Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

I was watching NHK just now when something unexpected came on the screen — a group of young Indonesians waving a pirate flag. Not the kind you’d see in old history books, but one that looked strangely familiar: a skull wearing a straw hat.

It took me a moment to realize — that’s the One Piece flag.

At first, I smiled, thinking it was some kind of fan gathering. But it wasn’t. It was a protest.

I’ve heard of One Piece, of course. Who hasn’t? But I never really watched it. I’m more of the Saint Seiya and Hokuto No Ken generation — the classic Gen X lineup that grew up on honor, cosmic battles, and men shouting their destiny into the wind. Back then, anime heroes fought for justice with fists of fire and hearts of steel.

So when I saw this new generation rallying behind a straw-hat pirate flag, I couldn’t help but feel both amused and deeply curious.

In One Piece, the Straw Hat Pirates are a crew of dreamers. Their captain, Monkey D. Luffy, isn’t after power — he’s chasing freedom. He sails the seas to live on his own terms, loyal to his friends and fearless before authority. In that world, pirates aren’t villains; they’re symbols of independence and courage.

Their Jolly Roger — a smiling skull under a straw hat — represents rebellion with heart.

And somehow, that same spirit has crossed from anime into reality.

In Indonesia, young protesters have begun waving the Straw Hat flag during demonstrations against government policies and corruption. They’ve taken a piece of pop culture and turned it into a statement — one that says we’re tired of being silenced, but we still believe in hope.

It’s fascinating how this fictional flag, once just part of a manga, has become a real-world emblem for a generation finding its voice. Similar flags have appeared in other parts of Asia too, including Thailand — a shared symbol of youthful defiance and imagination.

This is something unique about Gen Z. They don’t just consume pop culture — they reshape it. They mix memes with meaning, laughter with protest, fiction with real-life frustration. Their rebellion isn’t about shouting louder; it’s about speaking a new language, one that blends creativity and courage.

To me, that’s beautiful. Because it shows that imagination is still one of the most powerful tools for change.

Watching that report made me realize how every generation finds its own way to express resistance. For us Gen X kids, it was anime heroes fighting cosmic battles. For them, it’s a pirate flag from an anime that reminds them — and maybe all of us — that freedom isn’t something you’re given. It’s something you decide to live.