Hirohiko Araki ,
the legendary author and illustrator of “ JoJo's
Bizarre Adventure ”, has recently denied his fans'
theories about his supposed immortality in a press conference. At 64,
Araki, known for his long and successful career in the world of manga, made his
first official media appearance in some time during the inauguration of his
first public art installation, titled “The Fountain Boy,” at the JR Osaka
station.
At the conference, the creator of “JoJo's Bizarre
Adventure” addressed speculation that has circulated for years,
especially those that describe him as an eternally youthful-looking being .
Some fans have even jokingly suggested that he could be a vampire, since,
according to them, he "seems to get younger with each passing year."
Araki responded with humor to these theories, stating: « I'm
definitely getting older! There are days when it is difficult. My legs are
stiff. I feel muscle pain every day, and when I draw manga, my muscles hurt.
When I was young, I didn't feel anything like that .
The mangaka also shared what he believes could be
the “secret” to his youthful appearance: « When people around me ask
me, 'What is the secret to your youth?', I answer, 'I wash with Tokyo tap
water' ». Although he mentioned it in a light tone, Araki added
more seriously: « I lead a life in which I rest properly. I want to
have fun. I don't work eight days a week!… When I think about the secret of my
youth, I think it's DNA .
Although Araki has rejected any association with
vampirism, it is interesting to note that undead supernatural creatures
are a prominent theme in his work , particularly in the first three
parts of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure": Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency
and Stardust. Crusaders. The most famous character among these beings is undoubtedly
Dio Brando, who, curiously, was not inspired by a fictional vampire, but by the
main antagonist of “Blade Runner”, Roy Batty, according to an interview
published in 2018.
“JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,” which has
been serialized for nearly 40 years, continues to captivate readers around the
world with its outrageous stories and memorable
characters. Despite the series' longevity, enthusiasm for Araki's work shows no
signs of waning, and theories about his "immortality" are likely to
persist among his most devoted followers, who, with humor and admiration, see
in him an example of seemingly inexhaustible dedication and creativity.
Source: OriconNews
