Kaido of the Beasts, renowned as the world's "Strongest Creature", is the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates and one of the Four Emperors ruling over the New World. He is also the father of Yamato (Michelle Rojas/Linda Larkin/Saori Hayami).
From his base on Onigashima, Kaido has occupied Wano Country along with his crew and once allied with Wano's shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, until Kaido decided to dispose of him for his New Onigashima Project. Decades ago before the formation of his own crew, Kaido was an apprentice in the legendary Rocks Pirates, where he ate the rare Mythical Zoan fruit, the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu. He is currently in an alliance with his former Rocks crewmate and fellow Emperor, Big Mom.
Kaido was first referred to by Monkey D. Garp (Brian Mathis/Paul Eiding/Hiroshi Naka) in the Post-Enies Lobby Arc and then directly mentioned by Gecko Moria (Chris Guerrero/Mark Hamill/Katsuhisa Hoki) in the Thriller Bark Arc, with his status as one of the Four Emperors revealed after the Straw Hat Pirates defeated Moria. Thus, Kaido is the third Emperor mentioned by name and the last to debut. Before he debuted in person, his voice was heard in a flashback that Kozuki Momonosuke (Adult: Justin Briner/TBD/Hiro Shimono, Young: Corinne Sudberg/Tara Strong/Ai Orikasa) had when first disembarking on Dressrosa.
He is the primary antagonist of the Wano Country Arc and one of the central antagonists of the Four Emperors Saga.
Kaido was born somewhere on the Grand Line 59 years ago. Over 40 years ago, Kaido joined the Rocks Pirates as an apprentice. 38 years ago, the Rocks Pirates clashed with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp on God Valley and were defeated, resulting in the crew disbanding. On the day the Rocks Pirates fell, his crewmate Charlotte Linlin gave the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu to Kaido, putting him in her debt, which she considered to be a lifelong one.
Since becoming a pirate, he had been defeated seven times and captured eighteen times by the Marines and the other members of the Four Emperors. In one of those occasions where he had been arrested, Dr. Vegapunk was able to extract a sample of Kaido's Lineage Factor, allowing the scientist to replicate his Devil Fruit, although the results were noted to be unsatisfactory. At least 33 years ago, Kaido started recruiting his crew.
Kaido was not recognized as one of the top pirates in the world until around the time when Roger was executed. He, along with Shanks, then joined Whitebeard and Big Mom among the ranks of the Four Emperors.
After Kurozumi Orochi became shogun of Wano Country, Kaido formed a partnership with him and supported his tyranny. 25 years ago, Kaido confronted Kozuki Oden at the shogun's castle after the latter attempted to kill Orochi. Kaido and Orochi then made a deal with Oden. If Oden danced naked in the Flower Capital once a week, citizens would be spared. They also promised to leave Wano in five years. Afterwards, Kaido flew over the shogun's castle in his dragon form.
23 years ago, Kaido fought with Gecko Moria in the Ringo region of Wano Country and defeated him. Though the exact details of the battle are unknown, Moria lost his entire crew and was left warped and shattered from the experience, holding a grudge against Kaido to this day. At some point around this time, Kaido had a daughter named Yamato, who told him that she wanted to be Oden, and Kaido beat her in response.
20 years ago when Oden and his nine retainers were on their way to Onigashima, Kaido and his crew confronted them in the Udon region. In the ensuing battle, Oden managed to wound Kaido. However, Kaido knocked Oden unconscious when Oden was distracted by Kurozumi Higurashi who had impersonated a kidnapped Momonosuke. Sometime after the battle, Kaido killed Higurashi for her interference.
On the day of Oden's execution, Kaido joined Orochi in witnessing the execution. Oden then made a deal with Kaido to let those who survived the execution go free and Kaido gave him an hour. Kaido was amused to watch Oden as the latter endured standing in a pot of boiling oil while holding his retainers with a board. Although Oden successfully survived one hour in the boiling pot, Kaido and Orochi decided to execute Oden and his retainers regardless. As Oden's retainers fled, Kaido apologized to him for Higurashi's interference before shooting Oden in the head.
