Headless Statues is one of Junji Ito’s earlier works, first published in 1995, and later collected in Flesh-Colored Horror. Despite its age, it remains a standout piece, showcasing his mastery of grotesque imagery.
Plot Summary – When Art Imitates Life
The story follows Rumi, a high school student, her friend Shimada, and their art teacher, Mr. Okabe, who is known for his headless statues.
One evening, the three of them discuss his art, and Mr. Okabe shares the reason for his creations. Soon after, Rumi goes home, leaving the two of them behind.
The next day, Shimada isn’t feeling well and stays absent from school. Upon arriving there, Rumi learns that Mr. Okabe was brutally murdered and decapitated last night. When Shimada finally returns to school, something is off about him, and Rumi suspects that his increasingly strange behavior is related to the murder.
As Rumi investigates, she finally uncovers the horrifying truth. The headless statues have come to live, and now wander the old school building, wielding cleavers and seeking human heads to complete themselves.
The story builds to a nightmarish finale, in which a fleeing Rumi is eventually cornered by the statues. In the final panel, we witness her terrifying expression while the statues all clamor for her head.
What Makes It So Good?
Headless Statues is a slow-burn story that knows how to build dread. From an eccentric art teacher who’s obsessed with faceless art, to his sudden murder and Shimada’s strange behavior, we can tell something is wrong.
Once the horror finally hits, it’s pure Ito. Headless Statues stands out for its disturbing imagery and visual horror. The statues are hideously grotesque, smeared with blood, brandishing cleavers and bearing mismatched heads. One of the most disturbing images is a group of statues all grappling over a single head frozen in a perpetual scream, trying to make it their own.
Deeper Themes – Identity, Obsession and the Uncanny
While Headless Statues stands out for its disturbing visuals, there are still some deeper themes hidden below its surface.
At its core, it’s a story about the meaning of identity and what happens when it’s stripped away. Mr. Okabe claims that faces in art are meaningless, because they fail at capturing real emotions. Thus, he purposefully omits them from his work, claiming it gives his creations limitless possibilities.
Yet his statues think otherwise. After they come to live, they crave identity and a face of their own. Their quest to complete themselves might suggest that removing identity isn’t a blessing, but dehumanizing. Their creator’s artistic vision becomes a curse.
The story also heavily plays with the concept of the uncanny valley. The statues are objects that look almost human, but are distinctly not. Their missing faces make them into unsettling blank slates. They are nothing but distorted approximations. This becomes even more apparent once we see them move. They are nothing but stilted constructs, moving jittery and unnaturally.
Final Verdict – A Chilling Exploration of Artistic Hubris
Headless Statues stands as a testament to Junji Ito’s ability to craft deeply disturbing horror stories. It’s brutal and weird, a story in which art becomes monstrous.
If you enjoy Ito’s visually disturbing works, and haven’t read Headless Statues, I highly recommend it. It’s a must-read.
Looking for more Junji Ito? Check out my review of My Dear Ancestors, The Window Next Door, or my complete list of the best 40 Junji Ito stories.
Headless Statues has an official English translation, but is currently out of print and not widely available.
