80 years of independence: Indonesia's long road to becoming a modern nation

80 years after its independence, Indonesia is at a crossroads. The long democratic journey is marked by setbacks and hopes. As the government tries to control history and the future, opposition grows. The symbol of this opposition is a Japanese anime flag.

The pirate flag from the Japanese anime “One Piece” is displayed together with the Indonesian national flag in Indramayu in the province of West Java (Aug. 9, 2025) Source: NurPhoto / Aditya Irawan/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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