The Unsettling Art of Junji Ito: Tales that Haunt the Mind
Junji Ito is one of the most well-known mangaka in the world, and for good reason. When I stumbled upon his work through my library on Libby, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dive into what was sure to be a unique experience. Reading it reinforced in me why he has become such a legendary figure in the world of horror manga.
Ito’s art is, without a doubt, an acquired taste. It sits in a specific niche that’s difficult to put into words—some are drawn in by the haunting details, while others might find it unsettling or even grotesque. But regardless of preference, there’s no denying the way his art delivers raw emotion and perfectly complements the unsettling narratives. His illustrations evoke a creeping fear that lingers with you, amplifying the eerie unknown that lies at the heart of his storytelling. He turned the mundane into the macabre with unexpected ease.
What makes Ito such a fascinating writer is his ability to embrace uncertainty. Events unfold with little to no explanation—things simply happen. Why? How? These questions are left unanswered, and strangely yet perfectly, this serves to drive the narrative. Ito’s mastery lies in making us feel the weight of the inexplicable, leaving us to grapple with the fear of the unknown. It’s this sense of dread, of being unable to comprehend what’s unfolding, that makes his stories so unforgettable.
Reading this particular work was both mesmerising and unnerving. Ito’s talent for weaving the macabre into a grounded, almost familiar world is unmatched. He creates a tether between the mundane and the otherworldly, pulling readers into a narrative that feels both surreal and terrifyingly plausible.
One of my favourite stories in this collection is Floaters (or Drifting Spores in some translations). This story is about a boy who keeps himself locked in his room, for reasons that are slowly revealed. His classmate sees him outdoors, catching something with a net—a floating ball of hair. When the boy’s house is visited, it’s discovered that these blobs can speak, and they whisper secrets. Things take a darker turn when the boy dies, and people everywhere begin to experience similar strange phenomenon. There’s something deeply unsettling about the way Ito uses something so ordinary yet rarely considered—spores—to create such a haunting narrative.
However, for me, the creepiest story was The Window Next Door, where a grotesque woman knocks on a teenager’s window every night. Her voice grows closer each time, and eventually, the teen discovers that her window is now right next to his. The slow reveal of how these characters are connected is both horrifying and incredibly effective in building tension.
If there’s one thing this experience reaffirmed, it’s that Junji Ito is a true master of his craft. His ability to evoke emotion through both storytelling and art is unparalleled. Whether you’re a long-time fan of horror or just dipping your toes into the genre, his work promises a reading experience that is as unique as it is unforgettable.