As a main protagonist in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Josuke Higashikata plays a hero who helps save his city from malicious Stand users. However, Josuke isn't without his faults and occasionally acts selfishly. There are moments in Diamond is Unbreakable when his more deceitful actions lead him into danger, as opponents and would-be allies react to their suspicions. Combined with his unusually volatile temper, Josuke isn't always a positive role model.
Josuke's true intentions are heroic, as he willingly endangers himself for his friends, yet he makes mistakes like any other human being. These mistakes don't always make him sympathetic or likable to both fans and other characters. Josuke's relationship with his allies sometimes suffers as a result.
10 Josuke Tried To Beat Up Jotaro
When Josuke first meets Jotaro in Diamond is Unbreakable, Josuke attacks Jotaro with his Stand after Jotaro comments on his hair. Josuke immediately turns hostile to anyone who insults his hairstyle, no matter the person or situation. Despite Jotaro's insult being unintentional, Josuke refuses to listen and forces Jotaro to summon Star Platinum in defense.
Although Josuke's easily affected pride can be amusing, his stubbornness leads him to needlessly attack Jotaro, who only intended to warn him about the town's dangers. Josuke nearly disregards a relative with important information for payback, as his anger quickly overshadows his reason.
9 Josuke Tried To Trick Shigechi
After Josuke discovers Shigechi using his Stand Harvest to collect money around town, he attempts to profit from the Stand by tricking Shigechi into a business agreement. Josuke manipulates others into making his life easier, as he befriends Shigechi after running out of money. After he comes up with a plan for Harvest to collect cash vouchers, he convinces Shigechi to credit the idea and share the reward.
Though Josuke sticks to the agreement, he takes advantage of another person's pride and compliments Shigechi despite thinking of him as naive. Josuke's acts far from sincere at this moment, which only leads to inevitable conflict.
8 He Cheats At Dice Against Rohan
After Josuke discovers Mikitaka and his shape-shifting abilities, he uses Mikitaka as dice to cheat in a dice game against Rohan Kishibe. Josuke chooses Rohan as a competitor to benefit from Rohan's wealth while being unable to lose. As Josuke and Rohan hold a dislike for each other, Josuke's decision to cheat him only worsened Rohan's opinion of him.
Josuke's scheme backfires as Rohan grows suspicious, threatens to cut off Josuke's finger, and partially burns his own house down in the resulting frustration. Through his dishonesty, Josuke almost irreparably ruins any chance of reaching friendly terms with Rohan.
7 He Loses Patience With Joseph Joestar
When Josuke and Joseph Joestar find a baby with an invisibility Stand, they team up to protect the baby from harm. When Joseph accidentally pushes the baby's stroller into a lake, Josuke snaps at his father for being useless. However, Joseph reacts by using his own blood to color the water and reveal the baby's location.
Josuke's loss of patience causes him to underestimate his father's capabilities before giving him a chance. Josuke isn't always quick to forgive, which ended up hurting someone who cares about him. He still has things to reconcile with his father.
6 Josuke Makes Fun Of Mikitaka
When Mikitaka introduces himself to Josuke and Okuyasu as an alien, Josuke instantly doubts his claim and teases Mikitaka about it being a joke. Though doubting the credibility of aliens is understandable, Josuke had already encountered a ghost and an arrow with unfathomable powers upon meeting Mikitaka.
With his previous supernatural encounters, Josuke had enough experience to at least consider that Mikitaka was an alien before laughing him off. Josuke faces multiple reality-bending Stands that would make otherworldly encounters like Mikitaka possible. Though Mikitaka's claim is never confirmed, Josuke should've taken the situation more seriously.
5 Josuke Left Rohan Alone To Face Highway Star
When Rohan remarks to Josuke about discovering a strange room in a tunnel, Josuke dismisses Rohan's worries and leaves him to investigate alone. Although Josuke eventually returns to check on him, he nearly leaves Rohan to die from Highway Star by refusing to believe him. Josuke chose to ignore a potential enemy Stand user despite having been attacked multiple times in the past.
Josuke let his grudge against Rohan keep him from investigating the signs of a Stand user who threatens his allies in the fight against Yoshikage Kira. With so many lives at stake, Josuke had no room for dismissing Rohan.
4 He Underestimates Yoshikage Kira
After Koichi tells Josuke and Okuyasu about Reimi Sugimoto's request for their group to defeat her murderer Yoshikage Kira, Josuke initially tells Koichi to leave it to the police. Josuke justifies his decision by claiming their main concern was enemy Stand users before a regular fugitive. No matter his reasoning, Josuke tried to treat a murderer who threatened the lives of people in his hometown casually.
Josuke eventually commits to defeating Kira, but only after he learns Kira murdered his ally Shigechi. His initial reluctance to delve too deep into the matter leads to a frustrating cost.
3 He Helps Cash In Somebody Else's Lottery Ticket
After Josuke, Okuyasu, and Shigechi find an uncashed lottery ticket and attempt to claim it, the bank teller notices the name on the ticket doesn't match and calls the ticket's owner. Josuke cleverly uses Crazy Diamond to change the signature on the ticket and prevent the owner from verifying it. By tricking the bank teller into surrendering the prize, Josuke acts unfairly to claim something for himself.
Josuke shows himself to be a relatively selfish person who willingly cheats other people out of things despite being a hero. He occasionally fails to model trustworthy behavior for his allies.
2 Josuke Hides From Rohan Kishibe
When Rohan Kishibe overwhelms Okuyasu and Koichi with Heaven's Door in his house, Josuke hides behind a door and only reveals himself when Rohan threatens his allies' lives. Although Josuke eventually rescues his friends, he shows cowardice in not acting immediately. His time spent hesitating behind the door only delayed the inevitable fight and gave Rohan time to prepare.
Josuke had already battled several Stand users before encountering Rohan, yet he lacked his usual determination to fight until Rohan insulted his hair. He failed to take action without being forced, although he was Okuyasu and Koichi's only hope.
1 Josuke Threatens An Innocent Stand User
When Josuke and Okuyasu visit the restaurant Trussardi's, Okuyasu eats food prepared by Tonio Trussardi, whose Stand Pearl Jam heals the afflictions of his customers. Josuke threatens Tonio in the kitchen after he grows alarmed at the violent way the Stand heals Okuyasu. However, Josuke's suspicions turn out to be incorrect, as Tonio and his Stand prove to be harmless.
Although Josuke only intended to protect Okuyasu from apparent harm, he angers Tonio by entering the kitchen without washing his hands. Through his mistake, Josuke annoys Tonio enough for Tonio to make Josuke clean the kitchen as punishment.