One Piece: Everything You Need to Know About the Legendary Joy Boy

The existence of Joy Boy has been a hot topic of discussion among One Piece fans for a long time. 

Oda has provided very few, ambiguous details regarding this legendary figure, even though Joy Boy is closely connected to Gol D. Roger, Luffy, and other pirates.

We know that Luffy is definitely Joy Boy, but how they are connected remains unsolved. However, all the clues dropped in post-Wano arcs have simply proven that Joy Boy remains a relevant figure, even today.

Here’s a rundown of all the facts we know about Joy Boy and how we can use all the information we know to build a rough profile of this enigmatic figure.

1. Joy Boy Had a Long Lifespan

Though Joy Boy’s exact age hasn’t been revealed in the series, we can speculate his age by taking a look at the timeline of when he wrote the apology letter. 

We know that Joy Boy existed nearly 900 years ago, since he made a promise to the people of Fish-Man Island. Around 100 years later, the Kozuki Clan founded Poneglyphs, and Joy Boy wrote left an apology message on one of those Poneglyphs. 

This means that Joy Boy lived for 100 years or more than that. His long life indicates that he might belong to the Giants race, but there have been instances of humans living up to a hundred years as well.

2. Joy Boy Wrote Two Ponegylphs

Throughout the series, we found out that Joy Boy left behind two Poneglyphs before he died. The first Poneglyph was found on Fish-Man Island and was addressed to Poseidon. It was an apology letter for breaking his promise.

Another Poneglyph mentioned his prophecy. This Poneglyph foretold the coming of another Joy Boy, who would eventually return after 800 years and fulfill the promise the first Joy Boy wasn’t able to fulfill.

3. Joy Boy Left Behind One Piece, the Most Valuable Treasure in the Series

Many fans thought that the one who left behind One Piece was Gol D. Roger, after hearing the long speech he gave about hunting down One Piece. 

However, the Wano Country arc revealed that the King of Pirates wasn’t the one who hid the treasure. The existence of One Piece far preceded Roger Pirates, and it was actually left behind Joy Boy. Roger Pirates were simply travelers who came across the treasure.

4. Monkey D. Luffy Is the Second Coming of Joy Boy

Chapter 1044 confirmed the predictions regarding the second Joy Boy, as Zunesha finally revealed that Luffy is Joy Boy when he switched into his Gear 5 form.

It makes sense Luffy is Joy Boy if we take a look at the previous Joy Boy’s prophesy. The first Joy Boy promised that they will return in 800 years to help Fish-Man Island’s residents and liberate Wano. 

Luffy has already ticked off one promise from the list, and he’s well on his way to fulfilling the other promise.

Besides, with the recent revelation that Devil Fruits are born out of people’s wishes, it seems Luffy is destined to carry out Joy Boy’s will to free his people.

5. Nika and Joy Boy Might Be Related

During the battle with Kaidou in Chapter 1043, we saw Luffy lose his voice and shift into his Gear 5 form. His personality changed entirely when he transformed, and his appearance resembled that of Nika, 

Nika, the Sun God, was revered as the savior of slaves. Guess who else probably liberated slaves? Joy Boy. 

Zunesha remarked that it could hear the ‘Drums of Liberation’ that reminded it of Joy Boy when Luffy took the Gear 5 form.

Joy Boy was also on good terms with the Fish–Man Island people, who have a long history of being discriminated against. He has promised to help them to raise Noah, so they can mingle with other races on the surface without discrimination.

6. It’s Likely That Hito Hito No Mi, Model: Nika Is Joy Boy’s Devil Fruit

Zunesha’s reaction to Luffy’s Gear 5 form gives us all the hints regarding Joy Boy’s Devil Fruit. 

Since Zunesha knew the original Joy Boy, it must surely know what Devil Fruit Joy Boy used to possess. Moreover, when Zunesha sees the Sun God Nika form of Luffy, it celebrates the return of Joy Boy. 

Zunesha could have remarked Luffy was the Joy Boy any time when he hadn’t transformed into Gear 5. But it could only feel Joy Boy’s presence when he was in his Sun God form.

What solidifies this fact, even more, is Gorosei’s testimonial. Gorosei mentioned that Hito Hito no Mi hasn’t been seen for 800 years. The only time we see it is during Luffy’s transformation. 

7. Joy Boy Is Closely Connected to the Great Kingdom

In Chapter 968, the Sea Kings talked about the birth of their own sovereign and another sovereign from a distant sea ‘again’. The two sovereigns might refer to Poseidon, who’s also regarded as the Mermaid Princess with the ability to control Sea Kings.

Meanwhile, the second sovereign might be a reference to Joy Boy. This is because the Sea Kings prophesied that the other sovereign will be born in another 20 years. Their prophecy does turn out to be true, because Luffy, the second Joy Boy, was born 20 years later, indeed.

Since they said that the sovereigns will be born ‘again’, this hints at the fact that the earlier sovereigns were indeed Poseidon and the first Joy Boy. 

As Joy Boy was a resident of the surface and also an enemy of Twenty Kingdoms, it seems that he was connected to the Great Kingdom in some way.

8. It’s Likely That Joy Boys Can Use the Voice of All Things Ability

In Chapter 1043, we came to know that Joy Boy and Zunesha were comrades. If they were companions, it’s quite possible that they were able to communicate with each other.

However, anyone who wishes to hear Zunesha needs to possess the Voice of All Things. Luffy was able to perceive Zunesha, and we already know that he’s the Joy Boy.

This might hint at the possibility of the previous Joy Boy possessing Voice of All Things ability as well. Whether this ability is obtained by being a Joy Boy or whether it is gifted to random individuals remains to be seen.

9. Joy Boy and the Ancient Weapons Have a Close Relationship

Joy Boy of Void Century was friends with Fish-Man Island residents, and by extension, he was close to Poseidon as well. Even the current Joy Boy, Luffy, is close with Shirahoshi, the current Poseidon.

However, we don’t know the actual relationship between Joy Boy and the other two weapons, Pluton and Uranus. 

10. Joy Boy Is Probably an Inherited Title, Not a Reincarnation

The reincarnation theory has been quite popular in the circles of One Piece fandom. But I believe that Joy Boy isn’t a reincarnation. Instead, it is a title that represents the will inherited through Devil Fruits.

In the recent chapters of One Piece, we came to know that Devil Fruits are born out of people’s wish to change and evolve. This means that whoever eats a Devil Fruit inherits the wishes and will of the previous user. For example, Sabo inherited Ace’s will by eating Mera Mera no Mi. 

It’s quite possible that Luffy’s will to liberate people and his yearning for freedom resonated with Joy Boy’s, and consequently his Devil Fruit’s wish for the liberation of marginalized people. 

11. 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.