Penguin Random House India is delighted to announce the publication of Strange Houses and Strange Pictures by cult Japanese horror creator Uketsu, whose chilling works are set to ride the growing wave of Japanese literature that has taken India by storm.
In recent years, Indian readers have embraced the unique voices of Japanese writers, from the surreal storytelling of Haruki Murakami to the unsettling visions of Sayaka Murata and the wholesome whimsy of Michiko Aoyama. Uketsu now joins this cultural movement with two titles that combine the intimacy of everyday life with the bone-deep unease of psychological horror.
Strange Houses takes readers deep into the uncanny spaces we think of as safe. A seemingly mundane house purchase, upon closer inspection, reveals a mysterious “dead space” dotted across the house. From corridors that twist endlessly to doors that should never be opened, Uketsu transforms the familiar structure of “home” into a living, breathing source of terror.
Strange Pictures turns its gaze toward the visual: Structured around nine childlike drawings, each holding a disturbing clue, Uketsu invites readers to piece together the mystery behind each and the overarching backstory that connects them all. With every story, Uketsu captures the terror of being watched, remembered, or consumed by the things we choose to look at.
Japanese literature has become a phenomenon in India, loved by readers who are drawn to its mix of minimalism, surrealism, and emotional intensity. With Uketsu, we are excited to introduce a new voice who captures that same allure, but through the lens of horror that is at once psychological, eerie, and profoundly human.
Together, these titles showcase Uketsu’s masterful ability to evoke unease through minimalist storytelling, surreal imagery, and an atmosphere that lingers long after the last page is turned. Fans of Japanese literature as well as readers drawn to the uncanny corners of internet folklore, will find themselves deeply unsettled and unable to look away.
About the Author
Uketsu is a contemporary Japanese writer, whose true identity is unknown. His unsettling and atmospheric stories have captivated a global readership. With a style that is spare yet deeply evocative, Uketsu has become one of the most intriguing new voices in Japanese literature, gaining a strong following among readers of modern horror and surreal fiction.
