ONE PIECE Analysis! – Summary of Joy Boy! Awakened user of the Nika Fruit? Is Model Encyclopedia Fantasia? Is their identity that of the family of D? Or perhaps the Giants? - Manga Analysis

In “ONE PIECE,” the most crucial character known as “Sun God・Nika” has been revealed. Meanwhile, another character receiving renewed attention alongside Sun God・Nika is “Joy Boy.” Although Joy Boy made his first appearance relatively late in the Fish-Man Island arc upon entering the New World, revelations such as his connection to Zunesha suggest that he’s quite a significant character.

Therefore, this time, let’s thoroughly examine “The Shocking Truth About Joy Boy” and refresh our memories. Is Joy Boy’s true identity finally revealed? Why did Joy Boy apologize to the Mermaid Princess? Also, did Joy Boy have a basis or model for his character?

Table of contents

Was Joy Boy a real person from the Void Century?
Was Joy Boy a member of the “family of D”?
Is Joy Boy the ancestor of “Kaidou”?
Is Joy Boy not a personal name?
“The vessel of Joy Boy” has been inherited for 800 years
1. Roger might have also been a vessel for Joy Boy
Is the model for Joy Boy found in the “Encyclopedia Fantasia”?
1. ○ What’s the relationship between Joy Boy and the black cloak?
2. Did Oda-sensei encounter Joy Boy when he was in junior high school?
Is Joy Boy’s true identity Giants?
1. Was the straw hat meant for Joy Boy’s lover, the mermaid princess?
Kozuki Toki came to meet Joy Boy, who awakens with the straw hat

Was Joy Boy a real person from the Void Century?

First, let’s refresh our memory about Joy Boy’s true identity.

Joy Boy is believed to have been a real person from the “Void Century.” Gol D. Roger‘s remarks upon reaching Laugh Tale suggest that Joy Boy wasn’t a fictional character but rather left behind something extraordinary, as he mentioned, “He left behind an unbelievable treasure,” implying that ONE PIECE itself might be what Joy Boy left behind.

Indeed, 800 years ago, Joy Boy left behind an “apology to the Mermaid Princess” on a Poneglyph. According to King Neptune, Joy Boy acknowledged in his apology that he “couldn’t keep (or rather, broke?) the promise he made to the Fish-Men of Fish-Man Island.” Although Kozuki Oden, who could read ancient script, mentioned Joy Boy’s apology, the details remain unclear.

Nevertheless, it’s been revealed that the promise Joy Boy made with the Fish-Men was related to “using the hidden giant ship Noah on Fish-Man Island for something.” Therefore, while the Fish-Men and Merfolk feel betrayed by Joy Boy, they continue to protect the giant ship Noah on Fish-Man Island even after 800 years.

Was Joy Boy a member of the “family of D”?

To revisit, the Mermaid Princess refers to the Ancient Weapons as “Poseidon.” Currently, “Princess Shirahoshi” fits this description, but the Mermaid Princess from over 800 years ago, just like Princess Shirahoshi, could communicate with the Sea Kings as an Ancient Weapon. These special Mermaids are born every few hundred years.

However, judging by Princess Shirahoshi’s actions, it appears that the Ancient Weapons, such as Poseidon, are not weapons that cause their users to die. Therefore, it’s evident that Joy Boy didn’t apologize for causing the Mermaid Princess’s death.

In conclusion, it seems likely that Joy Boy’s apology was related to “not using the Ancient Weapons” during the conflict with the celestial dragons (World Nobles). Presumably, the entities that fought against the celestial dragons 800 years ago were the “Family of D.” That era of conflict is considered the Void Century.

Hence, there’s a high possibility that Joy Boy belonged to the “Family of D.” If Joy Boy couldn’t use the Ancient Weapons, it could have been the reason for the Family of D‘s defeat and the celestial dragons’ victory. Perhaps Joy Boy was a figure close to being a leader within the Family of D?

