Summer Terrors: Junji Ito Solo Exhibition at the Setagaya Literary Museum

Horror manga artist Junji Ito (1963-) creates a beautiful yet grotesque world that captivates readers worldwide. His first large-scale solo exhibition, Enchantment, is currently on view at the Setagaya Literary Museum. The exhibition runs until September 1, 2024.

Born in Gifu Prefecture, Ito debuted as a manga artist in 1986. He wrote his first story, Tomie, while working as a dental technician and won the Kazuo Umezu Prize in the magazine "Gekkan Halloween." Since then, he has published work that blends horror and beauty, including his most famous titles, Tomie, Uzumaki, Lovesickness, and The Hanging Balloons. He has received the Eisner Award four times since 2019, the Honorary Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2023, and other honors in the international comics world.

Addressing the press, Ito said: "I've been drawing for 37 or 38 years, but the time has really flown by. Many exhibited pieces mean a lot to me. I also want to show people the new figurine of Tomie that I created in collaboration with sculptor Keiki Fujimoto." He continued, "(Exhibition organizer) Asahi Shimbun and the Setagaya Literature Museum curators provided me with lots of ideas, but the omikuji section in Lovesickness was my own. But I hope you don't mind that there seems to be a high percentage of 'bad' or 'very bad' luck." Ito also hinted at the possibility of further updates during the exhibition period, explaining, "I am currently more interested in designing figures with unique joint mechanisms than drawing manga, and I hope to display them too."

The exhibition is divided into five chapters and features approximately 600 original manga drawings, illustrations, sketches, drafts, and other materials. It opens with one of the new illustrations drawn for the exhibition, entitled Tomie Cheeklove. Ito explains, "The background for this illustration is that when Tomie is dismembered, a new Tomie is formed from each of her parts. And each Tomie thinks she is the real one. At first glance, it looks like she cares for the newborn Tomie. But because of her true nature, she must be up to something..."

The first chapter introduces the Tomie series and other works that combine beauty and grotesque. Ito's published books and his personal book collection are also on display. Here, you can also find the collaborative Tomie figurine modeled by sculptor Keiki Fujimoto. In addition, figures hand-painted by Ito himself are also on display.

The second chapter focuses on the horrors that lurk in everyday life, featuring popular titles such as Uzumaki and Gyo. Visitors can browse the original drawings and sketches and immerse themselves in Ito's creative process.

For example, the Hellstar Remina section compares the drawings and the finished manuscripts, which were later scanned and digitalized.

Another work drawn exclusively for this exhibition depicts Kirie, the main character of Uzumaki. Ito comments: "Uzumaki ends with the protagonist Kirie descending a long spiral staircase and discovering enormous underground ruins, but this illustration depicts what happens to Kirie after that."

The third chapter explores Ito's cover art and illustrations. This section reminds viewers that Ito's skillful use of various materials, including watercolor and oil paint, and his ability to depict beauty make the bizarre and intriguing stories resonate with us.

The final chapter explores Ito's humorous inner world through his novels and essay comics. Despite the exhibition's compact size, the rooms are filled with a vast amount of information about Junji Ito. Take your time to explore this beautiful and sensitive exhibition, full of horrors and surprises.