Luffy was born in Foosha Village in East Blue. When he was seven years old, he met and befriended a crew of pirates led by a captain named Red Haired Shanks. Luffy was inspired to become a pirate by Shanks and his crew. He once stabbed himself with a knife under his left eye to prove himself to Shanks so that he could join them in their adventures. However, later, Shanks refused to bring Luffy, stating that he was still too young to join Shanks' crew.