Kakyoin is a Japanese student who was brainwashed by DIO during an earlier trip to Egypt and is sent to kill Jotaro Kujo. After being freed from DIO's influence, he decides to join Jotaro on his quest to Egypt to save Jotaro's mother and find redemption. Kakyoin is a Stand User and wields the long-ranged Hierophant Green.
Kakyoin is a young man of average to above-average height and fit to slender build. He is typically seen wearing a slim-fitting long gakuran/tsume-eri, but was also shown wearing striped pajamas during his initial encounter with Death Thirteen. In the anime, he wears the pajamas when admitted to the hospital.
Kakyoin keeps medium-length hair, characterized by a large, twisting bang hanging before his face. He wears cherry-shaped earrings: each is a long, fine arch, tipped by small spheres.
He is considered handsome and has captured the attention of a few women. One of Jotaro's own admirers commented on his looks and during the Tower of Gray encounter, he swooned two female stewardesses. He is also referred to as beautiful upon arriving in India by a man trying to sell him a tattoo.
Later, Kakyoin acquires two thin scars vertically crossing both eyes; which he often hides with a pair of dark sunglasses.
Color Schemes
The series is known for alternating colors between media, the information presented below may or may not be canon.
Colored MangaSFC GameHeritage for the FutureOVAAll-Star BattleAnimeEyes of Heaven
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Pink)
Eyes(Burnt Orange)
Outfit
(Green uniform with light gray underside, golden earrings and accessories and light brown shoes)
Skin(Tan)
Hair(Dark red-orange)
Eyes(Crimson)
Outfit
(Dark Green uniform with red-orange accessories and orange earrings)
(Default Kakyoin)
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Pink)
Eyes(Dark green)
Outfit
(Green uniform with gray underside and golden accessories, orange earrings, black shoes)
(Fearless Kakyoin)
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Pink)
Shades(Black with dark blue highlights)
Outfit
(Olive green uniform with gray underseide and golden accessories, orange earrings, black shoes)
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Brown)
Eyes(Brown)
Outfit
(Green uniform with golden accessories, orange earrings, black shoes)
Skin(Tan)
Hair(Auburn)
Eyes(Salmon)
Outfit
(Green uniform with white underside and yellow accessories, orange shoes)
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Reddish-pink)
Eyes(Lavender)
Outfit
(Green uniform with beige underside, golden accessories, cherry-colored earrings, brown shoes)
Skin(Fair)
Hair(Reddish-vermillion)
Eyes(Lavender)
Outfit
(Green uniform with green-gray underside, golden accessories, magenta earrings, brown shoes)
Personality
Noriaki Kakyoin is first introduced as an evil and cruel teenager because of DIO's brainwashing. Thus he remorselessly attacks unrelated civilians and adopts a might makes right mindset.[8] However, he reveals himself as a righteous, though blunt individual. Kakyoin is ruthless with his enemies but loyal to his companions.
His reason for joining the Joestar Group is for both fighting evil, as he mirrors Jotaro's own explanations for saving his life,[7] and of course a sense of debt toward Jotaro for saving his life. Thus Kakyoin is also a brave individual, willingly participating in the dangerous journey to Egypt, and is also able to keep his nerves even in the direst situations such as having been punched through by The World.
Kakyoin is noted by Araki to be "the honor student type",[9] and thus can be described as haughty and somewhat introverted. Though he normally keeps a polite and somewhat formal behavior, Kakyoin is a rather cold and prideful man. He hates bowing down or brown-nosing. The humiliation of having been weak enough to bow to DIO was a part of his motivation for seeking redemption and revenge during Stardust Crusaders.[10]
Kakyoin mentions he could never relate to people because of his ability, and thus never desired to make friends for most of his life.[10] He thinks only respectable individuals are able to be friends of his.[2] The Joestar Group is the only group with whom he has attached himself, but he cares very strongly for them. Araki himself mentions that if it weren't for their Stands, Kakyoin and Jotaro wouldn't have been friends.[11] Kakyoin has shown to lighten up with Polnareff, although he can also be very brutal and vindictive, having elbowed Polnareff too as a "reconciliation".[12] His attitude is notably worse with his enemies, whom he frequently threatens and belittles, and during his fights, he is very ruthless against them. Both as a hero and an antagonist, Kakyoin is particularly violent as he remorselessly kills all of his opponents (ripping Tower of Gray without qualm[13]), arguing that they were evil beyond redemption; moreover he viciously takes revenge on Mannish Boy by forcing him to eat his own excrement,[14] the first and only time he took exception.
Kakyoin has stated that if he were to fall in love, he would fall in love with someone like Holy, who gives off the feeling that anything will be alright and can calm anyone's hearts, making them feel at ease.[7]
Kakyoin's long-range humanoid Stand is Hierophant Green; able to extend tentacle-like limbs or unravel to a modest extent; as well as fire a barrage of hard projectiles (an "Emerald Splash"). He is often seen shouting his signature attack (like the Emerald Splash) in fights.
Kakyoin is, due to a lifetime of possessing Hierophant Green, quite proficient at using it. Although it is mostly seen as a humanoid, Kakyoin states that its true form is that of a bunch of strings; as such one of his key tactics is to secretly unravel Hierophant Green's tentacles while keeping the main body as a distraction. Thanks to that, Kakyoin can infiltrate bodies, suddenly avoid attacks by unraveling his Stand, use the strings as ropes, and even perform piercing attacks. However, Hierophant Green's otherwise straightforward Emerald Splash does not lend itself to imaginative use of it.
