JoJo Poses

JoJo Pose

JoJo Poses (ジョジョ立ち, JoJo-dachi, lit. JoJo Standing) refer to the series of stylized, exaggerated poses performed by characters throughout the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise. These poses have become a hallmark of the series, celebrated for their dramatic flair and artistic roots, and are frequently mimicked by fans and referenced in broader pop culture.

Origin and Spread

JoJo Posing, or more specifically, JoJo-dachi (ジョジョ立ち), meaning "JoJo Standing," is the established term used in Japan for the distinctive poses featured throughout the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. The phrase gained popularity in the early 2000s largely through the efforts of Japanese fan Kajipon Marco Zangetsu of the online community Kajipon Bungei Junkie Paradise and his collaborator, "the Demon Instructor". Fans began to mimic the poses in public and share photos online, with Noriaki Kakyoin's pose from Stardust Crusaders generally considered one of the earliest and most influential examples.[1] As the cultural prominence of JoJo poses grew, the term was eventually added to the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Words (2005), a well-known Japanese publication that lists modern terms and slang.[1] Internationally, the phrase "JoJo Pose" gained traction in the late 2010s as the series became more available through official anime adaptations and localized distribution platforms. The western fandom quickly embraced the poses for their flamboyancy, frequently portraying them in cosplay, fan art, and videos.

JoJo Posing School

The popularity of JoJo Poses in Japan has led to widespread imitation among fans in the form of posing competitions, cosplay meetups, and online video trends. At the center of it all was the JoJo Posing School (ジョジョ立ち教室, JoJo Dachi Kyōshitsu), founded by Kajipon and the Demon Instructor. Originally held at the University of Tokyo, this class taught participants how to replicate famous JoJo Poses with strict precision. The Kajipon duo's dedication to the craft was so influential that they were even invited to attend Araki's 25th anniversary party[2], appeared as surprise guests at Asami Araki's interview,[3] and taught a JoJo Posing class at Tohoku Unversity alongside Araki himself.[4]

Araki has commented on the surreal experience of seeing large groups of fans striking JoJo poses in real life settings, such as the gathering of over 500 people in front of Osaka Castle.[2] He described the event as some form of performance art, almost like an alternate world appearing within reality. He also compares the creative intent behind these poses to techniques in modern art, such as using unnatural colors or perspectives to convey surrealism, similar to approaches by artists like Paul Gauguin. While his original goal behind the poses was to blend fantasy with reality, fans have taken the concept further by physically embodying them. He points to Kajipon and Shoko Nakagawa as examples of a new type of individual who are actively bringing the fantastical elements of Stands and the JoJo universe into the real world. He also jokingly admits that he sometimes forgets the poses he drew and now views fan recreations as a form of independent artistic expression.[2]

Merchandise

Since its debut in the 1980s, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has inspired a wide range of merchandise, one of the most popular categories being the statues and figures that depict characters in their signature stances. While the series is famous for its iconic poses, many are only partially shown or cut off due to the limitations of the manga format. In the past, fans often had to guess or improvise when trying to recreate them. The release of certain statues has played a major role in showcasing these poses in full. Many are based directly on Hirohiko Araki's artwork and reveal the complete posture, build, and outfits of the characters, clarifying poses that were previously incomplete or ambiguous. Some figures, such as Medicos Entertainment's Jean Pierre Polnareff from the Statue Legend line (notably supervised by Araki himself),[5] even feature entirely original poses not found in the source material. As a result, these figures have helped build the JoJo posing landscape.

Video Games

JoJo poses are a recurring stylistic element in the majority of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure video game adaptations, often serving not only as a visual homage, but also a gameplay mechanic. From early titles like JoJo's Venture (1998) to more recent releases such as All-Star Battle (2013 and 2022), characters frequently strike iconic poses from the manga during attacks, taunts, intros, and victory screens, in order to showcase the series' distinct visual flair. Games like Phantom Blood (2007) have even referenced the pose phenomenon in its television commercials, which featured groups of people playing Red Light, Green Light while striking JoJo poses.

In addition to adapting poses from the source material, several games have in turn introduced their own original content to the trend. One notable example is the side-profile variation of Jotaro Kujo's pointing pose from JoJo's Venture, which has been widely referenced by fans and in other media such as CyberConnect2's Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series. Much like figures and statues, the promotional artwork and in-game renders from these games, such as All-Star Battle and Eyes of Heaven, have also become essential reference points for fans attempting to recreate JoJo poses. These games not only pay tribute to the original material but also play an active role in shaping the legacy of JoJo posing.

