How Joy Boy’s Legacy is Shaping the Final Saga of One Piece

The Echo of Joy Boy Across Time

If you’ve spent any amount of time diving deep into One Piece lore (or binging YouTube theory videos at 2 AM — no judgment), you’ve undoubtedly heard the name Joy Boy. A figure shrouded in mystery, teased for over a decade, and somehow central to a tale spanning pirates, ancient kingdoms, and world-dominating empires.

Since his first mention during the Fishman Island Arc, Joy Boy has fascinated fans and theorists alike. Who was he? What was his promise? And why does it matter in One Piece’s final saga? With the manga hurtling towards its long-awaited climax, the answers are finally bubbling to the surface — and trust me, it’s worth the wait.

In this post, we’ll unravel Joy Boy’s myth, connect the dots between the Void Century, Ancient Weapons, and Luffy’s awakening, and explain exactly how this enigmatic figure is shaping the final saga. It’s time to get your tinfoil hats on and your Poneglyph translations ready — because here’s the One Piece timeline explained through the legacy of Joy Boy.

The Myth of Joy Boy

When Joy Boy was first name-dropped by Nico Robin while reading a Poneglyph on Fishman Island, it sent shockwaves through the fandom. This was no ordinary historical footnote. The Poneglyph contained an ancient apology — Joy Boy’s — for breaking a promise to the people of Fishman Island.

But what was that promise?
To return someday and bring the island to the surface world. A dream mirroring the desires of the late Queen Otohime.

This small, almost throwaway moment cracked open a bigger door. Joy Boy was a key figure during the Void Century — a period deliberately erased from history by the World Government. Slowly, Eiichiro Oda has scattered Joy Boy’s mythos throughout the story:

• The Poneglyphs mention him.
• Zunesha, the ancient elephant carrying Zou, once served him.
• The Ancient Weapons (Poseidon, Pluton, and Uranus) tie back to his era.

Fan theories over the years speculated wildly:

• Was Joy Boy the first D.?
• Did he build the One Piece?
• Is he the original wielder of the Nika power?

As we inch closer to the finale, it’s clear Joy Boy wasn’t just a pirate — he was a liberator, a symbol of freedom, and the harbinger of the long-awaited “Dawn of the World.”

The Void Century, Ancient Weapons & Joy Boy

To understand Joy Boy’s significance, you need to grasp the Void Century — a mysterious, erased 100-year period. According to Professor Clover of Ohara (Chapter 395), a powerful Ancient Kingdom once stood against what would become the World Government. That kingdom was annihilated, and history was suppressed.

Joy Boy existed in that time, likely as a key figure in that kingdom. His promise to Fishman Island wasn’t random — it was part of a larger, idealistic dream of unity and freedom.

And then there are the Ancient Weapons:

• Poseidon: The ability to command Sea Kings (currently possessed by Shirahoshi).
• Pluton: A battleship capable of mass destruction, rumored to be hidden in Wano.
• Uranus: Still shrouded in mystery.

Joy Boy’s connection to these weapons is crucial. The promise to Fishman Island and the dawn of a new world would only be possible with the power to challenge the oppressive world order. These weapons weren’t tools of destruction — they were instruments of liberation.

In the final saga, we’re seeing these threads connect:

• Wano’s closed borders were meant to await Joy Boy’s return.
• Zunesha’s arrival heralds the new Joy Boy.
• Im-sama’s appearance threatens everything Joy Boy once stood for.

Luffy’s Awakening and the New Joy Boy

Enter Monkey D. Luffy, our rubber-powered, meat-loving, freedom-seeking captain. In the Wano Country Arc, Luffy’s battle against Kaido didn’t just push his limits — it unlocked his Gear 5 form, the awakening of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

Wait — Nika?
Yes. Nika, the Sun God, was a legendary figure worshipped by enslaved people as a liberator who brought smiles and freedom. Sound familiar? That’s because this mythical figure is connected to Joy Boy.

When Zunesha sensed Luffy’s awakening, it declared:
"Joy Boy has returned."

Symbolism overload:

• Freedom incarnate: Luffy’s unshackled, cartoonish Gear 5 embodies complete physical and mental freedom.
• Inherited Will: From Gol D. Roger to Ace to Luffy, the Will of D. lives on.
• The Dawn: Luffy’s journey mirrors Joy Boy’s dream of a world where no one is oppressed.

Remember Luffy dancing in the face of death, laughing through every battle? That’s not just character quirk — it’s the very spirit of Nika and Joy Boy. Even Oda confirmed in a 2022 Jump Festa letter that the final saga would bring the most explosive and free-wheeling battles yet.

Current Manga Developments & What They Mean

The final saga is firing on all cylinders:

• Im-sama obliterating Lulusia Kingdom — showing the World Government’s desperate hold on power.
• Vegapunk’s revelations about the Ancient Kingdom’s advanced technology.
• Shanks moving against the Holy Knights.
• Zunesha arriving in Wano’s waters.

Each of these points ties back to Joy Boy’s era. The ancient kingdom stood for freedom against an oppressive regime — exactly what Luffy and his allies represent now.

It’s becoming clear the final battle won’t just be pirates versus Marines — it’s liberation vs oppression, truth vs lies, and freedom vs control.

Joy Boy’s promise is more alive than ever, with Luffy as its torchbearer. The One Piece itself might not be gold or treasure, but the truth of the world and the dawn of a new era.

The Dawn Is Here

After over two decades of build-up, the Joy Boy myth is no longer just a background mystery — it’s the heartbeat of One Piece’s endgame. As Luffy awakens as the new Joy Boy, ancient promises are being fulfilled, secrets are coming to light, and the world itself teeters on the edge of revolution.

It’s a masterclass in long-form storytelling, with philosophical undertones about freedom, history, and inherited will echoing ancient myths (Hinduism’s cycles of liberation and oppression, anyone?). Oda’s narrative symphony is reaching its crescendo — and we, the fans, are witnessing history.

If you wish to read about One Piece, you can learn about the Luffy vs Saturn fight here.