After Oden's death, Kaido attacked and set Oden Castle ablaze before Oden's retainers returned. While threatening Momonosuke, he told the boy that his father was a foolish lord. However, Kaido decided to leave Momonosuke in the burning castle instead of killing him outright. Kaido also managed to gain possession of a Road Poneglyph, one of the four poneglyphs that when deciphered could reveal the location of Laugh Tale.
Ten years ago, the Kozuki Family's supporters gathered to stage a massive rebellion before the comeback of Oden's retainers, Kaido personally intervened and brutally massacred a majority of the rebels along with their families. At some point after taking over Wano, Kaido additionally faced the thief Shutenmaru.
About 3 to 4 years ago, Kaido and his top subordinates were away from Onigashima on an expedition. When Kaido returned, he was furious when he found his dragon statue destroyed.
Sometime within the last four years, Kaido began collaborating with Warlord of the Sea Donquixote Doflamingo and the rogue Marine scientist Caesar Clown to create an army of artificial Zoan Devil Fruit users, via SMILE.
When Whitebeard was on his way to save Ace from his execution at Marineford, Kaido tried to attack him. However, Shanks intercepted Kaido before he could reach Whitebeard. It is unknown how their encounter ended, but Shanks arrived unscathed at Marineford by the end of the war.
Kaido went up to Ballon Terminal, where he encountered Urouge, who learned of his intention to attempt suicide and allowed him to proceed. Kaido jumped off the sky island and landed 10,000 meters below on the Kid Pirates' base. However, he only received a minor headache and found himself face-to-face with the Kid, On Air, and Hawkins alliance. After cursing Whitebeard for having been able to die, Kaido yelled that Doflamingo needed to make preparations for battle before promising to start a massive war due to the world boring him.
After their encounter, Kaido badly defeated Eustass Kid and placed him in a cell, while Scratchmen Apoo and Basil Hawkins became his subordinates. After Jack's defeat, Apoo contacted Kaido in his fortress, revealing that they had lost all contact with Jack's fleet after they went to attack Zou for a second time.
After learning that Jack's attempt to rescue Doflamingo failed, Kaido was enraged at not being able to acquire any more SMILEs, which meant he could not gain any more Gifters. As he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, Kaido's despair turned to rage when his subordinates mentioned Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law, causing him to smash one out of the building with his mace. Kaido angrily stated that the two Supernovas were nowhere near him in power, pointing to the defeated Eustass Kid as an example.
As the news of Luffy's exploits at Totto Land spread across the world, Kaido read the newspaper and angrily wondered why Luffy was in Big Mom's territory. A few days later, he was contacted by Big Mom, who demanded the right to kill Luffy. He rejected her request since he wished to take care of Luffy himself, but Big Mom was unbending as she reminded him of a debt.
After getting drunk, Kaido flew to Kuri in Wano Country. On the way, he found Speed and Tama and attacked them after hearing a report of the former's treachery. He then went to Okobore Town and called out to Jack to bring Luffy and Law to him. While flying over Okobore Town, he recognized Shutenmaru and asked him to become his subordinate. Kaido was drunk and in a partial stupor, which was a sight that unnerved even the likes of Jack, a subordinate known for his own violent streaks, fearing what Kaido would do in this state. Basil Hawkins then came and told Kaido that Luffy and Law were hiding in the ruins of Oden Castle, and Kaido immediately flew toward it and shot a heat breath at it, instantly destroying it. However, he was then hit in the head by a giant punch from Luffy.
