Rohan Kishibe
Rohan Kishibe (岸辺 露伴, Kishibe Rohan) is a primary ally featured in the light novel JORGE JOESTAR. He is an incarnation of the original Rohan, living in the 37th universe. Rohan has the same appearance, personality, and Stand as his original universe counterpart.
He is a Japanese manga artist working in Morioh, whose horror mystery Pink Dark Boy series has been serialized for 20 years. After a murder occurs in his recently purchased Arrow Cross House, Rohan becomes involved with helping the 37th universe's Jorge Joestar and the first universe's George Joestar with their detective work.
Appearance
Rohan is an adult with a slim build and average height. His hair is slicked sideways with a neatly trimmed cut that he maintains himself. He wears a headband with jagged edges and earrings designed to look like pen tips. Despite being in his thirties, he possesses a youthful appearance that could mislead some to believing that he is in his teens.[1]
When fighting Yoshikage Kira in the past, he wore a suit. In one photo with his friends, he wears a deep V-Neck sweater vest on top of a collared long sleeve shirt. During the story, he wears a plain crop-top jacket with upturned collars on top of a collarless long sleeve shirt.
Personality
Rohan is an eccentric manga artist exuding an aura of self-assuredness that borders on arrogance at times. He's profoundly passionate about manga, asserting that the loss of his memories wouldn't distress him; he believes most of his life has been consumed by the art of drawing manga, rendering other experiences insignificant.[2] He is accustomed to the world catering to his desires due to his Stand, evident when he confidently states he had the police leave behind evidence at a crime scene for him to keep. Despite the potential insensitivity of showing Jorge the grim crime scene photographs of Jorge's friend and then studying his reactions to them, Rohan's intentions aren't malicious. He's genuinely curious, even if he comes across as peculiar and isn't entirely adept at displaying empathy. He's transparent with his body language and expressions, even though he seems unaware of it. He often speaks with a mocking undertone, though it appears to be a consistent facet of his personality rather than situational disrespect. He considers himself high-strung and doesn't like to loan things to people.[1] In spite of his conceitedness, he possesses a degree of self-awareness, as he apologizes to Reimi Sugimoto for being insensitive.[2]
He speaks rapidly, often jumping between subjects, which can make holding a conversation with him mentally exhausting. He is a fan of mystery literature, as he references Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen. He showcases apathy towards real-life crime scenes and dead bodies, demonstrated by his indifference about a murder in his newly acquired Arrow Cross House.[1] For the sake of his manga, he experiments on things in real life, such as by using a thermometer on the corpses of birds, cats, and a wild boar to see what it's like to be a coroner. He even takes a video of the boar's body being decomposed by maggots.[2]
His lifestyle and habits also portray a disciplined individual. For instance, Rohan has a rule against consuming anything post nine PM. While he may indulge in a drink from time to time, he ensures it's never to excess. Rohan is particular about how he is addressed. While most are familiar with him by his first name due to his fame and interactions in town, he gets extremely irritated if called by his family name or given honorific titles like "sensei" and goes as far as to use Heaven's Door to force people into only calling him "Rohan". He is meticulous as he cuts his hair himself and is notably obsessed with symmetry. This inclination for orderliness extends to his surroundings, even purchasing the Arrow Cross House because of this passion. Rohan’s fixation on symmetry isn’t merely aesthetic; to him, it represents human ingenuity and the pinnacle of man-made beauty.[1] All four clocks in his house are perfectly in sync, with the second hands matching up exactly to each other.[2]
Rohan also displays a secret compassionate side, as he takes in a young girl with amnesia, Reimi, despite having no prior relationship with her. He provides her with a place to stay and even seems content with the unique arrangement. Rohan never imagined himself capable of cohabitating with someone else, further highlighting this act as an exception. He is friends with Koji Hirose, Muryotaisu Nijimura, and Fukashigi Nijimura, but considers them annoying because they always bring trouble with them every time they appear at his house.[1]
The manga artist also has sharp senses and astute observational skills. He claims to be a light sleeper, where even a slight difference in the morning light could wake him up.[1]
Abilities
Stand
Like the original Rohan, Heaven's Door enables this universe's Rohan to transmute people into "human books", with written pages unfurling from their bodies once he draws a transparent figure in the air. These pages relate detailed information about that person, including biological characteristics, history, personality, or even details of their Stand and its abilities. Rohan can also use his Stand to make Stands visible to non-Stand users by writing that it's possible to see them in their books.[1]
History
Background
Rohan had a manga called Pink Dark Boy in serialization for twenty years, and had recently started part eight of the series. In January 2012, Rohan purchased the Arrow Cross House after his previous house burned down. The original owners of Arrow Cross House couldn't be found, and the house had appeared on a hill out of nowhere, so it was going to be torn down before Rohan stepped in to buy it.
