Sorry for skipping around but this TRUTH BOMB CAN’T BE DELAYED FROM PUBLIC RELEASE.

*TL note: Gentle readers, you may be asking, “how can Noriaki be read as Tenmei?” The answer lies in the fact that kanji often has two readings: on-yomi and kun-yomi. I could ramble on forever resulting in you earning 2 credits towards Japanese Studies but here’s a pretty fun to read article about it instead. Basically, 典明 (Kakyoin’s name in Kanji) can be read two different ways. If I wanted to be facetious, I’d tell you this is kinda like if Araki verbally told his editor Kakyoin’s first name is “Jasmine” but then failed to inform him later that it’s supposed be be spelled “Jazzmynn.”

**Yes, Araki actually indicates he’s making a wry/bitter smile in parenthesis, so I decided to swap them out for the corresponding kaomoji.

***In his talk, Araki writes Kakyoin’s first name in Kanji only without any particular denotation for the pronunciation.

****i.e. Jotaro’s fight with Abdul

Noriaki Kakyoin

Data

Birthday: Unknown

Height: 178cm (5’8)

Weight: 65kg (143lbs)

Horoscope Sign: Leo

Blood Type: A

Nationality: Japanese



“His real name is ‘Kakyoin Tenmei*’”

I thought up all five of the Joestar troupe - Kakyoin, Jotaro, Joseph, Abdul, and Polnareff - as a set. I decided on the right balance from the start so that their appearance, personality, fashion and Stands did not overlap. For me, it was very important for their silhouettes to be recognizable. Still, my editor at the time told me, “From this silhouette, no one has a round shaped head so everyone must be pretty straightforward” (；・∀・)**. I thought to make Kakyoin the thin, somewhat sensitive one of the group.

Even though Kakyoin is the only Japanese in Part 3 besides Jotaro, I wasn’t specifically particular about his nationality. What was most of note was his name. I always think of both the first and last names together as a set. His last name, 'Kakyoin,’ I took from a place in my hometown of Sendai. It’s a place that I always passed through on my way to Sendai Station so it’s a name of a place very dear to me. And so, I made 典明 (Note: Kakyoin’s first name which can be read as either Noriaki or Tenmei**) the first name to go along with Kakyoin as a last name. Officially, it has become 'Noriaki,’ but I’ve always called him 'Tenmei.’ Actually, I left [this reading of his name] as a signature in Enya’s hotel guest book (See JoJonium 11). I made the main character’s [name] 'Kujo Jotaro’ so I gave [Kakyoin] his name after I pondered how it will sound and the proper balance of the characters [in his name] but…my editor made 'Noriaki’ go off on a journey with the Joestar troupe (；・∀・). When I saw that [his name] was different in the comics, I was a little surprised, but I guess this is like when a kid gets his friends to call him 'Noriaki’ even though his parents named him 'Tenmei.’

Although I wasn’t particular about the fact that Kakyoin is Japanese, I purposely made him the foil to Jotaro. The reason why I made Kakyoin Jotaro’s first actual [as opposed to first attempted****] opponent in a Stand vs. Stand battle is because I wanted to convey to the readers the concept of a long range and short range Stand. As a long range Stand, I decided to depict Kakyoin’s 'Hierophant Green’ stretching out in strands so that both [Jotaro and Kakyoin’s] differences can be easily comprehended when compared to 'Star Platinum.’ I had many ideas of how to depict long range attacks, but in order to not have it turn into anything goes right from the start, I was careful to emphasize that Stands = manifests and stands next to [the user.]

I didn’t really have a chance to draw it [in the comic], but Kakyoin is a high school student that goes to the same school that Jotaro does. During this journey, you can sense that although they become friends, there is still a sense of distance. But I wonder how it would’ve been like if they didn’t have their Stand abilities as common ground…Considering their [personality] types, they probably would not have become friends (LOL). I bet Kakyoin would’ve become better friends with Josuke from Part 4.

Q: [Did you consider] not giving [Kakyoin] a gakuran [to make him contrast more] with the main character?

A: Since Kakyoin is an honor student type, I gave him a prim and proper gakuran. Jotaro is a hoodlum so his gakuran is hanging open. Having them both wear the same outfit differently makes the differences in character more pronounced. I think I [also] distinguished them by giving Jotaro accessories.

