Gyo by Junji Ito

Gyo
Junji Ito
GN It8g

Something is rotten in Okinawa... The floating smell of death hangs over the island. What is it? A strange, legged fish appears on the scene... So begins Tadashi and Kaori's spiral into the horror and stench of the sea. Here is the creepiest masterpiece of horror manga ever from the creator of Uzumaki, Junji Ito. Hold your breath until all is revealed.

(from publisher)

Phantasm Japan: Fantasies Light and Dark, From and About Japan

Phantasm Japan: Fantasies Light and Dark, From and About Japan
Nick Mamatas
895.608 P493

Written by different authors, the short stories in this collection are an exploration of speculative fiction in the context of Japanese culture, and will be enthusiastically received by a niche audience that enjoys genre fiction and is familiar with Japan.

Newcomers to sci-fi/fantasy and Japanese culture may find the collection tedious and confusing, but the intended audience will revel in discovering the intricacies of each tale's world-building and delight in the appearances of creatures from Japanese myth and folklore. The entries, ranging from humor to horror with a dose of the surreal, are literary and often somewhat experimental in writing style—several use the second-person narrative voice, or switch from present to past tense for effect. Some are translated into English from Japanese; others are written in English about Japan.

Standouts include "Shikata Ga Nai: The Bag Lady's Tale" by Gary A. Braunbeck, a haunting story about memory, family, and belonging amid the Japanese American incarceration during World War II, and "For Those Who Hunt Monster Hunters" by Tim Pratt, which explores themes of race, stereotypes, and female empowerment. Most of the stories have fairly minimal teen appeal, with the exception of "Girl, I Love You" by Nadia Bulkin, which focuses on high school bullying and suicide. Buy this unique collection where it will have an audience. VERDICT This atmospheric collection of short stories weaves a mesmerizing web of science fiction and fantasy for the right reader

(from School Library Journal)

The Name of the Blade

The Name of the Blade
Zoe Marriott
Fiction M3497n

With her sixteenth birthday approaching, Mio is increasingly drawn to the katana—a Japanese long sword—that her grandfather hid in the attic before his death. But the katana is more than some dusty heirloom, and when Mio takes it to complete her get-up for a costume party, her actions unleash an ancient evil onto the streets of modern-day London. As Mio, with her best friend and a mysterious warrior who appears out of nowhere, is stalked by the terrors of mythical Japan, she must learn to control the sword’s legendary powers…or she will lose not only her own life, but also the love of a lifetime.

In the first novel of a breathtaking trilogy, critically acclaimed author Zoë Marriott brings spellbinding mythical creatures and bewitching characters to life—and possibly death—on the streets of London.

(From publisher.)