Higuma was a bandit and the leader of the Higuma Bandits (ヒグマ山賊団,Higuma Sanzoku-dan?), active in the mountains of Dawn Island.[2] He was the first antagonist to be introduced in the series, and the first of three in the Romance Dawn Arc (third of three in the anime).[1][6]
Higuma was a tall, well-tanned man with black hair, a black goatee, and an X-shaped scar above his right eye. He wore a long red coat over a white shirt, black trousers, and a golden necklace.[1]
Higuma was an arrogant, brutish man, always ready to boast about himself and brutalize the weak, including children.[5][7] Having lived inland for all his life, he developed a particularly low opinion of pirates upon meeting the Red Hair Pirates, deeming them all "cowards" when their captain refused to be baited into a fight.[8]
Like most brutes, he had little courage of his own, and reacted poorly to genuine danger. When the Red Hair Pirates seriously fought—and effortlessly crushed—his henchmen, and again when the Lord of the Coast attacked him, he could only panic and scramble for his own life.[9][10]
Abilities and Powers
Higuma was the leader of his own bandit gang, and powerful enough to have earned a bounty of 8,000,000 (notably higher than the average East Blue bounty of 3,000,000). By his own account, he had killed fifty-six people.[5] Nevertheless, a mere fraction of the Red Hair Pirates' power was enough to intimidate him into running.
He also possessed some cunning, keeping a smoke-bomb ready for emergency escapes and reasoning that nobody would anticipate a mountain bandit like himself hiding out at sea.[9][11] However, he was notably ignorant about the sea itself—in particular the vicious Sea King that dwelled near Foosha Village, which ultimately cost him his life.[10]
Weapons
He carried a sword with him, though he demonstrated no actual skill as a swordsman, merely using his blade for threats.[1][7]
History
Past
At some point in his life Higuma became a notoriously violent mountain bandit, heading a sizable gang, (allegedly) killing 56 people, and earning a bounty of 8,000,000.[5]
East Blue Saga
Romance Dawn Arc
One day, Higuma led his gang to Foosha Village in search of liquor, and at Partys Bar encountered the Red Hair Pirates partying with a seven-year-old Monkey D. Luffy. Having never met pirates before, he was unimpressed by their captainShanks, and grew annoyed when Makino admitted they had drank the bar's entire stock. When Shanks offered up a remaining bottle, Higuma angrily smashed it and began boasting of his bounty and reputation; seeing Shanks ignore these threats and trying to clean the mess, Higuma dashed an entire shelf's contents onto him, scorned the pirates as cowards, and left for a neighboring village.[12]
Some days later, after the Red Hair Pirates had set out to sea, the Higuma Bandits returned to Partys Bar. [13] As they indulged themselves, Higuma began loudly insulting the absent pirates. Overhearing them, Luffy grew outraged on Shanks' behalf and impulsively attacked the bandits.[14] Annoyed, the gang dragged Luffy outside for a beating; on realizing his rubber physique, Higuma casually proposed selling the boy to a circus.
While Luffy remained defiant, a horrified Makino summoned the village mayor, who begged Higuma to spare Luffy and offered ransom. Amused, Higuma maintained that he would never tolerate insults from any weakling. When Luffy shouted further insults, Higuma prepared to kill him on the spot, only to be interrupted by the returning Red Hair Pirates.[15]
As before, Higuma dismissed the pirates as any threat, even after Lucky Roux effortlessly killed one of his own men. Hearing Shanks declare he would never forgive any threat to a friend, Higuma smugly ordered his gang to attack, only for Benn Beckman to defeat them all singlehandedly. At last realizing he was outmatched, Higuma desperately tried to justify himself to the pirates, then set off a smoke bomb and escaped with Luffy as a hostage.
Expecting everyone to search for him on land, Higuma set sail on a small dinghy. Once confident that he was safe from pursuit, Higuma kicked Luffy overboard, watching with sadistic glee as Luffy struggled to swim. However, the commotion attracted Foosha Village's local sea monster, who gave Higuma just enough time to scream in terror before devouring him whole,[16] leading to his death.[2]
Legacy
Although Higuma was a weakling who met his well-deserved fate, his final actions ultimately caused Shanks to sacrifice one of his arms in order to save Luffy's life, though it hadn't weakened him in the slightest. The event also led to Luffy dedicating himself to becoming the next Pirate King, leading him to becoming one of the most well-known pirates in the world.
In the live-action series, Higuma does not show his wanted poster or boast about the number of people he has killed.[17] He also does not use a smoke bomb to escape from the Red Hair Pirates, instead simply escaping during their battle against his subordinates.[18]
Translation and Dub Issues
His name is the same as the name of brown bears in Japanese. It is generally understood that the VIZ translation implemented his English epithet "The Bear" to retain the character's original name while also informing the English-speaking audience of its meaning.
In contrast, the live-action series does not reveal his bounty at all, despite revealing the bounties of nearly every major pirate during their introductions.[17]
He was also the first bandit (and by extension, first non-pirate outlaw) to appear in the series.[1]
Higuma shares some similarities with Agotogi: both are bandits and both served as the main villain of another character's childhood flashback (Luffy and Vivi respectively).
↑One Piece Anime — Episode 4, Higuma is the third antagonist in the anime.
↑ 7.07.1One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 29) and Episode 4, Higuma prepares to kill Luffy, a child, after being insulted by him.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 34) and Episode 4, Higuma dismisses pirates as cowards who float around on ships all day long.
↑ 9.09.1One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 37) and Episode 4, Higuma flees with the aid of a smoke bomb upon realizing the strength of the Red Hair Pirates.
↑ 10.010.1One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 40) and Episode 4, Higuma has just enough time to scream in terror before the Lord of the Coast eats him alive.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 38) and Episode 4, Higuma escapes into the ocean on a boat.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 13-18) and Episode 4, Higuma enters the Partys Bar and disrespects Shanks.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 23-24) and Episode 4, Higuma comes back to Partys Bar.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 39) and Episode 4, Higuma insults Shanks in front of Luffy.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 25-29) and Episode 4, Higuma kidnaps Luffy and attempts to kill him for insulting him.
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1Chapter 1 (p. 30-40) and Episode 4, Higuma escapes from the village and is killed by the Lord of the Coast.
8,000,000 (notably higher than the average East Blue bounty of 
