JoJo Could Have Ended with Part 4 (October 2012)
Da Vinci (September 2012)
Interview Archive
"JoJo Could Have Ended With Part 4" (ジョジョは第4部で終わっていたのかもしれない) is an interview with Hirohiko Araki in the JOJOmenon mook, published on October 5, 2012. Advertised as Araki's longest interview ever, it spans from page 14 to page 23.
Interview
Interviewer: “JoJolion” has been a bit more erotic in comparison to previous arcs but is this a conscious decision? Is there a motive behind this shift?
Araki: I wanted to draw something that I had never drawn before. Therefore, it’s probably the first time bust shots have made an appearance. As for the art, I want to draw a looser style. Instead of having a constant focus on intense fights, I think the readers also enjoy the off-beat interactions as well. Up until now I was pursuing the element of fear but I also want to incorporate a sense of relatability and looser aspects.
Interviewer: How have you specifically actualized these ideas?
Araki: For example, I have increased the number of white panels. I try not to draw everything to perfection but rather with a little more openness. I could illustrate as dark as I did previously but I intentionally included more white elements so the reader could pass through a section without being heavily invested in a facetious scene.
Interviewer: I do really enjoy how the art throughout the “JoJo” series has constantly evolved.
Araki: Rather than trying to change, I try to avoid illustrating old, already existing art. However, I do realize there are characters like Koichi Hirose or Tamami Kobayashi whose heights have gradually shrunk and that’s not great... haha.
Interviewer: Like, Funny Valentine from Part 7 was the opposite as he steadily grew.
Araki: Ha, That’s okay because he was working out! (laughs) In reality, the characters constantly move through their lines and poses and they just happen naturally like the flow of nature.
Interviewer: Regarding the dialogue, it’s really amazing because the lines are so memorable that they even publish books such as “Famous quotes from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”
Araki: It’s amazing isn’t it! Haha! When I see my work being accepted by the younger generations, I feel glad to have been drawing all this time.
