Hirohiko Araki attends opening ceremony for Tokyo’s new JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure store
The world’s first permanent, experiential official shop for the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise, “THE★JOJO WORLD,” is set to open its doors in Shibuya PARCO.
An opening ceremony for the new store was held on Thursday, the 17th of July, ahead of its opening to the general public.
The special guest for the ceremony was Hirohiko Araki, the creator of the long-running and globally popular manga series.
During an on-stage interview, Araki expressed his own surprise and admiration for the project.
He stated that he never expected such a permanent space could be created, praising its playful spirit and “cool” design, particularly its pink and blue theme colors, a combination he considers a “special move” in his own art.
Araki also shared his thoughts on a new illustration he created for the store, which for the first time depicts all nine protagonists from the series’ different parts together.
He explained that he had previously avoided drawing the protagonists together to prevent confusion, but felt the new piece was a “masterpiece,” and that he imbued the number nine with the meaning of a “guardian deity” for Shibuya.
“THE★JOJO WORLD,” operated by Bandai Namco Experience, is an evolution of the temporary “JOJO WORLD” events that have previously been held across Japan, the US, and the UK, drawing a cumulative total of over 450,000 visitors.
This permanent location is designed to be more than just a merchandise shop, offering a range of attractions and mini-games that allow fans to immerse themselves in the series’ world.
Araki noted that he particularly enjoyed the “Stand Ability Laboratory,” an attraction where visitors can receive a “diagnosis” to find out which of 120 different Stands would be their partner.
During the ceremony, a replica of the iconic “Stand Arrow” from the series was unveiled, and Araki was presented with it on stage.
This arrow will be on display in the store, and visitors will be able to have their own interactive experience with it.
The facility will also include an “IGGY CAFE” and a shop selling a wide range of original merchandise.
It has been confirmed that the store’s content will be updated over time to provide a new experience for repeat visitors.
“THE★JOJO WORLD” will have free admission, with fees required for the individual attractions and mini-games.
The new store is scheduled to officially open to the public next week, on Thursday, the 24th of July.
You can find out more about the store, its attractions, and the merchandise that will be on sale, using our full guide.
Source: Official Website
© LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS/Shueisha, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure SBR Production Committee
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