23 Facts About Junji Ito

1.

Ito's work has developed a substantial cult following, and Ito has been called an iconic horror manga artist.

2.

Junji Ito was born on July 31,1963 in Sakashita, now a part of Nakatsugawa, Gifu.

3.

Junji Ito began his experience in the horror world at a very young age, with his first manga being Mummy Teacher by Kazuo Umezu; his two older sisters read Umezu and Shinichi Koga in magazines, and consequently, he began reading them too.

4.

Junji Ito grew up in the countryside, in a small city next to Nagano.

5.

Junji Ito began to draw manga at the age of 4, taking inspiration from the works he read in magazines.

6.

Junji Ito continued to draw as a hobby until he became a dental technician in 1984, where he struggled to find a balance between the two.

7.

Junji Ito drew the cover of Mucc's 2002 album Homura Uta.

8.

Junji Ito collaborated with the band again in 2020, for the cover of their made-to-order single "Shofu 2020".

9.

Junji Ito teamed up with Takashi Nagasaki and former diplomat Masaru Sato to create Yukoku no Rasputin, based on Sato's personal experiences in Russia, for Big Comic.

10.

In 2006, Junji Ito married Ayako Ishiguro, a picture book artist.

11.

Junji Ito has stated that Umezu has inspired his storytelling, and Hino has inspired his ability in creating a mood for a work.

12.

Junji Ito has stated that he admires Guillermo del Toro's work.

13.

Junji Ito has been inspired by horror since childhood, with his first manga being written about a protagonist with an eye in the middle of his hand, attacking him; this was heavily influenced by Kappa no Sanpei.

14.

Junji Ito was inspired by the occult horror films of the 20th century, as well as period dramas of ghosts.

15.

Junji Ito has found inspiration from Rakugo storytellers who tell Kaiden ghost stories, incorporating it into No Longer Human.

16.

Junji Ito felt strange that a boy he knew suddenly disappeared from the world, and he kept expecting the boy to show up again; from this came the idea of a girl who is supposed to have died but then just shows up as if nothing had happened.

17.

Long Dream was inspired by his sister mentioning research of dreams being instantaneous, and Slug Girl was inspired by Junji Ito moving his tongue around in the mirror and finding that it resembled a slug.

18.

Junji Ito studied and graduated from a vocational school with a degree in Dental Technology before working as a dental technician, where he worked for 3 years until he became a full-time mangaka.

19.

Junji Ito found anatomical interest in the books for the medical students, which he used to study muscles.

20.

Junji Ito is cited stating the schooling gave him more inspiration for his tools in drawing, namely pens and how to whittle pencils like dentures.

21.

Junji Ito takes inspiration from his own fears as well, including death, war, insects, and being watched.

22.

Junji Ito has been cited saying that he draws the manifestation of the mind becoming reality, represented in body horror.

23.

Several other works of Junji Ito's have subsequently been adapted for film, television and videogaming:.