You plan to train here? If you do, your destiny will change greatly based on what you learn here... and later you will meet an evil enemy and bear the fate of death! (そなたここで修行するつもりか?すればここで体得したことのために運命が大きく変わり…そして凶悪な敵に出会い『死』への宿命を背負うことになるぞ!!, Sonata koko de shugyō suru tsumori ka? Sureba koko de taitoku shita koto no tame ni unmei ga ōkiku kawari... soshite kyōakuna teki ni deai 'shi' e no shukumei o seou koto ni naru zo!!)
Tonpetty is an old man of medium height and build. He has dark skin, prominent brow ridges with no eyebrows, pronounced frown lines, and bags under his eyes. His head is bald, and he possesses a light chinstrap beard. His typical manner of dressing includes a light-colored monk's raiment with darker shoulder armor, the anime redesigns this look from the manga. During his first meeting with Zeppeli, he wore much baggier robes with fur covering the shoulders.
Color Schemes
The series is known for alternating colors between media, the information presented below may or may not be canon.
Colored MangaPB (PS2)PB FilmAnime
Skin(Tan)
Hair (Beard)(White)
Eyes(Brown)
Outfit
(Tan robes, brown shoulderpads, silver accessories.)
Skin(Brown)
Hair (Beard)(Silver)
Eyes(Brown)
Outfit
(Yellow robes, tan scarf, sash, and pants, silver shoulderpads, black arm guards, green necklace.)
Skin(Tan)
Eyes(Dark Brown)
Outfit
(Burgundy robes over red clothing, brown shoes.)
Skin(Gray)
Hair (Beard)(Silver)
Eyes(Brown)
Outfit
(Yellow robes with a mustard yellow trim, brown shoulderpads, burgundy and blue accessories.)
Personality
Tonpetty is a wise, world-worn man who shows great concern for others; during Zeppeli's training, Tonpetty warned him about his fate but did not attempt to dissuade him forcefully.
As a master of Ripple, he shows great understanding of the technique and admiration for exceptional practitioners. He taught a number of pupils and accompanies Jonathan Joestar in his quest to vanquish Dio Brando's evil.
Abilities
As a Ripple master, Tonpetty has trained multiple people in the art of the Ripple. He is the only character shown to be able to predict the future of someone by simply touching their hand, displaying a high level of skill. His students demonstrate multiple techniques as the result of their training with Tonpetty, including the ability to heal others. Tonpetty demonstrates a certain level of hand-to-hand fighting ability as he twists the neck of a zombie with a single slap.[1]
The user can predict the future of any individual. Its regular usage allows one to see a few seconds into the future. Extremely skilled users like Tonpetty can see very far into the future of an individual by touching their hands, including their destiny and how they die.
History
Background
Tonpetty and Zeppeli
Tonpetty is a Tibetan Ripple master who trained Dire and the then 25-year-old Zeppeli in the ways of the Ripple. He eventually revealed to Zeppeli that he would face a gruesome death if his training continued. Nevertheless, Zeppeli decided to continue with his training and pursue the Stone Mask. Upon discovering its location, Zeppeli wrote a letter to Tonpetty to ask for help in destroying it.
Phantom Blood
Tonpetty vs Dio's zombies
Tonpetty, accompanied by Dire and another student named Straizo, travel to Windknight's Lot to assist in the fight against Dio Brando. However, they do not meet with Jonathan Joestar and Robert E. O. Speedwagon until after Zeppeli's death.[2] Though Dire is killed attempting to fight Dio directly, Tonpetty and Straizo help kill Dio's remaining Zombies. After the battle, the group burns Dio's clothes as a way to erase his existence. Tonpetty is last seen at the docks with the rest of Jonathan's friends to see him and Erina off for their honeymoon. Tonpetty's whereabouts after this are unknown, but he was eventually succeeded by Straizo.[3] He is assumed to have died sometime in the 50-year span between Dio's defeat and Straizo's meeting with Speedwagon, as Straizo doesn't mention him when it comes to the remaining people aware of the Stone Mask's existence.[4]
You plan to train here? If you do, your destiny will change greatly based on what you learn here... and later you will meet an evil enemy and bear the fate of death! (そなたここで修行するつもりか?すればここで体得したことのために運命が大きく変わり…そして凶悪な敵に出会い『死』への宿命を背負うことになるぞ!!, Sonata koko de shugyō suru tsumori ka? Sureba koko de taitoku shita koto no tame ni unmei ga ōkiku kawari... soshite kyōakuna teki ni deai 'shi' e no shukumei o seou koto ni naru zo!!)
In a secret room filled with the smell of death... when a young child opens the gate! To release a young lion in chains into the future, you will set fire to your wounds and die a cruel death! (古からの死臭ただよう密室で…幼な子が門をひらく時!鎖でつながれた若き獅子を未来へとき放つため!おのが自身はその傷を燃やし!しかるのちに残酷な死を迎えるであろう, Inishie kara no shishū tadayō misshitsu de... yōna ko ga mon o hiraku toki! Kusari de tsunaga reta wakakishishi o mirai e toki hanatsu tame! Ono ga jishin wa sono kizu o moyashi! Shikaru nochi ni zankokuna shi o mukaerudearou.)
Courage is not a thing that shows up in your imagination. It's something you squeeze out of yourself when face to face with genuine fear, terror that leaves every part of you shaking like a leaf.
Tonpetty appears as a playable character during 77 Rings Knights Mode and some battles in Extra Battle Mode, as well as during some battles in Story Mode after the mode is beaten once. As his appearance in Phantom Blood was minimal, his moveset and fighting stance were created from the ground up for the game. His moveset includes punches, kicks, headbutts, and even inflating his own hand to strike the opponent. His special move is a barrage of karate chops.
The information below derives from a source not written by Araki. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.
Tonpetty plays a supporting role in the light novel JORGE JOESTAR, with his full name revealed to be Ngapoi Ngawang Tonpetty (ンガプー・ンガワン・トンペティ, Ngapū Ngawan Tonpeti). He is named after a Tibetan senior official named Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme.
One morning, he has a prediction that George Joestar II will have a plane crash and tells Lisa Lisa the location of where George will end up stranded in the North Sea.[5] Lisa Lisa later takes George to the secret underground lair of the Ripple warriors in France. Tonpetty reveals that George had entered his dreams several times and that it is an honor to meet Jonathan Joestar's son in person. He claims that George has inherited Jonathan's courage, although George denies it.
Tonpetty secretly reveals to Lisa Lisa that he predicted George would die around the time of his marriage with her. This causes Lisa Lisa to distance herself from George out of fear and the two don't meet each other for three years. When George learns about this, he immediately becomes angry that Tonpetty made Lisa Lisa afraid. However, George's anger dissipates when he confronts Tonpetty and feels the man's intimidating aura. After George questions Tonpetty's prophecy, Tonpetty suddenly looks puzzled and feels that there is a chance George may not die after all. He informs George that a god is watching over him and if George can put his faith in that power, he'll survive his fate of being brutally murdered by something terrifying.[6]
Jorge Joestar from the 37th universe later learns about Tonpetty and decides to call him using the pebble phone created by Vinegar Doppio (Universe 37) which can communicate across universes. Although Jorge feels like an idiot asking a man from a country which doesn't use kanji about what the spelling of his name should be, Tonpetty gives him the spelling 城字ジョースター (Jōji Jōsutā). At first Jorge thinks it's extremely weird from a Japanese perspective because the kanji that Tonpetty chose for spelling "Joji" means "castle" and "character", but then Jorge realizes that it is actually fitting for him.[7]