Top 13 Scariest Junji Ito Manga Tales

There is no storyteller on Earth quite like Junji Ito. Since his professional manga debut in 1987, he has been terrifying readers with his macabre tales and chillingly iconic creations. The brilliantly talented mangaka has rightfully become one of the most well-known horror storytellers of his generation, and for good reason. Junji Ito's beautifully illustrated comics hide deep, devastating secrets, and each tale 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 vast collection to just 13 of his most bone-chilling stories was no easy 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, contain stories that follow a specific narrative, while others, such as Shiver and Smashed, include standalone stories organized by theme.

The Scariest Junji Ito Stories

From ominous ghost stories and heart-twisting 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 themes of love and its curses. The first story in his Lovesickness collection is a prime example. We meet Ryusuke on a train, returning to his hometown after years away, haunted by the idea of his return. The devastating reason for his unease is soon revealed, coinciding with a trend of young women seeking "crossroads fortunes." As the bodies of school girls who ask strangers for their fortunes begin to turn up brutally murdered, the mystery deepens. How does it connect with Ryusuke's past? This chilling tale introduces one of Ito's scariest creations.

12. Village of the Siren

In this folk horror story, Ito crafts another bleak homecoming. After a strange phone call from his parents and an ominous apparition, Kyochi decides to reunite with his family. Upon his return, he finds the once lively village transformed into a ghost town, centered around a mysterious factory. The nightly sirens from the factory are all-consuming. If you enjoy stories about strange rituals, unusual cults, and the occult, this tale will captivate you. It breaks taboos with a significant death count and features a rarely seen demographic of victims.

11. I Don't Want to Be a Ghost

Shigeru's life changes when he picks up a beautiful, wandering woman on the side of the road. Despite her bloodied and disoriented state, she explains it away. Days later, they begin a secretive affair, despite Shigeru's marriage and impending fatherhood. Blinded by her beauty, he overlooks her frequent blood-covered appearances and her claims of "loving his ghosts." Her true, darker desires are revealed too late for Shigeru.

10. The Strange Hikizuri Siblings

This darkly humorous story follows a set of unhinged siblings who delight in tormenting each other and unsuspecting victims. Over two tales in Lovesickness, we meet those unfortunate enough to cross their paths, including an old school friend and a photographer. While their schemes can be deadly, 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. Two young boys become entangled in the proprietor's twisted games after trying to sneak in for free. Inside, they discover a true house of horrors filled with victims who claim to be the owner's family. Featuring the recurring character Souichi Tsujii, this tale blends dark comedy with heinous crimes, delighting fans of haunt culture.

8. Honored Ancestors

Family is a recurring theme in Ito's work, and Honored Ancestors might be his most psychedelically deranged tale yet. Risa, brought home by her friend Makata, suffers from amnesia caused by emotional stress. As she becomes haunted by visions of a giant caterpillar, the truth about Makata and his family's strange traditions is revealed in Ito's dementedly awful style. It's a family reunion you'll never forget, though you'll wish you could.

7. Uzumaki

Considered a classic, Uzumaki weaves a supernatural curse into a ghost story centered around the town of Kurouzu-cho, haunted by spirals. Ito's distinctive linework transforms these usually unassuming shapes into something terrifying. Featuring themes of obsession, paranoia, and the mundane becoming bizarre, Uzumaki has inspired multiple video game and film adaptations, with an anime adaptation in development. Check out our review of the first episode of the Uzumaki anime for more insights.

6. Fashion Model

Unlike Ito's slow-burn stories, Fashion Model reveals its monster early. When a young man becomes obsessed with a bizarre model whose mouth is filled with dagger-like teeth, his life spirals out of control. As 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 canon.

5. Tomie

Ito's most famous creation, Tomie, is a stunningly beautiful woman who was murdered by her classmates, only to reappear the next day. She has been terrorizing readers and lovestruck men ever since. The collected edition of Tomie tales showcases 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 illustrations have made her a perennial pop culture figure.

4. House of the Marionettes

Puppets have always been a creepy element in horror, and Ito uses this to his advantage in this story about a family obsessed with marionettes. When Kinuko befriends the son of a puppeteer family, she becomes wary of a large marionette named Jean-Pierre. Years later, after marrying Haruhiko, they return to his 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 and her friend Nakayama become obsessed, unable to stop listening to the song. With only one copy, their obsession leads to tragedy. This story is terrifyingly relatable, as we've all had that one song we can't stop listening to, but Ito takes it to a supernaturally nightmarish level.

2. Greased

Growing up above her family's barbeque restaurant near Mount Fuji, Yui is sick of the grease that has accumulated, coating their home. Her violent and abusive brother Goro, however, embraces the cooking oil, drinking it until his face becomes covered in grotesque pustules. Goro's obsession and Yui's hopes of survival are deeply entangled in this stomach-churning tale that threatens both your lunch and your sleep cycle.

1. The Hanging Balloons

What makes The Hanging Balloons Ito's scariest story? It's one of his most bizarre, and it feels utterly claustrophobic and inescapable. After a celebrity school girl's unexpected suicide inspires copycat deaths, people report seeing giant balloons in the sky. These balloons, resembling the heads of the deceased, chase those whose faces they bear, with metal nooses swinging beneath them. This psychedelic night terror come to life is Ito at his most terrifying.

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.