Yoshikage Kira/Games
Yoshikage Kira (吉良 吉影, Kira Yoshikage) is the main antagonist of the fourth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Diamond is Unbreakable, as well as the third main antagonist of the series overall. He also appears as the main protagonist of the short story Deadman's Questions.
Unnoticed in Morioh for years and undisturbed all his life, Yoshikage Kira is an abnormal and paraphilic serial killer whose murderous routine is shaken when the ghost of his first victim, Reimi Sugimoto, begs the living to look for him. Upon attracting unwanted attention by killing Shigekiyo Yangu, Josuke and the others sets their sights on Kira in order to put an end to his killing spree.
Kira is a Stand user and wields the powerful Killer Queen to create deadly bombs.
Appearance
Yoshikage Kira has a medium build and average height.[3] He has light hair, loosely combed with a few strands out of place. He wears a light Valentino[8] suit and a dark tie patterned by a column of skull emblems with upright, cat-like ears, similar to those on his Stand, Killer Queen. As a salaryman by profession, he wears a similar suit throughout the series, though he usually takes off his jacket at home.
Kira adopts one face other than his original one in Part 4, and a ghostly body resembling his original, with a unique outfit, after this. He remains a man of average height and slim to athletic build.
When Kosaku Kawajiri is killed, Kira assumes his facial features, including his spiky black hair, thin, large dark irises, and higher cheekbones. He retains his suit, changing only his tie to his normal Skull tie.
After being hit by the Arrow and receiving Killer Queen's third bomb, Kira's hairstyle spontaneously changes, becoming perfectly combed back, light, and striped by black strands.
Shortly after he dies, as a ghost, he retains Kosaku's features for a few moments before reverting to his original appearance, which he retains in Deadman's Questions. Henceforth, he adopts an elaborate outfit consisting of a dark bowler hat with an upturned brim and a tie, both patterned by concentric squares, and a shirtless, dark, lapelless suit.
Color Schemes
Personality
Kira is a serial killer, characterized as highly egocentric and psychopathic, with a few obsessive-compulsive tendencies. He dislikes any changes in his daily physical condition or routine. He takes the same route every day, puts on his clothes in the same order, and eats at the same time and in the same sequence. He is also a hand fetishist.[3]
Kira longs for a peaceful and quiet life, safe from any worry, and does not wish for it to be interrupted. Whenever that life seems assured, Kira adopts a jolly and confident demeanor.[9][10] Although he is highly intelligent and possesses many talents, this yearning shows in his dislike of coming in first, and Jotaro theorizes from his many trophies that he even made it a point to never rank better than 3rd in any competition so as not to stand out.[5] Since his youth, Kira has been avoiding standing out, living a healthy life, and following a strict regimen.[7] He becomes bothered when someone disrupts his habits and goes to extreme lengths to get them back. As his father pointed out, his obsession with staying in the background was so intense that if bullied or denied his favorite toy, Kira would bite his nails until they bled, being the only way he could express his frustration.[11]
Beneath his facade of a simple, humble salaryman, Kira is very abnormal; his most abnormal characteristic being his frequent and periodic murderous impulses. Kira targets women, or, more specifically, women with beautiful hands. He possesses a hand fetish, which he discovered when he found himself aroused by the Mona Lisa's hands.[12] However, his desire has never extended to the rest of the female person and he otherwise shuns their presence.[9] This results in murdering random women, not caring in the least how they look or behave, to acquire their severed hands as "girlfriends". He acts as if the severed hands are sentient and converses with them, even offering them various gifts.[13] When one "girlfriend" begins to decay, he disposes of it and goes off in search of a replacement.[9] Kira is an opportunistic killer, his modus operandi being spotting a potential victim, following her to her house, and murdering her when both are isolated.[14][15] Due to his Stand leaving no trace of their victim behind, these murders are reported as missing persons. Moreover, Kira has expressed various other similarly violent impulses such as the desire to choke his victims to death[16] and has scarred at least Reimi Sugimoto.[17]
Apart from his murders, Kira is particularly violent when someone threatens his way of life or publicly humiliates him. Since Kira doesn't want to be noticed, he will try everything to solve his problems without facing anyone directly. However, if he doesn't have any other choice, he will instantly try to kill whoever discovers his true nature.[7] Kira is quick to drop his polite demeanor, rudely insulting his foes or violently beating them before killing them. After Koichi's Echoes ACT3 results in Kira making a fool of himself in public and attracting unwanted attention, Kira goes on his way to torture and humiliate Koichi, putting his shoe into his mouth and slamming his face against the ground.[18] Kira has a hard time controlling these violent impulses, as seen when Hayato Kawajiri threatened to blackmail him. Kira lost his calm attitude and murdered Hayato in an enormous lapse in judgment.[11]
Kira is also afflicted with several other quirks. Apart from his wish for a monotonous and tranquil life, Kira's OCD also makes him very meticulous and thorough. Kira has sophisticated tastes, notably buying his lunch at the best store in town[9] as well as wearing Valentino suits.[8] He doesn't tolerate any imperfection and is even willing to waste time fixing Koichi's socks instead of fleeing the scene, as he could not stand seeing them being worn inside-out.[18] Furthermore, during his time as Kosaku Kawajiri, Kira made sure to perfectly mimic his new identity in every way, notably Kosaku's hand-writing,[16] which he trained himself to do conscientiously. Kira's solitary nature is partially stemmed from his disgust with people who don't behave as properly as he does. Kira's favorite fashion brand is Gianfranco Ferré.[2]
Kira is also an egocentric and selfish man, akin to a spoiled child. He doesn't care that his crimes involve murder and make his victim's relatives suffer. He only seeks to satisfy his basic instincts. In addition, Kira is determined to preserve his lifestyle, and being set back only increases his determination. Kira is also quick to shift the blame to someone else for his troubles, notably Josuke and his allies, for ruining his life.[16] Kira possesses a twisted pride in having managed to mix his tranquil lifestyle and his serial murders for so long, and categorically refused to flee the town and live in fear, preferring to maintain a shaky façade of normal life with the Kawajiri's.[11]
In addition, while normally a very cautious, meticulous man who ensures he leaves no evidence behind, there are a few occasions where he becomes overconfident and lets his guard down, and each time has led him to a confrontation with Josuke and the others or defeat at their hands. He puts his "girlfriend's" hand in a sandwich bag and fails to notice Shigechi's presence as Shigechi comes to take the sandwich bag, thinking it is his,[9] which eventually leads to Kira being found out. In addition, Kira leaves his jacket with a tailor at Centipede Shoes alongside his real name, forcing Kira to confront Jotaro and Koichi.[19] He is overconfident in his Sheer Heart Attack by believing it is invincible and leaves,[20] but is forced to return to the scene of his crime when Koichi manages to subdue Sheer Heart Attack. In addition, he lets his guard down near a wounded Jotaro, allowing Jotaro the opportunity to beat him.
