Peru’s Gen-Z takes to streets: Adopts Japanese Anime character 'Luffy' as role model

The protests were triggered by a new pension rule requiring all Peruvians over 18 to join a pension provider, either government or private. Previously, joining a pension scheme was voluntary. Youth leaders argue that the policy places an unfair financial burden on unemployed young people and does not address larger issues like economic insecurity, rising crime, and corruption within pension institutions.

Many perceive the reform as coercive, demanding instead that the government prioritise employment, education, and public safety.

With 27% of the population aged between 18 and 29, Peru’s Gen-Z is emerging as a key political force. Their protests reflect not just opposition to pension reforms, but broader demands for accountability, transparency, and democratic governance.

The movement, combining street activism and symbolic gestures like adopting Luffy, demonstrates that young Peruvians are increasingly unwilling to tolerate corruption and government inaction, signaling a new era of youth-led civic engagement in the country.

'Luffy'

 'Luffy,' a character from the Japanese anime One Piece, as a symbolic figure of the youth movement. Known for fighting authoritarian rulers and championing justice, Luffy has become a rallying point for protesters, who carry his skull cap emblem during demonstrations.

Leonardo Munyos, a student leader, said, "Luffy goes from place to place, liberating the people from corrupt and authoritarian rulers. The situation is the same in Peru. We won’t remain silent any longer."

Santiago Zapata added, "We are tired of the normalisation of death and corruption. Our generation will not sit idly by. The government should fear the people, not the people the government."

Economic fallout

The unrest has impacted Peru’s mining industry, a major contributor to the economy and the world’s third-largest copper producer.

Hudbay Minerals temporarily shut down its mill at the Constancia copper mine due to ongoing protests, highlighting the economic ramifications of civil unrest.

Political discontent

The protests highlight widespread dissatisfaction with President Boluarte’s administration. Experts accuse her government of weakening judicial oversight, prosecutors, and democratic institutions, sparking fears of further democratic erosion ahead of the 2026 general elections.

According to a July report by the Institute of Peruvian Studies, Boluarte’s approval rating has fallen to 2.5%, while parliamentary credibility stands at just 3%.

Jo-Marie Burt, a Princeton University professor researching Peruvian politics, noted similarities with former President Alberto Fujimori’s authoritarian strategies in the 1990s.