Even dogs can hit anime when they walk. No.19] "JoJo`s Bizarre Adventure: Diamonds Will Not Shatter" Gomachi Kitan is a treasure house of gap moe!

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JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamonds Will Break" started in April and is the fourth part of the series. Set in Too-cho, S-city, M-prefecture, Japan, the series features a new protagonist named Josuke Higashikata. Jotaro Sorajo, the main character from the popular Part 3 "Stardust Crusaders," also makes an appearance, and the "Stand" battles, in which special powers are embodied, have evolved into an interesting way of showing even more personalities and strategies.

The unexpectedness of the characters is a major attraction, and the feeling of being drawn to them is also known as "gap moe. Part 4 is full of such appeal!　The author, a fan of the original work since its serialization, talks about his enjoyment of this anime.

The battle hero with healing powers, Josuke Higashi

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamonds Will Break" has been very consistently entertaining week after week, and three and a half years after the 2012 anime adaptations of Parts 1 and 2, I am filled with emotion to think that it has finally come this far.

Part 4, which takes place in the Japanese town of Duo-cho, is a series that has various attempts and tricks that differ from the royal entertainment of Part 3, and the original author Hirohiko Araki has shown very skillful storytelling, with many fans saying that this is their favorite part of the series.

The original work, "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," has constantly evolved with each successive part, incorporating new elements.

Looking at just the main character, Jonathan from the first part is the most orthodox protagonist. A monk from a good family with a strong sense of justice but no power, he grew strong through training and became a great hero. In contrast to Jonathan, Joseph, the hero of Part 2, is mischievous and lighthearted, and prefers to take odd measures rather than take the correct ones. Jotaro Sorajo, the hero of Part III, is a different hero from Joseph, taciturn, expressionless, and cool at first glance, but when he has his way, he has his way. Both of them have a passionate heart that does not tolerate unreasonable violence against the weak and hates evil.

The next hero of Part 4 is Josuke Higashikata, who is interesting because he deviates from the pattern of the previous heroes in various ways.

First of all, his appearance is a bit unique. While Jotaro was easily misunderstood and treated as a "delinquent" at school, Josuke has a distinctive regent haircut and an unusual obsession with this hairstyle.

And Josuke's embodied special ability "Stand" is "Crazy Diamond. Similar to Jotaro's "Star Platinum," it is a power type suited for close combat, but has the characteristic of "restoring what has been destroyed (in the case of the human body, healing wounds).

Normally, to strike is to defeat an opponent, which is synonymous with damaging and destroying. The ability of a Stand has also been regarded as a symbol of strength in the third part of the series, which is "how much power one has to be advantageous in battle.

In contrast, in Part 4, the "Stand" ability of the young man with the anachronistic "regent" delinquent style is "heal (cure) when you hit him. However, if Josuke is in a bad mood, there is no guarantee that he will be restored to his original state, and he may transform artistically.

One of the highlights of Josuke's battles is how he uses this power to "fix (cure)" and fight his vicious enemies. The first two episodes, which depict Jotaro's encounter with Josuke, are the episodes in which Josuke's personality and charm are fully demonstrated.

In the first battle with his first enemy, Angelo, Josuke uses an unexpected use of his power to grab the enemy Stand that has been hidden inside his mother's body. He puts the Stand's arm into his mother's body, pulls it out, and heals her instantly. He also restores the broken glass bottle to its original shape and seals the enemy inside. The eccentricity of the idea and Josuke's boldness in not hesitating in his actions are very exciting.

Later, however, Josuke loses his grandfather, a policeman. In front of Jotaro, who rushes to the scene, Josuke "heals" his grandfather's wounds with his Stand ability. Still, once a life is lost, it cannot be regained.

Having lost his family, Josuke suppresses his anger and sadness to face the snowball fight. He confides in Jotaro, "I can't heal my own wounds. I can't heal my own wounds. If I am mortally wounded, I must die.

In this episode, the characteristics and applications of "Crazy Diamond" and the limits of its power are shown in a single breath, and at the same time, his sense of justice, love for his family, and clear sense of joy, anger, sorrow, and joy are fully demonstrated. I was reminded once again that this detailed and vivid storytelling is one of the charms of Part 4.