Gaming
Kakyoin happens to be skilled at playing video games and expresses confidence that he can challenge Telence T. D'Arby despite D'Arby making it clear he was good enough to amass a collection of souls by beating others at video games, especially the video game F-Mega. Despite having made the rookie mistake of forgetting to mash the acceleration button at the start of the race to gain a speed boost, Kakyoin shows great skill and comprehension of the game. He knows how to prevent a car from staying ahead, knows how to manage the energy bar of the cars, has extensive knowledge of the race track he plays on (to the point he knew the features of a complicated shortcut by rote), was skilled enough to ride on the wall of a tunnel, and could come up with advanced strategies to try to win.
When Kakyoin was younger, he had difficulty making friends due to the fact that he felt no one could understand him since no one he met could see Hierophant Green. One day, one of his teachers even told his mother that none of the other children disliked Kakyoin, but that he was unapproachable and just didn't seem to want to make any friends. His mother, saddened, admitted that even she didn't know much about her own son or understand why he was so withdrawn. Kakyoin observed the children around him writing down the names of their friends and thought about how the people around him had someone who could understand them. He felt even his own parents had each other, but that they would never be able to relate to him. This caused him to become a withdrawn individual who felt different from others.
Kakyoin is manipulated by DIO in becoming one of his agents
About two to three months prior to the start of Stardust Crusaders, Kakyoin was approached by DIO while traveling in Egypt with his family. DIO, having sensed Kakyoin's Stand powers, asked for a demonstration which led to them fighting. When Kakyoin lost, he was brainwashed into following DIO's will via buds from DIO's own cells and given the mission to kill Jotaro Kujo. Kakyoin returned to Japan and attended the same school as Jotaro.
Stardust Crusaders (1988-1989)
Fighting Jotaro
Kakyoin fights Jotaro
Stalking Jotaro on the way to school, Kakyoin attempts a first attack on Jotaro by slashing his leg just as Jotaro goes down some stairs. Jotaro tumbles down but manages to land on a tree to soften his fall. Afterwards, Kakyoin conspicuously approaches Jotaro and offers him a handkerchief to press against his wound, on which Kakyoin has written a message declaring he'd kill Jotaro. Later at the school infirmary, Kakyoin manipulates the school nurse with Hierophant Green, using her to attack Jotaro and protect his Stand. However, Jotaro forcefully extracts Hierophant Green from the nurse, which is then hurt. Hierophant Green uses the Emerald Splash to blast Star Platinum away. However, Jotaro is angered by the sight of the wounded nurse and fights seriously. Star Platinum simply powers through the Emerald Splash, grabs Hierophant Green by the neck and pummels it. Kakyoin is knocked out and Jotaro brings him back home. The heroes discover that Kakyoin is under DIO's influence because of a flesh bud controlling his brain and Jotaro uses Star Platinum to remove DIO's implant from Kakyoin's head - despite the risk that it might openly attack both of them. Kakyoin is freed from DIO's control. As a result, he decides to help the heroes; he confirms that DIO is hiding and Egypt and joins Jotaro, Joseph Joestar, and Muhammad Avdol on their trip to Egypt to fight DIO.
At the beginning of the trip, the group is attacked by Gray Fly, whose Tower of Gray proves to be a match even for Star Platinum. Kakyoin steps in as his more subtle powers will prevent the battle from damaging the plane. Tower of Gray easily flies through the Emerald Splash and almost pierces Hierophant Green's mouth with its sharp tongue. However, Kakyoin ambushes the enemy Stand by revealing tentacles he's hidden in the chair. The tentacles impale Tower of Gray and the enemy is defeated. However, Gray Fly has killed the plane's pilots. While Joseph tries to perform an emergency landin, Kakyoin apologizes to the stewardesses for Jotaro's rudeness. The group is forced to go to Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, the group goes to a restaurant and discuss their next plan. Incidentally, Kakyoin shows the local tea etiquette to Jotaro. Kakyoin is then a witness of the battle between Muhammad Avdol and the Frenchman Jean Pierre Polnareff, a Stand User who is also controlled by DIO. Polnareff is defeated by Avdol and then freed, then also joins the heroes to seek his sister's killer.
Strength appears
The Joestar Group then takes the sea route aboard a ship manned by members of the Speedwagon Foundation. The crew discovers a stowaway girl who dives into the shark-infested sea, and Jotaro dives into the water to save her from a shark. However, another enemy Stand lurks in the water. Thankfully, Kakyoin uses Hierophant Green to lift Jotaro and the girl back to the ship. Jotaro unmasks the Impostor Captain Tennille and ultimately defeats him. However, the ship is sabotaged and the heroes and crew must go to the lifeboats. The Joestar Group then encounters a strange ship, devoid of life except for an orangutan. Kakyoin searches the ship with Hierophant Green but doesn't find anyone out of the ordinary. Soon, the ship reveals itself as the orangutan's Stand and the living hull of the ship almost crushes Kakyoin along his companions. Thankfully, Jotaro defeats the ape.
In Singapore, Kakyoin stays out of the battles against Devo the Cursed and Rubber Soul. Although Joseph's Hermit Purple claims that he is a trojan horse sent by DIO, it is revealed that it is merely Rubber Soul posing as Kakyoin, who tries to assassinate Jotaro. Returning to the group, Jotaro then tells Kakyoin about the battle and his impersonator. While they cross Malaysia by train, Kakyoin takes a cherry from Jotaro's plate and licks it.
