The Horrors of Noroi Michiru Is Provocative and Always Fascinating

by Danica Davidson
July 26, 2025

The Horrors of Noroi Michiru contains 10 horror short stories that are provocative, sinister, sometimes erotic, always fascinating. While some stories are more effective than others, as a whole it’s a very strong horror collection.

Michiru likes to twist and contrast things. In the first story, a girl with a cruel father agrees to obey a demon for powers, and takes her newfound powers out against men in the world.

Multiple stories involve Frankenstein-style creations. Most of the main characters are women, and they range from innocent girls caught up in evil, to diabolical women who don’t care who lives or dies, to shy women trying to bring out their baser instincts. The manga does not shy away from dealing with taboo subjects, whether it be graphic violence, cannibalism, strange fetishes, unspeakable emotions, and more. Some stories challenge our concepts of the world.

The visual details of the artwork are quite stunning. There is some gross imagery, but not too much. Mostly it shows many examples of beautiful girls, frightening scenarios, picture perfect anatomy, evil personified, dark nights. Whatever Michiru draws, it comes out with amazing and skilled precision. The psychedelic and kaleidoscopic cover, for whatever reason, actually doesn’t match up much with the stories on the inside.

Each story works as a standalone, and afterward Michiru puts in some background notes. These were originally published in the late 90s and early 2000s. Michiru doesn’t talk too much about the inspiration for the stories, which is too bad, because it’d be really interesting to hear.

Star Fruit Books has published this in a beautiful paperback with folded covers. I’d never heard of Michiru before this, and after reading it, I’m glad to see this creator’s work finally available in English. It has some Junji Ito-style things, but I found this more provocative and different. Definitely recommended for fans of horror manga. There will also be a second volume, and I’m looking forward to checking it out.

Story & Art: Noroi Michiru

Publisher: Star Fruit Books

Translator: Dan Luffey

____

Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.