Norisuke Higashikata I

Norisuke Higashikata (東方 憲助) is a mysterious Japanese racer appearing in Part VII: Steel Ball Run and the first Higashikata seen in the SBR Universe.

Appearance/Personality
According to a newspaper article, Norisuke has two navels, despite his ancestors only bearing one. He is not shy about his navels, however, and proudly waves the newspaper around when meeting Hot Pants. He also carries a rifle on his back.

Despite his old age, Norisuke has shown to be rather perceptive, deducing Hot Pants' true gender from the latter's disgust at touching his navel.

History
It is known from Tsurugi Higashikata's explanation of the Higashikata family's superstitious beliefs of warding away "demons of sickness" that Norisuke, being the firstborn son of his family, was raised as a girl until he turned twelve.

Steel Ball Run
Norisuke placed third during the third Stage of the Steel Ball Run race and apparently finished second overall, according to his great grandson in Part VIII: JoJolion. In the aftermath of the race, he is seen on board the ship that Johnny Joestar boards, and greets him with a salute. A younger Japanese woman is seen standing beside him; it could be inferred that she is one of his daughters.

In the aftermath of the race, he uses its prize money to start a successful business importing foreign fruit - a business his descendants continue to maintain well into 2011.

Trivia

 * He shares his hometown of Sendai, Japan with Hirohiko Araki, the author of the manga.