sea and finally be in control of her own freedom.

I think Yamato’s identity crisis, and the ambiguity around Yamato’s gender will be resolved once Yamato confronts Kaido as Oden. Kaido will attempt to break down Yamato, and Luffy will be the one to further inspire Yamato by telling Kaido, Yamato is free to be who they want to be

Yamato seeing Luffy in the same way that they view Oden, will then choose their own identity, whether that’s man or woman, doesn’t matter. Yamato will be no one else except Yamato. (End THREAD)