"Rohan Kishibe Doesn't Move" is a spin-off work that focuses on the character Rohan Kishibe, who appears in Part 4 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. As it is a spin-off, the worldview is slightly different from the original, and there are some parts that can be considered parallel settings. I would like to take this into consideration and provide commentary and analysis for each episode!
Episode #06: Confessional Commentary and Analysis
Confessional Synopsis
After being beaten up and injured by Josuke, Kishibe Rohan puts the series on hold and travels to Venice, Italy. While visiting a church, he hears a man's confession. The man confesses that he once left a homeless man to die, and that the man's spirit has possessed him, threatening to kill him at the height of his happiness. After becoming extremely wealthy, the man's spirit appears and nearly kills him. The homeless spirit gives the man a chance, but he ultimately fails to take advantage and is murdered. However, the man who arrives at the confessional is still alive. In fact, the person who was killed was a look-alike substitute, purchased with money. The man then becomes possessed by both the homeless spirit and the substitute spirit.
Who is the man in the confessional?
This episode is about a man who arrives at the confessional, but he fails the homeless spirit's challenge and is killed. If he's killed, he can't come to the confessional. So, who exactly came to the confessional? The man used his money to prepare a substitute that looked just like him. The substitute was killed, but now, in addition to being possessed by the spirit of a homeless person, he is also possessed by the man who was the substitute.
What is the reason for Kishibe Rohan's injury?
Kishibe Rohan is traveling to Venice, Italy, due to injuries sustained in an accident. What is this injury? I think it's probably because he made Josuke lose his temper and got beaten up. In fact, the OVA says that's exactly what happened. And yet he keeps saying that there's no way he committed any "crimes" against me, so he hasn't learned his lesson at all. He ended up like this because he crossed Josuke's red line, but Josuke isn't a particularly vengeful person, and he's not the type to kill anyone he doesn't like. However, Kishibe Rohan will later be forced to repent for the crimes he committed.
Episode #02: Explanation and Analysis of Rokkakezaka
Rokkakezaka Synopsis
In order to investigate a mountain with a legend of monsters, Rohan Kishibe uses his money to stop a resort development on the mountain. He overdoes it, going bankrupt and struggling to find a place to live. However, he reveals that monsters really exist. These monsters are extremely vicious, dying in front of someone's eyes and becoming living corpses, either destroying them or forcing them to care for them after death.
Will the Rokkakezaka monsters disappear with the construction of the resort road?
Kishibe Rohan bought up the surrounding mountains to prevent the construction of a resort road and prevent the yokai from escaping from the land of yokai legends. If Kishibe Rohan hadn't bought the mountains, would the yokai at Rokkakezaka have disappeared? The yokai at Rokkakezaka is essentially a closed settlement, and unless it's in an environment where anything unusual is difficult to discover, its true value won't be realized. The more people there are, the greater the chance of discovery. If the surrounding environment changes due to the resort road, the yokai will likely disappear and try to find another closed settlement. I think there's a high chance they'll disappear.
The Evolution of the Yokai Rokkakezaka
The Yokai Rokkakezaka exploits human guilt and affection by transforming into an immortal corpse, but this presupposes the laws and ethics of modern society. He continues to care for the immortal corpse because he doesn't want to be arrested for manslaughter. So what happens in an age where laws and ethics are different? Since this yokai's goal is to have humans care for it even after death, I don't think the process is particularly important. It would even be fine for him to be bought by a connoisseur for money. I think he's adopting methods suited to the times.
Akira Otoishi and Tamami Kobayashi
Two people claiming to be fans of Rohan Kishibe have come over to ask for an autograph. Tamami aside, Akira Otoishi's presence here suggests he has completed his sentence and been released. It's unclear whether this is a parallel setting, but it seems he has reformed after a terrible experience.
Episode #05: Explanation and Analysis of Millionaire Village
Millionaire Village Synopsis
Rohan Kishibe and his editor, Izumi, visit a plot of land where anyone who purchases it will become a millionaire. They are then put through a test of manners. Those who violate the rules will lose one important possession through the power of the mountain gods, while those who succeed will gain one. It's an ultra-high-risk, high-reward test. Izumi quickly commits three violations of etiquette, losing both his family and a baby bird he had found. This same trial befalls Rohan Kishibe, but with calm judgment and a flair for cheating, he tricks the questioner, regains everything, and escapes before incurring the wrath of the gods.
