But I Refuse (だが断る。)

About

“But I refuse,” or “I refuse” is a memorable quote from character Rohan Kishibe from the popular Japanese manga, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable.

Origin

Chapter 386, titled ‘Highway Star, Part 3’ of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga was released on October 31, 1994 in the Japanese magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump as a continuation of the ‘Highway Star’ story arc. ^[1] During the story arc, main character Rohan Kishibe is held hostage by the arc’s antagonist, Yuya Fungami, and his Stand ability, Highway Star.

Shortly afterwards, Diamond is Unbreakable’s protagonist, Josuke Higashikata follows Rohan’s trail to find out where he went to, and sees him being held hostage by Highway Star in a strange room located in a train tunnel. Yuya, through Highway Star tells Rohan that if he can lure Josuke inside the room to be attacked instead, he will let Rohan go and leave, to which Rohan replies, “But, I refuse,” stating that he says this as he enjoys ‘finding people who think they’re hot shit and saying no straight to their faces,’, angering Yuya.

On October 27 2016, the twenty-eighth episode of the Diamond is Unbreakable anime adaptation aired on television, titled ‘Highway Star, Part 1’. As an adaptation of the story, the episode featured Rohan saying this quote akin to how it was presented in the manga. ^[2]

Spread

Due to the context of the scene and the sudden and abrupt appearance of the quote, it and the panels in which it appears have become the subject of many parodies.

^[1] JJBA Wikia – Chapter 386

^[2] JJBA Wikia – Highway Star Part 1