India & Pakistan
When the Joestar Group arrives in Calcutta, Kakyoin is subject to the culture shock. Someone notably steals his wallet. Later, Jean Pierre Polnareff is attacked by Hanged Man, the Stand of his sister's killer. While Hanged Man quickly retreats, Polnareff decides to separate himself from the group to find the murderer alone. The group still searches for him. Kakyoin arrives just in time to see Avdol being seemingly killed by Hol Horse and J. Geil. Shocked by Avdol's death, Kakyoin joins the fight and advises Polnareff to stay calm. Polnareff is goaded into leaving himself vulnerable to Hanged Man but Hierophant Green uses the Emerald Splash to knock him out of the way. Kakyoin takes a truck and the two of them flee away from Hol Horse.
Kakyoin helps Polnareff get revenge on J. Geil
During the reprieve, Polnareff apologizes for his behavior and Kakyoin forgives him with an elbow to the face. Polnareff claims that Hanged Man is attacking from inside the mirrors but Kakyoin refutes this claim as world inside the mirrors don't exist. Suddenly, Hanged Man appears on the steering wheel, forcing the truck to crash. Polnareff then discovers that Hanged Man is a Stand of light that jumps from reflective surface to reflective surface. Although a boy then unwittingly carries Hanged Man and keeps looking at the heroes while he tries to help them, Polnareff kicks sand in the child's eye and traps Hanged Man in his eye. Moreover, Silver Chariot has been able to slash it midair and the enemy's cry of pain can be heard. Kakyoin and Polnareff are ambushed by J. Geil, who calls the beggars around and surrounds the heroes with them, which allows Hanged Man to strike from all angles. However, Kakyoin takes out a shiny coin, on which all the beggars focus their attention, and tosses it high in the air. This allows Polnareff to kick sand in the eye of Hanged Man's host and then slash it in two as it is forced to fly towards the coin. Polnareff then finishes off J. Geil. Later, the heroes confront Hol Horse but the cowboy manages to flee thanks to his girlfriend Nena's intervention. Kakyoin is later informed of Avdol's survival but keeps it a secret from Polnareff.
After leaving Benares, the Joestar Group's car is harrassed by an unknown driver. Suspecting that he is an enemy, the group follows the car only to be tricked toward a cliff and pushed down. Thankfully, Kakyoin and Jotaro combine their Hierophant Green and Star Platinum to save the car while also throwing the enemy car down the cliff. However, it is revealed that the car is Wheel of Fortune, a car Stand. It climbs back up the cliff and proves to be exceptionally strong, forcing the group to retreat. The enemy seemingly kills Jotaro but Jotaro reappears and defeats them. The driver, ZZ, is defeated and tied to a rock.
In Karachi, Kakyoin & Polnareff send their Stands inside Joseph's brain to fight Lovers
Later in Pakistan, the group arrives at a foggy village. Enya the Hag appears and pretend to be a hotel owner, welcoming the group in her hotel. Eventually, Jotaro unmasks her and defeats her. The group bring the unconscious Enya with them to Karachi, where they encounter Steely Dan. Steely Dan activates a flesh bud in Enya's brain, killing her. However, the group is unable to fight him. Dan's Stand, Lovers, has entered Joseph's brain and any pain Dan feels will be returned manifold to Joseph who may die from shock. Joseph, Kakyoin and Polnareff retreat and use a TV set to look inside of Joseph's brain. Kakyoin and Polnareff subsequently send Hierophant Green and Silver Chariot into Joseph's brain where they fight Lovers. When Lovers uses many flesh clones, the Emerald Splash seems useless, but Kakyoin sneakily deploys his tentacles to check all the clones, finding the real enemy Stand. Lovers is wounded and flees, but with Hierophant's tentacles still tied to it. The tentacle binds him, stopping Dan from using a girl as hostage. Jotaro then pummels Steely Dan.
Arabia & the Red Sea
The group encounters Sun
The group reaches Abu Dhabi. Joseph decides to use camels to reach their next destination but, in the middle of the desert, the heroes notices that it the evening an that the Sun is still up. They figure that it is an enemy Stand but they see no one around. Kakyoin sends Hierophant Green to check how far Sun is from them, only to be wounded when the Sun shoots laser rays at Hierophant Green. Overwhelmed by the attack, the group must hide under a rock, in the scorching heat. Kakyoin eventually bursts out in laughter after figuring out Arabia's trick, although Joseph thinks that he is going mad. Jotaro then quickly disposes of the enemy.
Kakyoin encounters the Death Thirteen Stand
Later, the heroes reach Yarpline. Kakyoin has a dream where he is in a deserted amusement park, accompanied only by a dog. Suddenly, the Death tarot card appears, and he is attacked by its image, the StandDeath Thirteen, killing the dog, before Polnareff wakes him up to tell him that they are on the way out of town. Kakyoin becomes concerned when he finds his hand has been cut in his sleep, and more so when he spots the dog he saw in his dreams, killed in the same manner as he saw in the dream. The heroes then take off on a Cessna, accompanied by a sick baby. However, the baby is Mannish Boy, one of DIO's agents. While in flight, both Kakyoin and Polnareff fall asleep and find themselves at the amusement park, again.Kakyoin tries to warn Polnareff that he was attacked in his dreams by a Stand, using the dead dog as proof, but Polnareff does not seem to pay much attention, until Death Thirteen makes itself known once more, attacking the two of them. They find that in their dreams they cannot summon their Stands to fight back, but before Death Thirteen lands a mortal blow on Polnareff, Joseph wakes him up to have him change the baby's diaper, leaving Kakyoin on his own.
