veemonjosh
Stone free, do what I please
Characters
Josuke Higashikata
Voiced by: Billy Kametz
Stand: Shining Diamond (JP: Crazy Diamond)
Ability: Strength, Speed, Precision, and Restoration
Stats: Destructive Power - A / Speed - A / Range - D / Durability - B / Precision - B / Developmental Potential - C
Namesake: “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” (Pink Floyd song)
Josuke is a high school student in the small Japanese town of Morioh, a kind teenager towards those he cares about and a badass toward those who get him angry (especially when insulting his hair). The son of Joseph Joestar from an affair, Josuke was tracked down by Jotaro to inform him of being included in Joseph’s will, but is about to be caught up in the family business of dealing with bizarre threats. Josuke’s Stand, Crazy Diamond, fits his personality to a T, being a destructive force similar to Star Platinum, but also capable of compassion by healing as well. However, it cannot heal Josuke, cannot revive the dead or heal illness. Also, if Josuke tries to “fix” something while upset, it may come out looking a bit weird.
Jotaro Kujo
Voiced by: Matthew Mercer
Stand: Star Platinum The World
Abilities: Strength, Speed, Precision, and Time Stop
Stats: Destructive Power - A / Speed - A / Range - C / Durability - A / Precision - A / Developmental Potential - A
Namesakes: The Star and The World (tarot cards)
The previous JoJo, Jotaro Kujo was a high school student when his grandfather Joseph took him on a global trek from Japan to Egypt in order to take down the vampire DIO, who had been a plague on his family’s bloodline for over a century. On the journey, he came to learn and master his Stand, Star Platinum, eventually gaining the same time-stopping abilities as DIO’s own Stand, The World, which he used to put an end to the demon once and for all. Now, a decade later, Jotaro is a marine biologist, and was helping his grandfather put together his will, when something odd came up which brings him to the small Japanese town of Morioh. Jotaro’s Stand, Star Platinum, has amazing strength, speed, and precision, which on its own makes it one of the most powerful Stands around. On top of this, with its added ability The World, which Jotaro learned during his fight with DIO, he can stop time for a second.
Koichi Hirose
Voiced by: Zach Aguilar
Namesake: The Hirose River (a river in Sendai, Hirohiko Araki’s hometown and the real life basis for Morioh)
A meek but friendly classmate of Josuke.
Tomoko Higashikata
Voiced by: Allegra Clark
Josuke’s single mother, Tomoko is a kind woman who works as a teacher and cares deeply for her family and friends. Deep in her heart, she still loves Joseph, whom she met while she was in college, and thus shows great disgust towards any man who hits on her.
Ryohei Higashikata
Voiced by: Michael Sorich
Josuke’s grandfather and Tomoko’s father. Ryohei was a police officer in the town of Morioh for 35 years, dedicated to protecting the public and putting a smile on everyone’s face. He was killed when he accidentally drank Angelo’s Stand, Aqua Necklace, which led Josuke to vow to become Morioh’s new protector in his memory.
Anjuro “Angelo” Katagiri
Voiced by: Lex Lang
Stand: Aqua Necklace
Abilities: Liquid Form and Possession
Stats: Destructive Power - C / Speed - C / Range - A / Durability - A / Precision - C / Developmental Potential - E
Namesakes: Angelo Badalamenti (American composer) / Aqua (album by Asia)
One of the most dangerous criminals in modern Japanese history, Angelo is a murderer and a rapist who was sentenced to death by hanging. However, on the day of his execution, he somehow survived, and soon made his escape, coming to hide in the town of Morioh as a milkman. He is immoral, sadistic, and highly intelligent, making him a dangerous foe even without his Stand. His Stand, Aqua Necklace, takes on a liquid-like form which can attack its opponents (similar to N’Doul’s Geb). Additionally, it can possess people, which allows Angelo to kill others without directly needing to dirty his own hands. After killing Josuke’s grandfather and threatening to do the same to Josuke and his mother, Josuke fused Angelo to a rock, now forced to live the rest of his days trapped in the town Ryohei loved.
