In 2025, Gen Z protests erupted around the world. From Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines in Asia, to Peru across the Pacific, and Madagascar in Africa. These young people, growing up in different languages and cultures, took to the streets carrying the same flag—the flag of the Japanese manga *One Piece*.
What exactly does this pirate flag symbolize? What connection does it have with Gen Z? Why did these young people with different demands all choose the same symbol?
Nurianti Jalli, an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, said that the story background of *One Piece* is what makes this flag a symbol of global resistance.
"It's not a political flag, which is why it's inclusive. Whenever you see people in other countries waving the same flag, it's like seeing a connection to yourself in them; everyone is united in the pursuit of the same justice."
For nearly 20 years, global protests have frequently featured symbols from film and television pop culture, from the Joker in *Batman* to the Guy Fawkes mask in *V for Vendetta*. A new generation seems to be using pop culture to change the way political expression is expressed.
Further Reading
Assistant Professor Nurianti Jalli points out that popular culture symbols are reshaping patterns of protest. She says that popular culture is no longer merely reflecting society; it is actively influencing political activism.
She also notes that if governments or countries take strong measures to suppress popular culture symbols, it will be detrimental to the country's image on the international stage.