Rohan found a girl named Reimi Sugimoto there, who he decided to let stay as a guest after discovering that she has amnesia. He attempted to use Heaven's Door on her but couldn't find out anything about her past.[1]
At some point, Rohan found Yoshikage Kira and was almost killed.[3] Bites the Dust's effect was put on Rohan but Reimi's ability allowed her to keep Rohan in a suspended state between life and death beneath the Arrow Cross House, preventing other Stand users from being able to see him. As there was no oxygen in that area, he would not explode. Due to his state of being an "astral projection", Koji, Muryotaisu, and Fukashigi assumed that he was missing for two weeks in July.
On July 24, Rohan found Tsukumojuku Kato's corpse mounted to a stuffed polar bear in his study room. Despite being a light sleeper, the corpse and polar bear somehow appeared there without him noticing. On that night, Reimi and Rohan mixed up their bedrooms and slept in each other's rooms.[1]
Detective Murder Case
Rohan meets Detective Jorge Joestar, who arrived at his house to investigate the case. He is frustrated that his house was already used for a murder like some cliché story. Rohan then lectures Jorge that he should only call him "Rohan" rather than "Kishibe-san" or "Kishibe-sensei". Jorge hesitates so Rohan uses Heaven's Door to prevent Jorge from calling him anything else besides Rohan.
Rohan describes the mystery of the Arrow Cross House. He also mentions how more than one detective was murdered in Morioh recently. The first was Sachiari Hakkyoku, whose body was found seated on a giant stuffed sea turtle, designed to resemble Urashima Taro. Nekoneko Nyan Nyan Nyan was next and was found near Angelo Rock, surrounded by stuffed dogs, cats, and pheasants. Her death resembled the Momotaro folk tale.
Rohan takes Jorge to the scene of the locked room murder. The police had taken away Tsukumojuku's body, but the bear was left behind as it was too large. Rohan shows Jorge copies of the crime scene photographs that he had the police leave behind, leading Jorge to wonder how Rohan was capable of having everyone listen to his orders as if he could bend the world to his will. The two wonder how someone managed to bring a giant polar bear into the room without Rohan noticing. Later, Rohan tells Jorge about Reimi. Rohan shows the exact locations of each murder case on Jorge's map, and Jorge realizes that the triangle of dead detectives matched the exact shape of the Bermuda Triangle.
As an experiment, Jorge borrows Rohan's hair clippers and cuts the fur of the stuffed polar bear. Rohan whines that he could never use those clippers again. After Jorge points out how Rohan could have theoretically not noticed the polar bear due to its white fur in the white room, Rohan reacts with a bizarre noise that causes Jorge to burst out laughing.
Rohan explains what Stands are and what his Stand could do, explaining that Morioh has several Stand users who are drawn to one another. Jorge tries to mention Kira's name, but suddenly forgets it. Rohan had used Heaven's Door to prevent Jorge from saying the name aloud or else Jorge would explode. Suddenly, the doorbell rings and Rohan asks Jorge if he can get his visitors to leave. He flees the room, asking Reimi to come with him. At the door, Jorge is greeted by Muryotaisu, Fukashigi, and Koji, who confront Jorge assuming he did something to Rohan. After Fukashigi mentions Kira's name, Reimi uses Arrow Cross House's ability to protect him from exploding like Rohan.
Jorge deduces that Reimi is actually a humanoid Stand who could control the Arrow Cross House and used her ability to hide Fukashigi. Rohan is intrigued to learn that she is actually a Stand and not a human. Accepting Jorge's request, Rohan uses Heaven's Door on Jorge so that he could see Stands. Jorge then asks Rohan to use Heaven's Door on Muryotaisu and Koji, allowing them to see "astral projections" like Rohan and Fukashigi. Jorge also realizes that each arrow on the house could rotate, explaining why Rohan did not notice anything happening after Tsukumojuku's murder.
Suddenly, Morioh has an earthquake and a chasm opens along its borders. Koji flies into the air with his Stand and reports that Morioh somehow detached off of Japan and became its own island, sailing on the sea. Just then, Rohan also reveals that he had read Jorge's pages from Heaven's Door. All of Jorge's adventures as a detective were listed under a heading titled "Forgery". Behind Jorge's left ear, Rohan found his true story. He was born in 1889 in the Canary Islands, became a pilot, fought in World War II, and then was murdered in 1920 by an air force general.[1]
Mass Hysteria
Separated from Japan, Morioh travels south at an insane speed of 100 knots (185 km/h). Rohan draws a map of Morioh for Jorge. They assume Morioh became an island from the powers of an individual and plan to head to Budogaoka Academy, because the school was located in the center of the dome. Reimi reveals that Kira had canceled the effect of Bites the Dust, so Fukashigi and Rohan were now safe and freed from Arrow Cross House's protection. Suspicious of the timing, Rohan wonders if Kira is the one who is moving Morioh.