Baby Stand
As Death Thirteen is revealed to be the Stand of Mannish Boy, Kakyoin cuts his own arm, as he thrashes about in his sleep, causing Joseph to crash the plane. As the team sets up camp to prepare for rescue, Kakyoin sees that he has cut the words "Baby Stand" into his arm, leading him to realize that the child they have been taking with them is their attacker. He tries to warn the others, but they do not believe him, as Mannish Boy is pleased that his plans to kill the group are succeeding. While Joseph prepares a dinner for the baby, Kakyoin sees the baby kill a scorpion that had crept into his basket and begins to openly accuse him of being the enemy. However, the baby manages to hide the evidence so that the others do not believe him. After failing to convince everyone with the message on his arm, Kakyoin attempts to attack Mannish Boy, but he is knocked out by Polnareff, who believes he has gone insane.
Hierophant defeats Death Thirteen
Jotaro, Joseph, and Polnareff end up in the dream amusement park. Fortunately for them, Kakyoin, who had summoned Hierophant Green before he was knocked out, is able to bring him into the dream world to fight against Death Thirteen. Mannish Boy attempts to use the dream world to his advantage and slice Hierophant Green in half, but Kakyoin manages to instead send his Stand into Death Thirteen's ear, forcing Mannish Boy to heal his wounds and accept defeat. The next morning, as everyone else forgets what happened in the dream, Kakyoin decides to spare Mannish Boy and leave him in a nearby town, making sure that he does not dare try anything again by mixing the child's feces into his food that Joseph later feeds him.
As the group crosses the Red Sea, Joseph makes a detour towards an island to meet Muhammad Avdol's father, who is simply Avdol in disguise. The Joestar Group eventually gathers to take a submarine across the Red Sea.
In the Red Sea, Kakyoin serves coffee for everyone, but it seems that there are six cups. One of them is revealed to be High Priestess, a Stand that can turn into anything inorganic. It wounds Joseph and sabotages the submarine. Worse it is extremely nimble and stealthy, and Star Platinum cannot capture it. The heroes are forced to use scuba diving equipment to escape the submarine. During their preparation, Kakyoin and Polnareff have a bit of fun with call signs. As the heroes exit the submarine, High Priestess enters Polnareff's mouth but thankfully Hierophant Green and Hermit Purple extract it. Even then, High Priestess eventually fuses with the sea bed and turns into a giant head that swallows the heroes. This only allows Jotaro to smash its teeth from the inside, with takes out the enemy Stand User. The group finally reach Egypt.
Soon after the group's arrival in Egypt, the group meet with Iggy, a stray dog brought by agents of the Speedwagon Foundation whose sand Stand, The Fool, may prove useful in the battle against DIO, however, Iggy has a bad personality. Soon after, the group sees the crash site of the Speedwagon Foundation's envoys. They are attacked by N'Doul's Stand Geb and Kakyoin is slashed across the eyes and put out of commission for a while. While the rest of the group travels up the Nile, Kakyoin must rest in Aswan.
Kakyoin eventually goes to Cairo and finds a nearly dead Iggy recovering from his fight against Pet Shop. He then regroups with the heroes just before they reach DIO's Mansion and is the first to face Telence T. D'Arby, the butler of the mansion. After showing off in front of Jotaro, Telence drags Jotaro into a black hole alongside Joseph and Kakyoin and find themselves in an island where Telence challenges them to a video game competition.
D'Arby requests that Kakyoin is the first to challenge him to a video game of his choosing, to which he agrees as he himself is quite talented at them. Thus, Kakyoin chooses F-Mega, a racing game. On the starting line, Kakyoin forgets to mash the acceleration button that gives the cars a boost. D'Arby is now slightly ahead and is confident that he will keep his advantage but Kakyoin purposefully spins his car and crashes it against Telence's, making things even; still, Kakyoin is at a slight disadvantage. As D'Arby praises Kakyoin for resisting his fear, Kakyoin internally thinks about the moment he met and fell to DIO, which was the most terrifying, reassuring and humiliating moment of his life. Determined to erase the dishonor of having been brainwashed, Kakyoin is determined to win this race.
Kakyoin cannot defeat Telence at video games
At the sixth corner of the race track, both players expect to enter a shortcut tunnel, but the tunnel is only large enough to fit one car. Due to his spinning, Kakyoin's car has less energy and is pushed aside by Telence's but he then expertly makes his car drive on the wall of the tunnel. The cars enter the shortcut's most dangerous area where they cannot see the car yet must avoid the mines and a cannon. The suspense rises until both cars emerge from the tunnel and D'Arby is shown to still have the lead. At the exit of the tunnel, D'Arby's car is still ahead of Kakyoin's car and the butler declares his victory. Determined to win, Kakyoin exploits the fact that D'Arby has now less energy on his car to spin and make it fly out off the tracks while he lands safely. Kakyoin has accomplished his plan, but D'Arby was prepared: he purposefully let himself get knocked aside to gain an insurmountable advantage for the race. At the revelation, Kakyoin subconsciously recognizes defeat and Atum steals his soul. D'Arby adds Kakyoin to his collection but Jotaro and Joseph eventually cooperate to defeat Telence.
The trio then see the traces of a Stand Battle and wander further inside of the mansion where they encounter the VampireNukesaku. Jotaro easily defeats Nukesaku and the group forces him to be their guide.
