What we can learn from Josuke Higashikata

By Gawain Schaefer

A Stand is the manifestable essence of one’s soul, or a physical power made up of someone’s character.  Josuke Higashikata’s character is revealed through the bouts of his Stand, dubbed Crazy Diamond. Josuke is a character from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and this is what we can learn from him. 

As the sun glimmers through the lively town of Morioh, the early morning still waking, the locals leave for work and school to start a new week. Josuke’s grandfather, Ryohei Higashikata (pronounced ree-oh), before Josuke (pronounced jOe-sKe) leaves for school, returns from a grueling night shift. Over the course of a few minutes from his return home, a serial killer-turned Stand User, Angelo Katagiri, murders him in cold blood, without Josuke even noticing. Josuke’s Crazy Diamond can heal people’s injuries, even from the brink of death. He funnels his anger into trying to kill Angelo’s stand, Aqua Necklace, which is directly linked to Angelo himself, with very swift and controlled strikes, but fails as he escapes. Josuke tries to use Crazy Diamond to save Ryohei, but it is too late. Jotaro Kujo, a fellow Joestar and Stand User, enters the home to assist Josuke shortly after Angelo and Josuke brawl.  The very essence of Josuke’s abilities is to heal, but also fight in the necessary moment. 

“Humans are always destroying things around them. But, among the destruction, you possess the world’s kindest power. However, once life itself is lost, it cannot be returned. You won’t be able to bring it back, not even with your Stand” (Jotaro Kujo, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure). Josuke did not truly realize what he had lost until his grandfather passed. Out of respect for his grandfather, he took up the torch of justice he left behind.  

“For the past 35 years, He protected this small town. He had sensed the looming danger. When he heard about what Angelo had done back then, he immediately had the look and determination of a protector. Let me…Let me protect this town and my mother. I’ll do it on his behalf” (Josuke Higashikata, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure). His mental fortitude and care for his loved ones are what make him very commendable, but also a person to learn from. 

In the bizarre mess that is today, negativity and havoc are almost guaranteed to exist. Mass robberies, a lack of accountability from political leaders to everyday people, and rape, as well as murder, happen. If a root cause could be pinned for these catastrophes, it would be the relationship every human has with themselves. 

How Josuke Higashikata plays into this resolve goes as follows. He fights traditional masculinity, Josuke cries, laughs, and does not hide his emotions, which doubles on the people he meets. He cares for the people who make up his life. He respects those who care and do good, and spreads those many positive effects to everyone. At the most basic level, being a radiant human counteracts the negativity.