The world of Gen Z has been influenced by the Japanese manga series and anime “One Piece,” which has become popular among the generation and a powerful cultural touchstone .
The franchise follows 17-year-old Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the straw hat pirates, as they go on an adventure to explore the grand line. His goal is to find the one piece treasure and become the king of all pirates while fighting against the corrupted world government.
The Straw Hat Jolly Roger from the show has become a symbol of resistance for Gen Z and has been hoisted during protests against corrupted governments in many countries.
The flag has been notably displayed in Indonesia, Nepal, Madagascar, the Philippines and Mexico. People carried it through city streets as they protested against the government over economic pressure, the cost of living, high unemployment rates and lack of opportunities.
In August 2025, the show’s flag became a threat to national unity, prompting the Indonesian government to label it as a symbol of treason and sedition.
The flag made a reappearance in Mexico during November 2025 as protest broke out against the government and President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Protestors erupted over cartel violence and corruption after the murder of Carlos Manzo, who declared war on the cartels at the time.
During a Gen Z march in Mérida, Yucatán, the flag was raised at the Monumento a La Patria. Additionally, a large tifo of the flag was displayed at the Plaza de la Constitución in Mexico City.
Beyond political activism, “One Piece” has also served as an emotional outlet for many Gen Z fans.
Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, the franchise began as a manga, with its first volume released on July 22, 1997. The anime adaption, produced by Toei Animation, later premiered on Oct. 20, 1999.
Prominent social media influencer and streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., better known by fans as IShowSpeed, spoke about how “One Piece” changed his life during covid.
“Back in quarantine I was like really sad and depressed bro. It was no school, but during quarantine they put ‘One Piece’ on Netflix,” Watkins said during a YouTube video with GQ Sports. “Like I always knew what ‘One Piece’ was, but I never clicked to watch cause. I thought it came out in 1999, it was old and it’s long. So I clicked the first episode and that day I watched like 40 of it, like that day. And I was just addicted to it everyday,”
