One Piece’s latest manga release has debunked a lot of fan theories with a single flashback sequence.
Chapter 1049 gave us Kaido’s full backstory, which basically revealed how and why he became the “strongest creature in the world.”
But along with his personal struggle and the cruel realities of his world, the flashback uncovered an important fact about the enigmatic figure, Joy Boy.
Although Joy Boy has officially reappeared within the current storyline, Oda is still yet to explain who or what Joy Boy is.
For the longest time, a large majority of fans believed that Emperor Kaido hoped he was the chosen one and that he wanted to become Joy Boy himself.
Chapter 1049 proves that Kaido never thought of himself as Joy Boy. In his flashback, Kaido reveals to King that Joy Boy is the man who will be able to defeat him one day.
1. Why Fans Thought Kaido Wanted to Be Joy Boy
Let’s be real: Kaido has acted pretty suspiciously in the past. It was obvious that he knew something and was hiding secrets from us and the other characters.
What sparked the whole discussion about Kaido and Joy Boy was a panel in chapter 1014 that showed us that Kaido knew something about Joy Boy.
I. The Comment to Luffy:
During Luffy’s second fight with Kaido in chapter 1000, Luffy learns how to penetrate his tough skin with the help of Ryou or Advanced Armament Haki. This is the first time Kaido takes Luffy seriously, and compares him with legendary pirates like Whitebeard and Roger.
In chapter 1010, after the Raid on Onigashima had started, Luffy manages to attack Kaido with Advanced Conqueror’s Haki. This technique is what puts him on par with a Yonko.
Kaido admits that only the strongest people can access this inherent technique. But since Luffy had only just unlocked this skill, he didn’t have any practice with it. This is why, in chapter 1014, Kaido calls his Advanced Conqueror’s technique “crude and clumsy” and says:
You couldn’t be Joy Boy either, it seems.
Fans became instantly intrigued because why would Kaido suddenly mention Joy Boy without context? It had to do with Luffy’s Advanced Conqueror’s Haki – which was not good enough. Kaido flings Luffy off Onigashima island and assumes he has drowned.
His comments that Luffy can’t be Joy Boy “either” implies that he has been anticipating Joy Boy’s appearance in Wano Country.
II. His Time with Rocks D. Xebec:
Some people assumed that since Kaido was a part of the Rocks Pirates, he at one point was made to believe that he himself was Joy Boy.
This is further elucidated in chapter 1035, when a flashback shows Kaido meeting Alber/King. King asks him:
Can you change the world we live in?
King
“I’m the only one who can change it!”
Kaido
This theory kind of fell flat in the next chapter – chapter 1036:
Kaido: “You think I’m Joy Boy?! Is the world I’m making really the world you wanted? Worororo!”
III. Kaido’s Existential Crisis:
Some fan theorists also thought that Rocks somehow convinced Kaido that he was Joy Boy, and after the God Valley Incident, Kaido became disillusioned because it turned out he wasn’t the chosen one.
His existential crisis provoked him to become the antithesis of Joy Boy, and created in him the wish of seeking out the real Joy Boy so he could destroy him.
This is why he invaded Wano in the first place and enslaved the populace, because he knew Oden’s prophecy – that Joy Boy would return to Wano.
Some also believed that Kaido was depressed after learning he wasn’t Joy Boy and had a dream to die at the hands of Joy Boy. So, he decided to “start the biggest war this world has ever seen” in hopes that Joy Boy would emerge.
2. Why Kaido is Misunderstood:
Chapter 1049 explicitly tells us that Kaido never thought he was Joy Boy, neither did he have any kind of death wish.
All the previous theories were based on what we knew of present-Kaido. With his flashback from chapter 1049, we have more context about the kind of person Kaido was – and what he was forced to become.
If there is one thing Kaido knows how to do, it’s survive. Why would he want to die?
His flashback tells us that ever since he was 10-years-old, Kaido has only fought in battle.