After being pierced with the Arrow a second time, Kira's demeanor becomes much more relaxed and prone to elation due to his new-found power, which guarantees that anyone approaching Hayato Kawajiri would be killed. When he is overconfident he has beaten Hayato in his attempt to stop him, Kira blurts out his real name in front of Josuke by mistake, which Hayato had planned.[21]
Kira believes that he has luck and fate on his side, exposing a superstitious façade, claiming that whenever faced with an obstacle he will be able to make it through with a combination of hard work and opportunity. He measures and collects his fingernail clippings, using them to predict his murdering luck off on their length.[5]
During his confrontation with the Stand Stray Cat, Kira expresses a desire to protect his "wife," Shinobu Kawajiri, and even shows relief at her safety. The feeling confuses him, but Kira rationalizes it as simply not wanting to arouse suspicion.[22]
As a ghost, Kira loses all memory of his previous life, including his temptation to kill. However, his desire for a peaceful existence and his latent brutality remains.[23]
Abilities
Stand
Killer Queen
Kira's Stand, Killer Queen, is a humanoid, short-range Stand with the unique ability to cleanly, and completely, wipe out objects and people alike with targeted explosions. This ability manifests itself as three distinct forms, or 'bombs'.
Bomb Transmutation (Primary Bomb): Killer Queen can charge any object into a bomb simply by touching it. The Stand can then manually detonate the charged object, causing powerful explosions.
Sheer Heart Attack
Sheer Heart Attack (Secondary Bomb): Sheer Heart Attack is an autonomous entity that detaches from Killer Queen's left hand. It is a mobile, heat-seeking bomb that is extremely durable and leaves massive explosions in its wake.
Bites the Dust
Killer Queen Bites the Dust (Tertiary Bomb): Created by a second pierce of the Arrow, Bites the Dust is an independent bomb that implants Killer Queen into a host body. If the host reveals Kira's true identity in any way, willingly or unwillingly, Bites the Dust will trigger, and any investigators will be blown up before a time loop commences that sends everyone back an hour. Kira is unable to use this ability on himself, however.
Air Bomb Transmutation ("Stray Cat")
After gaining Bites the Dust, Kira keeps Stray Cat in a hollow space within Killer Queen's abdomen. With Killer Queen's Primary Bomb charging Stray Cat's condensed air bubbles, Kira may create invisible, speedy air bombs (空気弾, Kūki-dan) to use as projectiles. Although no one, not even Kira, can see these bombs, the latter is skilled in determining their trajectory using basic mathematical skills.
Mastery
Despite the power of his Stand, Killer Queen, Kira's passivity led to an over-reliance on its powers to the detriment of actual mastery.
Up until his appearance, Kira has avoided fighting at all, leading to a laissez-faire approach to Stand battles. Although he did personally kill Shigekiyo Yangu and knows a great deal about the subtleties of Killer Queen, he then let Sheer Heart Attack take care of two Stand Users, leading to an unexpected defeat and almost leading to his capture. He then became overconfident in Bites the Dust's invincibility, again leaving ample opportunity for Hayato to seek a loophole. Kira's tendency to hide and avoid instead of confronting his foes has left him no time to show any imagination in using his Stand.
However, thanks to his intellect and "lucky" meeting with Stray Cat, Kira could sublimate Killer Queen's power to create a deadly long-range combination of Stand abilities.
Relationships
Family
- Yoshihiro Kira: Yoshihiro is protective of his son, enough so that he was willing to support his son's murderous streak without a care as long as it made him happy. However, Yoshikage thought little of his father, ignoring his advice of leaving Morioh and sparing no thought for him when he died. In the end, Yoshihiro died in the most ironic way possible, being blown up by his son's bomb after he was tricked by Josuke into doing so.
- Mother: While little is known about their relationship and Kira's opinions of her, Araki points out that her overall appearance, as presented in their family portrait, suggests she may have been a bit overprotective of Kira to a point of abusive coddling.[1]
Kawajiri Family
- Shinobu Kawajiri: While Kira impersonated Kosaku, his failed attempts at acting ordinary were mistaken by Shinobu for a change toward a bolder demeanor from her husband. Charmed, Shinobu became attracted to her husband, not knowing that it was Kira. Kira on the other hand first struggled not to act on his murderous impulses on Shinobu and tried his best not to attract attention, thus acting gently with her. As time passed, notably after protecting her from Stray Cat, Kira noted a burgeoning affection for her.
