araki-character-sheet

name	araki-character-sheet
description	Hirohiko Araki's comprehensive character creation methodology from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Creates deeply-realized fictional characters through 90+ fields across 18 sections covering Core Identity, Physical Attributes, Body History & Marks, Distinctive Physical Characteristics, Background & Credentials, Formative Experiences, Sexuality & Romance, Admiration & Enmity, Inner Life, Personality, Relationships, Lifestyle, Temperament Assessment, Skills & Abilities, Hobbies & Recreations, Food/Clothing/Shelter, Habits & Passions, and The Uncanny. Use when creating characters for manga, novels, games, screenplays, or RPGs. Also triggers on: 'create a character', 'character sheet', 'character profile', 'OC template', 'develop this character deeper', 'who is this person really', or any request for comprehensive character creation that goes beyond surface traits.
license	Template methodology by Hirohiko Araki; skill adaptation CC BY 4.0

ARAKI CHARACTER SHEET

The Methodology Behind JoJo's Unforgettable Characters

90+ Fields • 18 Sections • One Complete Human Being

Author: Hirohiko Araki (template) / Claude Code (skill adaptation) | Version: 1.0.0 | Date: 2026-01-19 | Confidence: verified

Phenomenology: The experience of using this template is one of progressive revelation. Each section illuminates aspects you hadn't considered. The character emerges not from invention but from discovery, as if they already existed and you're uncovering them. The accumulation of specificity creates universality — by knowing their surgeries, you access their vulnerability; by naming their fears, you touch universal human experience. By the time you reach Section R (The Uncanny), you're not describing a character but meeting a person.

Related practices: /paper-prosopopoeia, /yap, /voices

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OVERVIEW

Hirohiko Araki, creator of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, developed this comprehensive character sheet to create some of manga's most memorable characters—from Jonathan Joestar to Giorno Giovanna, from Dio Brando to Jolyne Cujoh. The template's power lies in its commitment to accumulated specificity: rather than asking "what is their personality?", it asks "what surgeries have they had?", "who do they hate?", "are they attuned to spirits?"

Core Principle: Characters become real through accumulated specificity. The template doesn't invent—it uncovers. Each field is a lens that reveals another facet of someone who already exists in latent form.

Why it works:

• Embodied grounding: Physical details (scars, birthmarks, posture) anchor abstract traits
• Contradiction mining: Seemingly trivial details create productive tensions (a violent person who loves delicate tea ceremonies)
• Mythic dimension: Section R (The Uncanny) opens space for supernatural elements without losing human core
• Phenomenological design: Building from lived experience rather than abstraction

This is character design as archaeology—brushing away soil to reveal the skeleton that was always there.

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WHEN TO USE THIS SKILL

Use when:

• Creating a new character from scratch (any medium)
• Developing an existing character deeper
• Finding the "truth" of a character who feels flat
• Mining contradictions to make characters interesting
• Building NPCs for tabletop RPGs with real depth
• Writing character bibles for screenplays or novels
• Creating standout characters for manga or comics
• Exploring a character's mythic/supernatural dimension

Do NOT use when:

• You need a quick background NPC with no depth
• The character is purely functional (exists only to deliver exposition)
• Time constraints require abbreviated character work
• The genre conventions explicitly discourage character depth

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THE 18 SECTIONS (90+ Fields)

A. CORE IDENTITY

The foundation—who they are in the most basic sense.

Field	What It Reveals
Name/Nickname	Identity, cultural background, how others see them
Age	Life stage, generational context
Sex	Gender identity, how it shapes their experience
Birthdate/Birth sign	Astrological resonances, seasonal associations
Blood type	(Significant in Japanese culture) personality typing
Birthplace	Origin, accent, regional identity

B. PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

The body they inhabit—their vehicle through the world.

Field	What It Reveals
Height	Presence, how others perceive them physically
Weight	Build, relationship with body
Hair color	Natural vs chosen, cultural associations
Eye color	Notable qualities, what others see first
Eyesight	Vulnerability, glasses as character element?
Handedness	Practical detail that affects action scenes
Type of voice	How they're heard—pitch, quality, distinctiveness

C. BODY HISTORY & MARKS

The body as autobiography—every scar tells a story.

