The creator of the iconic JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hirohiko Araki is known for his bold, eccentric style and unique approach to storytelling. From distinct character designs to a unique plot — Araki is considered a trendsetter in the anime world. However, many fans may know that the versatility in Araki’s creation stems from an unlikely source, which is none other than the Hollywood legend, Clint Eastwood.
Araki’s lifelong admiration for Eastwood’s cool presence on screen shaped the creation of Jotaro Kujo, the iconic protagonist of the third part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Stardust Crusaders. Not only this, but many of Araki’s other heroes also embody the persona that Eastwood brought to life.
Hirohiko Araki’s Admiration for Clint Eastwood
Hirohiko Araki’s fascination for Clint Eastwood dates back to his early years in elementary school. The legendary movie, For a Few Dollars More, Sergio Leone‘s 1965 Spaghetti Western, introduced Araki to Eastwood while he was accompanied by his father to movie theatres.
Even though Araki was too young to completely understand the movie’s premise, he was deeply impacted by Eastwood’s charisma. Araki was mesmerized by the image of the lone cowboy, standing against the rugged backdrop of the wilderness and casually projecting a sense of power and elegance.
As Araki’s career developed, he ensured that Eastwood’s influence reached every aspect of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, from its basic concepts of power and independence to the very poses his characters adopted. Clint Eastwood‘s influence can always be seen in Araki’s work, from Jotaro Kujo’s stoic nature to the heroes in Steel Ball Run and Vento Aureo‘s status as outcasts.
The Magical Encounter of Hirohiko Araki and Clint Eastwood
In 2012, after years of drawing inspiration from Clint Eastwood, Hirohiko Araki finally had the opportunity to meet the legendary actor and director. The Interview session was translated and published by JOJOmenon. This was an important milestone for Araki on a personal and professional level since it allowed him to express gratitude to Eastwood for influencing his work.
After a heartfelt conversation, Araki presented Eastwood with a painting of Jotaro Kujo and Iggy. The illustration, set against the backdrop of Japan’s famous Mount Fuji, symbolized the cultural exchange between Eastwood’s Hollywood legacy and Araki’s Japanese manga, as Araki stated,
Jotaro and Iggy both have supernatural abilities. Jotaro’s is capable of high-speed movements, but he doesn’t really move and talk much himself. Those characteristics were influenced by you, Mr. Eastwood. And since I came from Japan to give you this drawing, I decided to include Mt. Fuji in the background.
Araki further shared that, in Japan, Items with illustrations of Mount Fuji are usually seen to be highly fortunate. Thus, in his own way, Araki took a cautionary step wishing Clint Eastwood good luck by presenting him the painting. In response, Eastwood playfully exclaimed,
Thank you. Some guys I used to play golf with back in the day would always tell me, “it’s better to have luck than skill.”
In addition to this, Eastwood’s profile on JOJOmenon later stated that his favorite character in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is unknown. However, after receiving the painting he was repeatedly murmuring Iggy’s name.
Clint Eastwood’s influence on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is undeniable. By taking extra care to ensure that Eastwood’s impact was deeply embedded in his storytelling, Araki paid tribute to the Hollywood legend in a way that went beyond a simple homage.