A master at his medium, Ito utilises the page-turn, initially in Tomie, and subsequently in his later work, to deliver moments of heightened emotional and physical horror. Reading Ito’s work always come with a sense of anticipation for the next ghoulish contortion of a human body, or the next silent image that screams from its panel. It is within Tomie that Ito established many of the techniques which he later became known for. Coupled later with the 1947 Japanese Constitution (Article 21) which prohibited all forms of censorship, artistic creation exploded in Japan, culminating with the proliferation of the manga industry that we know, and love today.
Furthermore, in the wake of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan saw the end of their imperial ways, and in these post-occupation years, the country sought to rebuild its economic and political infrastructure. This, however, did not prevent the publication of things such as manga. During World War II, and Japan’s occupation, the country endured strict censorship policies which prohibited the publication of any writing which glorified the war. The technique and style employed in these drawings, notably the depiction of animals running continue to inspire Manga-kas today.
The Chōjū-giga ( Scrolls of Frolicking Animals), believed to be the very first manga, are a series of traditional drawings depicting various animals at play. While modern manga exploded into the cultural consciousness during the 40s, and 50s, the roots of the medium can be traced back as far as the 12th and 13th century.
Junji Ito’s own story starts at the very inception of manga, to its cultivation, and ultimate ripening to set the stage for the sheer horror of his storytelling. Yet, Ito is without a doubt a creator who best uses the medium of manga to deliver poignant, and frightening examinations of everyday human experiences. It is strenuous even, to attempt to categorize his work under the same “manga” moniker. The visceral, distorted panels of this aptly named “Master of Horror” fail to resemble the smooth, modest panels of his contemporaries Eiichiro Oda, or Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto. One such storyteller is Junji Ito, a manga-ka best known for his pre-occupation with themes relating to the reality of the human condition.
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