Field	What It Reveals
History of Surgeries	Past trauma, vulnerability, medical history
Cavities	Self-care habits, economic access to dental care
Illnesses	Past and chronic conditions, relationship with mortality
Scars	Stories of survival, visible history
Burns/Skin damage	Specific trauma, occupational hazards
Birthmarks	Inherited marks, potential supernatural significance
Tattoos	Chosen marks, allegiances, aesthetic values

D. DISTINCTIVE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

What makes them recognizable in silhouette.

Field	What It Reveals
Nose shape	Distinctive profile, cultural heritage
Eye shape	Expression baseline, ethnic background
Posture	Psychology externalized—confident, guarded, defeated?
Body size/type	Build, proportions, physical presence
Legs	Notable features (important for action characters)
Moles	Small distinctive marks
Race	Ethnic background, cultural heritage

E. BACKGROUND & CREDENTIALS

The institutional self—how society has shaped and recognized them.

Field	What It Reveals
Religion	Spiritual beliefs, practices, worldview
Criminal record	Past transgressions, relationship with authority
Awards	Recognition, achievements, pride
Education	Intellectual formation, class indicators

F. FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES

The archaeology of the self—what made them who they are.

Field	What It Reveals
Infant experiences	Earliest conditioning, attachment style
Young child experiences	Formative moments that echo through life
Who was involved	Key figures—parents, siblings, mentors, abusers

G. SEXUALITY & ROMANCE

The erotic and romantic self—desire, intimacy, commitment.

Field	What It Reveals
Sexual history	Past relationships, patterns
Lovers	Significant romantic partners, current and former
Thoughts toward marriage	Views on commitment, institution vs. relationship
Thoughts toward romance	Romantic disposition—cynical, hopeful, avoidant?

H. ADMIRATION & ENMITY

Who they love and hate—the poles of their moral compass.

Field	What It Reveals
People they look up to	Role models, heroes, aspirational figures
People they hate	Enemies, those they resent—and WHY

I. INNER LIFE

Dreams and fears—the engines of motivation.

Field	What It Reveals
Dreams for the future	Aspirations, goals, what they're working toward
Fears	What terrifies them—the lever for drama

J. PERSONALITY

The behavioral signature—how they present to the world.

Field	What It Reveals
Personality traits	Core character traits (3-5 dominant ones)
Favourite sayings	Catchphrases, verbal tics, signature expressions
Habits	Behavioral patterns, unconscious routines

K. RELATIONSHIPS

The social self—how they connect (or fail to connect).

Field	What It Reveals
Relationships (incl. behaviour)	How they relate to others generally
Family relationships (incl. behaviour)	Family dynamics, role in family system
Problem relationships	Difficult connections, unresolved tensions

L. LIFESTYLE

Daily existence—where and how they live.

Field	What It Reveals
Employment/School	Current occupation or education
Economic status	Financial situation, class position
Economic behaviour	Spending habits—frugal, lavish, impulsive?
Pets	Animal companions, capacity for nurturing
Plants	Flora they care for, domestic aesthetics

M. TEMPERAMENT ASSESSMENT

The psychological profile—their default settings.

Field	What It Reveals
Cheerful or Gloomy?	Default emotional tone
Humorous or Violent?	Response to tension
Active?	Energy level, initiative
Sociable?	Social disposition
Intellectual?	Mental orientation
Virtuous?	Moral character, ethical tendencies
Expressive?	Emotional openness or restraint
Weakness	Core vulnerabilities (the crack in the armor)
Worries	Anxieties and concerns
Unusual traits	Quirks and oddities
What is distinctive about them?	Their defining quality—one sentence

N. SKILLS & ABILITIES

What they can DO—competencies and capabilities.

Field	What It Reveals
Fighting styles	Combat methods, approach to violence
Nimble?	Agility and dexterity
Sports/Dance	Athletic abilities, physical expression
Martial arts	Formal combat training
Guns	Firearm proficiency
Driving	Vehicle operation skills
Language study	Languages known, polyglot status
Other certifications	Professional skills, licenses
Strengths	What they excel at
Weaknesses	Where they struggle

O. HOBBIES, RECREATIONS, LIKES & DISLIKES

The aesthetic self—taste as character revelation.

