From Nepal to France: because the flag of One Piece has become the symbol of the protests (and discontent) of young people

A simple drawing, the skull with straw hat taken from the manga One Piecehas gone from being an icon for fans of anime to a true emblem of youth rebellion. First sighted in Indonesia, this flag was then adopted in Nepal, Philippines and even in France, transforming itself into a global symbol of resistance against corruption, censorship and authoritarianism.

From the streets of Jakarta to the rest of the world

The first public appearance of the flag dates back to July during the events of truck drivers and students in Indonesia. Its diffusion exploded after the case of Empan Kurniawan, a 21 -year -old young motorcyclist who was killed during clashes with the police in Jakarta. From that moment, the flag of the straw hat has become synonymous with social injustice and request for freedom.

The meaning in Nepal and the Philippines

In Nepal, from 8 September, the symbol appeared in the anti-corruption events that led to violent clashes and resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The young people won the flag together with slogans like “The time is now“(“Time is now“) And “#Wakeupnepal“(“Wake up nepal“). In Philippines, he was the protagonist of a student race against corruption at the University of Quezon City, an event that collected over a thousand people.

Arrival in Europe

Even in France, during protests against President Emmanuel Macron and austerity policies, some protesters paraded with hand designed versions of the flag and wearing straw hats.

What does it mean for young people

The imagination of One Piece Thus has become a universal language of political resistance. The reason? According to young people, the protagonists of the manga – which then became a successful cardboard – rebel and struggle for freedom in a corrupt world. Just what Gen Z wants to do now.

According to experts such as Natalie Pang, professor at the University of Singapore, the strength of the flag lies in its ability to summarize complex concepts in an immediate and shareable image. No longer a skull that inspires fear, but a sign of friendship, dreams and freedom, capable of uniting young people from different countries through social media.

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