Gen Z Finds a Protest Icon in One Piece Pirate Flag
As a fire tore through Nepal’s historic Singha Durbar palace last week, demonstrators gathered outside the government complex and displayed a flag featuring a skull in a straw hat, a symbol from the Japanese manga One Piece.
The image, known as the Jolly Roger of fictional pirate captain Monkey D. Luffy, has become a recognizable emblem for fans of the series. Created by Eiichiro Oda in 1997, One Piece follows Luffy and his crew as they pursue freedom and challenge powerful authorities.
Protesters said the flag was chosen for its association with defiance. Organizer Bikhyat Khatri stated, “It symbolizes aggression and determination to push anything that comes in its way.”
He added that the use of the symbol reflected the identity of Nepal’s younger generation. “We wanted the movement to feel like a Gen Z movement, so the slogans and symbols used during the protest were linked with things that Gen Z youths could relate to.”
The Straw Hat Spring🚨‼️
— Ghetto Fights & Other Shenanigans (@GhettoAndOthers) September 12, 2025
Different nations, different people, under the same flag. A flag that symbolizes freedom & liberation. From Indonesia, Nepal, Italian Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, and today France, who knows who will raise the flag tomorrow.
Oda the creator of One Piece is… pic.twitter.com/XHLA2EiJ4w
'ONE PIECE' FLAG SEEN AT LUNETA PROTEST
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) September 21, 2025
The "One Piece" flag, which was seen in anti-corruption protests in Nepal and Indonesia, also flew in Luneta Park, Manila.
📸 https://t.co/3UWeeHiNED / Jean Mangaluz (@JPMangaluz) pic.twitter.com/ASP075q3BF
The demonstration, which called for the resignation of Nepal’s prime minister, led to two days of unrest. The adoption of the One Piece flag drew attention as a sign of how popular culture is being used in political expression.
The flag has appeared in protests across Asia, including in Indonesia and the Philippines, and has also been seen in demonstrations in Paris.
Since its debut, One Piece has become the world’s best-selling comic series by a single author, according to Guinness World Records, with more than 500 million copies printed. The series has expanded into anime, podcasts, and, most recently, a 2023 live-action adaptation on Netflix.
Manga historian Andrea Horbinski said the flag’s use in protests was not unexpected. “You can’t help but root for him,” she said, describing Luffy’s enduring appeal as a character who maintains optimism in the face of challenges.
For many of Nepal’s young protesters, the symbol of the straw-hat pirate captured both the determination and rebellious spirit they wanted to project.
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