How an anime pirate flag became a protest symbol - What in the World podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts

• One Piece: A long-running Japanese manga and anime series about pirates seeking treasure, known for its exploration of themes beyond adventure.
• Jolly Roger: The pirate flag, specifically Luffy's flag in One Piece, which has become a symbol of protest.
• Head Fake: A narrative technique where a story appears to be about one thing but subtly teaches about another.
• World Government (One Piece): A fictional governing body in the series that, despite its intended purpose, is depicted as corrupt and oppressive.
• Celestial Dragons (One Piece): An elite, almost god-like political and economic class within the World Government.
• Gen Z: The demographic group (roughly ages 13-28) that is prominently using the One Piece symbol in protests.
• Leaderless Protests: Modern protest movements characterized by horizontal organization and a lack of central hierarchy, often leveraging digital spaces.
• Weapon of the Weak: The use of seemingly innocuous or cute symbols and cultural references to express dissent and critique governments indirectly, thereby avoiding direct confrontation and potential harm.
• Meme Culture/Emojis: Digital tools and symbols used for communication, often employed to evade censorship and share political messages.

The One Piece Flag as a Global Protest Symbol

This summary details how the cartoon pirate flag from the popular Japanese manga and anime series One Piece has become a significant symbol for protest movements, particularly among Gen Z, across the globe. The series' underlying themes of freedom, justice, and critique of corrupt power structures resonate deeply with young people facing similar issues in their own societies.

Political Themes and Symbols in One Piece

Journalist LaNeysha Campbell explains that One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, began in 1997 and has spanned over two decades. While ostensibly a story about a young boy named Luffy who dreams of becoming the Pirate King by finding the legendary treasure "One Piece," the series delves into complex political and social issues. Campbell describes this as a "head fake," where the audience is drawn in by the adventure but simultaneously exposed to deeper critiques.

Key themes explored include:

• Slavery and Oppression: The series depicts the slave trade, highlighting its heinous nature even when technically legal within the fictional world. Luffy's strong opposition to any form of shackling or oppression of freedom is a central tenet.
• Government Corruption: The "World Government" in One Piece is portrayed as a system above the law, secretly run by a shadowy group known as the "Five Elders." This structure is depicted as built on corruption, mirroring real-world concerns about unchecked power.
• Exploitation and Supremacy: The narrative also touches upon environmentalism, exploitation, and the dangers of supremacy, where one group believes it should rule over others. These themes are presented in a way that is understandable to both children and adults.

Campbell emphasizes that the One Piece Jolly Roger, Luffy's personal flag, is more than just an identifier for his pirate crew. It evolves to represent protection and, crucially, freedom and the pursuit of dreams. Its simplicity and resonance make it a powerful symbol.

Case Studies of Protest Movements

The summary highlights specific instances where the One Piece flag has been adopted by protest movements:

• Madagascar: Young people in Madagascar began protesting government failures in providing basic necessities like clean water and electricity. The movement evolved into a broader fight against a system that exploits the country's resources for the benefit of a small elite, drawing parallels to the Celestial Dragons and the corrupt World Government in One Piece. Mika, a protester, states, "When you raise Luffy's flag, we're not just waving an anonymous symbol. We're declaring that fight for justice, for truth, for a better life belongs to everyone, to every Malagasy people."
• Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines): BBC journalist Panisa Aemocha discusses the use of One Piece symbols in these countries.
  • Indonesia: The flag appeared during protests against a political scandal.
  • Nepal: Similar usage arose due to youth frustration with government social media bans and elitism.
  • Philippines: The flag was used in protests concerning corruption related to financial aid for flood victims. Aemocha notes that these youth-led, Gen Z movements share common themes and the use of the One Piece flag.

The "Weapon of the Weak" and Digital Protest

Aemocha explains that these protests are often "leaderless" and horizontally organized, leveraging digital spaces. This approach is a strategic response to authoritarian regimes. The One Piece symbol, along with other cute or non-threatening figures like Pikachu (used in Chile and Thailand) and Pepe the Frog (used in Hong Kong), serves as a "weapon of the weak."

This strategy allows protesters to:

• Avoid Direct Criticism: By using indirect symbols, they can critique governments without immediately facing severe repercussions from military or police forces.
• Evade Censorship: Meme culture, emojis, and pop culture references are effective tools for circumventing censorship and disseminating political messages.
• Gain International Support: These digital symbols help Gen Z connect with audiences outside their countries, seeking external support and awareness.

Historical Precedent of Pop Culture in Protest

The summary acknowledges that the use of popular culture in protests is not new. Panisa Aemocha mentions historical examples:

• The Hunger Games Salute: Banned by the Thai government, this salute was used in protests in Thailand and later in Myanmar against the military coup.
• Other Manga: Series like Attack on Titan and Naruto have also been used by demonstrators to symbolize resistance against oppressive regimes.
• The Handmaid's Tale: The imagery from this series was adopted by women protesting for reproductive rights.

However, the particular resonance of One Piece with Gen Z is attributed to its explicit themes of fighting for freedom and the ability of its symbols to act as a "weapon of the weak" in the digital age, allowing for criticism while mitigating immediate danger.

Conclusion

The One Piece flag, with its origins in a beloved manga series, has transcended its fictional context to become a potent and globally recognized symbol of resistance. Its adoption by Gen Z protesters highlights the power of popular culture to articulate dissent, critique corruption, and advocate for justice, particularly in environments where direct political expression is perilous. The series' underlying messages of freedom and its nuanced exploration of power structures provide a fertile ground for these modern movements to express their aspirations and challenge oppressive systems.