What are your opinions on Joseph Joestar? Ive been watching videos on why ppl hate him and I just dont understand why. So can you share your opinion about him?
A Defense of Joseph Joestar
You’ve just opened a can of worms, anon, so strap in for the ride!
I’m going to start this off by saying that I love him with all my heart, but do NOT condone some of the things he’s done. So, without further ado, let’s get started in what I’m calling ‘A Defense of Joseph Joestar’
Alright, we’re first introduced to him in part 2. In this part he is a very excitable and hot-headed teen. In the wiki, which I’m going to be referencing, it says that he “had been imprisoned seven times and expelled once from school for fighting,” and he “has antagonized policemen and mafiosi alike.” Now, I’m not sure about the previous imprisonments, or the details surrounding his expulsion, but I DO know that Joseph, when provoking the policemen, did so because they were roughing up Smokey and treating him terribly, using their privilege to be racist. Furthermore, he fights with the mafia member because he threw racist insults and complaints towards Smokey.
Obviously, Joseph has a heart, and is a good person, standing up for his friend despite any danger he might face by doing so. These actions are important to note, I believe, because it signifies his kind nature. Yes, though he is a “foul-mouthed individual,” he uses his strength to defend and fight against evil. He’s not the typical protagonist, a total change from the gentlemanly Johnathan, but he still houses the same determination and heart.
Now, another major thing to note in part 2 is that Joseph gets help from Nazi soldiers, specifically Stroheim. Now, I like the way that Quora user Justin Daluur puts it. “Stroheim and his men were good people. Skilled, helpful, honourable people who are never shown to do anything particularly objectionable, don’t even bat an eye at the black kid hanging around, and who repeatedly risked their lives to save the world. While Joseph started out with some reservations about working with Nazis, Stroheim and his men legit earned his respect.” Joseph was trying to save the world from Kars, who was actively a threat to EVERYONE on Earth. Joseph trusted Stroheim because he saw that he also wanted Kars gone and to save the world.
Alright, moving on to part 3. In this part, the main thing I feel like I need to address is his intolerance of anyone who is Japanese, as he says “I’ll never forgive the Japanese.” This, as he has stated, is because his daughter Holly marries a Japanese man and moves to Japan. As Quora user Sarah Halabi states, “If Joseph really hated the Japanese I don’t think he’d treat Kakyoin and the Duwang gang with alotta respect/love… and Especially bang a Japanese woman.” Now, the last blurb is something I will address during part 4, but for now I’d like to focus on the first thing she says. The first time we see him getting upset at the Japanese is when a Japanese man bumps into him in the airport. And then, mostly in the first few episodes, he gets upset at certain Japanese customs. Now, I think this was just an attempt on Araki’s part to create comedy and mention the fact that Holly is now in Japan and married to a Japanese man. As the part continues, he is shown to care about his grandson AND Kakyoin, who are both Japanese. He doesn’t hate EVERY SINGLE Japanese person, he just hates that his daughter moved so far away. Every parent feels a sense of emptiness and sadness when their children marry and move away. Joseph is a hot-head, as I’ve mentioned. He shouldn’t have been so hateful and ignorant when it came to Japanese people and culture, but he’s definitely far from being intentionally racist. I’m not sure what other discourse you’ve seen, but that’s all I am going to address that is brought up in part 3 because I can’t think of anything else major.
Alright, now part 4 is where things get especially controversial. Josuke Higashikata is revealed to be Joseph’s illegitimate son. Basically, in 1983, before Crusaders but after Battle Tendency, he had an affair with a Japanese woman. Now, this is never mentioned in part 3, but it is a plot point in part 4. There is no excusing the fact that he cheated on his wife. But, off the record, I’d like to say that this was so vehemently out of character that I refuse to believe that Araki was in his right mind or properly characterizing Joseph when he came up with the idea. Anyway, the wiki says that “As Suzi Q got upset that he was unfaithful to her, Joseph added Josuke to his will.” It’s obvious Joseph is still caring and has a kind heart and listens to his wife. Furthermore, Joseph cares for Josuke, and even tries to sacrifice himself via. cutting his wrist to bleed the water red so Josuke can save the invisible baby from drowning. Afterwards, Joseph takes care of the baby, and even adopts her because they never found the child’s mother.
TLDR: Joseph has made mistakes and can easily be mischaracterized as a bad, racist, selfish, cheating person, but in reality he has done so much good, despite his mistakes. I do not deny the things he has done, though sometimes I wish I could, but I will stand by the fact that I love Joseph and his brilliantly flawed character who is impulsive, stupid, hot-headed, clueless, cocky while also being determined, smart, loving, and so complex that I could talk about him for hours.
