Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli have travelled across the American continent on horseback in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run, but their latest appearance takes them somewhere quite different. Manga creator Hirohiko Araki has dedicated a special two-piece artwork featuring the characters to Japan’s historic Nikko Toshogu Shrine, where visitors will soon get the chance to see it in person.
The shrine will exhibit the artwork from November 19 to December 27, 2026, inside its National Treasure-designated East Corridor, the same corridor that houses the famous Sleeping Cat carving.
Araki dedicated the artwork on October 16, 2026, during a traditional horseback archery ceremony at the shrine known as Shinto Yabusame. The occasion also gave the manga creator an opportunity to reflect on the connection between horses, humans and nature, which became the central theme of his latest work.
The dedication ceremony took place at the shrine’s National Treasure-designated main worship hall. Araki and those involved in the ceremony also offered prayers for world peace and the success of the upcoming Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime.
Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli Take Centre Stage in Special Lenticular Artwork
The artwork features Steel Ball Run protagonists Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli alongside their horses in a snow-covered forest. However, it isn’t an ordinary illustration that fans would typically find on a promotional poster.
Araki created two matching pieces using a special technique called lenticular printing, which produces an illusion of depth by using the difference in perspective between human eyes.
As viewers change their viewing angle, the artwork shifts between a flat image and a three-dimensional appearance. The two illustrations also create an unusual visual effect in which the trees, horses, Johnny and Gyro appear to blend into one another.
The composition makes it difficult to distinguish where the characters and animals end and the surrounding landscape begins, almost like a visual illusion.
Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage handled the production direction for the artwork. The project also connects directly with the central premise of Steel Ball Run, which follows Johnny and Gyro as they participate in a massive horseback race across the United States.
Hirohiko Araki Explains How Japan’s Traditional Yabusame Inspired His Artwork
The choice of Nikko Toshogu Shrine wasn’t simply about finding a special location to display a JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure illustration.
Araki attended the shrine’s traditional Yabusame ceremony on October 16 and was deeply impressed by the power of the horses and the incredible precision of the mounted archers.
Yabusame is a traditional form of Japanese horseback archery in which archers ride at speed while attempting to hit designated targets. The ceremony brings together horsemanship, archery and religious tradition.
Araki saw a connection between the ceremony and his own work, especially Steel Ball Run, which places horses at the centre of its story.
In his comments, the manga creator explained:
“During this Year of the Horse, I watched the Shinto Yabusame ceremony at Nikko Toshogu. Seeing it in person, the power and presence of the horses was incredible. Hitting the target at that speed is a divine skill.
‘Steel Ball Run is a story about crossing the American continent on horseback, and I think horses are animals that have walked through history alongside humans. During this Yabusame, I felt that humans, horses and the gods had become one.”
He also shared his feelings about dedicating the artwork to the shrine and explained how he approached the two illustrations.
“This time, the shrine displayed my lenticular artwork in its worship hall and held a dedication ceremony. I drew the two pictures as a pair. Snow has fallen, and like an optical illusion, the trees, horses, Johnny and Gyro blend into one another.
I feel truly honoured to have a work about the unity of humans, horses and nature placed in such a special location.”
His comments explain why the artwork focuses on more than just the two main characters. Rather than creating another standalone illustration of Johnny and Gyro, Araki wanted the characters, their horses and the natural environment to become part of the same composition.
It also makes the dedication particularly meaningful considering the subject of Steel Ball Run. The manga explores the relationship between humans and horses through a journey across an entire continent, while the traditional Yabusame ceremony reflects the historical connection between the two.
When Can Fans See the JoJo: Steel Ball Run Artwork?
Fans visiting Japan will have an opportunity to see the special artwork at Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture.
The exhibition will run from November 19 through December 27, 2026, inside the shrine’s National Treasure-designated East Corridor, where visitors can also find the famous Sleeping Cat carving.
Admission to Nikko Toshogu Shrine is ¥1,600 for adults, and visitors will need to purchase a regular admission ticket to enter. The exhibition takes place in a semi-outdoor area, so the shrine may cancel the display during severe weather.
With the upcoming Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime also receiving attention through the dedication, the exhibition offers a different way for fans to experience Araki’s work.
More than a promotional illustration, the artwork brings together the central ideas of Steel Ball Run and Japan’s traditional relationship with horses. For Araki, dedicating Johnny and Gyro’s journey to a historic shrine was an opportunity to connect his fictional world with a tradition that has accompanied Japanese history for generations.
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Source: Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage
