Possessed by an "Evil Spirit"
"
He used to be such a good boy... and now I don't know what's happened to him!
"
—Holy Kujo, A Man Possessed
Jotaro in his jail cell.
In 1988, at the age of seventeen, Jotaro severely injured four gang members in a fight. Knowing his strength could not grow to such a length, he began thinking he was possessed by an "evil spirit" and so turned himself in to the police. Despite the police and Holy telling him he was free to go, Jotaro insisted on staying, demonstrating the danger by taking one of the policeman's guns and shooting himself in the head. He was not killed, however, as a third arm appeared to him and was able to catch the bullet in mid-air.[2]
Holy soon called her father, Joseph Joestar, to work out the situation. After a brief chat between Jotaro and Joseph failed to sway Jotaro, Joseph sent out his Egyptian friend, Muhammad Avdol. Avdol then sent out his own "evil spirit", known as Magician's Red, and trapped Jotaro's limbs with rings of fire.[14] In defense, Jotaro's "evil spirit" fully appeared before Jotaro and successfully released him from the fire. Joseph then revealed that the "evil spirit" was known as a Stand, a manifestation of an individual's life force. While breaking the iron bars of his cell, Jotaro accidentally let himself out of his cell. With Jotaro freed, Joseph told him the real reason he and Avdol came to Japan. A century-old man known as DIO, an enemy of Jotaro's great-great-grandfather Jonathan Joestar, had risen once more.[15]
Later, Joseph showed his Stand, Hermit Purple, to Jotaro. Using it's ability to put visions of distant places onto film, Joseph revealed a picture of DIO to Jotaro. The picture revealed that DIO's body was actually Jonathan's due to the star-shaped birthmark, that all blood members of the Joestar family possess, being on the nape of his neck.[8]
First Fight
"
Evil is the one who uses and looks down upon the weak, especially women! And that's exactly what you've done, isn't it?! You must think that Stand allows you to avoid laws and consequences, aren't you... In that case, I will judge you myself!!
"
—Jotaro Kujo, about to defeat Kakyoin, Who Shall Judge?!
The next day, Jotaro walked to school, constantly being hit on by his many female classmates. While walking down some steps, Jotaro's leg was cut, sending him flying into the air.[8] After catching himself with some branches, Jotaro encountered a transfer student, Noriaki Kakyoin, who gave him a handkerchief to clean his wound. At the school nurses' office, Jotaro opened up Kakyoin's handkerchief which revealed that Kakyoin would kill him. The nurse then began going insane, trying to stab Jotaro with a pen. Kakyoin then appeared, telling Jotaro that the nurse is possessed by his Stand, Hierophant Green.[16]
Jotaro removes the bud on Kakyoin.
After freeing the nurse by pulling Hierophant Green from her mouth, Jotaro was forced to take Kakyoin's signature attack, Emerald Splash. Jotaro survived the attack and, after proclaiming Kakyoin was evil for manipulating the weak, was able to deflect the next Emerald Splash, take a hold of Kakyoin, and mercilessly beat him up.[17]
Jotaro brought the unconscious Kakyoin to the Kujo house in order to get information about DIO. There, Joseph told Jotaro that Kakyoin was being controlled by a flesh bud of DIO's. The bud caused Kakyoin to become loyal to DIO and would also kill him in a few days, an operation to remove it would only damage his brain. Using the precise hand movements of his Stand, Jotaro began removing Kakyoin's flesh bud. Despite the flesh attacking him, the removal was successful, allowing Kakyoin to return to his senses.[18]
The next day, Jotaro found that his mother had gained a Stand ability due to DIO's influence. But due to Holy having a much gentler persona, she could not control her Stand. Avdol then estimated that she would die in 50 days and the only way to cure her would be to kill DIO. Thanks to his Stand being able to draw an Aswan We-We fly from their photo of DIO, Jotaro was able to confirm that DIO was in Nile River in Cairo, Egypt, as the fly was known to only live in that area. Knowing DIO's location, Jotaro, Joseph, Avdol, and Kakyoin, who owed a debt to Jotaro for saving his life, began their quest to Egypt. Avdol then gave Jotaro's Stand a name, Star Platinum.[19]
The Journey Begins
Jotaro caught by Tower of Gray on the plane.