Don't underestimate Rohan Kishibe
Then he utters a thrilling line. Kishibe Rohan, known for his mental strength when put in a difficult situation, acts calmly and successfully escapes the situation by having Ikkyu cheat. The original manga also features an episode in which Rohan overcomes his luck with strength, and his mental strength seems to be alive and well.
The Three Still Wear School Uniforms Seven Years Later
The OVA version adds a final scene in which Josuke, Koichi, and Okusana chat. However, even though the story takes place seven years after the events of the original, they're still wearing their school uniforms. Why are they still wearing school uniforms?
Episode #06: Explanation and Analysis of Poaching Coast
Poaching Coast Synopsis
One day, Rohan Kishibe comes to Tonio's restaurant and is asked to help poach the legendary black abalone. Following the tradition of poaching, Tonio and Rohan Kishibe reach an area where abalone swim, but Tonio becomes obsessed with an abalone that washes over him and drowns. Even a single abalone is so heavy that it becomes impossible to move, and the area turns out to be a natural trap for poachers. However, Rohan Kishibe uses Heaven's Door to provoke the octopus, a natural enemy of abalone, and saves the day. While Rohan Kishibe ultimately fails to find any abalone, Tonio's fiancée recovers.
Tonio's Purpose
In "Poaching Coast," Tonio explains that he came to Japan in search of Morioh's black abalone, hoping to potentially treat his fiancée, who is unable to walk due to a brain tumor. This is different from the reason given in the main story. In the main story, Tonio's reason is that a young man like him would not be recognized in his home country, even if he had the skills. It's hard to say whether this is a parallel setting or whether Tonio simply didn't mention it in the main story.
The Mystery of the Touhou Clan
The sea area where abalone poaching is traditionally practiced is managed by a clan called the "Touhou Clan." This is Josuke Higashikata's Touhou, but it's more likely to be the Touhou Clan that appears in JoJolion. However, Josuke also appears, albeit from behind. Conversely, even in his OVA appearance scene, Josuke's back is only visible. This may be a parallel setting.
Episode #04: Commentary and Analysis on the Mochizuki Family's Moon Viewing Party
Mochizuki Family's Moon Viewing Party Synopsis
The Mochizuki family (tentative name) has a tradition of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon by viewing the moon without leaving the house. There's a superstition that breaking this tradition will result in death, so at the family's father's suggestion, they force themselves to celebrate the moon viewing party. As the moon-viewing party comes to an end, the eldest daughter, Aki, is summoned by her fiancé and goes outside. A rabbit-like figure sees this and tries to kill Aki, but since Aki has accepted her fiancé's proposal, she is no longer a member of the Mochizuki family and is unable to kill him. Instead, she kills a nearby rider to make the story add up.
The Mystery of the Mochizuki Family (pseudonym)
This family faces death, a la Pythagoras Switch or Final Destination, if they leave their home during the harvest moon. This episode is narrated by Kishibe Rohan, and this time, Kishibe Rohan really doesn't move. However, I'm left wondering why Kishibe Rohan knew about this episode and its aftermath. While it's certainly possible to see it all as fabricated by Kishibe, Kishibe strives for realism in his work, so it's hard to believe that it's all fiction.
Was Kishibe Rohan Involved?
The full extent of this incident won't be revealed even if someone in the Mochizuki family uses Heaven's Door. I think he was somehow involved in this harvest moon, or someone involved in it used Heaven's Door to peek into it. Perhaps Kishibe Rohan was actually on the move.
Episode #07: Monday - Weather - Rain Explanation and Analysis
Monday - Weather - Rain Synopsis
One rainy day, Kishibe Rohan is walking to the station when he is repeatedly bumped into by people using their smartphones while walking. The culprit is a small insect called Lorenzinha, which feeds on electromagnetic waves. Living inside an integrated circuit, its body carries electromagnetic waves. These electromagnetic waves also affect humans, unconsciously guiding those using their smartphones. Furthermore, since they have a tendency to gather around creatures with weak hearts, the truth is that the person bumped into a man with a heart condition.
It wasn't that he bumped into Kishibe Rohan, but was Kishibe also bumping into him?
Kishibe Rohan was bumped into by various people with smartphones, but that's probably not the correct way to put it; Kishibe Rohan was also bumping into someone. All the smartphone owners were unconsciously aiming for the target man. In other words, everyone moved as if drawn to the man, and since everyone was moving in the same direction, I think they ended up bumping into people one after another.