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left his name on a Poneglyph with an apology. If discrimination and persecution arose against the Fish-Men and Merfolk due to the celestial dragons dominating the world 800 years ago, it would be natural for Joy Boy, who was a leader of the Family of D, to apologize.

Is Joy Boy the ancestor of “Kaidou”?

Next, let’s consider the hypothesis that “Joy Boy’s true identity is Kaidou.”

Kaidou of the Hundred Beasts is the governor of the Beasts Pirates and boasts top-tier strength among the Four Emperors. Especially with the Devil Fruit ability to become a “dragon” and fly through the sky while also breathing fire, he’s quite overpowered. So, can we say that Kaidou is Joy Boy?

Because Joy Boy is spelled “JOY BOY” in English. Both words are simple English words that even middle school students can understand, but “JOY” means “pleasure” or “enjoyment” in Japanese. “BOY” means “youth” or “boy” in Japanese.

In other words, “JOY・BOY” can be rephrased as “快・童 (kai・dou)” in Japanese. Given that Laugh Tale‘s meaning turned out to be a pun on “Laugh Tale,” the hypothesis that Joy Boy ≒ Kaidou doesn’t seem entirely wrong either.

However, in a conversation with the King of the Lunarians, Kaidou indirectly denies that he is Joy Boy. Although Kaidou was aware of Joy Boy’s existence, he seemed oblivious even when facing Luffy in Gear 5 state, suggesting that he only has superficial knowledge at best.

Nevertheless, the reason Kaidou referred to his daughter Yamato as a “boy” may be because he hoped she would eventually become Joy Boy.

Is Joy Boy not a personal name?

Next, let’s consider the “Terrifying True Identity of Joy Boy.” It seems that Joy Boy’s true identity was finally revealed after ONE PIECE Chapter 1043.

To cut to the chase, Joy Boy refers to the state when the “Human-Human Fruit (Model: Nika)” is awakened. It has been revealed that Luffy, instead of having the Gum-Gum Fruit typical of Paramecia types, actually possessed this Devil Fruit of the Zoan type. When it awakened, Zunesha exclaimed, “Joy Boy has returned.”

Moreover, Luffy has named the awakened state of the Nika Fruit as [Gear 5], suggesting that this state might indeed represent Joy Boy? Figures like Kaidou mentioning “becoming Joy Boy” indicate a usage akin to the nuances of “Super Saiya Man” from Dragon Ball.

In the past, Kozuki Oden also mentioned, “We must open the country before the day Joy Boy appears,” which implies they were awaiting the day the Nika Fruit, passed down through generations, would awaken.

On the other hand, the apology letter to the mermaid princess of Fish-Man Island was written under the name “Joy Boy.” If Joy Boy merely refers to the “awakened state of Nika,” it would be unnatural to inscribe it as a personal name. This aspect remains a somewhat fluid speculation.

“The vessel of Joy Boy” has been inherited for 800 years

Nevertheless, Zunesha is said to have been “an associate of Joy Boy.” Zunesha, sentenced to wander the seas for over 800 years, might have been commanded by the “previous Joy Boy (the real Joy Boy?).”

Given that the current history is dominated by the World Nobles, the previous Joy Boy might have been a loser of the era just after the Void Century. As a result, the previous Joy Boy apologized to the mermaid princess, leading to Zunesha being sentenced to walk perpetually.

However, as the Five Elders mentioned, even after 800 years, they couldn’t track down the whereabouts of Nika‘s Fruit, suggesting that the “will of Joy Boy” might be embedded within it, constantly evading capture from those seeking it. Thus, it continually moved in search of “the vessel of the next Joy Boy.”

Luffy awakening as “Joy Boy” after 800 years is precisely timed. This signifies that from the previous Joy Boy to Luffy, the essence of the Nika Fruit has been genuinely inherited. However, whether only the Family of D can transform like Joy Boy did remains uncertain.

Roger might have also been a vessel for Joy Boy

In other words, there should have been individuals referred to as “vessels for Joy Boy” regularly for the past 800 years.

