In every volume of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, the front folded flap of the dust jacket usually contains a picture of Hirohiko Araki himself, and more than often a note to the reader. The quotes are always different from each other, and are usually about Araki expressing his opinion on certain subjects. These subjects can be about anything, including information about characters or the story itself. The following notes and pictures below are from the volumes of Battle Tendency.
It is important to keep the mentality of a beginner, whatever the field. Everything seems new for a beginner, he respects his predecessors and goes straight to his objective. This is an ideal state of mind.
But lately, I have realized that among the mangaka publishing at Jump, they are already six or seven years younger than me! I'm not a beginner anymore! (To be continued in Volume 7.)
Adults have trouble respecting the young. If the head of state was a 20-year-old man, everyone would make fun of him even if he was very competent. For the same reason, when I see a young mangaka being arrogant, I want to kick his ass. I know that's extreme and I regret having such an aggressive temperament. I will try to soften, to respect the young and to accept to learn from them.
One day when I was tidying up my home, I lost the fountain pen that I had been using for 6 years. Panic-stricken, I exclaimed to myself: "My God, what a catastrophe! I'll never manage to draw without that fountain pen that I've used for so many years! It's impossible to work! That fountain pen has always accompanied me through good times and bad times! What will I become?!" By dint of search, I ended up finding a new fountain pen. Today, I thought to myself: "A new fountain pen isn't so bad..." I'm such an irresponsible guy, aren't I?
This may be sudden, but I don't believe in aliens. I've seen a UFO in the past, but I'm pretty sure it was an optical illusion, and in any case I want to say: "So what?" But I've just read a book from someone named Hiroshi Minamiyama, and with all the super-realistic details, I'm beginning to ask myself if these aliens are really here... In any case, it's fun to have my imagination stimulated like this.
A manga isn't born out of the efforts of one person. Lately my studio has been filled with people, which often causes many problems. I'm often capricious with the cleaning ladies and the drawing equipment vendors. When I'm traveling, I disturb the travel agency employees, the proprietor asks me to move out, etc. An infinite number of people have stood alongside JoJo, up close and from afar.
Nevertheless, I think it is important to have sympathy and respect for every one of them. Thanks a million.
I'm not interested in politics, but lately I have been a little worried by the future of Japan. I find it dangerous that everyone wants to get rich or to gain material wealth. We're more in need of spiritual wealth!
That reinforces my idea to deal with more and more enriching subjects through manga. (To be continued in Volume 12.)
JoJo is an ode to life and a celebration of humanity. Without help from machines or technology, the main characters face danger with their bodies as their only weapon. Indeed, I hold the opinion that science doesn't necessarily make humans any happier.
I also detested mathematics and physics when I was in school (and I don't blame my younger self).
