Financially, the town is supported by the area for holiday villas that extends out to the coast, as well as tourism; both of which have been around since the age of Date Masamune. Recently, there's also the remarkable microchip component manufacturing industry.
Morioh (杜王町, Moriō-chō) is a fictional town located within Momiji Ward, S City, M Prefecture, Japan,[1] and the setting of the majority of the eighth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, JoJolion.
The town was founded by Date Masamune. The coastline is saturated with condos, touring guides and vacation homes. Tourism is the town's main source of income; but, recently, there has been an unprecedented boom in the microchip manufacturing industry.
On March 11, 2011, before the events of the story, a great earthquake and tsunami (in reference to the Tohoku earthquake) struck the town, inflicting remarkable damage. In response to the approaching tsunami, the coastline sections were abandoned as sacrifices to protect the remainder of the city and its occupants. Restoration of the damaged areas is still underway, leaving many homeless and suffering.
Countless people were killed or are missing. With a significant amount of residential and industrial buildings damaged, refugees and the unemployed make up many of the survivors. The aftermath of the earthquake remains of primary concern in Morioh. The night after the event, the town became isolated by strange protuberances known as the Wall Eyes.[1]
Geography
According to the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's official map, Central Morioh extends three kilometers inland from the coast and is located on a pleateu fifteen meters above sea level. Because of its placement so close to the sea, the coastline sections were abandoned in order to protect the remainder of the city and its occupants. After the quakes, several Wall Eyes litter the area between the coastline and the mainland.[1]
Yasuho Hirose's home. A modest underground apartment in which Yasuho lives with her mother Suzuyo Hirose. Although you have to climb a small set of stairs to go to the front door, entering leads immediately to a platform from which one has to descend to reach the living room. Yasuho has her own room in this apartment.
After marrying Rina Higashikata, Johnny Joestar and his family settled in a ranch for a time, until Johnny felt compelled to go to Japan after his wife fell ill.
A small octogonal tuscan-style house situated at the top of a hill. It once belonged to Aisho Dainenjiyama. However, his girlfriend stole the deed of the house and sold it. The house was demolished while Aisho was hibernating inside, and Aisho almost died during the process.
A ski lift on a mountainside serving as Rai Mamezuku's summer home. Firstly, the mountainside is Rai's orchard, where he cultivates various plants (for example, strawberries). Rai has organized his orchard to keep the pests within a controllable area with bait plants, safeguarding the rest of his terrain. The second pole is a library and winery. The third pole is a closet where Rai keeps his clothing and shoes. The fifth pole contains the kitchen. A water tank sits on the sixth pole, which also houses a bidet (with a curtain for shy guests). The seventh pole contains a gas tank.
Maako Kitani's home, a luxurious two-storied apartment situated at the top of a condominium, with modern architecture and a spacious balcony with a jacuzzi. She lives here with her daughter and Ojiro Sasame.
A hat shop in Morioh, founded in 1891. It sells all kinds of hats, like sailor hat, baseball caps, caps, and cowboy hats. Josuke Higashikata and Yasuho Hirose visit the shop and learn that Yoshikage Kira has recently bought a sailor hat here.
Hasekura High School (支倉高校, Hasekura Kōkō) is the school that Josuke and Joshu try to go to get the former academically evaluated. It is located at the end of Shakedown Road, but is ultimately never actually seen. Joshu does not go to this school, instead attending a different one in S City, but knows several people who do and whom he claims are all good people.
It is presumably named for Hasekura Tsunenaga, a historical figure who was a retainer to Date Masemune, the founder of Morioh in-universe and Sendai in real life.
Morioh's commercial district, situated near the train station. It is the touristic hub of the town and one of its economic hubs, as it is full of shops and has an arcade.
The Higashikata Fruit Parlor (東方フルーツパーラー, Higashikata Furūtsu Pārā) is the shop of Norisuke Higashikata IV, where he sells high-class fruits to his customers. The unsold fruits are used as ingredients for the café situated above the parlor itself.