- Hayato Kawajiri: Hayato and Kira lived in mutual suspicion, with Hayato noting everything his "father" did that was out of the ordinary, while Kira disliked the company of such a nosy child. When Hayato hears Kira plotting to kill him and then sees him use Killer Queen to kill a couple, their relationship turns antagonistic, culminating in Kira killing Hayato in a fit of rage. When Hayato becomes the catalyst for Kira gaining the sub-bomb Bites the Dust, Kira underestimates Hayato's resourcefulness, dismissing him as harmless at first, which Hayato exploits to lure Kira into the hands of his enemies. Hayato had come to know Kira well and proved a useful source of information during the climactic fight between Josuke and Kira.
- Tama: Kira and the cat Tama were initially enemies due to Kira's interference in Stray Cat's revenge against Shinobu. Kira wanted to get rid of the conscious plant as it was likely to attract attention, but after distracting it, he decided to keep Stray Cat in the attic, planning to use it later. During his confrontation with Josuke, Kira made the most of Stray Cat's power by combining it with Killer Queen's detonation ability to produce air bombs.
Enemies
- Josuke Higashikata: After Shigechi had been killed, Josuke developed a grudge against Kira and swore to avenge Shigechi. While Josuke loathed Kira, the latter didn't think much of Josuke and as an enemy, preferred to avoid any confrontation with him. However, Kira noticed that Josuke's healing power and resourcefulness countered his Killer Queen's bomb power and was precautious against him during their fight.
- Rohan Kishibe: Rohan was at first only curious about the local murderer, but after learning that he almost died by his hand and that Reimi protected him, his efforts for finding Kira became more personal. As an enemy, Kira preferred to avoid any confrontation with him. He was also aware of Rohan's status as a famous mangaka. When Rohan fell victim to Bites the Dust, Kira took great joy in his death.
- Koichi Hirose: Koichi, after learning of Kira's crimes, came to deeply loathe him to the point he would attack him on sight. Kira, on the other hand, came to somewhat praise Koichi's ability for being able to track him and then indirectly humiliate him in public, which he made sure to pay back with a beating. When Koichi humiliated Kira a second time, demonstrating how careless the serial killer could be, Kira was enraged and came to detest Koichi, being happy at the prospect of Koichi dying.
- Okuyasu Nijimura: Okuyasu, after learning that Kira killed Shigechi, developed a deep grudge against the murderer. As an enemy, Kira preferred to avoid any confrontation with him. During Josuke and Okuyasu's fight with him, Kira used Stray Cat to incapacitate Okuyasu and turned him into a bomb to trick Josuke into healing him. In the midst of attempting to kill Josuke with an air bomb, Kira was surprised when Okuyasu suddenly came back to life and not only saved Josuke, but separated Stray Cat from Killer Queen.
- Jotaro Kujo: The first time Jotaro would encounter Kira was near the Centipede shoe shop after Jotaro was heavily wounded by Sheer Heart Attack. Kira underestimated Jotaro due to the poor state he was in, only to get pummeled by Star Platinum for his trouble. Kira noted how dangerous Jotaro was and took care to avoid confronting him again. While confronting Hayato in the second Bites the Dust loop, Kira mentions to him that he would be very happy if Jotaro were to die in particular.
Victims
- Reimi Sugimoto: Reimi was the first victim of Yoshikage Kira fifteen years prior to the start of Part 4 along with the rest of her family, including her pet dog Arnold. As a ghost, Reimi remained in Morioh, looking for someone to help her put a stop to Kira's murders in order to restore Morioh's peace and dignity. While Kira managed to remember her name when Shigekiyo mentioned her, he couldn't recognise her at first when they met fifteen years later, which Reimi theorizes as Kira not having the occasion to remember her since he didn't take her hand as a "girlfriend". After her archenemy was dragged away by the ghost hands of the alleys, Reimi was able to peacefully ascend to heaven.
- Arnold: Arnold's throat was slashed by Kira fifteen years prior to the start of Part 4. Kira then hung the dog's body on a clothes hook in the wall. Upon Kira's death, Arnold took his revenge by forcing Kira to look behind him, condemning the killer to be dragged away by the ghost hands. Now at peace, his soul ascends to Heaven along with his owner Reimi.
- Shigekiyo Yangu: When Shigechi unwittingly took Kira's "girlfriend", Kira saw Shigechi as a potential threat to his peaceful lifestyle. When both confronted each other, Shigechi realized that Kira was a serial killer after finding his "girlfriend" and immediately prepared to kill him. On the other hand, Kira thought little of Shigechi, seeing him as a hindrance to his quiet life and wanting to dispose of him as soon as possible. Learning that Kira will kill his family too after being seriously injured, Shigechi tried to warn his friends Josuke and Okuyasu to protect them, only to be caught and killed by Kira. Shigechi's death alerted the Stand users of the serial killer, and thus became the source of Josuke and Okuyasu's grudge towards Kira.
- Mukade Shopkeeper: While the two never interacted onscreen, Kira and the shopkeeper knew each other well as the former is a customer at the latter's store. Despite this, Kira had no compunction silencing the shopkeeper with Sheer Heart Attack once Jotaro and Koichi entered the store to find the killer's identity.
- Aya Tsuji: The two had little interaction, but Kira was aware of her occupation and abilities, which allowed him to escape the protagonists and change his identity. Before being killed by Kira, Aya described him as truly terrifying and hated him for using her powers for evil.
- Kosaku Kawajiri: The two had no onscreen interaction and Kira only accosted him because they were of similar height and build. He kidnapped Kosaku, dragged him to Salon Cinderella, killed him, and took his identity including his face, fingerprints, and hair. Kira, however, was annoyed by Kosaku's willingness to have a promotion, forcing Kira to stress himself by bootlicking Kosaku's superior while having to impersonate him in order to maintain his masquerade.