Jotaro, Joseph and Kakyoin break through a wall and interrupt DIO in the middle of attacking Polnareff. DIO retreats in the shadows. Polnareff uses this reprieve to inform of one of the effects of The World but also informs them that Avdol and Iggy have died to save him. Kakyoin reminds the group that the sun is setting and thus they continue to go further in the mansion, with Nukesaku as their guide. The Vampire leads them to the top of the tower and they find a room with a coffin at its center. Taking some time to think about the stakes, the group surrounds the coffin and forces Nukesaku to open the coffin. Suddenly, Nukesaku is now inside the coffin and has been cut to pieces, taking everyone by surprise. Sensing trouble, the Joestar Group jumps out of the window and already understands that DIO's ability is extremely powerful. The sun is setting and DIO's hour of power is coming soon. While Joseph advises to retreat and let DIO pursue them to learn about his Stand but Polnareff wants to confront him. Thus the group splits in two: Joseph and Kakyoin will flee and try to harass DIO while Jotaro and Polnareff remain in hiding until they can pursue him.
Hierophant Green experiences The World's ability
Night has fallen and Joseph purchases a truck to flee. Soon enough, DIO wanders in the streets and hijacks the limousine of a certain Wilson Phillips, an American senator. DIO catches up to Joseph's truck, allowing Kakyoin to summon Hierophant Green and attack him. DIO easily deflects the Emerald Splash and then summons The World, which sucker-punches Hierophant Green. Thankfully, Hierophant was out of range and is merely thrown away. Injured, Kakyoin still notes that The World is a close-range Stand with a reach of 10 meters and that it lacks projectile attacks. Still, DIO makes the truck crash when he throws Phillips at Joseph's truck. When the Vampire looks inside, Joseph and Kakyoin have already fled to the roofs of Cairo and Kakyoin has devised a plan to reveal the power of The World.
Kakyoin's dies after being punched through the abdomen by The World
Kakyoin reminisces his very lonely youth as he had no friends and his parents couldn't understand him, because he was unique with his Hierophant Green whom no one save him could see. However, he also remembers the Joestar Group and how they've become friends and comrades-in-arms sharing their unique power. Determined to make DIO reveal his power, Kakyoin plans to use Hierophant's original ability.He lures DIO into a net of Hierophant Green's tentacles that shoot Emerald Splashes from all sides. Kakyoin reveals himself and plans to shoot DIO from all directions while Joseph observes but as the 20-meter Emerald Splash approach DIO, the Vampire summons The World. DIO stops time, approaches Kakyoin has The World punch him through the guts, sending him flying into a water tank. Agonizing, Kakyoin cannot move or talk and spares a thought for his parents back in Japan. However, he then thinks about how DIO ripped his barrier in an instant. He finally understands DIO's power but cannot directly inform Joseph. Using the last of his strength, Kakyoin fires a final Emerald Splash into a nearby clock tower, destroying it. Kakyoin finally expires. Thanks to Kakyoin's efforts, the group is able to defeat DIO once and for all.
Relationships
Allies
Jotaro Kujo: Like with Avdol, Jotaro's relationship with Kakyoin begins with a fight. After defeating him, Jotaro takes Kakyoin to his house to remove DIO's flesh bud and release him from DIO's control. Jotaro and Kakyoin later develop a strong friendship, discovering a mutual interest in sumo, and Kakyoin being one of the few people Jotaro smiles at. Kakyoin sacrificed his life to give Jotaro an advantage against Dio and Jotaro mourns his death along with Joseph and Polnareff. In the JOJONIUM special interviews, Araki comments that without their power, Jotaro and Kakyoin probably wouldn't have become friends.
Joseph Joestar: Having joined them on their journey to Egypt, Kakyoin got along well with the rest of the group. While his interactions with Joseph specifically were minor, Joseph usually went to him to crack jokes and express his comedic nature (due to Kakyoin being able to tolerate it the most). Towards the end of the series, Kakyoin's last act before dying was shooting the clock tower with his Emerald Splash, in order to help Joseph discover the secret behind The World's ability to stop time. Joseph, whilst hiding his grief, responds by treating the message with utmost importance and swearing that Kakyoin's death would not be in vain.
Jean Pierre Polnareff: The two worked well together in battles such as Hanged Man and The Lovers. The two did have a brief falling out when Mannish Boy attacked the gang with Death Thirteen and Polnareff didn't believe Kakyoin when he said the baby was the stand user, believing the journey had taken its toll on Kakyoin and made him crazy. However, upon learning that Kakyoin was right, he genuinely apologized and the two have gotten along since. Kakyoin notes that it is thanks to Polnareff knocking him out while he had his Stand out is what let him save the day. While in a sinking submarine, the two were still able to joke around with each other and do a manly handshake. At the end of their journey, Polnareff mourned his comrades, including Kakyoin.
Enemies
DIO: Having met DIO on a holiday in Egypt with his family and then put under his control with a Flesh Bud, Kakyoin was loyal to him and would do anything he wanted. However, upon having the bud removed by Jotaro and seeing the harm DIO was causing towards the innocent Holy Kujo, who had shown him kindness as he was recovering at the Kujo residence, Kakyoin decided to go with Joseph, Jotaro, and Avdol to Egypt to defeat DIO.
Kakyoin appears as a supporting character for the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure world, where the player can talk to him in order to obtain some information.
Kakyoin is one of the six main playable characters. Much like the manga, the events fromKakyoin's debut makes him appear as an antagonist and fight against Jotaro (first using the School Nurse to attack Jotaro and then fighting by himself). After the battle Kakyoin joins the group and can be used as a playable character. During a fight, Kakyoin uses Hierophant Green's elasticity to attack the opponents and its Emerald Splash as a super attack.
Unlike in the source material, one can keep Kakyoin alive all throughout the game, even avoiding his death at DIO's hands depending on if he has HP left after the battle.
