Giorno Giovanna is the central figure in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind (Part 5), a story that unfolds against the backdrop of Naples, Italy. As a young man, Giorno is driven by an intense ambition to fundamentally reform the local criminal underworld. He intends to infiltrate the powerful gang Passione and rise through its ranks to become a “Gang-Star” who can eradicate the drug trade and protect the innocent citizens of Naples.
The Unique Lineage and Early Life
Giorno Giovanna’s existence stems from a unique and complex lineage, making him a biological anomaly. He was conceived as the illegitimate son of Dio Brando, who was inhabiting the stolen body of Jonathan Joestar at the time of conception. This extraordinary circumstance means Giorno carries the genetic destiny of both the heroic Joestar bloodline and the villainous Brando spirit.
Giorno was born Haruno Shiobana, and his early childhood was marked by neglect and hardship. After moving to Italy, he suffered abuse from his stepfather, leaving him isolated and with a low sense of self-worth. This difficult environment began to change when he was a young boy after he chose to protect a wounded gangster, concealing him from his pursuers.
The gangster, a member of the local mafia, never forgot the boy’s kindness and began to subtly look out for him. This protection led to Giorno’s life improving, as his tormentors ceased their abuse. This singular act instilled in Giorno a deep conviction that true nobility could exist even within the mafia, inspiring him to change his name to Giorno Giovanna and pursue his dream.
Gold Experience: The Power of Life
Giorno’s innate supernatural ability manifests as his Stand, Gold Experience, a close-range fighter with the power to imbuing non-living matter with life energy. This primary ability, often referred to as “Life Giver,” allows him to transform inorganic objects into living organisms. The newly created life forms remain connected to their original material, and Giorno can revert them back to their initial state at will.
This power is versatile, used for both combat and utility, such as transforming parts of a wall into fast-growing trees or creating small animals to act as scouts. Giorno can also use his life-giving ability to rapidly generate replacement body parts, providing a form of healing for his allies during battle.
A separate, highly potent effect occurs when Gold Experience strikes a person directly: it causes a profound sensory overload known as “Life Shot.” When a victim is hit, their consciousness and thought processes accelerate dramatically, but their physical body cannot keep pace. This creates a severe disconnect, leaving the victim perceiving the world in slow motion while their body remains nearly paralyzed and unresponsive.
The Ultimate Evolution: Gold Experience Requiem
Gold Experience underwent a profound and singular transformation after being pierced by the mysterious Stand Arrow, evolving into the ultimate form known as Gold Experience Requiem (GER). This transformation granted Giorno an ability that operates on a metaphysical level, far exceeding the original Stand’s power to manipulate physical life.
The key ability of GER is called “Return to Zero,” which acts as an absolute negation of cause and effect against Giorno. This power nullifies any hostile will directed toward him, allowing GER to revert any action or attack back to a state of zero, meaning the action effectively never occurred. For instance, if an enemy attempts to strike, GER can revert the cause of the punch, undoing the opponent’s action.
The abstract nature of this power was demonstrated most clearly against the gang’s boss, Diavolo, whose ability to erase time was completely negated by GER. Furthermore, if GER kills an opponent, it can trigger an infinite death loop. Diavolo was forced into a state where he would die repeatedly in different ways, only to be returned to the moment immediately before his death.
The Enduring Impact and Role as Boss
Giorno’s journey culminated in the defeat of Diavolo, fulfilling his original ambition and reshaping the entire criminal organization of Passione. By overcoming the ruthless former boss, Giorno seized control of the gang, officially installing himself as the new leader and realizing his dream of becoming a “Gang-Star.”
Under his leadership, Giorno immediately began reforming Passione, shifting its operations away from its most destructive and immoral activities. His primary focus was to dismantle the devastating trade of illicit drugs that had corrupted Naples and harmed its citizens. His success in cleaning up the organization provided the region with stability and protection.
The legacy of Giorno Giovanna is one of transcending fate and lineage, as he embodies the moral spirit of Jonathan Joestar rather than the darkness of Dio Brando. He utilized his extraordinary powers not for personal tyranny but to establish a form of benevolent justice within a corrupt world.