A loudspeaker in the distance declares that Morioh will have an emergency meeting at the Budogaoka gymnasium and all citizens must attend. Rohan says his temporary goodbyes to Reimi as she could not come with them and the Nijimuras and Koji tease him for flirting with her. Jorge questions whether he should come with them because he isn't a Stand user, but everyone convinces him to because he's the detective and has to solve the case.
Muryotaisu summons his Stand Grand Blue, manifesting as three dolphins which carry the group and fly away toward the school like rockets. By the time they reached Jozenji, they found the temple had burned to the ground. The remains of the walls and floor were covered in drawings of moths and the citizens there had set themselves on fire. Jorge and Rohan realize that since this place had some sort of mass hysteria, it might also happen at Budogaoka gymnasium where all of Morioh's anxious citizens were gathered. They quickly head to the gym on Grand Blue, finding thousands of people pouring gasoline on each other when they arrive. They acted like zombies, constantly muttering "scared" in a trance. Rohan tried using Heaven's Door but everyone's books were filled with the word "scared" and there was no white space left for him to write any orders. Jorge realizes they could probably alter the conditions of the hysteria by destroying the locked room, so Koji uses Blue Thunder to destroy the gym's walls. As the locked room disappeared, everyone had come to their senses, wondering why they were covered in gasoline.
Rohan and Jorge wonder if there was anyone there who could be Kira. He would have to grab someone on the way to the beauty parlor but Kira was a careful man who couldn't rely on coincidences like that. Rohan states just standing around watching people won't get them anywhere so he heads to Koji.[3]
Rohan flies back to Arrow Cross House with Koji's Blue Thunder, stating that he'll protect Reimi himself. Jorge follows him back to Arrow Cross House anyways. However, Reimi states that Cube House is the safest place for her to be as nothing would affect its walls. Jorge decides that they should all escape into Cube House, but Reimi is unsure whether its old power still exists since it transformed into Arrow Cross House. Jorge then demonstrates that Cube House simultaneously exists with Arrow Cross House, revealing the hidden door below Rohan's rug. Jorge reveals that someone might be hiding down there and asks Rohan for anything he could use as a weapon and escape gear. As Rohan gives Jorge a golf club, Reimi warns Jorge that it's a bad idea to go into Cube House as it's meant for a single occupant. If two people are running around in different rooms there then it could cause severe contradictions, leading to one person possibly being trapped in a parallel universe. Rohan worries about what may happen if they go in now, but Reimi assures him that since she is the owner of Cube House, she can decide where the floors, ceilings, and walls are. The three safely descend into the first room of Cube House and then Jorge goes further into the rooms below to investigate. Eventually, Jorge checks every room but they are all empty. Reimi then screams after checking the camera, as Tsukumojuku Kato is on the screen. Despite being dead, he walks up to the camera and laughs, saying that he guesses his life entirely belongs to Jorge Joestar, before he then vanishes.[4]
Passione Murder Case
After Passione takes over Morioh, Team Bucciarati stays at Arrow Cross House. Kira (actually Kosaku Kawajiri) and Diavolo's bodies are mysteriously also found in Rohan's study with a time of death at 8 AM, despite Rohan and Jorge having been in the room at that time. They find the original universe George Joestar injured on the ground outside and bring him in so Giorno Giovanna could heal him. Rohan makes it so everyone in the house could speak English, Italian, and Japanese.
When George is conscious, Giorno introduces himself and explains what Stands are, revealing that Rohan also made it so George could see Stands. Rohan introduces himself by stating that the only reason he's helping is because he wants all of them to leave as soon as possible, angry that they got George's blood on his bed. Giorno and Rohan explain how they learned George's history by reading everything about him, and decided that he is the best man to solve the mystery of the two deaths. They also reveal to him that Tsukumojuku had died there and another Jorge Joestar was in charge of that case. George is informed of Jorge's adventures and what the current situation is like now in London.
Rohan's Heaven's Door had tried turning the two bodies into books, but the pages were filled with the word "death" in different languages. He then tried using Heaven's Door on the holographic recordings of Videodrome, but only their names and information about their Stands were written on the pages. After Rohan mentions how he had a clock in his study but someone had stolen it, Guido Mista replies that he should just buy another one. Rohan angrily rebukes Mista saying that he has affection for his own items, so Mista backs off. From that hint, George deduces that there must have been a reason for the clock being stolen, with "time" being the key word. He realizes that time must have been sped up, even though their bodies were moving normally.