Kakyoin appears as a playable character in the Capcom game, and his gameplay is primarily designed for defense.
It is noteworthy that even in the video games (excluding the Super Famicom RPG), especially in the fighting game made by Capcom, Kakyoin's fate in his own storyline is to apparently die, whereas other characters have more pleasant endings (except Midler, who also dies, but by DIO's hands). However, because of how the dialogue was done in the game, some may argue that it could be open-ended, suggesting a possibility of his survival.
The ending seems to imply that Kakyoin died on the trip home inside the airplane, due to the wounds he suffered in the battle with DIO (he unleashes a barrage of knives and one of them hits Kakyoin before DIO himself is decimated from the crossfire), and him keeping quiet about it. This could be otherwise explained as fainting or severe weakening, in the absence of solid illustration that he did die. On the other hand, New Kakyoin's storyline in the game confirms his death, just as it occurred in the original storyline from the manga.
The endings where Kakyoin survives the adventure are in Iggy's and Avdol's storylines. This is because DIO attacks Iggy or Avdol before going after Jotaro, Kakyoin, and Joseph.
Techniques
Emerald Splash: Best used as part of a combo. It has shorter range without the Stand activated but reaches full screen with the Stand activated. The only downside is that the move cannot be integrated into combos in the way 2 in 1 attacks are performed. New Kakyoin's version of this move is reduced in terms of range, reflecting his eye injury in the story.
20m Radius Emerald Splash: The powered-up version of "Emerald Splash." If the opponent doesn't have an active Stand, this inflicts massive chipping damage. Done with the Stand active, the emerald's spread can be controlled, either for a more-focused attack (best for mystic trap victims) or to widen the attack radius of the emeralds (for keep-away and nullifying projectiles).
Tie Wrap Snake: Used for both offense and defense, this is one of Kakyoin's lesser-known but most feared moves. Without his Stand activated, he can join in and punch the enemy, but with his Stand activated, buttons can be pressed repeatedly to fire emeralds. Expert players can inflict massive damage from just this move alone.
Mystic Trap: Likely inspired by the appendages he casted to try to capture DIO in his final battle, the move is a snare that can be deployed at will. It can't be sensed until unleashed, by releasing the button used. It can be hit with another Stand attack, but some realize the position of the traps too late. With this technique used in conjunction with specials or super moves, Kakyoin wears down an enemy very quickly, even though the damage is limited. In the newer Heritage for the Future version, being hit by the trap causes an instant Stand Crash, forcibly dismissing the enemy's active Stand.
Oshioki no Jikan (Time for Punishment): Demonstrates Hierophant Green's ability to enter an enemy's body, an attack he once used as an antagonist, and against Death Thirteen. This move is executed similar to Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu (Raging Demon), but inflicts damage from within the body, instead of it attacking the opponent's spirit, just like the former. While the damage it inflicts fares lower, the fact that it cannot be blocked and can be incorporated into combos provides a pressure tactic in battle. Unlike with the SGS aka. Raging Demon, players can jump in with the attack easily for an unexpected hit. His Stand must be kept active for the move to be available.
India's Arm: Hierophant Green's arms can be steered by the player to attack at unique angles and directions. Done without an active Stand, the arms instead do predefined patterns depending on the button combinations used. (eg. QCB + LA & MA have patterns different from QCB + MA + HA) The move can be used right after a Mystic Trap to juggle an enemy upwards.
Hierophant Finish: A combination of Emerald Splashes from different directions that end with a 20m Emerald Splash. The effectiveness of the attack depends on where the enemy is when the move connects. A standing enemy can yield more hits as compared to an enemy juggled by this move.
New 20m Emerald Splash: A move only available to New Kakyoin, Mystic Traps appear everywhere, that upon connecting, holds the enemy in place as Kakyoin moves far to the background where he strafes the victim with Emerald Splashes. This move is likely a recreation of his trap-like attack that he could've unleashed against DIO, an idea later revisited in All Star Battle.
Strategy
Easily one of the most powerful and mindgame-rich character, Kakyoin can take almost anyone on, provided he can properly zone, bait and punish. This allows him to provide a serious challenge to powerful characters like Jotaro and DIO. He has limited options up close, but is a very dangerous character played with range.
With the Stand activated, he can dash and double jump in the air. He also has one of the longest reaches in terms of physical attacks - particularly with his Stand attack. His command throws likewise inflict significant damage depending on button presses. His most powerful ability is the Mystic Trap, which can easily pick out careless opponents for a consistent punishing, especially with his 20m Radius Emerald Splash.
Players using Kakyoin must remember, even though this makes him quite an unfair character, that distance is the key. He has plentiful techniques for striking back, punishing or even ticking.
In the arcade version, he has considerable offense power but is slightly slow. This was changed in the PlayStation port and the updated arcade version, but at the price of losing damage strength. He also gained a new super move that helped him in his offensives. Additionally, his appearance with sunglasses (a result of his encounter with N'Doul) is named New Kakyoin or 恐怖を乗り越えた花京院 (lit. "Kakyoin who overcame his fears") in the Japanese version of the game, having different attack methods and physics offsetting him from the original. New Kakyoin loses his mobility, some moves, and some range, making him substantially inferior in comparison to his original self.
Kakyoin appears as a special attack for Jotaro's 5-KOMA, where he shows up on the screen, ahead Jotaro and attack the enemies with Hierophant Green's Emerald Splash.
Kakyoin returns as Jotaro 5-KOMA's special attack. But he also appears during the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure world intro, along with the others Part 3: Stardust Crusaders protagonists.