After Kaido was sent crashing into the ground, Luffy got his attention by yelling at him. Kaido attacked with a fire breath, but Luffy dodged and used Elephant Gatling. Kaido then returned to human form, and Luffy activated Gear Fourth: Boundman and assaulted Kaido with Kong Organ. Luffy's attacks were ineffective, as Kaido then struck Luffy with "Raimei Hakke", rendering him unconscious with just one hit. Kaido stood over Luffy, scoffing at the idea his opponent aspired to be Pirate King after bringing him down with such ease.
Though Luffy was unconscious, Kaido noticed that Luffy was still glaring at him. He then ordered his men to imprison Luffy, deciding to break his spirit and turn him into a subordinate. While walking away, Kaido learned that Luffy possessed Haoshoku Haki when the latter instinctively knocked out some of his men. Kaido found that attribute worth some credit but was equally quick to order Luffy locked up. Deciding to take care of Law later, Kaido departed to go drink again, annoyed that he had sobered up.
When he heard that Big Mom and her crew were attempting to enter Wano, Kaido ordered his subordinates to stop them. He then heard that King knocked the Queen Mama Chanter off the waterfall.
While Queen was at Udon, Kaido informed him through a Smart Tanishi about Komurasaki's death. Kaido then watched the broadcast of Shimotsuki Yasuie's execution.
After Big Mom was brought to Onigashima, Kaido ordered his subordinates to release her from her cuffs. The two Emperors then began to argue and clashed weapons, causing the skies above Onigashima to split in two. The two Emperors continued fighting throughout the night. Kaido and Big Mom eventually stopped their fight and came to an agreement. After speaking with Apoo about his return over Smart Tanishi, Kaido announced to his subordinates that he and Big Mom were forming a pirate alliance to take over the world, shocking many who heard the unexpected news.
As the Beasts Pirates were preparing for the upcoming feast on the day of the Fire Festival, Kaido asked for his son before he was informed of the Tobiroppo's arrival. Kaido, King, and Jack then had a meeting with the Tobiroppo. After having Bao Huang go over the day's schedule, Kaido gave the Tobiroppo the mission of finding his "son" Yamato, saying he would let them battle one of the All-Stars for their position if they succeeded.
Kaido then enjoyed the festival with Orochi and did not mind if Black Maria decided to stay. They were briefly interrupted when Kanjuro arrived with Momonosuke. Kaido told his men to stand down as Kanjuro was Orochi's ally. As Kanjuro delivered Momonosuke to Orochi, Kaido expressed his disappointment with the boy. He also learned that the plot to stop the Kozuki rebellion failed and that Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Kid, and Killer were present on the island.
He later went to the Performance Stage to announce a project dubbed "New Onigashima". He proceeded to explain his plans to find the Ancient Weapons and the One Piece and to transform Wano Country. When Orochi objected, Kaido promptly decapitated him. He further explained that he planned to move his base to the Flower Capital, turn Wano into a pirate nation, and have Yamato become shogun. He also gave Orochi's subordinates a choice to join him or die. Out of self-preservation, Orochi's subordinates submitted to Kaido. The Emperor then turned to Momonosuke and asked for his name, offering to spare him if he denied being Oden's son. After Momonosuke refused to lie, Kaido was surprised when the Scabbards arrived and attacked him.
As Kaido was pushed to the lower floor, the Scabbards managed to inflict wounds on him. While speaking to the Scabbards, Kaido attempted to discourage them by stating that their pirate allies would betray them. After hearing Luffy's declaration of war, Kaido transformed into his dragon form and flew to the roof of the Skull Dome with the Scabbards hanging onto him. On the top of the dome, Kaido commented on the Mink Tribe's ability to transform into their Sulong forms as he was joined by Jack, Nangi, and some Beasts Pirates when they prepared to fight the mink forces.