George asks Rohan for a thermometer so that they could do autopsies. Leone Abbacchio and NYPD Blue are reluctant to take rectal temperatures until George convinces them to by saying they shouldn't let an amateur handle it. Grossing Abbacchio out, Rohan describes how he used the thermometer on various wild animals such as birds, cats, and a boar, but he assures that the thermometer is well sterilized. The two officers take the temperatures and then examine the inside of Kira and Diavolo's mouths and eyes. Abbacchio asks if George figured anything out, but George ignores him. Abbacchio throws the thermometer at George, but the latter dodges and the thermometer shatters, angering Rohan.
Following George's request, all of the clocks in the house are brought to the study by Rohan, Muryotaisu, Fukashigi, and Koji. The Nijimura twins are creeped out at how all of Rohan's clocks are exactly in sync with even the second hands matching, but Rohan argues that he isn't as sloppy as them. George then asks Reimi about the Cube House. Rohan explains how Stands can unexpectedly evolve, so it's natural that Reimi doesn't have her old memories. Noting how Reimi looked depressed after what Rohan said, George asks the manga artist if he ever felt the fear of forgetting what he lived through. Rohan denies by saying he's thrown his whole life into drawing manga so there's nothing frightening about it to him. Koji and the Nijimura twins scold Rohan for his rudeness to Reimi, leading Rohan to finally realize his thoughtlessness. Rohan apologizes and says that he's not trying to be conceited but he just expects too much from people. The Nijimura twins and Koji laugh about his arrogance. George interrupts their banter and explains that he doesn't think Reimi evolved because a Stand forgetting their user would be a problem. Rather, he believes that something traumatic happened and Reimi was inflicted with a Wound.
George explains his final deductions to everyone. Meanwhile, NYPD Blue and Abbacchio notice that Diavolo's pages from Heaven's Door were not in order; his body only had odd pages, meaning that Diavolo had an alternate personality and someone else had the even pages. Rohan discloses that he used Heaven's Door on everybody except Giorno who could already speak Japanese and Italian, and Doppio, since he arrived late. They notice that Doppio is no longer with them so Muryotaisu summons Grand Blue to go find him. The dolphins quickly retrieve him from Cube House below the study, where he angrily points out that he was on the phone. Rohan was suspicious of Doppio from the beginning because of the crazy things he had been saying. However, Heaven's Door reveals that Doppio has both odd and even-numbered pages, so he is a normal person who is just a bit peculiar.
Enrico Pucci arrives and reveals himself as Diavolo and Kira's killers, but Giorno quickly defeats him with Gold Experience Requiem. With Giorno off guard, Rohan uses Heaven's Door on him. They verify that his body has the even-numbered pages. Giorno finally reveals his betrayal and appears in Diavolo's body after healing it. The gangsters and the Japanese group try protecting George but they are all easily defeated by Diavolo, who kidnaps George and jumps into Cube House.[2] In the end, Rohan assists Bucciarati's gang with Jorge's requests.[5]
Chapters
Novel Appearances- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 4: Morioh
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 6: Island
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 8: Nero Nero Island
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 12: Rhinoceros Beetle (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 14: Desolation Row (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 15: Beyond
Quotes
Quotes- “There's no need to call me sensei whatsoever! I shudder at the very thought that someone might think I wanted that! I'm simply not at all used to being addressed by my family name. My editors, readers, and even the bank clerks down in town all call me Rohan!”—Rohan Kishibe, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 4: Morioh
- “I like to keep things orderly, you see. I cannot bear things that aren't symmetrical. That's part of the reason I purchased the Arrow Cross. The east and west sunrooms have exactly the same furniture, arranged in exactly the same way. Beautiful symmetry is always a product of human ingenuity. Symmetry is the basis of man-made beauty.”—Rohan Kishibe, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 4: Morioh
- “Aaaaaaugh! Now I can never use those clippers again! I hope you'll be paying for those? Augh! Augh! I'll send you a bill! Seriously! Aaaaaugh!”—Rohan Kishibe, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 4: Morioh
- “I'm an artist, I can tell. I know what it feels like to fill every available white space, desperately trying to capture the image in your head. It was beauty they were after, beauty they sought.”—Rohan Kishibe, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 6: Island
- “Hey, don't touch that! To a manga artist, a desk is like a chef's kitchen or a teacher's podium! It's not something anyone else should feel free to just move around as they like!”—Rohan Kishibe, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 8: Nero Nero Island
- “The vast majority of my life contains nothing of any consequence whatsoever. I've thrown all of myself into drawing manga, so that's all there is!”—Rohan Kishibe, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 15: Beyond
Gallery
Rohan with Koji, Fukashigi, and Muryotaisu
Rohan, Reimi, Fukashigi, Muryotaisu and Koji
Rohan with Arrow Cross House behind him
The view in front of Arrow Cross House
Reimi and Rohan
Rohan and others riding Grand Blue
Rohan shocked about Reimi's connection to George
Rohan explains how they caught Giorno
Rohan stops Reimi from going after George
2020 Artwork
