Joy Boy is a mystery character that existed during the Void Century in One Piece. He was initially referenced in the “Fish-Man Island Arc,” and his legacy continues to this day. Here’s what we know thus far about him.
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Shanks, Mihawk, Im, and a slew of other strange characters are introduced in One Piece. Despite this, no other character in the series is as intriguing as Joy Boy.
Joy Boy’s popularity has skyrocketed after the anime revealed Luffy’s true abilities. However, the mystery around him grew just as large.
The series frequently hints about his existence, first referenced in the “Fish-Man Island Arc,” but they’re too subtle to find out the truth from 800 years ago.
Joy Boy is a title in One Piece and not a name
Joy Boy has always been thought to be an individual. Roger voiced his desire to be in the same era as Joy Boy during his visit to Laughtale. However, it is unclear whether the ‘period’ Roger mentioned is in the past or in the future.
Furthermore, Zunesha detected Luffy’s demon fruit awakening and claimed Joy Boy’s return. This meant that as soon as Luffy understood his true abilities, he transformed into Joy Boy. Amatsuki Toki, Kozuki Oden’s wife, traveled from the Void Century to meet the second Joy Boy.
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The comrades of the first Joy Boy
The Mermaid Princess of the Void Century and Zunesha are the only persons related with Joy Boy. Poseidon, one of the ancient weapons, is the power inherited by the Mermaid Princess during a time when the world was about to change dramatically.
While Luffy has a close relationship with the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, the first Joy Boy has the same bond as a Joy Boy from his era. The relationship between Zunesha and Luffy’s predecessor, on the other hand, is much more enigmatic. Momonosuke revealed that Zunesha and Joy Boy were friends, but the rest was forgotten.
It’s also possible that Zunesha committed a crime for the sake of his buddy and was punished for it. Even millennia after his comrade’s death, Zunesha recalls him and rejoices at his reappearance via Luffy.
The real-life inspiration behind Joy Boy from One Piece
Eiichiro Oda is well-known for incorporating real-life ideas into the universe of One Piece. He is inspired by real-life locations, renowned people, many religions and mythology, and even literary works.
Michael Page and Robert Ingpen’s “Encylopedia of Things That Never Were” mentions Joy Boy. Joyboy, a figure from Caribbean folklore associated with humans’ need to dance, sing, and revel, is described in the book, which was published in 1985.
He was sent to the Caribbean islands with West African slaves. He grinned at all the world’s worries and used his drum to heal humanity’s maladies. His song and dance are considered to lift the gloomy curtain of melancholy.
After unleashing his powers, Luffy’s heartbeat took on the sound of the “Drums of Liberation” in the series. Gorosei further stated that the person who wields this power will gain immense strength as the “warrior of liberation” and will fight with a smile on his face.
The message left behind by Joy Boy to foretell his return
Joy Boy was first mentioned in One Piece when Robin read the Poneglyph on Fish-Man Island. It was a letter he sent to express his regret for failing to fulfill his commitment to the Mermaid Princess. He also stated a wish to carry that pledge forward and fulfill it someday.
The future he mentioned is the current age, in which Luffy would fulfill his pledge. People from the Void Century were aware of Joy Boy’s reappearance over 800 years in the future for unknown reasons.
The One Piece treasure is related to Joy Boy
The enigmatic “One Piece” treasure is claimed to contain everything the Earth has to offer. The world assumes it is Roger’s treasure, but this is not the case.
The first Joy Boy visited an unknown island named “Laughtale” by Roger at some time in his life. Joy Boy left a treasure on that island that would become renowned around the world as One Piece.