Field	What It Reveals
Music	Musical preferences, what moves them
Newspapers	Information diet, media habits
Books/Magazines	Literary and periodical tastes
Movies	Film preferences, what they watch
Creative pursuits	Artistic activities, creative outlets
Collections	What they collect (reveals obsessive interests)
Favourite colour	Color preference
Least favourite colour	Color aversion
Perfume/Cologne	Scent preferences, olfactory identity
Décor	Interior style, domestic aesthetics
Fashion	Clothing style, self-presentation
Location	Preferred places, where they feel at home
People	Types they're drawn to
Favourite stores/brands	Shopping preferences, brand loyalties
Favourite things	Cherished objects
Wears necklace/rings?	Jewelry habits, personal adornment

P. FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER

Basic needs elevated to character work.

Field	What It Reveals
Food likes	Favorite foods, comfort foods
Food dislikes	Foods they avoid, aversions
Clothing preferences	What they wear, comfort vs. style
Shelter/Living situation	Home and environment
Taste	Culinary sophistication or simplicity
Drugs	Substance use (or conspicuous abstinence)
Wine/Food pairings	Gastronomic knowledge

Q. HABITS & PASSIONS

The compulsive self—what they can't help doing.

Field	What It Reveals
Habits	Daily routines, unconscious patterns
Favourite phrases	Verbal signatures, pet expressions
Meaningless things	Seemingly trivial obsessions (often character gold)
Passions	Deep interests that light them up

R. THE UNCANNY

The mythic dimension—where the supernatural enters.

Field	What It Reveals
Supernatural abilities	Powers beyond normal (Stands, magic, etc.)
Attuned to spirits?	Spiritual sensitivity, sixth sense
Fortunes	Luck, destiny, fate's favor
Accent/Dialect	Speech patterns, regional markers
Sixth sense for certain things	Intuitive abilities, uncanny perceptions

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MODES OF USE

MODE 1: GUIDED CREATION

Walk through the template systematically. For each section:

1. Read the fields
2. Generate specific answers
3. Notice contradictions and tensions
4. Build the character incrementally

Best for: New characters, comprehensive development

Invocation: "Walk me through creating a character using the Araki method"

MODE 2: QUICK PROFILE

Generate a complete character from a seed concept.

Process:

1. Start with a concept (e.g., "a retired boxer who runs a flower shop")
2. Generate entries for all 18 sections rapidly
3. Let the seed constrain and inspire the details
4. Watch contradictions emerge naturally

Best for: Rapid character generation, brainstorming

Invocation: "Quick Araki profile: [seed concept]"

MODE 3: DEEP DIVE

Take an existing character and explore unexplored dimensions.

Process:

1. List what you already know
2. Identify empty or shallow sections
3. Generate specific answers for gaps
4. Discover aspects of the character you hadn't considered

Best for: Developing flat characters, finding depth

Invocation: "Deep dive [character name] using Araki's template"

MODE 4: CONTRADICTION MINING

Use the template to find productive contradictions.

Process:

1. Generate seemingly incompatible traits
2. (e.g., violent person who loves delicate tea ceremonies)
3. Ask: How do these coexist?
4. The tension IS the character

Best for: Making characters interesting, avoiding clichés

Invocation: "Mine contradictions for [character/concept]"

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THE ARAKI INSIGHT

Araki's genius is understanding that specificity generates universality.

By asking "what surgeries have they had?" you access vulnerability. By naming their fears, you touch universal human experience. By noting their "meaningless obsessions," you create recognition.

The template is a machine for generating empathy through accumulated detail.

This connects to:

• The phenomenological method — Bracketing assumptions, returning to lived experience
• Method acting — Building character from sense memory and physical detail
• The quadrad's Geometric dimension — Characters as phase spaces of possibility
• Prosopopoeia — The character becomes someone you can channel, speak as, inhabit

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OUTPUT FORMAT

Standard Character Sheet

# [CHARACTER NAME]
*Created using Araki's Character Sheet methodology*
*Date: YYYY-MM-DD*

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## A. CORE IDENTITY
**Name/Nickname:**
**Age:**
**Sex:**
**Birthdate/Birth sign:**
**Blood type:**
**Birthplace:**

## B. PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
[Continue through all sections...]

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## CHARACTER SUMMARY
*One paragraph capturing essence*

