Junji Ito Brings His Chilling Creations to Life With New Manhole Covers in Japan
Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias
Nakatsugawa City in Gifu Prefecture has just appointed world-renowned horror manga artist Junji Ito as a tourism ambassador. Known for eerie manga works like Uzumaki and Tomie, about a beautiful girl who transforms into terrifying forms, Ito was born in the Sakashita area of Nakatsugawa and now lives in Chiba.
To support his hometown, Ito created original artwork for a series of decorative manhole covers. The designs were donated by Nakatsu Shiko, a local paper processing company, and include seven illustrations. One of the covers will be installed outside JR Nakatsugawa Station.
Ito, who lived in Nakatsugawa through high school and made his debut in 1986, has gained international fame with works such as Tomie and Uzumaki. He has won the American Eisner Award four times and is widely considered one of the most influential manga artists in the world. Tomie has been adapted into several live-action films.
A donation ceremony was held on May 23, with Ito in attendance. Two of the manhole cover designs were revealed, titled Tomie and Ena-san and Souichi and Hanako. Mayor Hitoshi Oguri received the donation certificate from Nakatsu Shiko president Toshitaka Sakai and said, “It is an honor to receive manhole covers designed by one of Japan’s most celebrated manga creators.”
Ito was also named Nakatsugawa’s seventh official tourism ambassador. The city hopes that his designs will help promote local tourism and increase name recognition as the opening of the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line approaches.
During the ambassador appointment ceremony, Mayor Oguri presented Ito with an official certificate and sash. “As someone who grew up in Nakatsugawa, this is a great honor,” said Ito. “I may not have much experience in tourism, but I will do my best to contribute in any way I can.”
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