“I have always loved what was terrible”: Japanese Stephen King tells us about his inspirations

From his angry spiral, through the double tribal, through Mutant Gio’s fish, June Ito’s imagination never manages his readers. Although, as a horror manga master, this unparalleled designer in one line has become a real reference in its field.

With the terrible stories of HP Lovecraft and Kazuo Umezu, Junji ITO wrote and wrote more than thirty works after its beginning in the 1990s and now among the most famous mangaks.

During the interview, this horror genius persuaded our microphone to his career, Japan’s Expo on the day of 2025.

Horror as the first love

Junji Ito is very young thanks to the terrible genre thanks to the Kazuo Umezu works: “I was reading it before entering Manga’s elementary school “,” He tells us. “I interpreted them, imitating them. I always loved what was terrible. These are his stories that made me write and draw me. “

But if Kazuo Uzzum gave birth to this passion for strange and discomfort, he is not the only great masters of literature accompanied by Yunji Ito’s childhood and adolescence. “There are many influences. I especially mention HP Lovecraft but also Yasutaka tsutsui. And it’s not terrible but I’m very excited Katuhiro OtomoThe author “Akira“,”, He admits.

However, it is as a dental surgeon that Junji Ito enters the work life. “At the same time and for almost ten years, I continued to paint a monthly review that specializes in horrors. Stories were mainly for young and female audiences.” He follows his passion and puts it left to leave the medical community in the early 90’s.

One’s own fears as an inspiration

If these characters, monsters and other mysterious creatures are varied and unique, all their work remains with the same anxiety: unknown. “Man is naturally scared Which he does not understand. Fear arises from misunderstanding. That is why he works supernatural. ”

More specifically, Junji Ito admits that he has a sick fascination for Dopelgencer, a repetitive topic in his bibliography: “There is an urban legend that says that if you fall into your double, you will die soon.

Tommy, which has become a Japanese literature character, is also the Junji Itro first manga, adapting as a feature film in 1999.

Paper on the screen

With a few million readers around the world, fascinated, barely need a decade to see the first feature film that Junji moved to the Ito world cinema. Adaptation exercise that is difficult to judge from its point of view: “The sight of the interpretation of my characters by real people is very different from what is in my manga.” Reveals the author. “But I know we can’t do anything about it, so I will allow the director to drive and move from original material. If he is talented, the film will be good in any case.”

Feeling that the master does not feel, however, when it comes to anime, it is better suited to his line and the path of horror. “In animation, this is not the same feeling.” Junji Ito: Collection “,” Maniac “, or even” Crimson “, which has just entered the production stage, is all adaptations that conquered my manga essence and I think the result is wonderful.”

Investing in these various performances, Junji Ito reveals the name of the director, who he would easily instruct his writings for cinema: “I loved it William Friedkin Adapt to my job. I’m a fan ExorcistIt was a movie that influenced me. I was sorry for his death. But, I can also quote Dario Argento (Susiriya) With whom I dreamed of collaborating. “

When you discover the new Bloodsucking Darkness adaptation, you can soon find Junji ITO’s works in the paper version of mangetsu and Delcourt/Tonkam, as well as their animated versions on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

Manon Maruf’s interview on Japan’s Expo on the day of 2025, on Thursday, July 3, at the Wilpint Exhibition Center.