Stand User Height Breakdown: Just How "Short" is Koichi Hirose?

Let‘s kick things off with a clear answer – Koichi Hirose from JoJo‘s Bizarre Adventure Part 4 stands at 157 cm, or 5‘2". For you American readers, that‘s just barely over 5 feet tall! Now I know what you‘re thinking…why does Koichi‘s height matter for us gamers? Well stay tuned as I, your resident JoJo gaming guru, break down the vertical challenges facing this fan-favorite Stand user.

How Koichi Stacks Up: Height Rankings for JoJo Heroes & Villains

As a hardcore JoJo gamer who has analyzed character models across fighting games like JoJo‘s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven and JoJo‘s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, I‘ve paid close attention to the different heights of our beloved Bizarre protagonists. So how does Koichi size up compared to the rest?

Tallest to Shortest Stand Users

As we can clearly see, Koichi stands a full 32 cm (over 1 foot) shorter than the Joestars‘ hereditary 6 foot range. For comparison, Koichi is nearly as tiny as notorious villain Mannish Boy‘s 150 cm stature!

Now fans may write off Koichi‘s height deficit due to his young age of 16 years old in Diamond is Unbreakable. However, let‘s remember that fellow high school students Okuyasu (181 cm) and Josuke (175 cm) still tower over our height-hindered protagonist.

So while Koichi escapes the shortest spot, he no doubt suffers from main character "Saber Syndrome". Much like Fate‘s Saber appears far petite due to her surrounded tall teammates, Koichi suffers the same optical dissonance when teamed with the lofty likes of Okuyasu and Jotaro.

Examining Potential Causes of Koichi‘s Static Stature

Now that we‘ve firmly established Koichi‘s vertical challenges, let‘s analyze why Araki may have chosen to depict this fan-favorite as so pint-sized. While pure speculation on my part, a JoJo expert can deduce certain in-universe theories:

Theory 1: Koichi‘s Stand Echoes Does Not Promote Height Growth

Stands generally reflect and amplify their user‘s innate spirit or talents. Whereas Star Platinum boosts Jotaro‘s strength, Magician‘s Red feeds off Muhammad Avdol‘s fiery passion. In Koichi‘s case, his musical sound effect-based Stand Echoes does not provide anyVertical Vitality bonuses. Without height-augmenting abilities, Koichi failed to hit the same growth spurt as his peers.

Theory 2: Early Stand Awakening Stunted Development

Most Stand users awaken their abilities in their mid-teens onwards. Yet Koichi activated his Echoes at the young age of 13 thanks to Keicho Nijimura‘s Bow and Arrow. This shock to Koichi‘s spirit may have also stunted his physical development much like Polpo‘s Black Sabbath. Thus while boasting potent precocious Stand Power, Koichi paid the iron price in lost inches.

Theory 3: Araki Forgot!

While I hesitate to ever doubt the great mangaka, perhaps Araki simply forgot to accurately scale Koichi‘s character model. Much like Iggy‘s early dog appearance, Koichi‘s initial shortness may have set an unintended precedent. Still, readers‘ hearts certainly didn‘t forget our tiny loud hero!

Koichi‘s Canonical Love Life: Slice of Moe with a Side of Tragedy

So now that we‘ve explored why Koichi comes up short in the height department, let‘s pivot to examining his love life. Or rather, his complete lack thereof! Despite attention from the likes of Yukako Yamagishi and fan shipping with Pop Idol Tsuji Aya, our boi Koichi stays staunchly single throughout JoJo Part 4.

And beyond height disadvantages, personal tragedy may also play a part in Koichi‘s confirmed bachelor status. Fans uncovered that Koichi was slated to marry manga artist Rohan Kishibe‘s ex-fiance. Yet she tragically perished in a road accident shortly before their meeting. Talk about a dated destiny!

And while fellow JoJos like Jotaro, Josuke, and Jolyne have enjoyed various romantic entanglements, Koichi‘s ill fate leaves him forever alone. Like his diminutive stature, Koichi‘s non-existent love life makes readers just want to root for and protect this perpetual underdog!

So in closing, I hope expanding on Koichi‘s exact height and lack of love have shed more light on why this fan-favorite Stand user thoroughly deserves more spotlight. Despite vertical handicaps from both a graphical and genetic standpoint, Koichi repeatedly stands side-by-side with allies twice his height when fighting evil Stand users.

And Araki himself has shared that "Koichi is the nozzle through which the readers‘ emotions flow." So while our emotional outlet may remain ever pint-sized in statue, Koichi‘s enormous heart and heroism make him larger than life in our own eyes.

So next time you boot up JoJo‘s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle for some Gold Experience Requiem gameplay, take a moment to crouch down to Koichi‘s eyeline. Appreciate that despite significant height and romantic deficits, this steadfast student echoes the very best of the franchise‘s themes of courage and camaraderie. Because win or lose, no fighter stands taller at heart than our boi Koichi!