- Minako Okura and Satoru Nakae: Initially, Kira, as Kosaku, had no interest in the couple, only to be insulted by them for moving Minako's bag away from his leg, and then for his nail clippers after bumping into them. Incensed, Kira stalked the two and barged into their apartment, greeting Satoru by detonating him and intimidating Minako into giving him her name and cutting his fingernails. After giving her Satoru's ears as earrings to wear, Kira vaporized Minako besides her hand to keep as his "girlfriend". Ironically, this act caught the attention of his "son" Hayato, who filmed the scene on tape.
Post-mortem
- Female Monk: In Deadman's Question, Kira's ghost works as a hitman for a female monk. Their relation is strictly professional and he only kills whoever the monk points him to in order to earn money. Kira is shown to be a bit suspicious and dismissive of the monk, calling his job doing her dirty work, while the monk is neutral with Kira. After Kira escapes the Cleansers of the mansion ghost, Kira suspects she was trying to eliminate him and thus he goes to investigate her claims about the mansion ghost to make sure she was not leading him into a trap, planning to kill her if it turns out she was lying.
Chapters / Episodes
Manga Appearances- Chapter 331: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 332: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 333: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure, Part 4 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 334: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure, Part 5
- Chapter 335: Shigechi's Harvest, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 342: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 1
- Chapter 343: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 2
- Chapter 344: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 3
- Chapter 345: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 4
- Chapter 346: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 5
- Chapter 347: The People of Morioh
- Chapter 354: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 1
- Chapter 355: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 2 (Arm only)
- Chapter 356: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 3
- Chapter 357: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 4
- Chapter 358: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 5
- Chapter 359: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 6
- Chapter 360: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 7
- Chapter 361: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 8
- Chapter 362: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 9
- Chapter 363: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 10
- Chapter 364: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 11
- Chapter 365: Atom Heart Father, Part 1 (Photo only)
- Chapter 366: Atom Heart Father, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 367: Atom Heart Father, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 368: Atom Heart Father, Part 4 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 369: Atom Heart Father, Part 5 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 370: Yoshikage Kira's New Situation, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 371: Rock-Paper-Scissors Kid is Coming!, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Photo only)
- Chapter 377: Yoshikage Kira's New Situation, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 378: I'm an Alien, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 384: Highway Star, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Highway Star's ability)
- Chapter 385: Highway Star, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 392: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 393: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 394: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 3 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 395: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 4 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 396: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 5 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 397: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 6 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 399: Let's Live on a Transmission Tower, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 401: Let's Live on a Transmission Tower, Part 4 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 403: Let's Live on a Transmission Tower, Part 6 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 406: Enigma Boy, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 407: Enigma Boy, Part 4 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 408: Enigma Boy, Part 5 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 410: My Dad is Not My Dad, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 411: My Dad is Not My Dad, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 412: Cheap Trick, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Photo only)
- Chapter 413: Cheap Trick, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Photo only)
- Chapter 414: Cheap Trick, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 415: Cheap Trick, Part 4 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Photo only)
- Chapter 417: Cheap Trick, Part 6 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Photo only)
- Chapter 418: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 419: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 420: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 3 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 421: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 4 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 422: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 5 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 423: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 6 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Voice only)
- Chapter 424: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 7 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 425: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 8 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 426: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 9 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 427: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 10 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 428: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 429: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 430: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 3 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 431: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 4 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 432: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 5 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 433: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 6 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 434: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 7 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 435: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 8 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 436: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 9 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Chapter 437: Let Me Remind You (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Ghost)
- Chapter 438: Town Guardian Spirits (Death) (Ghost)
- Chapter 439: Goodbye, Morioh - The Golden Heart (Ghost) (Spiritual death)
- Steel Ball Run Extra Chapter 3: Untitled Stand Chapter (Mentioned only)
Anime Appearances- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 12: Red Hot Chili Pepper, Part 2 (Glimpse)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 17: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 18: Shigechi's Harvest, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 20: Yukako Yamagishi Dreams of Cinderella
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 21: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 1
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 22: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 2
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 23: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 1
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 24: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 2