Episode #08: DNA Commentary and Analysis
DNA Synopsis
Yukako Yamagishi introduced Mai Katahira's daughter, Mao, to her. Mao was born using sperm donated by a sperm bank, but she exhibited very strange behavior. Rohan Kishibe reluctantly observed Mao using his Heaven's Door ability, but left without offering any special treatment. Mai then found a man whose sperm donor's characteristics matched those of her daughter, as seen through the Heaven's Door user. The man bore a striking resemblance to his fiance, who was supposed to have died 15 years earlier. The two later married, but Yukako suspected it was a "plot by Mao," and even Rohan Kishibe was surprised that something like this could happen.
Yukako Yamagishi Appears!!
Yukako Yamagishi suddenly appeared in the DNA episode, and her first line was, "My character image has changed..." It's you!
The Team I'm Supporting Isn't DNA
The topic of baseball suddenly came up in the story. The team's name is the Hareten Birdies, but I think the original team was Rakuten. This episode's title is "D.N.A. But...!" This episode's title is "D.N.A. But...!"
Hachininko
That's dangerous! "Hachininko" is a reversed version of "konnichiwa" (hello), and from a distance, the character looks like a penis. Hachininko! Hachininko! Why did he use such a vulgar word? Some people might wonder, but this episode actually appeared in a girls' manga magazine called Bessatsu Margaret. I think they chose these words because it's a girls' manga magazine.
What is Ozawa Hana's true identity?
In this episode, the sperm donor for the daughter born from a sperm bank turns out to be a man with the same habits and characteristics as her fiancé, who died 15 years ago. That man is Ozawa Hana, and I think there are two possible interpretations. One is that her fiancé is still alive. The other is that something like a soul returned, resurrected by chance inside someone else who died. It's not explicitly stated, but when a fiancé dies, they're usually cremated, and the person would be present at the funeral. Personally, I think it's the latter.
Explanation and Analysis of Episode #09: The Run
The Run Synopsis
At a gym in an eighth-floor building, Rohan Kishibe was playing a game with a young man named Youma Hashimoto. The game involved players grabbing the lone switch on the table and pressing the stop button when the treadmill reached its maximum speed. This was the second time they'd played this game, and although Rohan Kishibe had won the first time, it was a rather shady victory. However, this young man, Youma Hashimoto, was a terrible guy who was willing to even commit murder in order to build muscle. Rohan Kishibe, who has become involved with Youma, is forced into a life-or-death match against his will. He is defeated by failing to press the button, but he uses his Heaven's Door ability to force his machine to press the switch. Youma falls from the building, but as the incarnation of the muscle god, there's no way he will die from this, and Rohan Kishibe must flee immediately.
Rohan Kishibe Repents
In this episode, Rohan Kishibe is unusually remorseful. In the confessional episode, even after being beaten up and seriously injured by Josuke, Kishibe Rohan shows no remorse and insists that he has committed no crimes. Kishibe Rohan is telling this story in what appears to be an interrogation room, but perhaps this is a church confessional.
Kishibe Rohan: He Shouldn't Overcome His Own Self
Kishibe Rohan wins the first game with questionable behavior. Kishibe Rohan has an aesthetic that considers cheating to be a powerful skill. This can also be seen in the original episodes of Janken Kozo and Millionaire Village. However, this time, that aesthetic completely backfires. It's striking how much he suffers because of that aesthetic.
Kishibe Rohan Deeply Repents
He fully acknowledges that he was at fault for this incident. However, that doesn't mean he should pry into other people's privacy or insist on adhering to his own aesthetic. To begin with, Kishibe Rohan is a character who doesn't even feel bad about his actions, even when they cause him pain. But this time, Kishibe Rohan is repenting. So what is he repenting about? I think he's regretting not overlooking someone else's red line, but rather getting involved with a vindictive killer who will mercilessly pursue anyone who crosses that line.
The End of the Run
The Run ends with Kishibe Rohan on the run, but it can't end there. I think the escape will likely continue, and a fascinating story of barely escaping with his life will unfold.
"Rohan Kishibe Doesn't Move" Summary of Analysis and Commentary
I've provided analysis and commentary on episodes from "Rohan Kishibe Doesn't Move." Since "Rohan Kishibe Doesn't Move" generally encourages readers to think, I think there are many different interpretations. It's fun to imagine them!