Morioh Stadium (杜王スタジアム, Moriō Sutajiamu) is the local baseball stadium of the Seiten Birdies and is owned by Maako Kitani. It is also where Aisho Dainenjiyama works as a security guard. Aisho conducted a trade of the Locacaca with local baseball star Atsunori Iwakiri.
Morioh Harbor (杜王港, Moriō Kō) is a port for private boats that contains an industrial area. It is partially wrecked when Killer Queen triggers an explosion to save Yoshikage Kira and Josefumi Kujo from Tamaki Damo.
A café where Josuke Higashikata and Karera Sakunami briefly visit. Karera has an appointment here with a bald man to make hair grow on his head. Karera causes a scene here, forcing the staff to ask her to leave.
A shop selling luxurious watches. Joshu Higashikata visit it briefly when he becomes rich. However, the sellers spots a crack on the glass and apologizes. He retakes the watch and gives Joshu back his money, although it is secretly more than what Joshu paid for the watch.
A hostess bar which Joshu Higashikata visits when he becomes rich. Like any establishment of its kind, it provides female company for its clients and serves extravagant drinks such as champagne with golden flakes in the beverage. The manager of the bar notices Joshu and realizes that he's using the Milagroman's money, so he tries to throw him out.
A movie theater which Joshu Higashikata visits when he becomes rich. He goes here to see a pirate movie starring Johnny Depp in 3D, and wins a figure of Depp's character.
A school situated in Morioh. It is mentioned as part of an incident in which 15 of the school's rabbits have been devoured by an unknown "man" between the 4th of December 2007 and the 25th of January 2008. Masaji Dorokoma was the prime suspect due to the dental imprint on the corpses, but the police were unable to locate him.
An Italian restaurant operating in Morioh. It is never seen, but Jobin Higashikata complains about being unable to book a table at them. They having dealings with the Higashikata Fruit Company.
The place where Josuke Higashikata is discovered. It is a plot of land situated right in the middle of the area uplifted by the earthquake, Josuke himself being found near a spring, and Yoshikage Kira having been buried at the bottom of said spring. It is situated near the Higashikata estate and the soil here has supernatural properties allowing an Equivalent Exchange.
Mutsu-kabe Shrine (六壁神社, Mutsukabe Jinja) is a shrine situated near the TG University Hospital. Its pond is the home of Dolomite since he's lost his limbs.
A pleasure beach situated near Morioh. One day, as Kiyomi Kujo and her young son Josefumi Kujo were having fun at the beach, Josefumi fell in the water and got trapped between rocks, hitting his head and nearly drowning as a result.
Hyogara Rocks (ヒョウガラ列岩, Hyōgara Retsugan) is a reef known for the abalones that inhabit the seashore. Lucy Steel mentions that poaching abalones here was once punishable by death. Josefumi Kujo and a dying Yoshikage Kira climb from the shore while escaping Tamaki Damo.
Mount Hananero (鼻炉山, Hananero-yama) is one of the mountains situated near Morioh. Used as a ski resort in the winter, as it is equipped with a ski lift. Rai Mamezuku lives on said lift in the summer.
An area of gently sloping hills crossed by a curving road. It was once an area where the upper classes would build and live in villas. It is situated near Hyogara Rocks, and also near the mountains, where one can hunt pheasants. By 1941, the area has become part of the Higashikata estate and is used as an orchard for the Higashikata Fruit Company.
A mysterious part of a road curving along the slope of a hill, with a guard rail installed here to prevent falls. It is the site of the "Radio Gaga Incident", an incident involving a woman who was inexplicably drawn to the guard rail, began to undress herself and mumbling "gaga" repeatedly, who then suddenly disappeared as a truck came by. Lucy Steel discovers that the guard rail is a living creature which is responsible for the disappearances.
Likewise, this Morioh appears to be based on Sendai, Hirohiko Araki's hometown; located in the same place, and sharing some of its history and culture.
Manga Appearances