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 25: Atom Heart Father (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 26: Rock-Paper-Scissors Kid is Coming! (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri) (Photo only)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 27: I'm an Alien (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 28: Highway Star, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 29: Highway Star, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 30: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 31: July 15th (Thursday), Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 32: July 15th (Thursday), Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 33: July 15th (Thursday), Part 3 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 34: July 15th (Thursday), Part 4 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 35: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 36: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 37: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 1 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 38: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 2 (Disguised as Kosaku Kawajiri)
- Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 39: Goodbye, Morioh - The Golden Heart (Ghost) (Death/Spiritual death)
Novel Appearances- Heaven's Door (Mentioned only)
- Golden Melody (Mentioned only)
- Crazy Heartbreakers Chapter 5: Disquietude
Quotes
Quotes- “In over 15 years, I, Yoshikage Kira, have never left behind even a single scrap of evidence. And now some kid's mistake is carrying that ring away... Like I'll let him.”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 343: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 2
- “I'm always thinking this, but damn, Yoshikage Kira, you're one lucky guy... With your friendly demeanor and bold drive, there's no way you won't be happy in life.”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 344: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 3
- “My name is Yoshikage Kira. I am 33 years old. I live in northeast Morioh, where there are many villas... I am not married... I'm an office worker for the Kameyu Department Store. Each evening, I return home no later than 8 PM. I don't smoke. I drink, but only occasionally. I go to bed by 11 PM and always get at least 8 hours of sleep... Before I lie down, I drink a cup of warm milk and do 20 minutes of stretching to relax my body... With that routine, I find that I sleep soundly all the way until morning. Like a baby, I awake with no fatigue or stress. And at my last checkup, I was given a clean bill of health... I'm explaining so that you'll understand that I'm a person who wants to live his life feeling at peace. I refuse to create dilemmas—or enemies—that will disturb my thoughts and keep me up at night worrying if I'll win or lose... And by maintaining that approach toward society, I have found that I can attain happiness. Of course, if I were to fight someone, I would never lose. (私の名は『吉良吉影』 年齢３３歳 自宅は杜王町北東部の別荘地帯にあり… 結婚はしていない… 仕事は『カメユーチェーン店』の会社員で 毎日遅くとも夜８時までには帰宅する タバコは吸わない 酒はたしなむ程度 夜１１時には床につき 必ず８時間は睡眠をとるようにしている… 寝る前にあたたかいミルクを飲み ２０分ほどのストレッチで体をほぐしてから床につくと ほとんど朝まで熟睡さ… 赤ん坊のように疲労やストレスを残さずに 朝 目を覚ませるんだ… 健康診断でも異常なしと言われたよわたしは常に『心の平穏』を願って生きてる人間ということを説明しているのだよ… 『勝ち負け』にこだわったり 頭をかかえるような『トラブル』とか 夜もねむれないといった『敵』をつくらない…というのが わたしの社会に対する姿勢であり それが自分の幸福だということを知っている… もっとも 闘ったとしても わたしは誰にも負けんがね。)”—Yoshikage Kira about his way of life, Chapter 345: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 4
- “Before you talk to anyone else, I will erase you.”—Yoshikage Kira to Shigechi, Chapter 345: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 4
- “Killer Queen can erase you at any time. For, you see, Killer Queen's power is to turn anything it touches into a bomb.”—Yoshikage Kira to Shigechi, Chapter 345: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 4
- “Nobody can track me. Nobody knows the truth about Yoshikage Kira. That is, nobody will, after I get rid of you.”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 345: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 4
- “Killer Queen has already touched the doorknob. (『キラークイーン』はすでにドアノブに触っている………)”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 346: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 5
- “You ants really think you can find Yoshikage Kira? I'll destroy you. My Stand Killer Queen's Sheer Heart Attack will kill anything it aims for, guaranteed.”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 356: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 3
- “I Yoshikage Kira, just want a quiet life, but these shitheads keep getting in my way.”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 360: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 7
- “For me, it's not really about winning or losing. I just want to survive. I want a peaceful life. It's just that it's in my nature to kill. I will have my happy life!”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 363: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 10
- “I really want to show Yoshikage Kira's true nature to the girl on the right... I want to reveal my deep desires to her... I'm dying to touch her thin neck with my hands... and choke her to death.”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 377: Yoshikage Kira's New Situation, Part 2
- “Don't answer a question with a question!! (質問を質問で返すなあーっ!!)”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 410: My Dad is Not My Dad, Part 1
- “You want me to leave Morioh!? To live in fear of pursuers, constantly looking over my back without any tranquility or peace?! You should know better than to suggest that to me! I will never leave this town!”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 418: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 1
- “Lately, with everything going on, the waves of my life have grown rough and violent...But from now on, I'll be able to live my life with a peaceful mood. I matured last night, all because you cornered me...rather, I felt a truly powerful will radiating from you last night... You even managed to threaten me, Yoshikage Kira. Hahaha oh dear did I let my name slip...?”—Yoshikage Kira to Hayato, Chapter 419: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 2
- “Even the fact that Rohan Kishibe met you has been erased! That is Killer Queen Bites the Dust! There's nobody you can talk to! Nobody who can investigate you!”—Yoshikage Kira to Hayato, Chapter 421: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 4
- “For your information... I turned myself into Kosaku Kawajiri not because I was fleeing from you. If I had wanted to get rid of you all, I could have killed you at any time. I didn't simply because I don't have a taste for battle. I dislike combat because it runs counter to the tranquil life that I desire. Winning a single battle is simple, but stress builds up in anticipation for the following battle... It is a foolish act. [...] That was the only reason I didn't get you out of the picture.... Right now you three are the only ones disturbing my tranquility. Those who know my identity are the only ones I have no choice but to fight!”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 427: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 10
- “Phewwww~ Back when I was a kid... you know Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, right? I saw it in an artbook. When I saw Mona Lisa's hands, folded by her knee... How do I say this? It's a bit crude, but... hehe... I got...a BONER. I cut out just the hands... and put them up in my room for a while. I'd like to... cut yours off... too. My name is Yoshikage Kira... I've killed 48 women with pretty hands. You shall be the only one! The only one to know my secret!”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 436: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 9
- “Bites the Dust emerged from my single-minded desire not to encounter you... Bring it on! Let's see you stop time! How long can you keep it up?”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 436: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 9
- “I-I did it! It activated! (や~ やったぞ! 発動したぞ!)”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 436: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 9
- “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I beat them! Now I can be free!”—Yoshikage Kira, Chapter 437: Let Me Remind You
