One Piece anime Episode 1153 showcased Joy Boy’s silhouette which confirmed that the Straw Hat with Imu is not the one that Joy Boy carried.
The recent release of One Piece Episode 1153 has sparked major debates among fans as it not only featured the revelation of Joy Boy’s Haki but also his silhouette. This is the first time Eiichiro Oda has hinted at Joy Boy’s appearance, and it shares quite a lot of parallels with the series’ protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy.
While this feels like an enticing development for some, it also raises a major question about the Straw Hat that is currently in Imu’s possession. The Straw Hat looked like it belonged to a large man, most probably a giant, but considering Joy Boy’s stature, it definitely did not belong to him. Thus, it was either a mistake by Oda or a foreshadowing of a bigger development.
Whose Straw Hat Is in Imu’s Possession?
Imu’s introduction was one of the most shocking moments in the history of One Piece, as it confirmed the fact that there is a much greater villain that Luffy will have to face eventually. Not only that, but it also hinted that he was somehow connected to Luffy, Shanks, and Roger, as he possessed a giant Straw Hat that looked exactly like the one that the three One Piece characters cherished so much.
Episode 885, titled “In the Dark Recesses of the Holyland – A Mysterious Giant Straw Hat,” was the first installment to feature the enormous Straw Hat preserved in ice within a hidden chamber of Pangaea Castle. Subsequent story developments sparked major speculations that the giant Straw Hat most likely belonged to Joy Boy, considering his deep connection to the Void Century and his apparent link to the One Piece villain.
However, Joy Boy’s silhouette in the latest One Piece episode discredited these speculations, as he did not appear to be a giant at all. Instead, his figure closely resembled Monkey D. Luffy’s, suggesting that Joy Boy was likely a normal-sized human. The only thing that makes sense here is that the Straw Hat that Imu has is not the one that Joy Boy had, thus hinting at another character who most likely was a giant and played a crucial role during the Void Century.
Luffy Does Not Carry the Same Straw Hat as Joy Boy
The lore of the Straw Hat is one of the most significant aspects of the One Piece storyline, as it connects all the legendary characters from different eras. This led fans to assume that the Straw Hat that Luffy carries has been passed down to him through generations ever since its first appearance in the hands of Joy Boy, symbolizing the inherited will that continues to shape the fate of the world. However, the recent developments have confirmed that there is no way Luffy carries the same Straw Hat as Joy Boy.
There are currently two Straw Hats in the series: The one that Imu has kept in Pangea Castle, and the one that was passed from Roger to Shanks and then landed in the hands of Luffy. Thus, it is safe to assume that the Straw Hat is more of a symbol than a single piece of a physical object, representing the inherited will, freedom, and defiance against supreme authorities like the World Government in One Piece.
Things have now become even more complex as the Straw Hat that Imu possesses is not the one that Joy Boy had, thus hinting that there were more successors who tried to challenge Imu and the World Government’s rule, but ultimately failed. If this turns out to be true, it will bring a major shift to the One Piece storyline. Do you think there were characters other than Shanks, Luffy, and Roger who carried the will of Joy Boy? Let us know below!
