Morioh (杜王町, Moriō-chō) is a fictional town located within Japan's M Prefecture in the city of S, and the setting of the 4th arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Diamond is Unbreakable.
While the population of Morioh is small and relatively peaceful, living there before the introduction of the Bow and Arrow are several Stand users; among them Josuke Higashikata and the villainous Yoshikage Kira. After the Nijimura brothers take the Bow and Arrow, activity in the town takes a spike.
Morioh possesses several landmarks, the vast majority of them being connected to a Stand user.
(The information below derives from the Light Novel The Book: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day, which was not written by Araki. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.)
Morioh is a suburb of S City. Although it quickly developed during the 1980s, it was inhabited even in the ancient days of the samurai. It had many martial arts training grounds and vacation homes where its summer attractions may have come from.
Even now, there are still many villas of samurai left. Not much earlier, Morioh had been just a rural town where one could find only rice and vegetable fields. The country town was run mostly by agriculture business, and as a result people in there had hard and cracked hands. They often needed to check on the water in the paddy fields in the middle of the night. There was at least one area in the Northeast famous for an old summer retreat.
Morioh eventually underwent a transformation in an age where places all over Japan were improving. M Prefecture's government officials decided to invest money into Morioh to develop it, as its population was quickly increasing with workers from the adjacent S City. The streets were repaired, shops and markets were built, and pretty houses were lined up on the land that used to be rice fields. Power lines and telephone poles that harmed the views disappeared or were abandoned (including one that would later be bound to the Stand Super Fly).
With the development of town, many of the people came back to live in Morioh, among them Akari Hirai.
(Even though S City is mentioned multiple times in the manga, the information below derives from the Light Novel The Book: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day, which was not written by Araki. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.)
S City of M Prefecture is a city adjacent to Morioh. It was undergoing many forays to new enterprises. People working there were seeking to take residence and came to Morioh, quickly expanding the town's population.
S City was much more modern than Morioh: people often compared life there with the ones seen on TV dramas. Some people that didn't want a rural life or to take a modern job went there after graduating high school in search of a job, but the market was competitive.
It is a reference to Araki's own hometown of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture.
Every year on July 1, rivers and beaches open up to the public in Morioh. Because of this, the date range from July to August is the season for traveling and tourism. 70% to 80% of the total tourism revenue of Morioh is brought in during this time. The number of domestic and international visitors coming from the Tokyo area or S city nearly doubles the population.[1] Each year, the town attracts around 200,000 tourists. However, the residents generally do not mingle with the tourists and local vendors approach them with an unwelcoming attitude like "If you're going to buy something, I'll sell it to you". Despite how their nature can be off-putting, the people of Morioh are generally good people after getting to know them.[2]
Popular Activities include vacation resorts, golfing, camping, fishing, picnicking, yachting, windsurfing, tasting local seafood and traditional Japanese products, and visiting the mysterious underwater palace. All are main attractions that ensure a good time in Morioh over the summer.[1]
Morioh Landmark #1: The Angelo Stone (アンジェロ岩, Anjero Iwa). A famous landmark, it was created when Josuke pummeled both a rock and Anjuro Katagiri at the same time, integrating them together during the healing process. Despite its scary and grim looking appearance, it is surprisingly familiar with the townspeople and has gained popularity as a meeting point for lovers. To reach it, take the bus in Morioh and go towards the direction of Jōzenji road. Get off at the third stop and walk for one minute.[3] It's shown saying Agi (アギ) when Koichi interacts with it.[4]
Indicated on the map on the cover page of Chapter 303, Budogaoka High School (ぶどうヶ丘高校, Budōgaoka Kōkō) is the name of a high school (and middle school) that Josuke, Koichi, Okuyasu, their delegate (high school class 1-B), Toshikazu (high school class 3-C), Junko (high school class 3-E), Yukako, Shigechi (middle school second year), Mikitaka and Yuya, Hayato, and Kimura all attend.
The anime also states that while alive, Reimi attended the high school.
