The "One Piece" Flag Flies from Rooftops to Social Media Statuses

As August arrives, the pirate flag from the manga "One Piece" is flying in various regions of Indonesia. Some circles associate this with a sign of disappointment amid the perceived decline of the nation.

The flag has a black background. In the center, there is a figure of the "Jolly Roger," a skull with crossed bones behind it. The skull appears to be smiling and wearing a straw hat, characteristic of the main character from the manga "One Piece," Monkey D. Luffy, who fills the digital world.

The flags are everywhere. On rooftops, flagpoles, and even the backs of trucks. Residents' social media statuses are also bustling with "One Piece" flags.

Anchy (38), a resident of Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, for instance, also posted an image of the flag in his instant messaging status. He further shared a news post regarding a statement from a state official who considered the display of the "One Piece" flag as a provocation. However, according to this father of two, the storyline of "One Piece" is far from being provocative.

The story "One Piece" centers on World Government (WG). WG is referred to as the ruler. They also regulate the running of the government.

However, WG tends to be arbitrary. They are familiar with nepotism. Their figures do not genuinely care about the lower class. They, most of whom enjoy partying, also never want to be criticized.

Nature also suffered. A once-beautiful world is now suffering at the hands of WG. Trees are being cut down to make way for buildings.

Eventually, the WG residents became fed up. They longed for a savior. The presence of pirates became a symbol of resistance. Their primary mission was to escape the WG's grip.

"Pirates, which are usually associated with ruthless pirates, appear more pro-people issues and misery in 'One Piece.' Caring about the people's misery is also what I hope will happen now," said Anchy.

Anchy's hopes do not grow in isolation. On social media, images and videos of Jolly Roger, characterized by a straw hat, fill various timelines.

The flag is hoisted on the flagpole just below the red and white flag. There are also some that are only attached to bamboo poles. They associate the image with hopes for a better life than the current situation.

In the thesis Semiotic Analysis of One Piece Anime in Supporting Human Racial Equalitywritten by Ihsanul Busra from Suska State Islamic University Riau, “One Piece” is a Japanese manga series. ”One Piece” was born from the cool hands of Japanese manga writer and artist Eiichiro Oda.

This comic has been published in the Japanese manga magazine Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump since July 22, 1997. Until now, the story continues to evolve.

The main story revolves around the adventures of a boy named Monkey D. Luffy, who possesses the ability of an elastic body like rubber after accidentally consuming a devil fruit. He initiates the establishment of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Together with his companions, he then embarked on a journey along the Grand Line to find the greatest treasure in the world known as "One Piece" and to become the next Pirate King (Azis & Yuwita, 2023).

Luffy sails from his hometown, Foosha Village, across the dangerous ocean known as the Grand Line. There, he encounters many different and unique characters.

At the same time, he gathered a strong force, consisting of individuals with their own expertise and enthusiasm. Their opponents were evil pirates and corrupt WG.

"Luffy and his crew face many challenges, build friendships, and uncover many secrets in the world of 'One Piece.' Themes such as friendship, justice, and perseverance are central to this story," said Ihsanul.

Ihsanul concluded that this manga presents many stories that support human racial equality. There are characters such as ordinary humans, fish humans, and deer humans in this narrative.

"Many stories feature the struggles of the Straw Hat Pirates who disagree with the racial inequality between humans," he wrote.

As for the Jolly Roger, the icon has long been a trademark of pirates. Its history is believed to date back to the 17th century.

At that time, maritime transportation was becoming a trend. Many food items and valuable goods were transported to various parts of the world using large ships.

Rebecca Simon, a historian from King's College London, as quoted by ABC.net.au, said that one of the most well-known characteristics was the flags used by pirates around the Caribbean. They marked their actions with various colored flags.

When displaying a red flag, for instance, it signifies that they will not offer mercy. They will fight to the death for the spoils.

"Meanwhile, the black flag indicates that the pirates will offer a quarter of the goods. This means they are willing to negotiate with the owners of the goods," said Simon.

According to Simon, the use of the color red is what popularized the name Jolly Roger. Some experts believe that "roger" may have originated from the word "rouge," which is French for red.

"It became known as joli rouge, or beautiful red. That makes sense because at that time (the 17th century), most pirates were from France," Simon said.

However, he does not deny that there are also those who think that Jolly Roger is a term for the devil in the sea.

So why is there a skull with crossbones on the flag?

Simon said that this cannot be separated from its existence as a symbol of death in the Middle Ages.

The symbol was also frequently used in maritime logbooks, alongside the name of a deceased person.

"In its development, each pirate crew has its own flag. This corresponds to the motivation, identity, and markers of the crew," he said.

However, bearing the stigma of being brutal robbers, Simon stated that pirates have a "code of honor" when they act. Crew members, for instance, have democratic rules regarding how matters are conducted.

"Everyone must vote to make significant decisions. The pirate crew also established a council to determine the appropriate type of punishment that can be imposed. And no punishment can be carried out unless there is a unanimous vote," explained Simon.

Until finally, in the mid-1720s, many things began to change. Several factors contributed to the end of the golden age of pirates. One of them was when the Kingdom of England declared war on the pirates at sea.

Recently, real-life pirate stories continue to unfold. The most famous are the Somali pirates who have posed a threat in Africa since the outbreak of the civil war in that country in the mid-1990s. The MV Sinar Kudus, a cargo ship from Indonesia, was once caught in the whirlpool of piracy there in 2011.

Still posing a threat in the real world to this day, the name of pirates remains popular in the entertainment industry. Pirate-themed films are favored by the public.

The crimes of the Burcad Badeed, the Somali pirates' nickname, gave rise to the film Captain Philips. The story was inspired by the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama.

While Captain Phillips spreads a tale of crime, the multi-volume Pirates of the Caribbean film does the opposite. Actor Johnny Depp portrays Captain Jack Sparrow as a hilarious and resourceful character. Sparrow is loved, not feared.

Sparrow is more or less similar to Luffy. While not as cunning as Sparrow, Luffy has won many fans' affection.

Not only manga, the character Luffy is now also being adapted by Netflix for the screen. The story of the Straw Hat Pirates, who are "kind-hearted," fighting against cruel enemies is becoming increasingly popular.

Their stories are missed, not just in fairy tales, but in the real world.