Notable Examples

Creation and Development

The inspiration for "JoJo poses" stems from a variety of sources, most notably classical Roman and Italian sculptures[7][8], as well as the cover art of David Bowie's Heroes album.[9] Hirohiko Araki was particularly struck by the tension and energy conveyed in Bowie's pose, which appeared simultaneously static and dynamic. Inspired by this, he began incorporating similarly striking poses into his own artwork. Araki notes that around Volume 3 of the manga, he started to feel a growing urge to create more eccentric imagery. He noted that during the serialization of Vento Aureo, the fifth part of the series set in Italy, he was particularly conscious of developing more refined and dramatic poses.

Araki also cites influences from fashion photography, kabuki theater, and Western art, especially the works of Rodin. His goal was to evoke a sense of movement, personality, and fantasy emanating from the human form, rather than simply depicting traditional battle stances common in Shonen manga.[10] According to Araki, "manga drawings are boring if the characters are just standing, but if you add a little twist, it creates a very fantastical feeling. Fantasy within reality is what makes it manga-like."[11]

Araki sees poses not just as decorative or expressive choices, but as integral to the identity and memorability of his characters. He believes that signature poses help imprint a character's personality in the reader's mind, similar to the stock poses used in kabuki. His approach involves guiding the viewer's gaze using accelerations and abrupt stops in the composition, both in the poses themselves and the panel layouts.[10]

Araki has also explained that he does not differentiate between genders when deciding how to draw characters posing. He will often use women's fashion magazines for pose references, even when drawing male characters. He feels that women's fashion models tend to strike more dynamic and expressive poses compared to the simpler stances in men's fashion. While anatomical references may differ for different characters, posing is typically based on female fashion imagery.[12]

Araki's Inspirations

Hirohiko Araki's approach to drawing character poses combines artistic homage with technical stylization.[13] He draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, most notably fashion models, classical sculptures, and other works of art, reinterpreting them to match the dramatic tone of each scene in the manga. To blur the line between fantasy and reality, Araki often distorts anatomy, crafting distinct and memorable poses that have become a signature of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. Below are examples of source material Araki has referenced when creating specific poses. For a more comprehensive list, see the Reference Gallery.

Cultural Impact

JoJo poses have become a widely recognized trope, frequently referenced across anime, manga, video games, and broader pop culture. Known for their distinctively exaggerated style, they're widely used in parodies and tributes, with Jonathan Joestar's famous stance from the cover of Volume 4 being among the most commonly imitated. Many creators incorporate JoJo-esque poses as visual easter eggs or comedic nods, ranging from subtle imitations to direct recreations. Their widespread presence highlights the lasting influence of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure on the anime and manga industry and contemporary media as a whole.

Many artists in the industry respect Hirohiko Araki for his groundbreaking approach to character posing. Tetsuo Hara (Fist of the North Star) acknowledged the influence of JoJo poses, noting that while his own characters were known for their bold stances, Araki's were "a step ahead," and that their mutual pursuit of increasingly elaborate poses helped shape the aesthetic direction of manga in the late 1980s and 1990s.[16] Manga illustrator Posuka Demizu has also expressed great respect for Araki's work, particularly his ability to render complex compositions with multiple overlapping characters, while communicating a natural sense of weight and movement. From her perspective, these technically demanding poses highlight Araki's profound understanding of the human body and embody his ongoing theme of celebrating humanity.[17]

JoJo Poses have also made a notable cultural impact in the world of sports. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Japanese hurdler Rachid Muratake gained popularity not only for finishing 5th in the men's 110-meter hurdles, but for striking a dramatic "JoJo pose" before the race. In a later interview, he explained that he simply thought it would be fun to do. In another instance, professional wrestler Go Shiozaki, a longtime fan of the series, adopted the motif of Jotaro Kujo for his costume ahead of a 2009 GHC Heavyweight Championship match. He later performed poses of Noriaki Kakyoin and Jonathan Joestar during an interview in Weekly Pro Wrestling Issue #1490. Reflecting on the photoshoot, Shiozaki joked that his own muscles made some poses difficult to replicate, remarking, "Jotaro's muscles must be really flexible, huh?".

Similarly, figure skater Keiji Tanaka also paid tribute to the series by performing exhibition routines inspired by Diamond is Unbreakable during the 2018-19 season. According to the JoJo's Posing School, even globally recognized athletes like Mao Asada and Usain Bolt have been associated with JoJo-style poses, reflecting the series' wide-reaching influence beyond anime and manga.

Gallery

References

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