After giving a final goodbye to Holy, who was in the care of the Speedwagon Foundation, the four left from Narita airport on a flight to Cairo. While above the East China Sea, they noticed an insect on the plane. The insect then began attacking Jotaro, who quickly deduced that it was a Stand.[20] Avdol was then able to figure out that the Stand was known as Tower of Gray and its user had caused many crashes, making them look like accidents. While Jotaro was able to fend it off, Tower of Gray was able to kill a few innocent people, taking their tongues. However, Kakyoin was able to trap Tower of Gray with Hierophant Green and rip the Stand to shreds. With the Stand defeated, the identity of the user was quickly shown to be Gray Fly, an old man who was on their flight.[21]
Despite Gray Fly's defeat, the group quickly found out that the pilots had already been killed by Tower of Gray earlier. Gray Fly, with his dying breath, then told the Jotaro and the others that he was only the first of many assassins and that they would never reach Egypt. With no other choice, Jotaro and Joseph were forced to land the plane 35 kilometers off the coast of Hong Kong and now knew that they now had to head to Egypt by either land or sea.[22]
Hong Kong
Arriving in Hong Kong, the group discussed their status over a meal. They soon met a Frenchmen named Jean Pierre Polnareff, who quickly revealed himself to be one of DIO's men. At the Tiger Balm Garden, Avdol faced off against Polnareff's Stand, Silver Chariot. After defeating him, Avdol recognized Polnareff's chivalrous ways and chose not to kill him. Jotaro then quickly removed Polnareff's flesh bud, just as he did to Kakyoin.[22]
While waiting for their next mode of transportation at a ship dock, Polnareff agreed to join Jotaro's group and told them his original reason for joining DIO. Polnareff's sister had been killed by a man with two right hands and had now come to the conclusion that the killer was one of DIO's men.[23]
South China Sea
Jotaro battles Dark Blue Moon underwater.
While on the ship, Jotaro saved the life of a child that had fallen overboard from a shark. The child, who Jotaro quickly saw to be a girl, had hidden on board earlier. As they were swimming back to the ship, Jotaro and the girl were nearly attacked by a creature in the water, which turned out to be an underwater Stand. Back on board, Avdol suspected the girl of being the Stand user. However, Jotaro correctly suspected the Stand user to be the ship's captain, Tennille, after fooling him into admitting himself to be a Stand user. Tennille, who admitted himself to being only an impostor of the real Captain Tennille, then used his Stand, Dark Blue Moon, to kidnap the Runaway Girl. Jotaro was able to quickly punch out Tennille and rescue the Runaway Girl while Tennille fled into the water. As Jotaro was pulling the Runaway Girl back up, he was pulled down to the ocean by Tennille. Underwater, Tennille covered Star Platinum in barnacles, sucking away Jotaro's strength. Dark Blue Moon then caused a whirlpool to appear which sucked Jotaro in. Jotaro was able to concentrate all his strength into Star Platinum's fingers which then sliced part of Dark Blue Moon's head off, killing Tennille.[23]
Jotaro sees Forever's abilities.
