It is hard to pinpoint a single piece of work by Junji Ito as his "best" since it may vary from person to person, but some highly acclaimed works include:
* "Tsumare no Umi" (Lost Voices): This gorgeous horror/fantasy manga tells the story of Atsumi, a young girl who discovers she has an affinity for underwater creatures and becomes embroiled in a dark conflict between them and humanity. With beautifully rendered artwork that captures both lightheartedness and grotesquery, it explores deep subjects like betrayal and morality. The world building is intriguing with different layers of oceans, each with its own inhabitants and belief systems. While slow-paced at times, many have praised this series for how well it develops characters, its twists and turns, and overall atmosphere. If you enjoy stories that leave things unexplained or open ended, then this could appeal to your tastes. However if you prefer a more traditional narrative structure you might find yourself frustrated with it.
* "Gyo": Another one of Junji’s science fiction horror comics, depicts sea animals coming to life and attacking humans on land in present day Japan. It blends elements of Lovecraftian cosmicism and body horror while focusing heavily on the idea of cycles of life vs extinction. It is notable not just because the premise itself seems nightmarish and imaginatively unique; but also the execution of conveying panic, confusion and desperation among characters during such events are done very effectively using composition. This comic is often recommended specifically for those into Lovecraft or Cosmic Horror because it has similar atmospherics as those types of works. Many call it better than other mangas that get called “lovecraftain” simply due to setting alone.
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