We took advantage of the release of Golden Wind Volume 1 to ask the author about the series.
Tonkam: Since you created your own universe with JoJo, what are your artistic references?
Hirohiko Araki: Babel II (a Japanese comic book) and Dirty Harry (an American film with Clint Eastwood).
Tonkam: You've been working on the same series for over twenty years. How do you manage to keep going for so long?
Hirohiko Araki: I have a healthy lifestyle. I go to bed early, I get up early, etc., which allows me not to be too tired.
Tonkam: Where did you get the idea of Stands?
Hirohiko Araki: In general, paranormal powers are invisible and therefore difficult to represent. Here, I wanted to give them a real appearance, so that we can properly realize what they are.
Tonkam: Do you have a permanent supply of Stands, or do you create them on the fly?
Hirohiko Araki: When ideas come to me, I always take notes so I can use them or not. So I have a reserve that I feed as I go along and from which I draw according to my needs.
Tonkam: If you could have one, what would be your Stand?
Hirohiko Araki: Shigechi's Harvest, from Part 4.
Tonkam: Who is your favorite character in JoJo?
Hirohiko Araki: Josuke Higashikata from Diamond is Unbreakable, the fourth Part.
Tonkam: And your favorite Stand?
Hirohiko Araki: The zippers of Buccellati's Sticky Fingers, in Part 5.
Tonkam: For many readers, Golden Wind is considered the best Part of JoJo. To what do you attribute this popularity?
Hirohiko Araki: I think that, compared to the other seasons, such success is probably due to the class and style of the characters, which are different from usual. Unless it's simply the past and the tragic fate of these people.
Tonkam: Why did you go to Italy all of a sudden?
Hirohiko Araki: I think Italy is a very dramatic country, full of meaning and well suited to stories of fate. Also, from a Japanese point of view, it is a very beautiful country, just like France.
Tonkam: When will there be a JoJo part set in France?
Hirohiko Araki: I would very much like to try. Unfortunately, French is a difficult language and I think it would be difficult for me to get information.
Tonkam: A little word for your French fans?
Hirohiko Araki: For me, France is the country of art, and is very appreciative of beautiful things. I am very honored to have readers there.
Tonkam: Thank you very much.
