The flag, showing a cartoon skull wearing a straw hat, taken from the hugely popular Japanese anime One Piece, has become a symbol of defiance and hope for gen Z protesters across Asia. As protesters gathered at Manila’s Luneta Park, the One Piece Jolly Roger flag could be seen fluttering above crowds. “They are enraged.”Across the region, pop culture has often been used by young protesters to signal defiance. In 2020, Thai protesters used references to Harry Potter in protests against the monarchy, which is shielded from criticism by a severe lese majesty law. The One Piece flag was used widely by protesters in Indonesia last month ahead of the country’s Independence Day on 17 August, irking officials.