Jack suffered severe injuries from his fight with the Sulong minks, prompting Kaido to step in before Jack could be killed. The Emperor then resumed his battle with the Scabbards. Kaido tried scorching the samurai with a fire breath, but Kin'emon sliced the flames and cut Kaido's mouth. Kaido roared lightning at them, but they dodged around it and each struck him in turn. Kaido was confused on how their attacks could injure him. After Raizo reflected Kaido's Bolo Breath back at him, four of the Scabbards—Ashura, Kin'emon, Denjiro, and Inuarashi—replicated Oden's Nitoryu stance and struck Kaido's scar with the same attack that made it.
While recovering from that attack, Kaido remarked that he was reminded of Oden but the Scabbards did not have the same strength as him. Kaido then retaliated with a roar that created wind scythes, one of which sliced off Kikunojo's left arm. After Kin'emon cauterizes Kikunojo's wound, Kaido returned to human form and praised the samurai for their determination. Continuing the battle, Kaido gained the upper hand and began overwhelming the Scabbards and later incapacitated them.
Soon, Kaido used his power to lift the entire island of Onigashima above sea level and began moving it to the Flower Capital. As the island was floating to its destination, Kaido was joined by Big Mom, whom he provided fire and lightning for Prometheus and Zeus to feed on in order to recharge as Big Mom told him to leave Nico Robin alive. Kaido asked if her daughter Charlotte Pudding can read the Poneglyphs, but Big Mom decided not to wait for her power to awaken. When she asked where he planned on dropping Onigashima, Kaido told her that he would drop it on a castle in the Flower Capital that still stands as a symbol of the Kozuki. Big Mom started inquiring about the Road Poneglyph, causing Kaido to tell her that her true intentions were showing. She replied that she still considered Kaido as a little brother and reminded him that she was the one who gave him his Devil Fruit on the day Rocks fell, which she believed was Kaido's life debt to her. He brushed her off and said they could talk more about it after they find the One Piece.
Later on, Kid, Killer, Law, Zoro, and Luffy arrived on the roof. After Luffy had spoken to the wounded Kin'emon and Law had teleported the Scabbards to a safe place, Kaido attempted to attack Luffy, but Luffy dodged it and struck back with a powerful Gear Third punch that made Kaido bleed, shocking both Emperors. Though initially stunned that Luffy's attack harmed him, Kaido regained his composure and struck back with his club. Luffy managed to avoid the full brunt of the attack but was still grazed. However, Kaido was still impressed that Luffy did not go down easily. After Big Mom attempted to attack Luffy, Kaido launched another attack on the Straw Hat captain, but Law teleported Luffy to another spot. Kaido then told Big Mom to step back as he wanted to see the strength of the five members of the Worst Generation. Zoro, Killer, Luffy, Kid, and Law then unleashed their own attacks on Kaido, but the Emperor transformed into his dragon form and joined Big Mom in the sky.
Kaido used Kaifu to unleash several wind blades on the five members of the Worst Generation, but they managed to avoid the blades. Luffy got close to Kaido and struck him with Gomu Gomu no Kong Rifle, which injured him. Kid moved underneath Kaido and grabbed his head with his robot, before slamming him into the roof with Slam Gibson, which also caused him pain. Law maneuvered around Kaido with his powers and tried to attack his heart with Gamma Knife. Kaido shook them off and admitted that they had learned how tough his defense was. Killer started running along Kaido's body and used Kamaa Sonic to damage him from the inside. However, Killer got struck by Big Mom's Indra. While Killer was falling, Kaido tried to chomp on him, but Luffy kicked him away with Gomu Gomu no Rhino Schneider. Kaido prepared to use Bolo Breath on Luffy, but Zoro had Law teleport him to in front of Kaido so he could cut Kaido's flames. Zoro then attempted to attack Kaido with Enma, but Zoro missed his attack and ended up cutting off one of the horns of the Skull Dome, while Kaido tried to figure out why Oden's presence could be felt in that sword. After Big Mom used Tenman Daijizai Tenjin on the opposing pirates, Kaido hit Luffy with Bolo Breath, but to Kaido's surprise, Luffy came out unscathed, claiming that it was his guts that protected him. He then struck Kaido with Gomu Gomu no Kong Gatling.
