The One Piece pirate flag has turned up at gatherings of young people in a number of Southeast Asian cities. The skull in a straw hat serves in the manga as the emblem of a crew that stands against unjust power.

Participants often belong to no party or organization, sharing times and places through social media hashtags. Demands vary by country, mixing prices and unemployment with the quality of public services and corruption.

Why a cartoon symbol

Existing symbols carry political baggage that makes people hesitate. A manga flag conveys 'against injustice' instantly without tying anyone to a faction — and the same image travels across borders, which helps it spread.

East Asia has seen comparable cases: umbrellas, particular colors, concert light sticks — objects with no political origin that became protest markers. What they share is a low barrier to entry and easy replication online.

The problem of staying power

Loose ties gather people fast but show their limits when demands must become policy. Without representatives there is no obvious channel for negotiation, and momentum drops sharply once attention moves on.

Governments in the region have responded differently — some opening dialogue, others tightening rules on assembly. Whether this energy finds its way into institutions, regional researchers generally say, depends on the next few months.