Summary
Joy Boy is a title given to the person who holds the power to liberate the world, not a specific person. Luffy is not the reincarnation of Joy Boy, but his power matches that of the ancient Joy Boy. Joy Boy’s existence amplifies the theme of will to inheritance and will likely be explored further in One Piece’s final story.
Happy Boy always one one piece most mysterious figures, and for the past 900 years, there has been little evidence that he existed. The old Joy Boy is first mentioned in One Piece chapter #628 when Nico Robin read Poneglyph Ryugu in Sea Forest. The title Joy Boy was then mentioned many times, making many people wonder who Joy Boy was. Luckily, the Wano arc revealed important information about Joy Boy’s true identity.
While reading the ancient Poneglyph Ryugu in the Sea Forest, Nico Robin pondered its meaning, noting that it could be an apology letter to the Mermaids. It was also revealed that Gol D. Roger, the former Pirate King, wished he could live in the same era as One Piece’s Joy Boy upon learning the true history of the world at Laugh Tale. Both of these pieces of information have fans theorizing that Joy Boy is a prominent figure in the chroniclesdespite the fact that confirmation of his existence was prevented by the Gorosei and the World Government.
Also worth noting is The theory is that “Joy Boy” isnot a person, but a cloak worn by anyone trying to free the world from oppression. This idea is further supported by King’s belief that Kaido could be a Joy Boy-like character, and Kaido’s loss of belief that Luffy could be Joy Boy.
Joy Boy is the mantle inherited by those with the power to liberate the world
In Wano, this theory was proven correct when Zunesha claimed that he could hear the “Liberation Drum” again, and announced that Joy Boy is back. These drums coincide with Luffy’s heartbeat and his devil fruit awakening. Additionally, the manga switches to the Gorosei’s perspective by revealing that Luffy’s Devil Fruit is not the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but is actually a mythical Zoan, Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika.
Possessed warrior Nika’s power is said to give the user’s body unparalleled freedom, limited only by their imagination. Furthermore, this description coincides with the theme of freedom throughout One Piece, as one Gorosei mentioned that by putting smiles on the faces of those around them, the Hito Hito no Mi: Model holder Nika is “the embodiment of the liberation warrior.”
All of this information comes together to reveal two very important aspects of One Piece’s lore. Firstly, Luffy is not the reincarnation of Joy Boy which it seems “Joy Boy” actually is is just a title given to anyone who holds the power to liberate the world. Second, the Joy Boy of the past actually had the power of Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika, because Zunesha, a centuries-old being linked this Devil Fruit Awakening to the presence of his lost comrade long ago.
The reveal of who Joy Boy is is one that fits perfectly with the story already in One Piece. Although some fans were worried that Luffy would be the reincarnation of Joyboy, that is not the case. The use of the existence of ancient Joy Boy is only for the purpose Amplifies the themes of will inheritance, because more than 900 years later, his will is still conveyed through Luffy and the Hito Hito no Mi itself. In its final Saga, A piece will likely reveal more about antiquity Joy Boy’s his past and his connection to the World Government that has hunted his Devil Fruit for centuries.
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