After the pummeling he received from Luffy, Kid and Killer tried to continue on the offensive, but Kaido stopped them by creating some twisters. Luffy, who got worn out from using Gear Fourth, got caught in the wind. As Kaido chomped on Luffy, Zoro used all three of his swords and sliced through Kaido's scales. After recognizing Enma, Kaido once again launched wind blades at the five Supernovas. Enjoying the battle, Kaido later transformed into his hybrid form.
As the fight raged on, Kaido and Big Mom kept facing against the bloodied members of the Worst Generation, with him complimenting Luffy for keeping the light on his eyes. Per Big Mom's suggestion, they both attacked simultaneously with the Hakai move against the Worst Generation only for Zoro to momentarily block it, which resulted in him getting a lot of damage and a part of the Skull Dome getting destroyed. As Luffy tried to attack Kaido, they both faced off in heated battle where both tried to land a hit on the other, which would eventually result in Luffy getting knocked out again.
As Big Mom was about to fall to the sea, Kaido attacked Zoro so that Prometheus could go help her, only to be suddenly attacked on the neck with an Injection Shot from Law, with Kaido retaliating for it afterwards. Looking at Luffy, Kaido laughed at him for glaring at him for a second time while still unconscious, and then mockingly asking Zoro or Law whether he should crush Luffy's eyes, brain, or heart. Before Kaido could do anything to Luffy, Zoro attacked with Ashura Bakkei: Moja no Tawamure. Although Kaido remained standing, he received a permanent scar due to Zoro's usage of Haoshoku Haki. As he prepared to finish Zoro off, Law tried to interfere, so Kaido struck both with Raimei Hakke and was disappointed that they could have conquered the world if they had joined his crew.
Luffy stood back up and rebuffed the sentiment. After Luffy admitted to figuring out how Kaido infused Haoshuku Haki into attacks, Kaido confirmed that only a handful of people were able to do it, including him. He then prepared to strike Luffy again with his club, but Luffy blocked the attack and then struck Kaido repeatedly without making any contact, eventually knocking the Emperor down to the ground. After Kaido got back up, he told Luffy that he seemed to be enjoying this fight with him because he kept smiling when the risk kept increasing. With this, both captains resumed their fight, clashing with each other through Haoshoku Haki-infused strikes. Despite Luffy's new ability, Kaido was still able to defeat him and knock him off the roof of the castle, regretting that he was unable to give Luffy a clear, sure death as proof of victory while cryptically stating that Luffy was not Joy Boy.
Being alerted by Bao Huang about Momonosuke's current location, Kaido ordered her to announce his victory through Onigashima while he chased after Momonosuke himself through the hole Big Mom had made on his castle beforehand. Kaido eventually found Momonosuke with Kin'emon in the first floor attic and prepared an attack coated in Haoshoku Haki, striking through Kin'emon's swords as Momonosuke cried for the latter while being carried off by Shinobu. Kin'emon barely survived the attack and hopelessly attempted to buy some time, only for Kaido to impale him on the ground. Kaido then pursued Momonosuke and Shinobu to the edge of Onigashima, cornering them, but before he could kill the boy, Shinobu used her ability to escape the floating island by breaking the portion of land they were on.
Kaido then heard Yamato calling him out from the top of the Skull Dome, ready to fight him. Kaido transformed back into his dragon form and flew back to the rooftop. There, he mocked Yamato for attempting to rebel against him, insisting that she should give up and become shogun of Wano as he had planned. Yamato rebuffed Kaido's intentions once more and declared allegiance to Luffy, stating that the latter would be the one to beat him and throw the Emperor out of Wano. With that, Kaido transformed into his Human-Beast form and clashed with Yamato.
In the Legacy of Chris Thorndyke,
And he will be voiced by David Sobolov in the English dub and he is reprised by Tessho Genda in the Japanese dub.