Danica Davidson
August 17, 2023 
Soichi: Junji Ito Story Collection consists entirely of short stories involving Ito’s character Soichi, a creepy boy who curses people and likes to put nails in his mouth.
There are 10 stories: “A Happy Summer Vacation,” “A Happy Winter Vacation,” “Soichi’s Happy Diary,” “Soichi’s Home Visit,” “Teacher of Cloth,” “Soichi’s Birthday,” “Soichi’s Petty Curses,” “Four-Layered Room,” “Coffin,” and “Rumors.”
In the first one, a brother and sister from Tokyo travel to the country to see relatives they haven’t been around in years. They meet their cousin Koichi and their cousin Yusuke, but at first no one wants to introduce them to their cousin Soichi. When they get their first sight of Soichi, he’s talking to some dolls as if they’re alive, then turns and gives them a smile that’s all nails, as if his mouth is entirely made up of fangs. It gives the cousins the idea that Soichi is weird. But that’s only the start of it.
A teacher tries to mentor Soichi, but this is a big mistake. How exactly Soichi is able to curse people isn’t explained, but he does like his curses. He takes the most after his creepy grandmother, who made a number of “prophecies” around him. Sometimes it looks as if Soichi is feeling normal, human emotions, but then another explanation crops up. His diary shows how far off the deep end he is with his delusions, including the fact he thinks he’s some kind of god or something. He’s just a creepy kid. But then again, could a normal creepy kid do the things Soichi does?
Some stories are stronger than others (“Coffin” might be the strongest), and a few scenes could be scary for readers. However, the collection is more creepy and absurd than scary. There are some gruesome images — but this is Ito after all, and part of his masterful skill as an artist is to make creepy, detailed, and sometimes gross imagery. For fans of Ito who want something a little weird, Soichi is an odd duck of a character.
Story & Art: Junji Ito
Publisher: VIZ Media
Translator: Jocelyne Allen
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