A fisherman started the rumor when he saw Yukako falling from the cliff and Koichi using Echoes ACT2 to place a "bounce" sound on a spiked rock at the bottom. It was assumed to be a girl who was trying to commit suicide by jumping off the cliff and miraculously bounced back up. The local fishermen all pray for good luck to this particular rock, calling it a "sacred spot." Many also believe that there is a god of the sea at work. If one asks any local fisherman where Boing-Boing Cape (ボヨヨン岬, Boyoyon Misaki) is, they'll gladly point it out.[5]
[citation needed]
Ingredients: Spaghetti, Seedless Black Olives, Olive Oil, Garlic, Small tomatoes, Hot Pepper, Anchovy Fillet (1), Parsley, Salt, Pepper, Parmesan Cheese
A high-class hotel in which Jotaro Kujo and his grandfather Joseph Joestar reside during their time in Morioh. Jotaro stays in Room 324 while Joseph stays in Room 326.[6]
The residence of famous manga artist, Rohan Kishibe, has a total area of 3.4 acres (340 m2). The house features a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, an attic, and seven other rooms. It was rebuilt due to a fire, with repair costs exceeding 700 million yen.[7] If someone tries to visit, Rohan will pretend to be out.[8]
Ghost Girl's Alley (少女の幽霊に会える小道, Shoujo no Yuurei ni Aeru Komichi, literally "The Alley Where You Can Meet a Ghost Girl") is a hidden road located between the Owson grocery and Kisara Drugstore. The alley acts as a purgatory for Reimi Sugimoto and Arnold, being a gateway to the afterlife, and it is invisible to most ordinary people. Should a person ever wander down the alley and look behind them in the area between the mailbox and the entrance path, ghostly hands will emerge and drag the person immediately to the afterlife.[9]
A classy bakery that is popular with the residents of Morioh. The bakery is most well-known for its fried katsu sandwiches, which are prepared with prime katsu, exquisite ingredients, and freshly-baked bread every day at 11 A.M. Due to their high popularity, the sandwiches are typically sold out within two hours.
The bakery was a favorite of serial killer Yoshikage Kira, who bought katsu sandwiches on a regular basis to enjoy with his "girlfriends."
It was renovated in Showa 58 (1983) and has an approximate length of 450 meters. The tunnel's curvature has resulted in a lack of proper lighting and a plethora of accidents.[10] At some point in time, the tunnel had a secret side room only visible to Stand users. The room was created by a hospitalized Yuya Fungami's Stand, Highway Star, and was used to lure other Stand users so that he could drain them of their nutrients.
On an abandoned telephone tower lives a man by the alias of Toyohiro Kanedaichi. He claims to have bought the metal tower 3 years ago for $100,000 and has not touched the ground since. He lives a life of complete self-sufficiency, but he is missing things such as salt and sweets. If given food and spices, he'll let people take pictures with him.[11]
Millionaire Village is located in the middle of a forest 80 km Northwest of Morioh. It is isolated from Morioh, with its own infrastructure and no roads leading to the village. There are eleven mansions along with one villa up for sale. The residents of Millionaire Village are all wealthy, consisting of leaders of shipbuilding, drug manufacturing, cosmetics, etc. The village is actually overseen by the gods of the mountain. Those who breach rules of etiquette in the village are punished with a loss for each offense, often the death of a loved one.[12]
Café Deux Magots (カフェ ドゥ・メゴ, Kafe Du Mego) is a café that is frequently visited by the protagonists but otherwise unremarkable. The name of Café Deux Magots is inspired by the famous Parisian café "Les Deux Magots" ("Magot" being a term for designating a type of figurine from the Far East).
The anime frequently substitutes it with a café called "Rengatei".
Northwest of Morioh are six mountains that Rohan buys to investigate before a subway bypass could be built there. The Osato family has lived in a mansion located in the mountains for three hundred years, producing miso for the local village. The entirety of the mountains belonged to them in the past.
The place is haunted by Mutsukabezaka, a type of yokai.[13]
A reef inhabited by abalones and owned by the Higashikatas situated North of Boing-Boing Cape. Its place in the continuity is ambiguous.[14]
Keicho Nijimura is buried at Kunimitōge's cemetery.
Tomoko, Josuke, and the late Ryohei Higashikata live at 1-6.
Okuyasu Nijimura and his father live at 4-1280.[6]
Yoshikage Kira's villa is at 1-28, in the north-east part of Morioh. It takes 15 minutes to walk there from the train station.
An industrial port.
The Sugimoto family resided at 12, block 3.
The ghost girl's alley is in block 2.
