Indonesians fly anime pirate flag in Independence Day protest
Indonesia prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day, a new symbol of resistance has emerged – not from the pages of history, but from the world of Japanese anime.
Advertisement
Traditionally, the nation's red-and-white flag adorns homes, vehicles and public spaces in the lead-up to the national holiday.
But this year, many Indonesians have chosen to raise The Jolly Roger pirate flag from the Japanese anime series One Piece in an act of defiance.
The fictional skull-and-crossbones, topped with main character Monkey D. Luffy's signature straw hat, now decorates everything from doorways to flagpoles across the archipelago, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper, in a phenomenon that has unsettled government officials ahead of the country's most important civic celebration.
A man in Indonesia holds a One Piece flag with an active volcano in the background. Photo: Facebook
On social media, some Indonesians decided to explain the trend. 'The red-and-white flag is too sacred for us to raise right now, at a time when many people are still colonised by those in power,' one user posted on Thursday, calling the One Piece flag 'the spirit of resistance against injustice' that persists in the country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Indonesians fly anime pirate flag in Independence Day protest
As Indonesia prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day, a new symbol of resistance has emerged – not from the pages of history, but from the world of Japanese anime. Advertisement Traditionally, the nation's red-and-white flag adorns homes, vehicles and public spaces in the lead-up to the national holiday. But this year, many Indonesians have chosen to raise The Jolly Roger pirate flag from the Japanese anime series One Piece in an act of defiance. The fictional skull-and-crossbones, topped with main character Monkey D. Luffy's signature straw hat, now decorates everything from doorways to flagpoles across the archipelago, according to the Jakarta Post newspaper, in a phenomenon that has unsettled government officials ahead of the country's most important civic celebration. A man in Indonesia holds a One Piece flag with an active volcano in the background. Photo: Facebook On social media, some Indonesians decided to explain the trend. 'The red-and-white flag is too sacred for us to raise right now, at a time when many people are still colonised by those in power,' one user posted on Thursday, calling the One Piece flag 'the spirit of resistance against injustice' that persists in the country.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Indonesian private island popular with Singaporeans offers idyllic setting for artists
When strolling through a beach resort, it is not often that you pass a sculptor chiselling driftwood or catch sight of a textile artist steeping fabric in a vat of dye. But such scenes are a daily occurrence on Nikoi Island in Indonesia. The private island resort about 50 miles (80km) away from Singapore in the Riau Archipelago not only welcomes tourists but also hosts Southeast Asian artists through its year-round Ubah Rumah Residency programme. 'There is an element of surprise when guests see someone who doesn't look like staff at work in the rumah [studio home],' says Ernest Goh, a Singaporean artist and co-artistic director of the programme. 'A lot of people stop in their tracks to watch.' A boat sculpture on Nikoi Island inspired by Southeast Asia's indigenous Orang Laut seafaring communities. Photo: Ubah Rumah Residency A popular weekend destination for Singapore residents, Nikoi is the epitome of barefoot luxury. The 15-hectare (37-acre) island, with its white sand and turquoise waters, has just 18 villas strung along its shoreline.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
5 of Jakarta's best tasting-menu-only restaurants as the city's dining scene transforms
On June 26, British chef Kirk Westaway – best known for his modern British cuisine at two-Michelin-star Jaan in Singapore – will open The Crown by Kirk Westaway at the Fairmont Jakarta hotel in the Indonesian capital. With sweeping views of the city skyline, the tasting-menu-only restaurant on the 22nd floor will mark his second venture outside Singapore after opening The Albion by Kirk Westaway in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024 It signals a growing appetite for refined, chef-led dining in the Indonesian metropolis. 'Jakarta's dining scene is evolving fast – there is so much energy, and the city is full of food lovers who are genuinely keen to explore new experiences,' says Westaway. 'For me, it felt like the right time to bring something different to the table. 'With a growing audience of well-travelled, food-savvy diners, this seems like the perfect moment to be part of the city's culinary momentum,' he adds. In recent years, Jakarta's dining scene has undergone a transformation. What was once a landscape dominated by traditional Indonesian eateries has seen casual restaurants and international hotel dining evolve into a vibrant mix of independent concepts pushing boundaries in flavour and presentation.
