Why Jonathan Joestar Stands Out Among JoJo Collectibles

Jonathan Joestar Mini Clear File by Daiso Japan

Part 1 and the Character at the Heart of It All

Jonathan Joestar is the protagonist of Phantom Blood, the opening chapter of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Set in 1880s England, the story follows Jonathan as a young English nobleman who masters Hamon — a form of life energy channeled through controlled breathing — in order to confront his adoptive brother and lifelong rival, Dio Brando. Dio goes on to become the overarching antagonist of the broader JoJo saga, and that foundational conflict, rooted in the Victorian-era story of Part 1, casts a shadow across the series as a whole.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has been running since 1987, first serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump by Shueisha and now continuing in Ultra Jump. Its anime adaptation — produced by David Production — launched in October 2012, with Part 1 animated as the first arc across nine episodes through December of that year. The series has since built a substantial international following, with official translated manga editions and streaming availability through platforms like Netflix bringing JoJo to audiences across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Within the fanbase, Jonathan holds a specific symbolic weight: he is the original Joestar, the figure from whom every subsequent protagonist in the lineage descends.

Where Jonathan Fits in the Landscape of JoJo Merchandise

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has generated a large body of licensed goods over the decades, but coverage across its cast is not evenly distributed. Characters from later parts — Jotaro Kujo (Part 3), Yoshikage Kira (Part 4), and others — appear on merchandise with noticeably greater frequency. Jonathan, as the hero of the series’ earliest and shortest arc, features on goods less often by comparison. Items that place him in the foreground, rather than as part of a group lineup, are relatively uncommon within the wider JoJo merchandise ecosystem.

This clear file depicts Jonathan in his anime color scheme: purple hair, a yellow-orange jacket, and a green cravat, consistent with the 2012 animated adaptation of Phantom Blood. The design incorporates his name in a stylized layout — “Jonathan” printed with a distinctive red J in the upper left and “Joestar” running vertically along the left edge — alongside practical features including a thumb notch and ridge detailing on the right side.

Daiso’s Anime Goods and How They Reach Collectors

The item itself is a mini clear file: a smaller-than-A4 transparent polypropylene pocket folder, a well-established format within Japan’s anime stationery and goods market. Unlike gacha capsule toys or food premiums, clear files are not random pulls — each is a single defined item sold individually. The format is flat, lightweight, and straightforward to store or display, making it functional as everyday stationery while also lending itself to collection display.

Daiso — formally Daiso Industries — is Japan’s largest uniform-price general merchandise chain, with more than 3,000 domestic stores and additional international locations. The company regularly produces officially licensed anime and manga goods, working with rights holders including Shueisha. These collaborations are typically tied to anime broadcast periods or franchise milestones and sold in finite quantities without restocking once the sales window closes. Japan-domestic Daiso anime goods are generally not available through international Daiso outlets, which makes them a separate channel from specialist toy manufacturers like MegaHouse or Banpresto and one that overseas fans cannot easily access on their own.