There is no storyteller on Earth quite like Junji Ito. Since his professional manga debut in 1987, he's been captivating readers with his macabre tales and chillingly iconic creations. The brilliantly talented mangaka has rightfully earned his place as one of the most renowned horror storytellers of his generation, and for good reason. Junji Ito's beautifully illustrated comics conceal deep, devastating secrets, and each story he weaves haunts and horrifies in a uniquely compelling way.
Junji Ito Collections
### Alley
5See it at Amazon
### Uzumaki: Deluxe Edition
15See it at TargetSee it at Amazon
### Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition
7See it at Amazon
### Mimi's Tales of Terror
0See it at Amazon
### Remina
1See it at Amazon
### Shiver
0See it at Amazon
### Gyo: Deluxe Edition
5See it at Amazon
### Smashed
2See it at Amazon
### Lovesickness
2See it at AmazonNarrowing down Junji Ito's extensive body of work to just 13 of his most bone-chilling stories was a challenging task. While many of Ito's scariest short stories are available as scans online, they are also compiled into physical collections. Some collections, like Tomie and Uzumaki, feature stories that follow a specific narrative arc, while others, such as Shiver and Smashed, contain standalone stories grouped by theme.
The Scariest Junji Ito Stories
From eerie ghost stories and heart-wrenching gothic horror to grotesquely bizarre modern fables, here are the 13 most terrifying stories from one of the masters of horror manga, Junji Ito.
13. The Beautiful Boy at the Crossroads
Ito often explores the theme of love and its potential to curse us. The first story in his Lovesickness collection, "The Beautiful Boy at the Crossroads," exemplifies this theme perfectly. We meet Ryusuke on a train, returning to his hometown after years away, haunted by the mere thought of it.
The devastating reason for his unease will soon be revealed, but in the meantime, his arrival coincides with a trend of young women seeking "crossroads fortunes." Soon, the bodies of school girls who ask strangers for their fortunes start turning up brutally murdered; but who is to blame? How does it connect with Ryusuke's past? This chilling mystery introduces one of Ito's most terrifying creations and remains one of his most memorable tales.
12. Village of the Siren
Turning to folk horror, Ito crafts another bleak homecoming in "Village of the Siren." After receiving a strange phone call from his parents and witnessing an ominous apparition at his window, Kyochi decides it's time for a family reunion. Upon his return, he discovers that the once lively, though rural, village has transformed into a ghost town.
Life now revolves around a mysterious factory of unknown origin, and the all-consuming sirens that emanate from it each night add to the eerie atmosphere. If you're a fan of strange rituals, unusual cults, and the occult, this story will captivate you. It also breaks taboos with a high death count featuring a rarely seen demographic of victims, ensuring a satisfying horror experience.
11. I Don't Want to Be a Ghost
When Shigeru kindly picks up a beautiful wandering woman from the side of the road, his life takes a dark turn. Initially concerned about her bloodied and disoriented state, he is reassured by her explanations. Days later, the two begin a secretive affair despite Shigeru's marriage and impending fatherhood. Blinded by her beauty, he overlooks how often she appears covered in blood and her chilling claim to "love his ghosts." Her true desires are far darker than Shigeru could have ever imagined, and he realizes this too late.
10. The Strange Hikizuri Siblings
One of Ito's most humorously bleak creations, "The Strange Hikizuri Siblings" follows an unhinged set of siblings who delight in tormenting and terrorizing each other and unsuspecting victims. Over two tales in Lovesickness, we meet some of the unfortunate individuals who cross their path, including an old school friend of their most beautiful member and a photographer. While their schemes can lead to deadly consequences, the Hikizuri siblings are generally hapless, though you wouldn't want to be invited to their dinner table.
9. The Mystery of the Haunted House
A haunted house turns a town upside down when initial derision turns into terror as each new visitor enters its doors. Two young boys become entangled in the proprietor's twisted games after attempting to sneak in for free. Exploring the ghoulish halls, they discover a true house of horrors filled with victims who claim to be the owner's family.
This story combines dark comedy with horror, featuring another of Ito's recurring characters, the scheming Souichi Tsujii. However, there's nothing funny about his heinous crimes. The Mystery of the Haunted House is a thrilling ride that will delight fans of haunt culture.
8. Honored Ancestors
Family is a recurring theme in Ito's tales, and "Honored Ancestors" might feature his most psychedelically deranged story yet. On a seemingly normal evening, Risa is brought home by her close friend Makata, who claims the young girl suffers from amnesia and couldn't remember her address. According to doctors, her amnesia is caused by immense emotional stress.
Risa becomes increasingly distressed as she is haunted by visions of a giant caterpillar. The truth behind these visions revolves around Makata and his family's strange traditions, revealed in Ito's dementedly awful fashion as the tale concludes. This family reunion is unforgettable, though you might wish it wasn't.
