The Sorbet Kingdom Was Modeled After Michoacán, Mexico
The Sorbet Kingdom in One Piece seems to be inspired by the Mexican state of Michoacán.
Many fans may not realize that Mexico’s official name is the United Mexican States, much like the United States of America. Each Mexican state is large—comparable in size to Switzerland—making one state a perfect model for an island nation in Oda’s world.
Several unique traits of the Sorbet Kingdom match features of Michoacán:
- A domed palace with two pointed towers
- Distinctive indigenous patterns on clothing
- A church where Kuma and Ginny lived
- A history of dividing the country into north and south
- Conflict with the Revolutionary Army
Let’s break down the evidence one by one.
Evidence 1: The Cathedral in Morelia
The domed palace with twin spires strongly resembles the Morelia Cathedral, the symbol of Michoacán’s capital city. This cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Historic Centre of Morelia.
As with other Oda references, the fact that it ties to a world heritage site greatly strengthens the case.
Evidence 2: Indigenous Patterns
The patterns on the citizens’ clothing resemble the traditional motifs of the Zuni people, one of the Native tribes of the American Southwest and northern Mexico.
Most notably, the Sunface design stands out.
This links directly to themes of sun worship → sun gods → “Nika,” the Sun God.
It feels intentional that Kuma, a descendant of the Buccaneer race who believed in Nika’s liberation, comes from a kingdom where the clothing reflects sun-worshipping indigenous motifs.
Evidence 3: Kuma and Ginny’s Church
The church depicted in the Sorbet Kingdom has a bell tower topped with a cross. Many Mexican churches share this design. The closest real-world counterpart may be the monastery in Desierto de los Leones National Park.
Interestingly, as seen before in Thriller Bark, Oda often designs churches without an exact real-world match—perhaps intentionally creating his own “original” versions.
Evidence 4: A Divided Nation
In the manga, Sorbet was split into a northern “World Government member state” and a lawless southern region.
This mirrors Mexico’s history: during the Mexican-American War, the U.S. annexed Mexico’s northern territories—including modern-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. Mexico lost about one-third of its territory.
Thus, the Sorbet Kingdom reflects Mexico’s division, with the World Government representing the United States.
Evidence 5: The Priest-Turned-Revolutionary
Kuma lived quietly as a priest before joining the Revolutionary Army. This parallels the life of José María Morelos, a Catholic priest who became one of Mexico’s greatest revolutionary leaders.
Morelos continued the struggle for independence after Father Miguel Hidalgo, fighting against Spanish rule. The city of Morelia is named after him, and his image appears on Mexico’s 50 peso bill, as well as on monuments, stadiums, and even satellites.
While Kuma’s pirate persona is based on Bartholomew Roberts, his revolutionary side clearly draws from José María Morelos. Even Kuma’s pose in Thriller Bark mirrors Morelos’s portrait.
Additional Clues: Jewelry Bonney and Mexico
Bonney’s backstory also ties to Mexico. The “burning island” where she was captured by Blackbeard featured statues resembling those of the Toltec ruins in Tula, Hidalgo. This suggests her heritage has been connected to Mexico all along.
The Grim Reaper Before Zoro
The mysterious grim reaper that appeared before Zoro may be inspired by Santa Muerte, a Mexican folk saint often depicted as a skeletal figure. Despite her terrifying appearance, Santa Muerte is considered a benevolent, wish-granting figure, worshipped widely across Mexico.
Like the Klabautermann foreshadowing, this could be another subtle piece of Oda’s long-term storytelling.
Conclusion
From architecture and indigenous patterns to revolutionary leaders and cultural festivals, the Sorbet Kingdom clearly draws from Michoacán, Mexico—especially the city of Morelia.
Given how much evidence lines up, it seems safe to conclude that Oda-sensei modeled Sorbet after this Mexican state, blending its history and culture into the world of One Piece.
English One Piece theories
Want more? Check out our full collection of English One Piece articles here.
