Why Hirohiko Araki traded Greek god physiques for high-fashion in his manga series
In short: In the fourth arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, creator Hirohiko Araki abandoned the hyper-muscular heroes of his earlier work. He pivoted toward everyday life and avant-garde fashion, grounding his supernatural story in a suburban town. This shift redefined the series, proving that true strength lies in confronting inner human weaknesses.
Published from 1992 to 1995, Diamond Is Unbreakable marked a departure from the mythical, muscle-bound protagonists of Araki's previous installments. Araki intentionally moved away from the Greek-inspired aesthetic, opting for a style that felt closer to home. He designed his characters with a blend of realistic everyday attire and bizarre, impractical fashion, intentionally avoiding fixed color schemes to evoke varied impressions from his readers. This stylistic evolution mirrored the story's setting in the fictional town of Morioh, a closed city modeled after the author's own hometown of Sendai.
The narrative centers on Josuke Higashikata, a high school freshman and the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar. Unlike the epic heroes of the past, Josuke is portrayed as the friend next door, a character Araki cites as his favorite. The plot follows a group of Stand users—individuals with supernatural manifestations of their psyche—as they investigate a serial killer named Yoshikage Kira. Kira, a hand-obsessed office worker, represents the series' core theme: the danger of inner human weakness. Araki argued that while readers often clamor for stronger enemies, true villainy stems from personal flaws rather than raw power.
The series is also notable for its unique approach to character design and thematic depth. While the manga artist Rohan Kishibe is often mistaken for an Araki self-insert, the author clarifies that he values human life far more than his character does. This focus on the mundane—like the culinary zeal of the chef Tonio Trussardi or the fashion-forward sensibilities of the cast—anchors the bizarre supernatural elements. By grounding the story in the feeling of everyday life, Araki created a narrative where the most terrifying threats are not cosmic entities, but the hidden, dark impulses of ordinary people living in quiet, suburban neighborhoods.
The legacy of this arc extends beyond its 174 chapters. It inspired a 2016 anime adaptation, a 2017 live-action film, and even collaborations with high-fashion houses like Gucci. Through the introduction of the Stand Arrow—an artifact that grants powers based on mental strength—Araki wove a complex web of interconnected lives, ultimately concluding that the most significant battles are those fought against the weaknesses within ourselves.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Diamond Is Unbreakable
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