The 13 Most Terrifying Junji Ito Manga Stories

Junji Ito: A Master of Macabre Manga

Since his 1987 debut, Junji Ito has reigned supreme as a horror manga storyteller, captivating readers worldwide with his chilling tales and iconic creations. His masterful illustrations conceal devastating secrets, crafting uniquely haunting and horrifying narratives.

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 Amazon

Narrowing down Ito's extensive work to just thirteen bone-chilling stories was a daunting task. While many of his scariest short stories circulate online, they're also compiled into physical collections. Collections like Tomie and Uzumaki follow specific narratives, while others, such as Shiver and Smashed, present standalone stories grouped thematically.

The Scariest Junji Ito Stories

From ominous ghost stories and gothic horror to bizarre modern fables, here are thirteen terrifying tales from the master of horror manga.

13. The Beautiful Boy at the Crossroads

Ito frequently explores the dark side of love and its potential to curse. The opening story in Lovesickness exemplifies this, introducing Ryusuke, a teenager returning home after years away, haunted by a devastating secret. His arrival coincides with a string of brutal murders of young women seeking "crossroads fortunes," creating a chilling mystery that connects to Ryusuke's past.

12. Village of the Siren

Ito delves into folk horror with this bleak homecoming tale. Kyochi returns to his seemingly deserted hometown, only to find it consumed by a strange factory and all-consuming sirens. This story explores strange rituals, unusual cults, and the occult, featuring a high body count and diverse victims.

11. I Don't Want to Be a Ghost

Shigeru's life takes a dark turn after rescuing a mysterious woman. Blinded by her beauty, he ignores her bloodied state and claims of "loving ghosts," unaware of her sinister desires until it's too late.

10. The Strange Hikizuri Siblings

This darkly humorous story follows a dysfunctional sibling group who delight in tormenting each other and unsuspecting victims. Their schemes, though often deadly, are marked by a certain haplessness.

9. The Mystery of the Haunted House

A haunted house turns a town upside down as visitors face the proprietor's twisted games. Two boys exploring the house uncover a true house of horrors, filled with victims claiming to be the owner's family. Souichi Tsujii, one of Ito's recurring characters, adds a layer of dark comedy to this chilling tale.

8. Honored Ancestors

This story explores family dynamics with psychedelic derangement. Risa, suffering from amnesia, is haunted by visions of a giant caterpillar, leading to the revelation of Makata and his family's disturbing traditions.

7. Uzumaki

A classic Ito tale, Uzumaki centers on the town of Kurouzu-cho, cursed not by spirits but by spirals. This uniquely spooky story explores themes of obsession, paranoia, and the bizarre transformation of the mundane.

6. Fashion Model

A more direct horror tale, Fashion Model introduces a bizarre model with dagger-like teeth, whose image consumes a young man, leading to a brutal and terrifying encounter.

5. Tomie

Ito's most famous creation, Tomie, is a stunningly beautiful woman murdered and resurrected repeatedly, terrorizing those around her with her ever-shifting true face.

4. House of the Marionettes

This story uses the inherent creepiness of puppets to tell a ghastly tale of a family obsessed with marionettes. Kinuko's friendship with Haruhiko, a puppeteer's son, leads to a disturbing discovery years later.

3. Used Record

An eerie and atmospheric story about a record that hypnotizes its listeners, driving Ogawa and Nakayama to obsession and a tragic path.

2. Greased

Yui's disgust with the grease coating her family's restaurant clashes with her brother Goro's obsession, leading to a stomach-churning tale of abuse and grotesque transformations.

1. The Hanging Balloons

This bizarre and claustrophobic story features giant balloons resembling the head of a deceased schoolgirl, chasing and hanging those they resemble.

What's Next for Junji Ito?

Pre-Order### Uncanny: Origins of Fear

2Releasing October 15See it at Amazon

Ito's latest release, Uncanny: The Origins of Fear, is a memoir and analysis of the horror genre. A new collection, Moan, is set to release on October 7th, promising more obsession, persistence, and reality-warping macabre stories.