Joy Boy in One Piece

Over 800 years ago, during the Void Century, the residents of Fish-Man Island made a promise to a great man known as Joy Boy. Joy Boy attempted to raise the ship Noah with the help of Poseidon but broke his promise to Fish-Man Island for an unknown reason.

Joy Boy also became a comrade of Zunesha, the talking elephant.

At a different point, Joy Boy arrived at an island later named Laugh Tale by Gol D. Roger. He left behind a treasure known as the One Piece.

Joy Boy left messages predicting his return after 800 years. One message was to Fish-Man Island and Poseidon, apologizing for the broken promise and promising someone would fulfill it in the future. Another message was left on the unnamed island, claiming he would return in 800 years.

Over 20 years before the present, the Roger Pirates reached the island and discovered the true history of the world. Roger, finding the story amusing, left the island as is, realizing they were too early. He named the island Laugh Tale.

During the Fish-Man Island Arc, Fish-Man Island's half of the promise was nearly broken when Monkey D. Luffy was asked to protect the island even if it meant destroying the ship Noah. However, Sea Kings summoned by Shirahoshi saved Fish-Man Island by stopping Noah's fall. The Sea Kings then took the damaged ship to the Sea Forest to repair it.

Second Coming of Joy Boy

In the royal family of Fish-Man Island, there is a legend about the person who will fulfill Joy Boy's promise.

Amatsuki Toki used her Devil Fruit powers to travel to Wano in the future in search of the day of Joy Boy's return.

During the Roger Pirates' journey, Roger and Oden heard Sea Kings talk about the birth of someone who would lead them in 25 years along with the new Poseidon. After discovering the truth on Laugh Tale, Oden returned to Wano, intending to open up the enclosed land in preparations for Joy Boy's return. However, his efforts were thwarted by Orochi and Kaido, leading to Oden's death. His retainers continued the task.

At some point, Kaido learned about Joy Boy and began searching for the next one. King, a member of the Beasts Pirates, believed Kaido could become Joy Boy, but eventually dismissed the figure as a legend. Yamato, Kaido's child and admirer of Oden, took up Oden's name and worked to fulfill his dream after learning the truth from Oden's journal.

After Luffy was knocked out by Kaido, his heartbeat gained the qualities of the "Drums of Liberation," causing Zunesha to declare Joy Boy's return. Luffy, upon regaining consciousness and transforming into Gear 5, challenged Kaido again.

After winning the match, Kaido, recalling a conversation with King, recognized that Luffy was the Joy Boy he had waited for, implying that Luffy fulfilled the legend in Kaido's final moments.

• Joyboy is described in "The Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were" as a figure from Caribbean folklore associated with dancing, singing, and celebration.

• The folklore depicts Joyboy as one who smiles at the world's problems and cures humanity's ills through playing a drum.

• Listeners of Joyboy's music are compelled to dance and sing, casting off their veil of despair.

• Jaygarcia Saturn refers to Luffy as Nika, though not explicitly as Joy Boy.

• Any direct connection between Joy Boy and Nika in the series is yet to be confirmed.