Sept. 9, 2025: Social media is flooded with information about the protests in Nepal, but one photo stands out. The Nepalese capital is burning, and there’s a person with two flags in front of the building: one flag being the flag of Nepal, and the other being the Strawhat’s Jolly Roger from a popular manga/anime about pirates, “One Piece.”

Following their civil war (1996-2006), the monarchical system that had governed Nepal for 240 years came to an end. Since the very beginning of the new federal republic (2008-present), there’ve been many underlying problems, such as economic issues, social injustice, and an increasing gap among social classes. Furthermore, there have been many cases where government officials weren’t held accountable for crimes or their children receiving special treatment. This upset citizens, particularly Gen-Z, as many were grappling with economic hardship. These problems had been bubbling under the surface, waiting to overflow and cause a wave of activism. In early September, the government banned several social media platforms to muffle the criticism, acting as the final straw, leading to the Strawhat mentality.

In “One Piece,” the main pirate crew fights against a corrupt and elitist world government that prevents people from achieving freedom. The Strawhat’s flag, a symbol of peace and strength, has been used alongside the slogan, “Your luxury our misery!” The calls for justice in Nepal eventually built up to the burning of the capital, at least 72 deaths, over 2,100 injured, and furthermore the resignation of former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli. As of now, Shushila Karki (former Chief Justice) has been sworn into power temporarily, but Gen-Z protesters still persist with demands for responsibility and applying anti-corruption measures to the government. The flag is also used in other Asian countries, such as the Philippines and Indonesia. This shows the significance of storytelling in our world.