Incidentally, the cute "heart-shaped" design on the head of Josuke's delinquent-like dowdy school uniform, his macho stand, and Crazy Diamond is another attractive gap.

The lovable Koichi Hirose and Billions of Nijimura, the tricky Rohan Kishibe.

Koichi Hirose and Billions of Nijimura, the friends who always accompany Josuke, are also attractive with various gaps.

Koichi Hirose is the "everyday representative classmate" type who sits next to the main character. He is a small high school student who appears to have nothing to do with battles. In fact, when he first appears in the original story, he is misleading, making us think, "Is he a one-episode mob?" In fact, when he first appears in the original story, he is misleading, making us think that he is a "one-episode mob".

In the episode in which Josuke and the Nijimura brothers fought, he was easily wounded and almost died at first, a role that stirred Josuke's anger.

However, an arrow shot by Kagecho Nijimura triggered Koichi's stand ability. Although the stand lacks power and speed, it grows and gradually evolves.

In episodes 8 and 9, Koichi is stalked and terrorized by a female student named Yukako Yamagishi, but Yukako's words, "I saw potential in Koichi," expresses well Koichi's unexpected charm. He looks like an ordinary boy, but he has a strong heart. He may be small in stature, but he has a big heart. The sight of this seemingly timid, ordinary boy who is desperately trying to be brave and becoming stronger and stronger is so cool that you almost fall in love with him, even if you are not a yukako!

Nijimura Binyasu is also a great character. He appears as the younger brother of Kagecho Nijimura, the enemy with the bow and arrow. He is big and strong, and looks like he would be a strong fighter, but his "stupidity" is what makes him so lovable. His temperament is simple, straightforward, and charming.

Episode 10, "Let's Go Eat Italian Food," is not about a flashy battle with the enemy, but rather an episode in which Josuke and Hitoshi dine at an Italian restaurant, and Hitoshi's reactionary skills in this episode are truly a sight to see.

The stand is "The Hand," which has the ability to shave off space. Despite his formidable abilities, he is not very good at brainstorming or making quick judgments, which makes it difficult for him to play an active role. That is why it is exhilarating when he overcomes his weakness and wins. The episode in which he avenges his brother's death by killing Akira Otoishi was heartwarming.

Rohan Kishibe, who appears in episode 13, by contrast, is a twisted and tricky character. He is a popular manga artist with a series in a shōnen magazine and has an occupational hazard: he uses anything and everything as material for his manga. He is curious, unusual, and naturally bad-tempered. He is also a strong character with numerous famous quotes such as "But I refuse.

While Josuke, Jotaro and his friends are on the side of the hero who hates evil and has a righteous heart, Rohan does not take the stance of "actually a good person. However, there is a development in which this twisted point of view comes alive. It is an interesting story that will not be a simple good-guy/punish-evil story.

Stand users are attracted to each other!　Future highlights

There are many scenes in this work in which an ordinary day turns into an extraordinary day by the strange behavior of a neighbor who seems to be an ordinary person. Although the existence and power of the Stand is unrealistic, the horror of "people with malicious intent are in the same town, and you and your family may encounter them someday" is very real.

Each "strange story" has the charm of the original story, and the way it is presented in the anime is so well crafted that you will never get bored of it. According to the mysterious law that "Stand users are attracted to each other," Josuke and his friends encounter Stand users one after another in their school life and in the town after school. The usual town turns out to be full of Stand users.

And among them, there is one particularly vicious man. In the anime, an image of him carrying a woman's severed hand is inserted here and there to give the impression of his presence.

What if there is a faceless killer lurking in your town?　What if the murders are still going on?　The story gradually grows tense.

Although the battle with the middle boss, Akira Otoishi, seems to have settled one of the issues regarding the "bow and arrow" incident that creates new stand users, encounters with new stand users continue to unfold. We hope to enjoy the superb "Strange Adventure in Our Town" every week, just as we enjoy the weekly serialization in shonen comic magazines.

(Text by YAMAYU)
(C) LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS/Shueisha, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure DU Production Committee