He was betrayed by his own country and handed to the World Government because he was too strong to handle and refused to be tamed.
He escaped 18 times from the Navy, was never beaten in a 1v1, and became notorious for being the “embodiment of brutality.”
Kurozumi Higurashi instigates him further by telling him that violence is the only reality of this world and war is the only equalizer.
Kaido’s dream was to change the world so he didn’t have to listen to or be bossed around by politically stronger people. With the help of brute strength and his stubborn will, he could strip those with power and status to create a world of anarchy.
He joined the Rocks Pirates because it was a crew made of the most powerful men (and Big Mom), not because he wanted to become Joy Boy.
When Whitebeard approaches him and asks him whether he has thought of becoming a pirate, it is not because they think Kaido is the chosen one. Rocks wants to meet Kaido because Kaido has made a name for himself by defying the Marines.
After the God Valley Incident, Kaido does become disillusioned, not because he realizes he can’t be Joy Boy, but because of something Xebec Rocks, his captain, does. The crew disbands, and his worldview turns sourer than it already was.
3. Kaido’s Connection to Joy Boy:
Since Kaido was part of the Rocks Pirates, he presumably heard of Joy Boy from the crew.
According to the flashback in chapter 1049, Kaido learns from Yamato that Oden wanted to open Wano’s borders to welcome Joy Boy.
He is surprised that she knew Joy Boy’s name.
He goes on to tell King:
If Joy Boy is the same man that you’re waiting for, King, then I know who he is.
At the end of the chapter, before he is knocked unconscious by Luffy’s Bajrang Gun, he tells King in his flashback:
Joy Boy is the man who’ll be able to beat me one day!
4. What does this Prove?
Kaido is confident that there is no one more powerful than him. With all that he has gone through, he has fought to make sure that he is indeed the strongest creature in the world.
The fact that he and Orochi keep Wano’s borders sealed is almost like Kaido is baiting Joy Boy to reappear. But it is incidental and I don’t think he orchestrated the entire battle of Wano to push Joy Boy out of hiding.
It is only when Yamato mentions Oden’s prophesy does he make up his mind that the only way Wano would be freed is if this legend called Joy Boy comes and beats him.
This is why, when, after the Raid begins, Kaido thinks that Luffy might be Joy Boy.
We know from chapter 1047, that Kaido believes in the supremacy of Haki. He tells Luffy that Gol D. Roger had no Devil Fruit abilities and yet managed to reign as the Pirate King of the seven seas on the might (or should I say will) of his Haki.
Luffy is the only one who has managed to damage him the most in Wano, and he does this by infusing his blows with Advanced Haki.
Luffy’s goal is to save the people from subjugation, cruelty, and slavery, and to take Kaido down. From the Pirates-Samurai-Ninja-Mink alliance, Luffy seems like a likely candidate for Joy Boy.
But when Luffy’s attacks don’t match up to Kaido’s expectations, and his Conqueror’s Haki is not up to the mark, Kaido dismisses him.
Little did Kaido know that Luffy wasn’t done yet. He is the Warrior of Liberation, who will free the citizens of Wano and defeat the brutal tyrant who destroyed their country.
5. Conclusion
Chapter 1049 should put all Kaido fan theories to rest. There is no way Kaido ever thought he was Joy Boy, or even hoped to be. He had no death wish, nor did craft a plan to bring Joy Boy out of slumber.
Kaido is a simple man with a simple plan. His goal has always been to become known as the most powerful man on earth. After becoming the strongest creature in the world, he next wanted to get the One Piece to become the strongest pirate across the seven seas.
Joy Boy is the antithesis of Kaido with entirely different plans for the new world.
Unfortunately for the great Yonko Kaido, his own words have come back to bite him; Joy Boy is indeed the one who will beat him and reopen the borders of Wano to free its people. This is the end for Kaido. But, what an end!
6. About One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.
The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!
Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.
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