Exciting News for Rohan Kishibe Fans
- New short stories featuring Rohan Kishibe are set to be released in December 2024, crafted by Katsuie Shibata.
- Follow Rohan on his global adventures as he encounters unusual individuals and explores his Stand ability.
- The anime adaptation has been available on Netflix since 2021, produced by David Production.
Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe, a captivating one-shot manga series created by Hirohiko Araki, the mastermind behind Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, is preparing to unveil new narratives next month. This unique series first emerged as a side story during the “Diamond is Unbreakable”arc, with the titular character, Rohan Kishibe, serving as its protagonist. As a manga artist traveling the globe, Rohan is in some ways a reflection of Araki himself; however, both characters exhibit distinct personalities.
Initially released in Japan in 1997, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe is a celebrated spin-off from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, comprising two volumes. Following its debut, various short tales have appeared sporadically in Ultra Jump magazine. The series has also inspired light novels, a TV drama, and a four-episode anime miniseries. The English title is a nod to Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, while the Japanese title, Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai, translates to “Kishibe Rohan Can’t Move,”though it doesn’t reference Nietzsche’s book directly.
JoJo Fans Experience More of Rohan
In a recent announcement, Shueisha has revealed plans to publish a new volume featuring four short stories, set for release on December 18, 2024, in Japan. These stories, penned by Katsuie Shibata, a contributor to the anthology Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Isekai, encompass titles such as “The Doll with No Past” (Iwaku no Nai Ningyou), “Pair Repair,” “The Unseen Shinto Ritual” (Fumi Shinji), and “The Case of the Fan, Kaburagi Yahei” (Fan Kaburagi Yahei no Baai, romanization subject to uncertainty). Interestingly, these narratives seem to stand alone without a cohesive thread tying them together.
The narrative arc follows Rohan as he traverses diverse locales in search of creative inspiration, leading him to extraordinary encounters and unusual circumstances. Rohan’s journey is further accentuated by his Stand ability, “Heaven’s Door,”which grants him the power to read a person’s entire life story and even alter their memories. First introduced in the “Diamond is Unbreakable” arc, Rohan debuted in this storyline set in the late 1990s, alongside the protagonist Josuke Higashikata.
The anime adaptation comprises four OVA episodes that aired in Japan from 2017 to 2019. It became available on Netflix in 2021, offering both subtitled and dubbed versions for audiences worldwide. Additionally, VIZ Media released the complete series on Blu-ray in 2023. The production was managed by David Production, renowned for their previous work on the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise, which has successfully adapted six parts of the manga, with the series currently spanning its ninth installment. Regrettably, the anime community mourned the passing of producer Hiroyuki Omori last June. Omori played a pivotal role in the development of both the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure series and the Rohan Kishibe OVA, though he transitioned from the franchise before the fourth part began.
Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure are brought to readers in the United States by VIZ Media. The anime rights are held by both Netflix (for streaming) and VIZ Media (for home video). However, the light novel adaptations remain unavailable in the U.S. market.
Leave a Reply