Soon afterwards, the ship began exploding, Tennille having planted bombs on the ship earlier. After some time on the lif boat, Jotaro and the others came across another ship. As everyone looked throughout the ship, they found the ship to be empty, with the exception of an orangutan. The situation proved to be dangerous when one of Tennille's crewmembers was killed by one of the ship's hooks. Jotaro and the others searched the ship for a Stand or its use, but could find nothing. While searching, Jotaro found the orangutan, Forever, almost assaulting the Runaway Girl. Jotaro fought Forever and realized that it was the Stand user. As Jotaro continued his fight, Forever began using objects from the entire ship to attack him, as well being able to absorb into the walls. When Forever was at a safe distance, objects from the ship began strangling Jotaro and capturing Joseph and the others. It quickly became apparent that the entire ship was Forever's Stand, Strength. Jotaro was able to escape the objects by annoying Forever. Using one of his school pins and Star Platinum's precise finger movements, Jotaro was able to subdue Forever. Forever then surrendered, showing Jotaro his belly, but Jotaro did not forgive him and pursued to beat him senselessly.[24] With Forever defeated (or possibly dead), Strength began to slowly disintegrate. Jotaro and the others returned to their lif boat and were successfully able to make it to Singapore.[25]
Singapore
Jotaro realizes Yellow Temperance's weakness.
With their bodies tired from the recent experience, the group decided to stay a day in Singapore.[25] While traveling around Singapore with Kakyoin and the Runaway Girl, Jotaro saw Kakyoin nearly kill a petty thief. With Kakyoin's personality quite different, Jotaro immediately became suspicious. After almost being pushed down a large building by Kakyoin, Jotaro punched him, revealing Kakyoin to be an impostor. The fake Kakyoin then revealed himself to be Rubber Soul, a Stand user who could use his goo-like Stand, Yellow Temperance, to form into any shape or being.
Jotaro began to fight him, only for Yellow Temperance to throw him out of the cable car they were in. While Jotaro was able to save himself, he noticed a piece of Yellow Temperance had attached itself to him, slowly trying to eat his flesh. After seeing that fire and ice wouldn't work to stop it, Jotaro fought Rubber Soul again. Rubber Soul tried to completely cover Jotaro in Yellow Temperance, but with both now entangled, Jotaro was able to throw himself and Rubber Soul into the water. Since Rubber Soul had to uncover Yellow Temperance from his face in order to breathe, Jotaro used this opportunity to hit Rubber Soul.
Rubber Soul then begged for his life and told Jotaro about the killer of Polnareff's sister, J. Geil, whose ability involved mirrors. Rubber Soul then tried one final assault on Jotaro by using Yellow Temperance to pull Jotaro into a water pipe. Using Star Platinum's fist to plug up the water pipe, the water pressure caused Rubber Soul to fly into the water. Rubber Soul tried to give Jotaro another plea of forgiveness, but Jotaro gave him another barrage of attacks. Jotaro later joined back with the group, including the real Kakyoin, in order to get on a train to their next destination, India. Unbeknownst to Jotaro, the Runaway Girl, who had developed a crush on Jotaro, was following them closely.[26]
India
Arriving in Calcutta, Jotaro and the others quickly met the local people until eventually going to a café. There, Polnareff encountered a Stand that used mirrors, meaning that the user who killed his sister was in Calcutta. Deciding to take the battle into his own hands, Polnareff left to fight J. Geil by himself. Avdol and Kakyoin later joined Polnareff in his fight.[27] Later, Jotaro and Joseph found Avdol wounded, having been nearly shot in the head by J. Geil's partner, Hol Horse, with his Stand, Emperor that takes the form of a gun. They managed to treat his wounds and, so that Avdol could make a full recovery, decided to fake his death.[28] After taking Avdol to safety, Jotaro and Joseph managed to find Kakyoin and Polnareff, who had been able to successfully kill J. Geil. However, they were unable to stop Hol Horse from getting away.[29]
Jotaro takes Wheel of Fortune head on.