Episode 3 (77)
“The Nijimura Brothers, Part 1"
Chapters adapted: 273-276
Previously on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure:
The criminal Angelo arrived at the Higashikata residence dressed as a milkman, aiming to have Aqua Necklace possess Tomoko or her son. Tomoko noticed something strange about the bottle of milk he gave her and saw that it was ajar. She asked for a new bottle and he curses, choosing to vent his frustration on a bystander and his dog. Angelo instead had his Stand infiltrate the plumbing of the Higashikata residence. While Josuke discussed Angelo and his Stand with Jotaro on the phone, Aqua Necklace entered Tomoko's body. However Josuke noticed it, and managed to imprison Aqua Necklace in a bottle by having Crazy Diamond punch through his mother and break the bottle at the same time, then repaired the bottle and heal Tomoko.
Aqua Necklace was now trapped and Josuke waited for Jotaro to come. However, when Ryohei came back from his night shift and Angelo recognized him, the criminal transformed Aqua Necklace into cognac, knowing that Ryohei always had a drink after his night shift. When Josuke was distracted by Jotaro's arrival, Ryohei drank the fake cognac and was killed by Aqua Necklace. Josuke tried to pummel Aqua Necklace in anger, but it escaped. Then Josuke healed his grandfather but it is too late for Ryohei, as even Crazy Diamond cannot bring back the dead. Josuke vowed to avenge his grandfather and become the town's protector in Ryohei's stead.
Three days later, while raining, Angelo ambushed Jotaro, not knowing that he is a Stand user. Star Platinum punched Aqua Necklace but it was unaffected and infiltrated the house. Jotaro ran back inside to warn Josuke, but Aqua Necklace had opened every hot water faucet and merged with the steam. In its gaseous state, Josuke was unable to catch him in a bottle nor Jotaro was able to pin the Stand down. The entire house was soon filled with steam; Jotaro and Josuke were trapped. Josuke then broke through a wall leading to the only isolated room and repaired it, but Angelo predicted this and turned on the humidifier.
Josuke swallowed Aqua Necklace but was prepared for this situation. Having swallowed a shredded latex glove beforehand, Josuke repaired it and trapped Aqua Necklace. Josuke and Jotaro pinpointed Angelo's location and cornered him near a rock. When Angelo tried to dissuade them from killing him, Josuke instead fused him to a rock forever, thus avenging his grandfather. The newly christened "Angelo Rock" became one of Morioh's biggest attractions, as Jotaro remarked that Josuke is a pretty crazy guy.
Aqua Necklace was now trapped and Josuke waited for Jotaro to come. However, when Ryohei came back from his night shift and Angelo recognized him, the criminal transformed Aqua Necklace into cognac, knowing that Ryohei always had a drink after his night shift. When Josuke was distracted by Jotaro's arrival, Ryohei drank the fake cognac and was killed by Aqua Necklace. Josuke tried to pummel Aqua Necklace in anger, but it escaped. Then Josuke healed his grandfather but it is too late for Ryohei, as even Crazy Diamond cannot bring back the dead. Josuke vowed to avenge his grandfather and become the town's protector in Ryohei's stead.
Three days later, while raining, Angelo ambushed Jotaro, not knowing that he is a Stand user. Star Platinum punched Aqua Necklace but it was unaffected and infiltrated the house. Jotaro ran back inside to warn Josuke, but Aqua Necklace had opened every hot water faucet and merged with the steam. In its gaseous state, Josuke was unable to catch him in a bottle nor Jotaro was able to pin the Stand down. The entire house was soon filled with steam; Jotaro and Josuke were trapped. Josuke then broke through a wall leading to the only isolated room and repaired it, but Angelo predicted this and turned on the humidifier.
Josuke swallowed Aqua Necklace but was prepared for this situation. Having swallowed a shredded latex glove beforehand, Josuke repaired it and trapped Aqua Necklace. Josuke and Jotaro pinpointed Angelo's location and cornered him near a rock. When Angelo tried to dissuade them from killing him, Josuke instead fused him to a rock forever, thus avenging his grandfather. The newly christened "Angelo Rock" became one of Morioh's biggest attractions, as Jotaro remarked that Josuke is a pretty crazy guy.
Now:
Soon after Angelo tells the story of how he gained his Stand, Josuke has an encounter with a pair of brothers possessing an ancient artifact.
JOJO'S JUKEBOX
This week, we have the theme song to a TV series that likely served as inspiration for Part 4. From composer Angelo Badalamenti, the namesake for Angelo, it’s the theme to “Twin Peaks”.
Notes:
- The chapters which this episode covers can be found in volumes 29 and 30 of the Japanese manga release.
- The first 24 episodes of Stardust Crusaders, as well as the first season, are currently available on Bluray and DVD.
- Please, no spoilers about upcoming events and future arcs.
