Tarot: The conforming Hierophant

As a rule, the Hierophant is viewed as the seeker of knowledge who respects the establishment to which he belongs. Noriaki is no exception to this interpretation of the tarot, for he has, to the detriment of his personal growth, struggled to find his niche in society his whole life. In order to parse why, it's important to stress now that only other Stand users can see Stands; until Stardust Crusaders, Noriaki had never met anyone – not even his parents – who could see Hierophant Green.

First and foremost, Hierophant Green is more than "just a Stand" to Noriaki. It is his lifelong companion that has been with him since birth, so he considers it an intrinsic part of understanding him as a person. However, because virtually no one can see what might as well be an imaginary friend in their eyes, he withdraws from social circles while keeping his Stand a buried secret. Like the Hierophant, Noriaki craves the structural gift of identifying with and befriending others, all the while maintaining a pleasant countenance for the world.

(His missing out on the opportunity to develop proper social skills may or may not have contributed to his extremely unsettling laugh. We don't talk about Jotaro's laugh, which is arguably just as bad.)

On the flip side, Noriaki's lack of friends has blessed him with the time and energy to focus on his studies (and video games). The type to rattle off assorted trivia like Chinese tea customs when prompted, he's both an admirable student and a closet nerd. Imagine the guy who reads encyclopedias for fun and who has played Mario Kart enough times to play all the courses with his eyes closed; that's Noriaki – who, by the way, completely embraces how nerdy he sounds.

Noriaki's pursuit, however, doesn't end with knowledge alone. Of the crusaders, he is mentally the weakest and susceptible to self-doubt when the odds are stacked against him. Recognizing his flaws, he strives for spiritual growth in order to overcome his fears. The Hierophant is a deeply spiritual Major Arcana.

Last but not least, Hierophant Green's association with its titular tarot is much more obvious. Its long-ranged nature stems from the Hierophant's role as the bridge between the earth and the higher realm, and the color green symbolizes the balancer that harmonizes with similar key concepts.