- “No... No, No, No! Where- Where are they taking me!? They're dragging me away! Noooo!”—Yoshikage Kira's last words, Chapter 439: Goodbye, Morioh - The Golden Heart
Quotes- “My name is Yoshikage Kira... I can't remember the reason why I died... but one thing I can say for certain is that I will not go to Heaven.”—Yoshikage Kira, Deadman's Questions
- “What am I supposed to do from here? I don't have the answer for that. But if time continues forever, I may find some sort of happiness by making my 'job' my 'purpose' for living.”—Yoshikage Kira, Deadman's Questions
- “I don't carry the tickets with me, but what's important is that I got the seats... And what's most important is to gaze at the brilliant blue sky and enjoy the view. Is there anything more important than that in the world?...”—Yoshikage Kira, Deadman's Questions
- “I don't really care... If the 'target' is a good or bad person. But if I happen to kill the wrong target, you're going to feel bad.”—Yoshikage Kira, Deadman's Questions
- “My... What a beautiful, blue sky. Where should I rest tonight?”—Yoshikage Kira, Deadman's Questions
Creation and Development
Part 4 didn't start with a clear final boss in mind. Hirohiko Araki envisioned Josuke facing off against various creepy entities in town, and through battles with characters like Angelo and Keicho Nijimura, Yoshikage Kira eventually emerged as a further evolution of those foes. Serial killer stories were popular at the time, such as The Silence of the Lambs film, featuring the sadistic killer Hannibal Lecter, and Encyclopaedia of Murder by Colin Wilson and Patricia Pitman, which documented true murder cases. Kira was inspired by those stories where ordinary-looking unremarkable individuals turn out to be killers.[3]
When creating Kira, Araki didn't just consider how Kira would contrast with Josuke, but also with DIO. Japan's bubble economy had just ended and Araki felt that flashy and larger-than-life characters like DIO who were typical of that era would no longer feel appropriate. Rather than being an ultimate evil charismatic villain, he made Kira a subtle, lurking terror who blends into ordinary life. Araki stated that someone like DIO wouldn't exist in real life, but Kira can, which makes him terrifying.[3]
Araki thought of a backstory for Kira which would portray Kira's abusive relationship with his mother and neglect from his father. Kira's backstory wasn't included in the manga both because it was serialized in a magazine for a younger audience and Araki felt Kira would end up being a very sad villain so readers wouldn't see him as the enemy.[1][25] However, Araki stated that if he were to depict Kira in the modern era, he would likely delve deeper into what made him so evil and gave him a twisted personality, including more of his upbringing and family relationships.[26]
According to an interview with Araki, the idea to have Kira take over Kosaku's life while Hayato suspects his "father" of being replaced was inspired by the Philip K. Dick novel, The Father-thing.[1]
Araki approached David Production during the start of Part 4's anime, suggesting that they should include Kira in several background foreshadowings early on in the part, mainly because he initially didn't know who would end up being the main villain of the story until later on when Kira was introduced.[27]
Trivia
- According to a Top 10 List published in JOJO A-GO!GO!, released in 2000, Kira is Araki's favorite antagonist and second favorite character overall.
- The character of Yoshikage Kira was the focus of a collaborative photoshoot with the fashion magazine UOMO featuring Japanese model Dean Fujioka, who made an impression of the character.
- Kira's TV anime voice actor, Toshiyuki Morikawa, also voices Diavolo in the Bandai Namco video games.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Information from the Character Profile sheets may or may not be considered canon if they didn't appear in the manga. According to Araki in Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques - Chapter 1: What Can Be Changed and What Should Stay Consistent, "the Character Profile is like a sketch—a rough outline of the character. Characters grow and evolve as they live out their lives within the manga. As the story progresses, certain aspects of the profile may no longer align."
- ↑ His character sheet in Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques says that his height is 178 cm (5 ft 10 in).
- ↑ His character sheet in Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques says that his weight is 70 kg (150 lb).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jump Remix P4 Vol.27-28
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Chapter 412: Cheap Trick, Part 1
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques Column - Part 4: Yoshikage Kira—The Fear of an "Ordinary Person"
- ↑ Diamond is Unbreakable Episode 39: Goodbye, Morioh - The Golden Heart
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Chapter 365: Atom Heart Father, Part 1
- ↑ Diamond is Unbreakable Model Sheet - No.MC00-36A
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Chapter 345: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 4
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chapter 360: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 7
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Chapter 342: Yoshikage Kira Just Wants to Live Quietly, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 419: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 2
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Chapter 418: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 436: Crazy Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 9
- ↑ Chapter 334: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure, Part 5
- ↑ Chapter 347: The People of Morioh
- ↑ Chapter 410: My Dad is Not My Dad, Part 1
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Chapter 377: Yoshikage Kira's New Situation, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 332: Rohan Kishibe's Adventure, Part 3
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Chapter 361: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 8
- ↑ Chapter 354: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 1
- ↑ Chapter 356: Sheer Heart Attack, Part 3
- ↑ Chapter 426: Another One Bites the Dust, Part 9
- ↑ Chapter 395: Cats Love Yoshikage Kira, Part 4
- ↑ Deadman's Questions
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 JOJO A-GO!GO!: STANDS, p.104
- ↑ Jump Square (December 2007)
- ↑ Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques - "On the Timeless Nature of Villains"
- ↑ Anime Boston (April 2017)
In Video Games
All-Star Battle (PS3)
Like many others, Kira makes his gaming debut in the PS3 title, playable as two distinct characters: His original form, with Killer Queen and Sheer Heart Attack; and his awakened form, with Killer Queen, Stray Cat, and Bites the Dust. This marks him as one of the only three characters with two incarnations, the others being Dio Brando and Joseph Joestar. Both versions of Kira are voiced by Rikiya Koyama, who previously voiced William Anthonio Zeppeli once in the Phantom Blood game.
Both Kiras are part of the mass majority of playable characters in the game with the "Stand" Style, being able to turn Killer Queen on/off, changing movesets, and having access to the Stand Rush ability returning from the Capcom game, being able to attack in conjunction with their Stand.
If Yoshikage Kira battles "Kosaku Kawajiri", they will have a special dialogue before the fight, where the original Kira will remark how 'Kosaku'-Kira's aura is similar to his, and 'Kosaku'-Kira will be shocked to see his past self. If the original Kira wins, he remarks that only he should be making bombs. If 'Kosaku'-Kira wins, he wonders if the encounter was an after-effect of "Bites The Dust".
Yoshikage Kira
Kira's original form appears as a DLC character included with pre-orders and first edition prints of the original Japanese release of the game. For the overseas release in the US, pre-ordering the game from Club Namco would also get players a free download code for Kira, whilst for EU players, pre-ordering the game from any retailer in that region would get the player both Kira and Shigekiyo Yangu as well.
Kira's moveset primarily involves Killer Queen, and the use of bombs and careful detonation.
