Hirohiko Arakithe legendary author and illustrator of “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure“, recently denied fan theories about his supposed immortality at a press conference. At 64, Araki, known for his long and successful career in the manga world, made his first official media appearance in some time during the unveiling of his first public art installation, titled “The Fountain Boy,” at JR Osaka Station.

At the conference, the creator of “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure” addressed speculations that have been circulating for years, especially those describing him as eternally youthful in appearance. Some fans have even jokingly suggested that he could be a vampire, as they say, “he seems to get younger with each passing year.” Araki responded humorously to these theories, stating: «I'm definitely getting older! Some days it's hard. My legs are stiff. I have muscle pain every day, and when I draw manga, my muscles hurt. When I was young, I didn't feel any of this.».

The mangaka also shared what, in his opinion, could be the “secret” to his youthful appearance: «When people around me ask me, 'What is the secret of your youth?', I answer, 'I wash with Tokyo tap water.'». Although he mentioned this 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 rather by the main antagonist of “Blade Runner”, Roy Batty, according to an interview published in 2018.

“JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,” serialized for nearly 40 years, continues to captivate readers around the world. with its whimsical stories and memorable characters. Despite the series' longevity, enthusiasm for Araki's work shows no sign of waning, and theories about his "immortality" will likely persist among his most devoted followers, who, with humor and admiration, see in him an example of seemingly inexhaustible dedication and creativity.

Source: Oricon News