Japanese horror manga artist Junji Ito has announced a return to the 'cosmic horror' themes that have become a hallmark of his career. In a recent interview with Polygon, the artist—often dubbed the 'Japanese Lovecraft'—made it clear that he intends to take this genre to 'new and deeper places' in his upcoming projects.
Ito’s fascination with the genre runs deep. In 1997, he published the short story 'The Record of Ancient Records' in his collectionThe House of Puppets, which follows the terrifying origins of a mysterious, otherworldly melody found on an obscure vinyl record. That classic story has now been adapted into an exclusive audio drama released on vinyl. The project has shattered its $20,000 goal on Kickstarter, with some limited-edition pressings even featuring Junji Ito’s own handprint in blood and his personal signature.
Reimagining Fear Through Audio
Ito has shown a keen interest in the audio drama medium, noting that sound offers a unique advantage in building a sense of dread. In 'The Record of Ancient Records,' a track titled 'Paula Bell's Scat' serves as the narrative centerpiece. 'In an audio drama, the melody and the vocals become the focal point,' Ito explained. 'The horror experienced through sound is something that a purely visual manga simply cannot convey.'
To bring the project to life, the team enlisted Grammy-nominated singer Poppy for the English narration, with renowned voice actress Shoko Nakagawa handling the Japanese version. Ito expressed his gratitude for their involvement, calling the decision to use the story’s central medium—the vinyl record itself—as the delivery vehicle for the audio drama a 'brilliantly clever concept.'
When discussing his creative inspirations, Ito acknowledged the profound influence of H.P. Lovecraft. 'Lovecraft’s works depict a kind of hopelessness where, when faced with existences beyond human comprehension, there is no choice but to face destruction,' he said. 'That bottomless sense of dread is exactly what I want to replicate in my own work.'
Although he has experimented with various horror styles in recent years, including an adaptation of Osamu Dazai’sNo Longer Human, Ito has never stopped contemplating cosmic horror. He believes that short stories act like miniature universes sealed within a glass sphere, offering a concentrated intensity that is difficult to achieve in longer works. He concluded by noting that while he touched upon cosmic horror in his previous workSensor, he feels that attempt was incomplete, and he is committed to fully refining that vision in the future.