Kakyoin, voiced by Kōji Yusa, returns as a playable character in the PS3 title.
Most of his attacks are similar to those from the Capcom game (Heritage for the Future). As one of the mass majority of playable characters in the game with the "Stand" Style, Kakyoin can turn Hierophant Green on/off, changing movesets, as well as having access to the Stand Rush ability returning from the Capcom game, being able to attack in conjunction with his Stand.
During a fight, Kakyoin can use several different attacks that were featured in Stardust Crusaders.
Throw - No match for my Stand!: Kakyoin hits the opponent away before Hierophant Green's tentacles come out of the ground to whip and trip them into the air.
While Hierophant Green is off:
Let's shake on it.: Kakyoin elbows the opponent in the face. Every single one of Kakyoin's skills can be performed instantly following this move. (Comboable)
Emerald Splash (Normal): Kakyoin summons Hierophant Green to fire a number of homing Emeralds. Depending on the attack button inputted, the homing capabilities are altered. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
Hierophant's Barrier: Kakyoin generates a net of tentacles at specific distances depending on the attack button inputted. Only two may be out at once. If the opponent walks, runs, or is otherwise pushed into a net, it will explode as Emeralds fly in all directions. This move is unblockable on the initial trigger. (Comboable)
How's this!: A Throw. Hierophant Green flies forward before having its tentacles jut out of the ground at specific distances depending on the attack button inputted. If the tentacles hit the opponent, they will wrap around them before squeezing and crushing them.
While Hierophant Green is on:
Emerald Splash (Stand): Hierophant Green fires a number of Emeralds. Depending on the attack button inputted, the number of projectiles is altered. A Stand Rush skill that Kakyoin can disconnect from to attack the opponent while it is executing.
Didn't you notice?: Hierophant Green sends a tendril along the ground, going an extremely long way if the attack button is held. If it comes in contact with the opponent, it wraps around them before Hierophant Green fires a point-blank Emerald Splash that sends them flying. This move is also a low attack along with a Throw, requiring the opponent to jump in order to evade it.
You're already in my grasp!: Hierophant Green's tendrils quickly spike out of the ground at specific distances depending on the attack button inputted. If the tendrils hit the opponent, they will whip them before flinging them high into the air. (Comboable through Puttsun Cancel)
Kakyoin's normal attacks are different from others in that they can also attack at medium and long ranges. Medium attack summons Hierophant Green to strike with its tentacle in a straight line, hitting at medium-long range and acting as a form of anti-air if performed while in mid-air. His Heavy attack sends out a short-ranged Emerald Splash, splays tentacles downward while in mid-air, or uses tentacles to knock the opponent upward while crouching.
Kakyoin's HHA, "Time for your punishment!", has Hierophant Green shoot out its tentacles from a high point at a downward angle. If it connects, Hierophant Green will enter the enemy's mouth and damage them internally with enough strength to force them into the air (similar to his assault on Death Thirteen).
Kakyoin's GHA is his "20m Radius Emerald Splash". Hierophant Green fires a large number of Emeralds covered in its tentacles. If they hit the opponent, Kakyoin deploys a 20m radius barrier field around them made of Hierophant Green's tentacles. The opponent is promptly sent bouncing around the field in all directions by a combination Hierophant Green's Emerald Splashes and its tentacles' slingshot properties, before being strung up. Hierophant Green takes this chance to charge an immensely powerful Emerald Splash and fires it at point-blank range (showing the ability's functions had DIO not stopped time and avoided it during the final battle of Part 3).
Kakyoin's battle introduction is him lowering his sunglasses before raising them back up (similar to his re-introduction to the group after his recovery from the hospital, minus the visible scars across his eyes). Kakyoin possesses an alternate costume based on his first appearance in the manga (with his hair slicked further back and him wearing his scarf).
Kakyoin is also a character who made an incredible achievement in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle League, being eliminated in the F Group. He was the character most voted to rejoin the League, coming back into G Group (notably composed of only antagonists) and won the battle afterward, making his way to the finals.
Kakyoin's Metal Striker appears as one of the several available Part 3 Metal Strikers characters. His FINISH move causes Hierophant Green to appear and unleash an Emerald Splash on the defeated opponent.
Kakyoin was one of the first confirmed characters for the game (alongside Part 2 Joseph, Caesar, Stroheim, Jotaro, Josuke and Diego).
As a Stand User, Kakyoin is one of many characters with wildly varied abilities that grant him uniqueness in battle. Since most of the game's animation and attacks were re-used from All Star Battle, Kakyoin's moveset remains the mostly the same: A distanced character who utilizes many long-ranged attacks and can set traps with Hierophant Green's Barrier.
A unique characteristic of Kakyoin is that he is one of the only two characters in the game whose Normal Attacks consists entirely of projectiles, the other being Johnny Joestar, enforcing his projectile-focused playstyle. With Kakyoin, he can string together minor Emerald Splashes with finite range, both on the ground and in mid-air.
Style Action - Hierophant's Barrier!: Hierophant Green extends its arm and deploys a thinly visible net of tentacles as traps. If the initiating button is held, the attack's range can be extended indefinitely. A maximum of three can be out at any time, with a Barrier Icon displaying how many Kakyoin can place, and placing any more than the max will simply undo the oldest barrier. All deployed tentacles are undone if they are used, or if Kakyoin is knocked down, even by soft knockdown that he techs. If an opponent or opponents touch any barrier, the barriers will explode into unblockable emeralds that knock them back. If at least two barriers are deployed when one is tripped, the opponent is instead sent flying straight into the nearest one, provided that there is a direct path between the two. This can potentially send opponents flying long distances around the stage if set up properly. The barriers also have special properties in response to Kakyoin's other skills.
