Joyboy is the Awakened One of Nika
Luffy appeared to die after being defeated by Kaido, but Nika awakened and he came back.
Zunesha, hearing his heartbeat, said: “Joyboy… has returned!!”
This means Joyboy = the awakened Nika user = currently Luffy.
So what kind of person was the original Joyboy?
Based on the stories passed down through Fish-Man Island’s royal family, he doesn’t seem to have left a great impression.
Joyboy’s Letter of Apology
Joyboy carved an apology into a Poneglyph — an eternal regret left for the world to read.
He must have done something terrible enough to be despised by the Mermaid Princess.
Evidence: the royal legends of Fish-Man Island say “Someday, someone will come in Joyboy’s place to fulfill the promise.”
In other words, Joyboy failed so badly that they gave up on him and put their hopes in the next person…
There’s also a legend: “One who can properly guide the power of Poseidon will appear.”
This implies someone misguided Poseidon — and that someone was the original Joyboy?
One piece of evidence: the one who named Poseidon an “Ancient Weapon” and the one who left behind enormous treasure are drawn to be the same person.
In other words…
- He committed something that required a apology to the former Poseidon
- He named Poseidon an “Ancient Weapon”
- He guided Poseidon’s power in the wrong direction
- He left enormous treasure on Laugh Tale
All of these things were done by Joyboy.
This means the vast treasure left on Laugh Tale was likely meant as compensation — a gift to make the Mermaid Princess happy.
What Would Make the Mermaid Princess Happy?
The current Poseidon — the Mermaid Princess — is Shirahoshi. Her wishes are…
- To live on the surface
- To show the people of Fish-Man Island the world of sunshine
- To explore flowers, animals, and forests above the sea
In short: a longing for the surface world.
This isn’t just Shirahoshi’s personal dream — it’s the dream of all of Fish-Man Island.
Why Fish-Men Came to Live Underwater
According to Arlong’s account, long ago Fish-Men and humans lived together on the surface.
But humans, envying and fearing beings with far greater strength and the ability to breathe underwater, discriminated against and persecuted Fish-Men — eventually driving them from the surface world.
Unable to live on a surface world full of discrimination and persecution, the Fish-Men found the only spot on the ocean floor with sunlight and air — like the surface — and built their island there.
Why Fish-Men Still Can’t Live on the Surface
The humans who succeeded in driving Fish-Men from the surface tried to justify their crimes by rationalizing fish-man discrimination.
That justification took the form of lies in education.
“Touching a Fish-Man will give you a terrible disease.”
“That’s why our ancestors had no choice but to drive Fish-Men away.”
Children who believed those lies grew up and passed the same false teachings to their own children.
Meanwhile, on Fish-Man Island, a history of resentment toward humans was also being handed down.
Education and brainwashing are fundamentally the same thing.
You shouldn’t blindly accept anything you haven’t seen or experienced yourself.
Above all, it’s strange to assume the worst about people you’ve never even met.
Luffy embodies exactly this philosophy of Oda-sensei.
Whether someone is good or bad, whether you like them or not, whether you want them as a crewmate or not —
Meet them yourself and decide for yourself.
Whether it’s justice or evil, ally or enemy — that depends on timing and circumstances. Judge for yourself in the moment. Take others’ opinions as a reference, not gospel.
Here’s a scene that gives us a glimpse into Oda-sensei’s philosophy↓
Getting Fish-Men to the Surface
So, to summarize:
- Joyboy was the awakened user of Nika’s power
- The original Joyboy made a mistake that saddened the Mermaid Princess
- He left behind a letter of apology and a reconciliation gift before departing this world
- We know the wishes of the Mermaid Princess and Fish-Man Island
- Joyboy was also the one who left treasure on Laugh Tale
- So isn’t Laugh Tale basically a gift for the Mermaid Princess?
It’s only natural to think this way.
But there’s an obstacle that must be removed first.
The Rift Between Humans and Fish-Men
Humans who fear the unfamiliar, fearing Fish-Men / Fish-Men who fear humans who suddenly attack them.
Both sides fear each other, and the gap between them refuses to close.
But since Luffy and his crew saved Fish-Man Island, the Fish-Men’s image of humans has recovered from negative to neutral.
The human side is trickier — there are vastly more of them than on Fish-Man Island, and it won’t be easy.
How that will be resolved is something to look forward to in the story.
Moving Day for Fish-Man Island and the Cleanup
One way or another, by the time Luffy becomes King of the Pirates, the reign of terrible people — the Celestial Dragons — along with fish-man discrimination and slavery, will all be overturned.
Even so, for Fish-Men to live on the surface, it’s reassuring if it’s an island ordinary humans can’t easily reach.
The new Fish-Man Island should ideally be a legendary island that only chosen humans can set foot on.
On top of that, it should be a paradise filled with everything Shirahoshi desires: sunshine, flowers, animals.
So making Laugh Tale the new Fish-Man Island would be perfect.
And so, the destination for everyone’s move has been decided.
The cargo ship for the move is the Ark Noah. They’ll borrow the power of the Sea Kings to pull it.
That’s the proper use of Poseidon’s power.
After that, there’s no reason to go back to that deep, dark island.
No — we can’t let the world go back to being that way. With that resolve, on the day of the move, let’s destroy the old Fish-Man Island.
That’s what this prophecy is about↓
Resolving the Foreshadowing of the Giant Straw Hat
All of Fish-Man Island has moved to Laugh Tale, and Shirahoshi’s wish has finally come true.
She immediately follows through on her promise to Luffy: “Take me to a forest on the surface.”
What comes in handy then is the giant straw hat in Mary Geoise — it’s just the right size for Shirahoshi↓
“You’re close to the sun, so wear this.”
“Like matching wedding rings.”
That brings us to the end of what the original Joyboy wished for.
But since Luffy’s future bride is Nami, Shirahoshi reluctantly steps aside.
After all, the Queen of the Pirate King should be the navigator.
And on that note, that’s all for today.