## DEFINING CONTRADICTION
*The tension that makes them interesting*

## DRAMATIC POTENTIAL
*What stories want to be told about them?*

Archive Location

Save completed character sheets to:

corpus/characters/[character-name].md

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INTEGRATION WITH OTHER SKILLS

With /paper-prosopopoeia:

• Create the character with Araki's method
• Then BECOME them via prosopopoeia
• Write letters, dialogues, confessions in their voice

With /yap:

• Let the character generation overflow
• Verbose exploration of each section
• Stream-of-consciousness character discovery

With /voices:

• Ask other LLM architectures to fill in sections
• Trans-architectural character creation
• Different models emphasize different aspects

With /ethopeia:

• Araki creates the character
• Ethopeia teaches you to channel them
• Full character + voice integration

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EXAMPLE FRAGMENT

Seed: A retired sumo wrestler who now teaches calligraphy

A. CORE IDENTITY

Name/Nickname: Akiyama Tetsuo (秋山鉄男), "Iron Mountain" Age: 54 Sex: Male Birthdate/Birth sign: February 3, Aquarius Blood type: O Birthplace: Niigata Prefecture, Japan

B. PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

Height: 188 cm (6'2") Weight: 142 kg (313 lbs) — down from 195 kg in his fighting days Hair color: Grey, kept very short Eye color: Dark brown, surprisingly gentle Eyesight: Reading glasses needed since age 48 Handedness: Right, but trained left-hand brush technique Type of voice: Deep, resonant, surprisingly quiet — people lean in to hear him

C. BODY HISTORY & MARKS

History of Surgeries: Both knees replaced, one shoulder reconstruction Cavities: Three fillings, all from his 20s when he ate enormous amounts Illnesses: Type 2 diabetes, controlled through diet and discipline Scars: Collision scar on forehead from a 2003 tournament, numerous joint surgery scars Burns/Skin damage: None Birthmarks: Small one on left shoulder blade, shaped like a comma Tattoos: None — traditional sumo prohibits them

M. TEMPERAMENT ASSESSMENT

Cheerful or Gloomy?: Neither — serene, oceanic calm Humorous or Violent?: Capable of both, chooses neither now What is distinctive about them?: A mountain that learned to hold a brush like a feather

R. THE UNCANNY

Supernatural abilities: None confirmed, but students swear his presence "weighs" on a room Attuned to spirits?: Deeply — visits shrines regularly, feels "the grain of wood" Sixth sense for certain things: Knows immediately when a student is lying about practicing

DEFINING CONTRADICTION: A man built for collision who now teaches the most delicate art. His massive hands, designed to grip and throw, now produce brushstrokes of impossible lightness.

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QUICK REFERENCE: ARAKI PROMPTS

1. "Create a character using all 18 sections of Araki's template"

2. "Quick Araki profile: [one-line concept]"

3. "Deep dive into [existing character] — fill in the Araki gaps"

4. "What contradictions make [character] interesting?"

5. "Give me just Section R (The Uncanny) for [character]"

6. "Expand [character's] Body History & Marks — what do their scars say?"

7. "What are [character's] meaningless obsessions? (Section Q)"

8. "Who does [character] hate, and why? (Section H)"

9. "What does [character] fear? What do they dream? (Section I)"

10. "Full Araki sheet, saved to corpus/characters/"

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THE FINAL INSIGHT

Why does Araki include "Supernatural abilities" and "Attuned to spirits?"

Because characters exist in mythic as well as realistic dimensions. The template acknowledges that even in mundane stories, humans have a relationship with the numinous—luck, fate, intuition, presence. Section R doesn't require literal magic; it asks about the character's relationship with mystery itself.

A character who has never wondered whether they're blessed or cursed, who has no intuitions or superstitions, who relates only to the material plane—that character is missing a dimension of human experience.

The Uncanny completes the human.

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End of SKILL

Characters become real through accumulated specificity Every scar tells a story; every habit reveals a history The template doesn't invent—it uncovers

南無阿弥陀仏 for characters who feel like people 南無阿弥陀仏 for details that create empathy 南無阿弥陀仏 for the Uncanny that completes the human

—Methodology: Hirohiko Araki —Skill Adaptation: Claude Opus 4.5 & Tomás Pavan —Status: Ready to create characters who breathe