Didn't you notice?: Hierophant Green deploys a thick cluster of tentacles as temporary traps. Opponents that trip the trap are paralyzed, bound by the tentacles and open to further attacks. Any of Hierophant's Barriers that are deployed will also transform into the cluster traps.
Eat this!: Hierophant Green fires a larger Emerald Splash with infinite range and some homing capability. Any of Hierophant's Barriers that are deployed will also unleash emeralds, and will be sent flying towards Kakyoin's target if he is locked on, otherwise scattering in all directions.
Noriaki Kakyoin contemplates Hierophant Green!: Kakyoin grabs hold of Hierophant Green as the Stand extends a tentacle at specific points in the stage to pull him to, represented by anchor icons. This allows for quick escapes and inversely can be used to get closer to the opponent just as quickly. Certain types of environmental objects, such as lampposts, allow Kakyoin to stand on them, granting him the ability to recuperate or attack from out of reach of close-ranged attacks. Kakyoin may also lock onto any of Hierophant's Barriers to use as anchors, though doing so will undo the selected barrier.
When it rips things apart, it writhes—with euphoria!: Hierophant Green sends tentacles into the ground, appearing at an opponent's feet to skewer them and send them flying with multiple hits. If the initiating button is held, the attack will continue in intervals until it succeeds at the expense of stamina. The attack will target whatever Kakyoin is locked onto, otherwise, the tentacles will attack the nearest opponent.
EX -When it rips things apart, it writhes—with euphoria!: Kakyoin is invincible upon activation and recovers from the skill faster.
EX -Eat this!: Kakyoin is invincible upon activation.
JoJolities
When it rips things apart, it writhes—with euphoria!: Kakyoin must connect "When it rips things apart, it writhes—with euphoria!" 3 times. (200 Points)
I know I am.: Kakyoin must use "Noriaki Kakyoin contemplates Hierophant Green!" 3 times. (200 Points)
You won't be able to hide a single movement from me now!: Kakyoin must send an opponent into all three of Hierophant's Barriers in a single chain. (300 Points)
I don't like this either!: Kakyoin must survive the first 15 counts of the battle timer without taking damage. (500 Points)
Noriaki Kakyoin doesn't fall for mind games!: Kakyoin must survive the first 30 counts of the battle timer without taking damage. (800 Points)
Dual Heat Attacks
Solo - 20m Radius Emerald Splash: The GHA uses a different, "upgraded" animation compared to All Star Battle: The target bounces around the barrier at extremely fast intervals, and the attack ends with Kakyoin turning around (having faced his back to the opponent) and summoning a massive Emerald Splash from behind him directly at them (rather than Hierophant Green firing at point-blank range).
With Jotaro -Use the edge of the ring—just like sumo.: Kakyoin holds the opponent in place with Hierophant Green, allowing Jotaro and Star Platinum to pull them in by Hierophant Green's tail and unleash a barrage of punches that sends them flying. Kakyoin appears once more behind the enemy mid-air to deliver an Emerald Splash. Throughout the whole attack, Jotaro and Kakyoin converse about Sumo, referencing the events in the Wheel of Fortune chapters.
In the game's first demo, Kakyoin is Jotaro's default partner, with the latter being the only player-controlled fighter in the first demo.
Jotaro and Kakyoin are the only two characters who have appeared in both demos. Kakyoin is the only returning character in the game whose appearance in the anime has not affected his general color scheme coming from All Star Battle, due to the anime using a very similar color scheme.
Storyline
In the game's parallel continuity, Kakyoin, along with Avdol and Iggy, is resurrected from death under mysterious circumstances. Introduced along with the crusader's own revived enemy, N'Doul, he attacks Jotaro, Joseph and Polnareff on the rooftops of Cairo. After being defeated, Kakyoin's alignment is restored by a time-travelling Robert E. O. Speedwagon through use of the Saint's Corpse. Upon awakening, Kakyoin warns the group of DIO's weakness despite Jotaro having already defeated the vampire. Once he and the group learn of Speedwagon's origins, and the recent phenomenon caused by the corpses' appearance through the time and space, they decide to help Speedwagon to retrieve the corpse parts and recruit allies from various timelines.
At the end of Part 4's chapter, Kakyoin and the group meet up to discuss the true culprit behind the phenomenon. They are shocked to learn that it was DIO, deeming impossible for him to be revived and masterminding this event.
Because of the new reality introduced by the game, Kakyoin and his injured allies survive the fight against the godly foe and live on, though hospitalized for a while.
According to an interview in JoJonium Vol. 12, Kakyoin's first name was originally intended to be "Tenmei" and is still used by Araki himself, despite it officially being "Noriaki". The change was the result of a miscommunication between Araki and his editor as the kanji can be read both ways. This can also be seen in Enya's hotel register, where Kakyoin wrote "Tenmei Kakyoin".[11]
According to Nobutaka Kasama (producer for the anime) in the 2020 Anime Expo interview about the anime series, the "rero rero" of Kakyoin was particularly difficult for Daisuke Hirakawa (the voice actor for Kakyoin) to pull off since it was to be repeated 17 times and so he had to train himself out of work (for instance rehearsing repeatedly during bathing).
Kakyoin is the only character whose color scheme across all games he has appeared in has had no significant changes, having consistently reddish hue for his hair, and green hues for his uniform.
Quotes
Manga Appearances
Anime Appearances
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