Indeed, the last words uttered by Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, were “I’m not gonna die.” Additionally, expressions like “carrying on Roger‘s will” were used during the Marineford War.

Looking at it from the perspective of “inheritance,” we see many commonalities between Roger and Joy Boy. Considering that Roger had already reached Laugh Tale and obtained everything, he shouldn’t have had anything left to inherit.

Of course, despite not acquiring ONE PIECE, Roger couldn’t inherit it. So what exactly was Roger trying to inherit? It was likely the legendary Devil Fruit known as the “Human-Human Fruit (Model: Nika).”

Thus, Roger, like Luffy, was undoubtedly a “vessel for Joy Boy.” However, due to lifespan constraints, Roger ultimately couldn’t become Joy Boy, despite reaching Laugh Tale.

Is the model for Joy Boy found in the “Encyclopedia Fantasia”?

Next, let’s discuss the “model” for Joy Boy.

While one might think that Joy Boy is a creation of Oda-sensei, it seems that a certain god-like figure featured in the “Encyclopedia Fantasia,” which explores the mysterious world of imagination and fantasy, might be the original inspiration.

This book, released in 1989, covers folklore, fairies, and magic from around the world, not limited to the standard European gods like Uranus, Poseidon, and centaurs, but also includes items like flying carpets that appear in the Dragon Quest series, among other things.

The model for Joy Boy is referred to by that very name in this book.

The mythical Joy Boy is described as one of the slaves who traveled from West Africa to the Caribbean and the West Indies. Despite being a slave, he was a man with the blood of the “god of dancers.” It’s said that his desire to “raise the voices of joy” among the people materialized due to being surrounded by nothing but slaves.

○ What’s the relationship between Joy Boy and the black cloak?

Just like the Sun God Nika, the actual Joy Boy also shares the trait of having the blood of a god.

In fact, the illustration of Joy Boy featured in the “Encyclopedia Fantasia” and the silhouette of the Sun God Nika with his “right hand raised” are remarkably similar. While the Sun God Nika holds nothing in his left hand, that space overlaps with the drum part of Joy Boy.

Moreover, the mythical Joy Boy from folklore would rhythmically beat a drum, “laughing off” the flaws of humanity. Joy Boy’s music liberated people from their suffering, and those who heard it would spontaneously start dancing with smiles on their faces. Eventually, people cast off the “black mantle of despair.”

On the other hand, in ONE PIECE, just before the assault on Onigashima, Luffy inexplicably wore a “black cloak.” Personally, I initially thought the black cloak might be a foreshadowing referencing another famous anime character. However, Luffy discarded the black cloak before awakening the Nika Fruit and becoming Joy Boy.

Interestingly, Shanks, with his red hair, also consistently wore a black cloak, suggesting that he might have known the true identity of Joy Boy. Therefore, it’s almost needless to say that Shanks entrusted the Gum-Gum Fruit to Luffy with some kind of intention. Conversely, if the black cloak symbolizes people’s despair, then considering the Gum-Gum Fruit alongside it, the hypothesis suggesting that Shanks, who always wears the black cloak, might indeed be an enemy is strongly hinted at. Well, I’ll omit further analysis in this article regarding that.

Did Oda-sensei encounter Joy Boy when he was in junior high school?

Therefore, it’s quite unlikely that Oda-sensei didn’t draw inspiration from the legendary Joy Boy mentioned in the folklore of the West Indies.

In fact, the book “Encyclopedia Fantasia” is known as a masterpiece among those in the know. Considering its release in 1989, Oda-sensei would have been around 14 years old at that time. This was right in the midst of adolescence, and it’s often said that the concept of ONE PIECE was born when Oda-sensei was just a junior high school student.

So, just like other boys at the time, it’s highly probable that Oda-sensei, too, spent his days fantasizing while reading the “Encyclopedia Fantasia.” Of course, the name “Joy Boy” appeared in ONE PIECE only after the New World arc, so it’s honestly uncertain how much of the story was planned out from the beginning of ONE PIECE.

