Master of horror Junji Ito brings his immortal schoolgirl Tomie to Universal Studios Japan in a chilling new collaboration.
For a long time, Tokyo Disneyland was the undisputed king of theme parks in Japan. However, Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan (USJ) has steadily closed the gap by embracing elements that Disney traditionally avoids. By teaming up with popular anime and manga franchises and leaning into genuinely frightening, adult-oriented scares for the Halloween season, USJ has carved out a unique identity. Now, the park is blending both strategies through a thrilling partnership with legendary horror mangaka Junji Ito.
While Ito has a massive catalog of eerie masterpieces that would fit right into USJ’s Halloween Horror Nights—such as Uzumaki or Gyo—the park ultimately chose his iconic, regenerating femme fatale, Tomie, to headline the event. Tomie’s hypnotic allure takes center stage in a brand-new line of exclusive merchandise. Featuring brand-new artwork of Tomie leading a pack of park zombies, fans can look forward to picking up T-shirts, keychains, notebooks, stickers, and towels adorned with Ito’s unmistakable style.
Intriguingly, USJ’s official announcement points out that the zombies under Tomie’s command are the park’s roaming “street zombies,” who terrorize visitors during Halloween Horror Nights. This subtle detail strongly hints that parkgoers might actually spot Tomie herself mingling with the undead performers wandering the grounds. While USJ hasn’t explicitly confirmed a live-action appearance, it would be unusual for them to release extensive merchandise for a character with zero physical presence in the park.
The exclusive Junji Ito collection hits shelves at Universal Studios Japan on September 9, just ahead of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, which run from September 11 through November 8. Even if Tomie remains confined to the artwork, visitors seeking extreme scares will have plenty to look forward to—including a haunted attraction this year so intense that guests must sign a waiver before stepping inside.
Source, images: PR Times
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