Yes, Zoro is a Guy Character in One Piece

To answer the question outright – Roronoa Zoro, the gruff swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, is very clearly written and presented as a male character within the story and world of One Piece. As one of the most popular anime/manga series out there right now, fans have gotten to know Zoro extremely well over 1000+ chapters and episodes. And creator Eiichiro Oda has reinforced Zoro‘s identity as a guy over and over through his visual design, personality, fighting style and relationships.

Analyzing Zoro‘s Distinctly Masculine Characterization

As one of the "Monster Trio" pillars of strength among the core Straw Hats crew, Zoro has repeatedly proven himself a highly skilled, dangerous and determined fighter. His strict training regimens, incredible tolerance for pain, Herculean strength and daring courage in the face of deathly peril reinforce the popular shonen themes of continuously self-improving masculinity. Compared to similar popular shonen protagonists like Vegeta, Kenpachi Zaraki or Sasuke Uchiha, Zoro checks most if not all the typical boxes.

And unlike some anime tropes featuring effeminate or gender fluid male characters, Zoro‘s visual look signals rugged manliness:

• Tall, extremely muscular frame at over 6 feet tall
• Broad shoulders and slim hips create the classic ‘V‘ masculine shape
• Deep setoff by his gruff, low voice in the anime
• Stern, stoic facial expressions indicative of a seasoned fighter
• Signature scar across his chest he got from losing to Kuina as a kid

Beyond just looks, Zoro‘s aggressive swordsmanship mirrors the intensity in his personality – relentlessly attacking with accuracy and precision through Santoryu.

As a bounty hunter operating within a largely lawless world, adhering to traditional codes of honor or gentlemanly behavior gets cast aside as an unnecessary distraction for Zoro.

While still caring deeply about his crewmates and captain Luffy, outward displays of softer emotions like warmth or vulnerability very rarely breach his stony exterior. Zoro maintains his distance from female characters, avoiding the romantic entanglements or chivalric tropes that other popular shonen protagonists fall into.

But over 1000 manga chapters and episodes, Zoro undergoes noticeable growth by learning to respect opponents more deeply through their skill rather than their outward identity. His treatment of Tashigi, in particular, charts an interesting insight into the subtle evolution of Zoro‘s personal codes of honor and strength.

Analyzing Zoro‘s Treatment of Female Swordmaster Tashigi

His initial dismissal of Tashigi solely due to her gender represented a flawed, overly proud perspective on what "strong" meant in Zoro‘s mind. Though still not defeated by her in combat, witnessing Tashigi‘s continued tenacity and skill with the sword forced Zoro to re-evaluate gender-based assumptions:

"Courage and determination are not defined by one‘s gender."

Their rivalry will likely continue driving them both to greater heights as they strive to become the world‘s strongest swordsman and woman respectively. Though some fans interpret this subtle dynamic shift as a budding romantic interest, Oda staying consistent with Zoro‘s characterization means he likely continues seeing Tashigi as more a respected rival rather than potential love interest at this stage of the story.

Zoro‘s Relationships Show No Indication of Gender Fluidity

As analyzed above, Zoro upholds traditional codes of masculine strength, honor and personal duty that guide his motivations and relationships. While clearly caring about his friends and female crewmates like Nami, Robin and Hiyori, he never acts flirtatious or intimate sexually with them.

Brief moments where he reverts to his child self or participates in humiliation humor feature comedic situations at his expense rather than any exploration of gender fluidity. At most, Zoro‘s encounters with male transvestite characters like Bon Clay or Izou are played for laughs rather than insightful social commentary.

And the continued absence of any female love interests for Zoro further reinforces his aloof personality upholding his warrior codes of conduct. Fans theorize potential future romantic arcs with Tashigi or perhaps even former princess Hiyori of Wano country.

But staying true to over twenty years of characterization, Zoro currently stays fully focused on pursuing his goal of becoming the greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk. Any shallow fanservice-focused diversions would feel out-of-place for the stoic Bushido.

Conclusion: Zoro Securely Anchored as a Guy Through Story and Fandom

Across 1000+ manga chapters and episodes now adapted, Eiichiro Oda clearly writes and draws Zoro as a distinctly masculine male character through his backstory, visual design, fighting skills and interpersonal relationships.

While allowing glimpses of subtle depth beneath his stony exterior, Zoro very rarely deviates from the codes of warrior conduct central to his motivations. And his continued dismissiveness towards romantic entanglements or female fanservice further cements Zoro‘s identity as a guy.

So while a small minority of fans may envision "what if" scenarios with his gender, sexuality or pairings – canon One Piece storytelling depicts Zoro as fundamentally a highly skilled, fiercely loyal but emotionally repressed male swordsman through and through.