There is no storyteller on Earth quite like Junji Ito. Since his professional manga debut in 1987, he has been captivating and terrifying 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. Junji Ito's beautifully illustrated comics conceal deep, devastating secrets, and each tale he weaves haunts and horrifies in a uniquely unsettling 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 vast collection to just 13 of his most bone-chilling stories was a challenging task. While many of Ito's scariest short stories can be found online as scans, they are also compiled into physical collections. Some collections, like Tomie and Uzumaki, follow a specific narrative, while others, such as Shiver and Smashed, feature standalone stories grouped by theme.
The Scariest Junji Ito Stories
From haunting ghost stories and heart-twisting gothic horror to grotesquely bizarre modern fables, here are the 13 most terrifying tales 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 and central story in his Lovesickness collection is a prime example. We meet Ryusuke on a train, a teenage boy returning to his hometown after years away, haunted by the very idea of it. The reason for his distress soon unfolds, coinciding with a trend of young women seeking "crossroads fortunes." As the bodies of schoolgirls who ask strangers for their fortunes begin to appear brutally murdered, a chilling mystery unfolds. This tale introduces one of Ito's scariest creations and is a memorable entry in his repertoire.
12. Village of the Siren
Turning to folk horror, Ito crafts another bleak homecoming in Village of the Siren. Following a strange phone call from his parents and an ominous apparition at his window, Kyochi decides it's time for a family reunion. Upon his return, he finds his once lively rural village transformed into a ghost town, revolving around a mysterious factory and its all-consuming nightly sirens. If you enjoy stories about strange rituals, unusual cults, and the occult, this tale will captivate you. It breaks taboos with a high death count and a rarely seen demographic of victims.
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 changes forever. Despite her bloodied and disoriented state, she brushes it off. Days later, they begin a secretive affair, despite Shigeru being married and expecting a child. Blinded by her beauty, he overlooks her frequent appearances covered in blood and her claim to "love his ghosts." Her true desires, darker than anyone could have foreseen, are revealed too late for Shigeru.
10. The Strange Hikizuri Siblings
One of Ito's more humorous creations, this bleakly funny slice of life story follows a set of unhinged siblings who delight in tormenting each other and unsuspecting victims. Over two tales in Lovesickness, we encounter some of the unfortunate souls who cross their path, including an old school friend and a photographer. While their schemes can have deadly consequences, the Hikizuri siblings are generally hapless, though you wouldn't want to join them for dinner.
9. The Mystery of the Haunted House
A haunted house turns a town upside down as derision turns to terror with each new visitor. 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 claiming to be the owner's family. There's a dark comedy to this tale, featuring another of Ito's recurring characters, the scheming Souichi Tsujii. Despite the humor, his heinous crimes are far from funny, making The Mystery of the Haunted House a wild ride for fans of haunt culture.
8. Honored Ancestors
Family often plays a central role in Ito's stories, and Honored Ancestors might be his most psychedelically deranged yet. On a seemingly normal evening, Risa is brought home by her close friend Makata, who claims she suffers from amnesia and cannot remember where she lives. Her amnesia, caused by immense emotional stress, leads to haunting visions of a giant caterpillar. The truth behind these visions involves Makata and his family's strange traditions, revealed in Ito's dementedly awful fashion. This is one family reunion you'll never forget, though you might wish you could.
7. Uzumaki
Undoubtedly one of Ito's most famous works, Uzumaki has earned its status as a classic. Weaving a supernatural curse into a ghost story centered around the small town of Kurouzu-cho, haunted not by spirits but by spirals, this tale is uniquely spooky. Ito's distinctive linework transforms the usually unassuming shapes into something utterly terrifying. Uzumaki explores themes like obsession, paranoia, and the mundane turning bizarre. Its impact is evident in multiple video game and film adaptations, with a highly anticipated anime adaptation in development. Check out our review of the first episode of the Uzumaki anime for more insights.
6. Fashion Model
Unlike many of Ito's slow-burn horror stories, Fashion Model reveals its monster from the earliest pages. Like Tomie, it has become one of Ito's most popular long-running tales. When a young man sees a bizarre model in a magazine with dagger-like teeth, he becomes consumed by her image. As life moves on and he and his friends cast for a student film, the model reemerges in a brutal and all-too-real fashion. This tale is a great entry into both Ito's and monster horror canons.
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 has been terrorizing readers and lovestruck men for years. The collected edition of Tomie tales chronicles her story from her earliest to most recent appearances, each more delightfully dark than the last. Her ever-shifting true face is the stuff of nightmares, yet Ito's striking illustration style has made her a perennial pop culture figure. Even if you've never read an Ito story, you've likely seen Tomie as a sticker, tattoo, or t-shirt. Ironically, in her stories, capturing her beauty in an image is nearly impossible 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 great effect in this ghastly story about a family obsessed with marionettes. It begins when a young girl named Kinuko befriends the son of a family of puppeteers. Becoming close with Haruhiko, she visits their home and becomes wary of a large marionette named Jean-Pierre. Years later, after reconnecting and marrying Haruhiko, they return to the family home and make an awful discovery. This classic Ito tale will shock and surprise at every turn.
3. Used Record
Eerie and atmospheric, Used Record tells the story of an odd record that hypnotizes and entices its listener. When Ogawa buys the vinyl, she quickly becomes obsessed, as does her friend Nakayama upon hearing it. Soon, all they can do is listen to the song repeatedly. But with only one copy, the girls are on a tragic path. The relatable fact that we've all had that one song we can't stop listening to makes this story terrifying, as Ito takes it to a supernaturally nightmarish level. The 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 grotesque pustules. Goro's obsession with the grease and Yui's hopes of surviving it are deeply entangled in this stomach-churning tale that will threaten both your lunch and your sleep cycle. This is a story you must mentally prepare to read, so don't take it lightly.
1. The Hanging Balloons
What makes The Hanging Balloons Ito's scariest story? It's one of his most bizarre, where he excels, and it feels utterly claustrophobic and inescapable in the best way. After the unexpected suicide of a celebrity schoolgirl inspires a spate of copycat deaths, people report seeing imposing balloons in the sky. But these are no ordinary balloons; they are the giant inflated heads of the deceased. As more balloons appear, chasing those whose faces they wear with metal nooses swinging beneath them, a psychedelic night terror comes 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 latest release, Uncanny: The Origins of Fear, is a written memoir and analysis of the horror genre that came out 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 preorder page, you can expect "Obsession and persistence... warping reality in this collection of macabre stories set in Junji Ito’s bloodcurdling world."
For more manga guides, check out our guide to the best manga for beginners or explore some of the best free manga websites and apps. You can also find our updated guide on where to buy manga if you're interested in physical copies of Junji Ito's work.