- Only one bomb at a time: A gameplay rule. Killer Queen may not have more than one bomb out at a time, automatically nullifying the previous bomb if another is used afterward.
- Blown to pieces!: This skill can only be used following abilities marked with a star. Kira detonates whatever bomb may be out at the moment. All of Kira's bombs cannot be blocked, but Kira himself is at risk of taking damage if he is too close to the explosion.
- Throw - Show you how it's done: Kira grabs the opponent by the neck before slamming them into the ground and stomping on their head.
While Killer Queen is off:
- It's your fate to be defeated: Killer Queen is summoned to stomp on the opponent. This move can hit a downed opponent, and Kira's abilities may be performed instantly following the attack. (Comboable)
- Anything can be a bomb: Killer Queen is summoned and flicks a small coin primed with the first bomb into the air. Depending on the attack button inputted, the range of the coin as well as its explosive power is increased. This move is marked with a star, and while the coin will explode as soon as the opponent touches it, it can be manually detonated to catch them in the blast if they are close enough. (Comboable)
- Ha!: Kira summons Killer Queen to rush forward in a barrage of punches, pushing the opponent away and knocking them down. This move cannot activate Rush Mode, and a similar ability by certain opponents will easily overpower Killer Queen. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
While Killer Queen is on:
- Here's the first bomb: Killer Queen channels its power into its index finger, before both it and Kira chop downward. If the opponent is hit, they become a bomb themselves. This move is marked with a star, and Kira can detonate the opponent at any time, dealing heavy damage. For some reason, however, the explosion does not register if the opponent is down, wasting the attack. A Stand Rush skill that Kira can disconnect from to attack or move away from the opponent while it is executing. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
- You bastard!: Killer Queen unleashes a barrage of punches on the spot, knocking the opponent off their feet. This move cannot activate Rush Mode, and a similar ability by certain opponents will easily overpower Killer Queen. A Stand Rush skill that Kira can disconnect from to attack the opponent while it is executing. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
- Calm and cool: Killer Queen strikes a defensive stance, moving its hands rapidly around its face. If the opponent hits Kira with a non-Throw/HHA/GHA physical attack, Killer Queen counters with a punch that sends them flying.
Kira's HHA, "I'm going to blow you to smithereens!", has him swipe his and Killer Queen's arms downward after charging the first bomb in the Stand's index finger. If they hit, Kira explodes his victim six times through Killer Queen's gestures. After the fifth explosion, Kira looks away to adjust his tie shortly before the sixth and most powerful explosion occurs.
Kira's GHA, "Sheer Heart Attack", sends out Killer Queen's second bomb; Sheer Heart Attack. SHA cannot be blocked and follows the opponent until it connects, flies off-screen if dodged, Kira's HHG runs out, enough time has passed, or Kira is hit. If SHA connects, it will ram and drill into the opponent's abdomen, knock them into the air in an uppercutting leap, and drop on them. Yelling at the opponent to look at it, Sheer Heart Attack explodes in their face at point-blank range, while Kira is facing away and brags about it lacking weaknesses/weak points.
Sheer Heart Attack can be temporarily slowed by Koichi Hirose specifically, if the latter uses ACT3's "S-H-I-T" move or "Echoes ACT3: FREEZE!!" HHA on it, which will also subsequently affect Kira himself. SHA continues to be unblockable and able to hit him, but will remain sluggish and unable to leap at him until Koichi gets a certain distance away from it or hits Kira, nullifying the bomb altogether.
Kira's alternate costume mirrors his casual outfit and hairstyle from his debut chapter.
"Kosaku Kawajiri"
'Kosaku'-Kira is included in the base game as the main antagonist of Part 4. In-game, he is consistently labelled "Kosaku Kawajiri" to differentiate him from his previous form.
Along with Enrico Pucci, Hol Horse, Johnny Joestar, Koichi Hirose, and Giorno Giovanna, Kosaku is a character who can utilize more than one Stand during a match as part of his moveset; He retains Killer Queen, but now possesses Stray Cat to assist him in battle with its air bubbles.
- Only one bomb at a time: A gameplay rule effect continued from the original Kira. Killer Queen may not have more than one bomb out at a time, automatically nullifying the previous bomb if another is used afterward.
- Ignition: Kosaku detonates whatever bomb may be out at the moment. All of Kosaku's bombs cannot be blocked, but Kosaku himself is at risk of taking damage if he is too close to the explosion. (Comboable)
- Throw - "Can I ask your name?": Kosaku grabs the opponent and explodes them in his hand as he lightly throws them.
While Killer Queen is off:
- Impact Igniton Bomb: Kosaku summons Killer Queen to utilize Stray Cat and fire an air bomb that must be manually detonated. These bombs deal more damage than Contact Bombs, and cannot be jumped over during their explosion. However, Kosaku cannot move when this bomb is out, and the bomb disappears as soon as he is hit. The size of the bomb and its damage is altered by the attack button inputted, though its speed is inversely affected.
- Trajectory change: Kosaku, using his math skills, can correct the trajectory of the air bomb should the opponent have dodged or jumped over it, in order to once more send it in their direction. This increases the speed of the air bomb but shrinks it by one level. A Light bomb's trajectory can be changed only once, while a Heavy bomb's trajectory can be changed up to three times.
- I'll have to fight it out!: Killer Queen is summoned to rush forward in a barrage of punches, pushing the opponent away and knocking them down. This move cannot activate Rush Mode, and a similar ability by certain opponents will easily overpower Killer Queen. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
While Killer Queen is on:
- I'll crush you!: This move can only be used when the opponent is down. Killer Queen stomps on them.