As they got close to the border, the group once again encountered the Runaway Girl. After some arguing, Jotaro decided to take her to the border, where they'd buy tickets for her back to Hong Kong. While driving to the border, a car they encountered earlier forced them to nearly collide with an oncoming truck, Star Platinum being their only way of escaping safely. While at a rest stop, Joseph spotted the same car there. Suspecting the driver to be one of the customers inside, Jotaro, Joseph, and Polnareff began to beat up all the men with muscular arms, due to the driver also having them. However, the brawl proved useless as the car began moving away, the driver's face still unknown. Due to the driver mixing up the road signs, the group entered a narrow mountain way and were pushed off a cliff by the driver's car. Thanks to the combined efforts of Hierophant Green and Star Platinum, the group was able to hook their car onto the enemy car and make it back up the cliff. With them back up, Jotaro used Star Platinum to punch the enemy car. The car soon appeared again, having actually been a Stand called Wheel of Fortune. Wheel of Fortune then transformed and proceeded to attack Jotaro, as well as Kakyoin and Polnareff. The group began running but Wheel of Fortune kept following them through both narrow edges and on top of cliffs. Using the gas that had been left behind from the wounds he caused, Wheel of Fortune was then able to light Jotaro on fire. Thanks to quick thinking, Jotaro was able to avoid the burns and used the opportunity to get close to Wheel of Fortune. With the user now in his range, Jotaro used Star Platinum to beat him.[30]
With Wheel of Fortune defeated, the group soon saw that the user, ZZ, was just a skinny man, his arms being the only muscular part of his body. In order to make sure he wouldn't attack again, they chained him to a rock and took his passport. The obstacle now cleared, Jotaro and the others put the Runaway Girl on the next plane back to Hong Kong, despite her protests.[31]
Pakistan
Having made it to Pakistan, Jotaro's group stopped for the night in a town
Star Platinum sucks up Justice.
covered in fog. Moments later, they found the corpse of a man who seemingly died of shock. The man's body was completely covered with holes, yet there was no blood. They were then approached by an old woman, Enya, who offered a night's stay at her hotel. Later that night, Jotaro went looking for Polnareff, who had been gone for quite a while. Jotaro, who had been suspicious of Enya, proved his thoughts correct when she called him by his name. Jotaro then revealed to Enya that he had signed his name as "Qtaro Kujo" in the guestbook, thus solidifying his suspicions of her being a Stand user. Enya began attacking Jotaro with her Stand, Justice, which had actually been the fog that surrounded the town.
Star Platinum beats up Steely Dan.
Polnareff and Hol Horse, who each had been attacked earlier, appeared and told him that Justice could take possession of someone with any wound on their body. This also included corpses, explaining the mystery of the corpse from earlier that day. Jotaro was able to stop Justice by having Star Platinum completely inhale it, thus defeating Enya.[31] With Justice now rendered useless, the entire town reverted to nothing more than a cemetery. The group decided to take Enya along with them because of her knowledge of DIO's Stand ability and his location in Egypt.[32]
In the city of Karachi, another Stand user, Steely Dan, appeared and told Enya that she had failed. Enya's flesh bud then killed her. Jotaro quickly attacked Steely Dan, only for the pain felt by Dan to also be felt by Joseph. Dan revealed that his Stand, Lovers had burrowed deep inside Joseph's body and any pain that was inflicted upon Dan would also affect Joseph. With his grandfather's life at stake, Jotaro was forced into doing whatever Dan wanting him to, threatening to hurt himself (and therefore Joseph) if Jotaro didn't comply. Elsewhere, Kakyoin and Polnareff had shrunk their Stands inside Joseph's brain and tried to find The Lovers. After some fighting, Hierophant Green was able to defeat The Lovers, forcing it to leave Joseph's brain. In a last effort, Dan tried to control Jotaro and then a small girl until he saw that Kakyoin had tied Hierophant Green to The Lovers. Jotaro then beat Dan harder than any of his previous opponents and threw a piece of paper at him containing all the cruel things he had done to him, calling it his "receipt".[32]
The Arabian Desert
The Joestar group finds out the truth about The Sun.
