Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 5 hrs ago
Manga characters appear as symbols at French protests
Manga characters have become visible symbols at protests across France in recent days, appearing at student blockades, street demonstrations and in social media posts.
The most common references are to One Piece, whose hero Monkey D. Luffy leads the Straw Hat crew.
Protesters have displayed the crew’s black flag, marked with a skull wearing a straw hat.
The flag had also appeared in protest movements in France, Nepal and Morocco in 2025.
Other references include Naruto, Dragon Ball and Lady Oscar, a heroine who joins the people during the storming of the Bastille.
Manga imagery has also appeared in AI-made images and messages of support from artists.
On October 17, looters targeted some manga and Japanese animation shops and bookshops on the sidelines of marches in Paris, Grenoble and other cities.
Manga characters, especially from One Piece, have appeared at student blockades and street demonstrations across France in recent days.
Protesters have also used imagery from Naruto, Dragon Ball and, less often, Lady Oscar from The Rose of Versailles.
The One Piece Straw Hat crew’s skull-and-straw-hat flag had appeared in protest movements in France and other countries in 2025.
On Saturday, October 17, looters targeted some manga and Japanese animation shops and bookshops alongside marches in cities including Paris and Grenoble.
- Who
- Protesters have used manga imagery; looters targeted some specialist shops and bookshops.
- What
- Manga characters and symbols have appeared at French protests and on social media. Some manga and Japanese animation shops and bookshops were targeted by looters.
- When
- In recent days; the article also cites Saturday, October 17, and protest movements in 2025.
- Where
- At student blockades and street demonstrations across France, including marches in Paris and Grenoble.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The One Piece Straw Hat crew flag appeared in protest movements in France, Nepal and Morocco.
Manga references proliferated at student blockades, street demonstrations across France and social media.
Looters targeted several manga and Japanese animation shops and bookshops alongside marches in cities including Paris and Grenoble.
- Most prominent series
- One Piece
- Other manga references
- Naruto and Dragon Ball
- Less frequent reference
- Lady Oscar, from The Rose of Versailles
- Cities named
- Paris and Grenoble
- Earlier protest appearances
- France, Nepal and Morocco in 2025