- Contact Bomb: Killer Queen fires an air bomb that can automatically explode on touch, requiring no manual detonation and allowing Kosaku to move after a short delay once launched. The bomb is able to disarm traps, though is popped by all projectiles aside from another Kosaku's own Contact Bomb. Its speed is altered by the attack button inputted (Comboable). A Stand Rush skill that Kosaku can disconnect from to attack the opponent or move away from them or the bomb while it is executing. Killer Queen can still be caught in the explosion if Kosaku uses Stand Rush in attempts to escape the blast. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
- The First Bomb!: Killer Queen channels its power into its index finger before chopping downward. If the opponent is hit, they become a bomb themselves. Kosaku can detonate the opponent at any time, no matter what state they're in, dealing heavy damage. A Stand Rush skill that Kosaku can disconnect from to attack or move away from the opponent while it is executing. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
- This stone is a bomb!: Killer Queen leaves a stone primed with the first bomb on the ground that must be manually detonated. If the opponent is hit, they are sent flying far away from Kosaku if hit, giving him more room to unleash air bombs.
- Air Bomb Cushion: Kosaku is protected from the next middle/high physical attack by an air cushion placed in his suit by Stray Cat, pushing the opponent away if they trigger it. If Kosaku is hit with a low attack or turns Killer Queen off, the cushion is cancelled.
Kosaku's HHA, "Stray Cat's protecting me now!", is a counter/reversal. Killer Queen readies Stray Cat as Kosaku is shocked at it protecting him. If Killer Queen is struck in this form with a non-Throw/HHA/GHA, the opponent will be knocked back off their feet and onto the ground. Kosaku will use that chance to send out a completely invisible air bomb towards them as they're getting up. Using his math knowledge, Kosaku correctly predicts where the air bomb is and detonates it at the right moment, blowing up his opponent.
Kosaku's GHA is "Bites the Dust". Kosaku tosses out Hayato and forces him to run in fear. If Hayato runs into the opponent, they will be stunned by his sudden interference as he panics, only for them to see Killer Queen, who enters their left eye and promptly detonates the third bomb, rewinding time. Surprisingly, this GHA deals the least amount of damage of all, doing only 21% of the opponent's health in damage, and making it inferior even to his HHA. Like with Sheer Heart Attack, Bites the Dust is unblockable, but is easily dodged/sidestepped/jumped over, and Hayato will only run a short distance in front of Kosaku before sprinting the other way. These two factors make Kosaku's GHA the easiest to avoid in the entire game. However, if successful, the GHA adds 10 counts to the battle timer and restores 15% of Kosaku's health. When low on health (Rumble Mode), instead of calling out the bomb's name, Kosaku will yell "This is the limit! Push it!", and the GHA will deal substantially more damage.
Bites the Dust, due to its time-rewinding ability, is able to reverse a number of character effects (especially round-lasting transformations). Thus, if Kosaku uses the GHA on Pucci in Made in Heaven Mode, Giorno with Gold Experience in Requiem Mode, or Kars as the Ultimate Life Form, all three characters will revert back to their previous, normal forms. If the victim is MiH Mode Pucci, the stage will revert back to what it was previously, and Pucci will never be able to enter MiH Mode for the rest of the entire battle as per his own gameplay rules. If Johnny Joestar has Tusk in any ACT other than ACT1, including ACT4, then the Stand will be reverted back to ACT1. If Jonathan Joestar or Funny Valentine used their healing/comeback moves ("This is my final Ripple!" and "Back from the 'other side'", respectively) and disabled their Heart Heat Gauge as a result, said gauge will be restored once Kosaku executes his GHA successfully.
Kosaku's alternate costume mirrors his previous look before receiving the third bomb, with spiky hairstyle and no coat.
Eyes of Heaven (PS3/PS4)
Yoshikage Kira
Yoshikage Kira was confirmed for the game alongside Akira Otoishi, Shigekiyo Yangu. Most of his moveset was reused from the previous game.
His GHA has changed, as Sheer Heart Attack is now part of his regular arsenal. Both Kira and Killer Queen strike a downed opponent, before Kira takes a step back and detonates them in a single massive explosion.
Tournament
He is paired with Old Joseph Joestar in the Eyes of Heaven tournament, defeating Josuke and Johnny Joestar in the first round. They were eliminated by Bruno Buccellati and Trish Una in the second round, whom beforehand, won the F Block series of battles that allowed them to be matched against Kira and Old Joseph within the main tournament.
"Kosaku Kawajiri"
'Kosaku'-Kira was confirmed for the game along with Rohan and Okuyasu.
His GHA is similar to Bites the Dust's ASB variation, rewinding the battle timer and granting him health, but now heals his partner and the opponent that is not on the receiving end of the GHA as well.
Tournament
He is paired with Weather Report in the Eyes of Heaven tournament, defeating Akira Otoishi and Enrico Pucci in the first round, but eliminated by Giorno Giovanna and Guido Mista in the second.
Trivia
- According to Kira himself,[1] the total amount of women he's killed for their hands is 48.
- He committed his first murder on August 13, 1983, around the age of 18.
- According to a Top 10 List published in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2000, Kira is Araki's favorite antagonist and 2nd favorite character overall.
- In an ironic twist, Kira has his hands severed multiple times: His left hand twice (when he removed Sheer Heart Attack from his body and when the Cleansers attacked him) and his right hand once (when he was bitten by Arnold in Reimi's alley as a ghost).
- Kira's favorite fashion brand is Gianfranco Ferré.
- The story of Kira's first murder as told by the ghost of Reimi Sugimoto shares similarities with the "Humans Can Lick Too" horror story.
- Despite being the main antagonist, Kira doesn't have an active role in Diamond Is Unbreakable until halfway in the part. The anime attempts to build up Kira's presence before his first appearance by showing the aftermath of his murders and the severed hands he's collected along the way from the opening scene of the very first episode of the Part 4 anime, along with a quick cameo in episode 86 (DU episode 12).
References
- ↑ Chapter 438: The Invincible Crazy D (9)
