Hideo Kojimais known not only for being the creator of theMetal GearandDeath Strandingfranchises, but also for his love of good stories, no matter the medium. The game director frequently shares his passionate reviews on social media of movies, books, and especially manga and Japanese animation, asKojima has recommended multiple animetitles over time. However, this time,Kojima posted a manga recommendation made to him by none other than the horror author Junji Ito.
Junji Ito and Hideo Kojima are old buddies, as they are from the same generation and have known each other for almost 30 years. Hideo Kojima even included Junji Ito as an NPC inDeath Stranding,wrote the foreword to the French edition of his mangaSensor,and attended his wedding.
Because of this, it’s not strange that they make recommendations to each other, with Ito’s latest suggestion being posted by Hideo Kojima on his X account.
What is somewhat unusual is thatJunji Ito didn’t highlight a horror story but a psychological manga,Saturn Returnby Akane Torikai.
I’ve Read the Scariest Horror Webtoon, and Junji Ito Has Found a Successor
There’s always the potential for new webtoons to scratch the horror itch, but few take the same route as Junji Ito successfully.
Saturn Return’s Realistic Human Drama Earned Junji Ito’s Recommendation
Hideo Kojima Has Proved To Be a Fan of Heart-Wrenching Stories About Loss and Human Connections
Saturn Returnis a psychological manga filled with drama with existential overtones about a writer with a creative block after her first successful novel, whose friend and inspiration recently committed suicide. The manga tackles heavy themes like loss and depression with a fair share of mystery as the story gradually reveals the reasons for her friend’s decision and also why she gave up on her dreams as an author.
WhileSaturn Return’s drama contrasts the stories found inJunji Ito’s collections, the horror author is also fond of tales that describe the human condition, as proved by his manga adaptation of the novelNo Longer Humanby Osamu Dazai, which presents the misery and loneliness of a man who alienates himself from others.
Also,on the same note asNo Longer Human, which is about self-destructive tendencies,Saturn Returnis a dark emotional story about loneliness, guilt, and death, which reflects the emotional burden and the search for culprits to fill the void left in the living when people go away too soon. Additionally, grief and human connections are narratives thatMetal Gear’screator enjoys, as shown byKojima’s recent recommendation of the anime filmby the author ofChainsaw Manand the themes explored in theDeath Strandingfranchise, soSaturn Returnis the perfect story for him, which explains Ito’s recommendation.
Akane TorikaiIs Heavily Inspired by the Manga Artist Inio Asano
Saturn Returnis an acclaimed manga nominated for the prestigious Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize awards in 2024. Additionally,the author, Akane Torikai, is the ex-wife of Inio Asano, the creator of the popular manga seriesGoodnight PunpunandDead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, whose anime adaptation is currently airing on Crunchyroll, and thanks to their past relationship, Asano’s influence is really notable in the realistic art style, character design, and upsetting tone ofSaturn Return. Moreover, it’s impossible not to think that the portrayal of marital problems inSaturn Returnisn’t partly autobiographic.
However, the story is also about life regrets using theSaturn Return, an astrology term, as a metaphor to refer to the turning point in one’s life when you face your fears in order to move on.This proves that Junji Ito and Hideo Kojima enjoy everyday stories with deep exploration of psychological themes, likeSaturn Return’s manga, which, although difficult to navigate at first, is an enjoyable story about life.