Due to unrest in the area, the group chose to not go to Iran and Iraq, instead passing along the strait from Karachi to Abu Dhabi. Riding on camel-back, they traveled across the Arabian Desert from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia. As the heat raged on, Joseph surprised the group by revealing that it actually should be nighttime. They soon realized that the Sun itself was a Stand when it was rising from the west. The heat grew worse, with even the scorpions not being able to handle the heat. Kakyoin even tried to attack The Sun directly, only for it to bounce the attack back. However, after finding shade under a rock, they were able to find the user, Arabia Fats, who had been using a mirror to hide himself. With a simple stone throw, Fats was knocked out and the group were able to continue in the cold desert night.[33]
Taking a private plane, the group were forced take a sick baby with them to the next town. While in flight, a sleeping Kakyoin began freaking out and messed up the controls. While Joseph was able to keep everything steady, they then ran into a coconut tree and crashed. Even though everyone ended up safe, Kakyoin's strange attitude continued as he tried to harm the baby, Mannish Boy. That night, after they all fell asleep, Jotaro and the others woke up in a dream world and were confronted by an enemy Stand, Death Thirteen, which was being controlled by Mannish Boy. They found themselves unable to use their Stands and were getting attack. However Kakyoin, who had summoned his Stand before going to sleep, was able use Hierophant Green in the dream world. Kakyoin was able to subdue Death 13 and free the rest. With their Stands inactive in the dream world, everyone, sans Kakyoin, forgot these events and eventually took Mannish Boy to his family.[34]
Jotaro pummels The High Priestess's teeth.
The Red Sea
After picking Avdol back up[35] (and finally telling Polnareff the truth about Avdol's supposed "death"), he revealed that he had bought a submarine that would take them across the Red Sea. The sailing went well for a while, until they were attacked by High Priestess, an enemy Stand controlled by a user named Midler. Using its ability to transform into anything glass, metallic, or rubber, High Priestess tried to drown them and attack them using metallic objects. As the submarine sank, Jotaro and the others were forced to take scuba gear and swim. High Priestess then formed into the body of the ocean and proceeded to eat them. It tried to crush Jotaro with its teeth, but Jotaro was able to use Star Platinum to completely smash High Priestess's teeth, thus breaking Midler's own teeth and knocking her out. They then swam out of the Red Sea. After 30 days of dangers, they had finally made it to Egypt.[28]
Egypt: Nile River
Jotaro learns of his mother's worsening condition.
Upon request by Joseph, the Speedwagon Foundation sent extra help in the form of another Stand user, the user of The Fool. The user turned out to be a dog named Iggy who could manipulate the sand around him. Before leaving, the Speedwagon employees also told Jotaro and Joseph that Holy's condition was getting worse with every passing day and that she only had about two weeks left. They also told them they saw nine other people going to the same area that DIO was thought to be hiding before taking off.[36]
Jotaro buries N'Doul in the Egyptian sand.
After some time driving through the sands, Jotaro and the others found one of the employees having died from drowning. The other employee was quickly decapitated when the water from Joseph's canteen came out and ripped his head inside. Realizing they were now under attack from a water Stand, Geb, the group tried to separate. Geb went for Kakyoin, slashed his eyes, and then went after Polnareff. Before Polnareff could be hurt, the dead employee's digital watch began to beep. Geb instead attacked the watch, indicating that it attacked through sound. After multiple attempts to either run away or attack it directly, their car was destroyed and Avdol was badly wounded. With no other choice, Jotaro forced Iggy to use The Fool in order to fly them to the location of the Stand user. Jotaro saw that the user, N'Doul, was blind and solely relied on sound to attack. Jotaro was able to distract N'Doul by throwing Iggy towards him and took this moment in order to get behind N'Doul and land a strong punch. Defeated, N'Doul chose to kill himself with Geb. While he did not fear death, he did not want to be killed by DIO, his savior, for his failure. Before dying, N'Doul told Jotaro that Geb was one of the Nine Gods of Egypt, implying the other gods were Stand users as well. Jotaro buried N'Doul in the sand and seemingly began a friendship with Iggy (though it was a rough start).[36]