7. Uzumaki
Arguably the most famous of Ito's works, Uzumaki has earned its status as a classic. It weaves a supernatural curse into a ghost story centered around the small town of Kurouzu-cho, haunted not by spirits but by spirals. Ito's distinctive linework transforms these usually unassuming shapes into something utterly terrifying.
Uzumaki explores Ito's favorite themes like obsession, paranoia, and the mundane turning bizarre. Its impact is undeniable, with multiple video game and film adaptations and a highly anticipated anime adaptation in development. You can read our review of the first episode of the Uzumaki anime to see what we thought.
6. Fashion Model
Unlike many of Ito's slow-burn horror stories, "Fashion Model" is an in-your-face tale that reveals its monster from the earliest pages. Like Tomie, Fashion Model has become one of Ito's most popular long-running stories. When a young man sees a bizarre model in a magazine with dagger-like teeth, he becomes consumed by her image. He can't stop thinking about her, questioning her hiring and why she fills him with existential terror.
Life moves on, and he and some friends begin casting for a student film. It's here that the model reemerges, bringing brutal reality back to the forefront of his life. This story is a great entry into both Ito's and monster horror canon.
5. Tomie
Arguably Ito's most famous creation, the stunningly beautiful Tomie was murdered by her classmates only to reappear the next day. Since then, she's been terrorizing readers and lovestruck men for years. There's a collected edition of Tomie tales where you can read her story from her earliest to most recent appearances, each one more delightfully dark than the last. Her ever-shifting true face is the stuff of nightmares, yet Ito's striking illustration style has also made her a perennial pop culture figure.
Even if you've never read an Ito story, you've likely seen Tomie on stickers, tattoos, or t-shirts. Ironically, in her stories, it's nearly impossible to capture her beauty in an image unless you want to see her true face too.
4. House of the Marionettes
Puppets have always held a particularly creepy place in horror, and Ito uses this to his advantage in "House of the Marionettes." This ghastly story follows a strange family obsessed with marionettes. It begins when a young girl named Kinuko befriends the son of a family of puppeteers. Becoming close with one of the two sons, Haruhiko, she visits the home and immediately becomes wary of a large marionette named Jean-Pierre.
Years later, Haruhiko and Kinuko reconnect and get married. But when they're called back to his family home, they make an awful discovery. This is one of Ito's most classical stories, yet it still shocks and surprises at every turn.
3. Used Record
Eerie and atmospheric, "Used Record" tells the story of an odd record that hypnotizes and entices the listener. When Ogawa buys the vinyl, she quickly becomes obsessed, as does her friend Nakayama when she hears it. Soon, all the pair can do is listen to the song repeatedly. But there's only one copy, setting the girls on a tragic path.
The terrifying aspect of this story is the relatable experience of being unable to stop listening to a song. Ito elevates this to a supernaturally nightmarish level. This wonderfully drawn tale is as addictive as the song at its center.
2. Greased
Growing up above her family's barbeque restaurant by Mount Fuji, Yui is sick of the grease that has slowly accumulated, coating their home. While she worries about its effects, her violent and abusive brother Goro embraces the cooking oil, drinking it from the bottle until his face becomes covered in large, grotesque pustules.
Goro's obsession with the grease and his sister's hopes of surviving it are deeply entangled in this, one of Ito's most stomach-churning tales. It's a story that will threaten both your lunch and your sleep cycle. Truly, this is the kind of story you need to mentally prepare to read, so don't take checking it out lightly.
1. The Hanging Balloons
What makes "The Hanging Balloons" Ito's scariest story? It's one of his most bizarre, which is where the mangaka excels, and it manages to feel utterly claustrophobic and inescapable in the best way. After the unexpected suicide of a celebrity schoolgirl inspires a spate of copycat deaths, people begin to report seeing imposing balloons in the sky.
But these are no ordinary balloons. In fact, reports claim they're the giant inflated heads of the deceased. Many more balloons soon appear, chasing those whose faces they wear. Instead of strings, metal nooses swing beneath them. What is their purpose? If they catch up with those they resemble, they catch and hang them. This is a psychedelic night terror come to life.
What's Next for Junji Ito?
Pre-Order### Uncanny: Origins of Fear
2Releasing October 15See it at AmazonAlley is the most recent short story collection from the horror manga author, though Junji Ito's most recent release is something entirely new. Uncanny: The Origins of Fear is a written memoir and analysis of the horror genre that was released last Fall. A sneak peek at the memoir is available on Viz Media's website.
Looking ahead, a new Junji Ito story collection titled "Moan" is set to release on October 7. According to the new collection's preorder page, you can expect "Obsession and persistence... warping reality in this collection of macabre stories set in Junji Ito’s bloodcurdling world."
Looking for more manga guides? Take a look at our guide to the best manga for beginners or dive into some of the best free manga websites and apps. You can also check out our updated guide on where to buy manga if you're looking for physical copies of Junji Ito's work.