Nevertheless, it’s not difficult to imagine that Oda-sensei rediscovered the legendary Joy Boy from the “Encyclopedia Fantasia” while rereading it during the serialization of ONE PIECE. And, it’s highly likely that he thought, “This overlaps with the themes of ONE PIECE and its conclusion!”

In a way, “Joy Boy” might have been one of the origins for Oda-sensei as a manga artist.

Is Joy Boy’s true identity Giants?

Next, let’s consider the hypothesis that Joy Boy ≒ Giants.

Luffy, who has awakened the Nika Fruit, has a finishing move called “Gomu Gomu no Gigant” (Gum-Gum Giant). It’s a literal finishing move that enlarges his body to the size of Giants, overwhelming even the dragon-like Kaidou in terms of size.

As a result, some corners of the internet speculate that this move might be a manifestation of the appearance of Joy Boy from the past. In other words, the hypothesis suggests that the race of Joy Boy might be Giants.

Supporting this hypothesis is the existence of the “giant straw hat” hidden deep underground in the Holy Land Mary Geoise. Why would a straw hat other than the one owned by Luffy be highlighted? And why was the size of this straw hat seemingly as large as that of a human (assuming Imu‘s true identity isn’t that of a dwarf)?

This could very well have been the straw hat once owned by Joy Boy, who was a Giant.

However, if we assume Joy Boy was a Giant, then conversely, the size of this straw hat might seem small. Thinking about Jaguar D. Saul, a Vice-Admiral and a member of the Family of D, Giant-sized hats could fit three or four adult men.

From the perspective of “size,” it’s personally dubious whether this item truly belonged to Joy Boy.

Was the straw hat meant for Joy Boy’s lover, the mermaid princess?

Firstly, since Luffy already wears a straw hat, does it make sense for another similar straw hat for men to exist separately? If we assume it belonged to Joy Boy, then logically, it would make sense for him to pass it down to Luffy, just like the Nika Fruit.

On the other hand, the Sea Kings mentioned “when two kings meet,” referring to Joy Boy and the mermaid princess. In the present day, this likely refers to “Luffy” and “Princess Shirahoshi.” Therefore, it’s possible that the giant straw hat isolated underground in the Holy Land Mary Geoise was originally intended for the mermaid princess.

Saul’s height was 19.5 meters, while Princess Shirahoshi’s height was 11.87 meters. Considering this subtle height difference, it’s most fitting to think of the straw hat in the Holy Land Mary Geoise as being intended for the mermaid princess. If it was for women, there would likely be a reason to specifically prepare another straw hat separately.

The hypothesis of Imu‘s identity being female is also strong, but it makes sense if Imu, out of jealousy, isolated the straw hat meant for the mermaid princess, who was Joy Boy’s lover. Therefore, Imu might be continuously hiding another straw hat to ensure that “the two kings do not meet.”

Kozuki Toki came to meet Joy Boy, who awakens with the straw hat

Therefore, the conversation Kozuki Toki had with Kozuki Oden, recalling the final moments before death, seems to hold a key importance once again.

In that conversation about the Void Century, Oden asks Toki, “Toki… haven’t you come to search as well? If so, leap twenty years ahead… to fulfill your… m…,” but Toki interrupts Oden before he can finish speaking.

As Kozuki Toki already loved Oden, she prioritized “living with the present Oden” over searching for the future Joy Boy. If she were to time-slip to the future, she wouldn’t be able to return to the past and see Oden again. It was a moment where Toki was slightly angry with the insensitive Oden.

However, what’s noteworthy here is the phrase Oden couldn’t finish, which started with “m.”

In ONE PIECE, words starting with “m” undoubtedly refer to “straw hat (mugiwara boushi).” Indeed, Toki came to meet the Joy Boy, the awakener of the Nika Fruit, and at the same time, she came to meet the pirate who wears the straw hat that holds the key.

This detail is likely to tie everything together leading up to the final chapter of ONE PIECE.