A shop specializing in household goods such as diapers for the elderly and various baby equipment.
Akira Otoishi used the Bow and Arrow on two rats there.
| Style | Cost | (In USD) |
| To find love | 1000 ¥ | ~$13.58 |
| To capture love | 1500 ¥ | ~$13.58 |
| To be proposed to | 2000 ¥ | ~$18.11 |
| To make him submit | 3000 ¥ | ~$27.17 |
| To marry into money | 5000 ¥ | ~$45.28 |
| To marry a celebrity | 7000 ¥ | ~$63.39 |
The salon is located two minutes from Morioh Station by walking. It is closed on Thursdays. It is unknown what happened to the salon after Aya's death.
Josuke and co. went to this bank to take the money from the winning Great Lottery ticket.
Kameyu is a nationwide department store Josuke and others often go to. It would seem they sell everything ranging from clothes, appliances, toys, etc. It was mentioned during the events of the Harvest arc when Josuke managed to trade in coupons from the store for a large amount of money, and he later stated he would use the money that he, Okuyasu, and Shigechi earned from a lottery to buy shoes from there. Josuke, Koichi and his family, Joseph, Rohan, Shizuka, and Yukako visit the store.
Kira worked in the Market Regional Management of Morioh's district, beginning in 1993.
Mukadeya is a shoe shop in the center of Morioh. The owner also does small tailor works. Kira is a frequent customer, but eventually kills the owner to protect his identity.
Mikitaka Hazekura was found by Josuke and Okuyasu in one of the fields, having left a conspicuous crop circle behind.
The hospital where Yuya Fungami is treated in room 525.
An all-girls high school where Ayana Hirose is a third year student.
The ghost of a mansion that is featured in Deadman's Questions. Its full address is 25-4 Katahira, Morioh District, S-City and was supposedly the home of a now deceased soldier. It became a ghost after its destruction by a bomber during World War II 50 years ago. The ghost mansion is hidden between two buildings and appears to be flattened. It is equipped with ghost furnitures and other domestic objects that make it nearly perfect as a home for a Ghost. However, it is also the nest of Spirit Cleansers that prey on ghosts. There were supposedly 56 cases of suicides and mysterious death happening near it. The ghost of Yoshikage Kira is sent there to investigate those deaths and he narrowly escapes the house.
The town library, featured in The Book.
It is described as a western-style building situated just pas the shopping district, in front of the trains station. Its walls made of red brick and covered in thorny rose vines, hence its nickname the "Thorn Building". It has a front gate made of black bars reminiscent of an ancient foreign castle, also wrapped in thorny vines. The first floor of the library has the collection collection; the second floor of the library houses the science, technology and philosophy books; the third floor is where rare books and gifts to the library are kept. There are iron grating on all of the windows, except for one loose grating on a third floor window. It has been remodeled during the Meiji Era. There is the persistent rumor of a book that calls to help being kept somewhere in the library.
Chiho Futaba often meets with Takuma Hasumi in the library as they are both interested in literature. The Thorn Building becomes a battlefield for the fight between Takuma Hasumi and Okuyasu Nijimura, then Josuke Higashikata.
A map of Morioh as presented on the cover page of Chapter 303.
Detailed map of the center of Morioh, cover page of Chapter 354
Yoshikage Kira's residence (Kira Estate) and the street that serves as the location of the final battle (Morioh Town) are the two stages representing Part 4 in All Star Battle.
The location of the last battle reappears as a stage in Eyes of Heaven, with Café Deux Magots, grocery store Owson, and the Ghost Girl's Alley in the nearby area. A new stage, Boing-Boing Cape, is also available.
Budogaoka High School
Morioh in the movie
Streets of Morioh at night
Ryohei's room
Morioh restaurant
Morioh's police station
Nijimura House attic
Nijimura House mural
Nijimura House hall
Nijimura House entrance
Josuke's House's living room
Morioh Grand Hotel interior
Morioh Grand Hotel
Coast of Morioh
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| Phantom Blood | |
|---|---|
| Battle Tendency | |
| Stardust Crusaders | |
| Diamond is Unbreakable | |
| Vento Aureo | |
| Stone Ocean | |
| Steel Ball Run | |
| JoJolion | |
| The JOJOLands | |
| Other | |
