Gyo: Ugomeku Bukimi (Gyo: The Death-Stench Creeps)

Read Manga

Add to My List

Add to Favorites

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: The Sad Tale of the Principal Post, The Enigma of Amigara Fault, Daikokubashira Hiwa, Ashura no Dansou no Kai

Japanese: ギョうごめく不気味

More titles

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 2

Chapters: 21

Status: Finished

Published: Nov 12, 2001 to Apr 15, 2002

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Themes: Psychological, Survival

Demographic: Seinen

Serialization: Big Comic Spirits

Authors: Itou, Junji (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.19¹ (scored by 46,010 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #6491²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #217

Members: 80,468

Favorites: 911

Resources

Wikipedia

7.19

Ranked #6491Popularity #217Members 80,468

MangaBig Comic SpiritsItou, Junji (Story & Art)

Add to My List

Volumes: /2

Chapters: /21

Gyo (2-in-1 Deluxe Edition)

$16.99

Read Sample

Edit
Synopsis

When diver Tadashi and his girlfriend Kaori Sawahara take a trip to the coast of Okinawa, they find that their strained relationship is the least of their worries when they unwittingly witness the start of the apocalypse. Attacked by a strange, four-legged fish in their cabin, they manage to kill it, but are left unsettled by the putrid stench it carried—the haunting smell of death.

This lone assault is only the herald of what's to come, as soon, many more such creatures emerge from the sea, attacking anything in their path. Though Tadashi and Kaori quickly return to Tokyo, they find there is no longer any safe haven; no matter where they run, the death stench creeps...

Amigara Dansou no Kai (The Enigma of Amigara Fault)
After a devastating earthquake near Amigara mountain, a several-kilometer-long fault emerged. But this discovery was made more eerie by the thousands of human-shaped holes scattered among the rock face, each of which seemingly continues for miles within the mountain. Oowaki, one of the many spectators attracted to the sight, witnesses in horror as onlookers start to experience a personal, visceral calling to enter these holes—formed as if to fit only them.

Daikokubashira Hiwa (The Sad Tale of the Principal Post)
Celebrating their recent move into their new house, a family's festivities are cut short upon hearing the cries of their father. Finding him in the crawl space below, they bear witness to the bizarre and unexplainable tragedy that has befallen him.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit
Background

Gyo: Ugomeku Bukimi was first published in English by VIZ Media as a VIZ Editor's Choice title, a slightly larger format, from September 10, 2003 to March 10, 2004. It was later republished by VIZ Media under the VIZ Signature imprint. Volume 1 on October 16, 2007 and volume 2 on January 15, 2008, and again in a hardcover omnibus on April 21, 2015.

The series was also published in Spanish by ECC Comics from October 1 to October 29, 2014; in Polish by Japonica Polonica Fantastica in 2013; and in Czech by CREW on March 28, 2017.

Edit

Related Entries

More characters
Characters

Tadashi

Main

Owaki

Main

Sawahara, Kaori

Supporting

Yoshida

Supporting

Koyanagi, Sazuku

Supporting

Ms. Yoshiyama

Supporting

Reviews

Nov 29, 2025

ManuElDarkito02

Recommended

Gyo is a surprisingly fun manga, wrapped in layers of grotesque chaos. It feels just like a horror movie on paper—fast-paced, over-the-top, and full of moments that make you laugh nervously as you squirm. With only two volumes, it reads so quickly that you actually end up wishing there was more.

The premise is as absurd as it is unsettling: fish emerging onto land… using mechanical walking devices. Add to that a revolting stench, a massive threat involving almost the entire marine ecosystem, and a supernatural twist that hits during the second half, making everything even stranger.

Visually, Gyo is deeply disturbing. Junji Ito’s body horror and ...

Open

Gift

Jul 9, 2023

Unryzky

Mixed Feelings

The story of Gyo starts off really strong with something absurd as fish having legs invading the town of Okinawa. With most of Junji Ito's work is more of how his able to create suspense and how bizarre the situations could be.

However for Gyo it wasn't the case , the horror aspect did felt surreal and somewhat disgusting which served it's purpose. However the plot felt very predictable in a way that you sort of would have known what's coming next with how he set up the story to it's climax.

For this story we have only 4 characters and all I want to say ...

Open

Gift

Oct 14, 2024

Mara2463

Not Recommended

Gyo – Spoiler Free – Not Recommended

TLDR
Story – 2/10 – 2 x 0.275 = 0,55
Art – 7/10 – 7 x 0.2 = 1,4
Characters – 1/10 – 1 x 0.225 = 0,225
Enjoyment – 4/10 – 4 x 0.3 = 1,2
Total: 3,375 -> 3

...
Story – 2/10
Gyo’s story isn’t scary at all. Instead, it is quite funny. Genuinely, it probably one of Junji Ito’s funniest stories. There is a sense of strangeness, but it just ends up being funny. There isn’t really much to say about Gyo. It’s a story about a fish invasion in Okinawa and, later on, Tokyo. There is no eerie atmosphere, drama, cliffhanger, suspense, or nothing. We have fishes with legs walking around running amok, fishes with legs inside of plastic bags that float around the city, fishes with legs that are being caught in the sea by fishermen, walking whales invading the city and, later on, mechanical creatures, and some of which fly. There is basically no plot, other than surviving, no intrigue, nothing: we just have panels after planes of fishes walking around the city and creating chaos. There were times when a plot was foreseeable, but rest assured: the story will not deliver! Most, if not all, action scenes are just walking sharks or mechanical creatures pursuing the main characters. The ending is horrendous, and one does not understand why it ended (only for a straightforward aspect that got resolved). This is definitely one of Junji Ito’s worst stories.

Art – 7/10
The art is good, in the sense that it is functional. The gore scenes that are meant to be disgusting are nothing more than just a dead fish with legs, ending up being, once again, quite funny. There are some good panels, but definitely nothing too fancy, and none are awe-inspiring. The character design is just the average of a Junji Ito story. And although there are some stories that have memorable panels, this just isn’t the case with Gyo. It doesn’t have problems with panel fluency and is technically well achieved.

Characters – 1/10
There are no characters worth mentioning, for they have no personality. Gyo’s isn’t about the characters but the invading fish with legs. Thus, the characters are null and only serve to be pursued or scared by the fish. It is incredibly bland. The “main” characters—Tadashi and Kaori—only fit the aforementioned purpose. In all due honesty, only Koyanagi isn’t all that annoying. Without going into spoilers, Kaori will fill a role other than running, but it is so idiotic that one cannot take it seriously. Mechanical creatures abound.

Enjoyment – 4/10
Gyo is a great comic relief, but it cannot be compared to some of his better works, such as Tomie, and cannot definitely be considered a horror story. For being so ludicrous, it deserves a not recommended: the story is bland and outright bad, the premise is stupid, the development is terrible, and the characters are ever worse than the story. Gyo may be made of the stuff of nightmares, but for all the wrong reasons.

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Not-So-Guilty Pleasures

by Weebookey

25 Entries · 65 Restacks

mangas published by Darkwood

by loveonitshead

25 Entries · 1 Restacks

Horror Manga with physical english license

by Indigoblau

32 Entries · 10 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

View All

More news
Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for October

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for October Week 1: October 2 - 8 Anime Releases Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kaguya Hime no Koibito DVD Bis...read more

Oct 1, 2018 10:27 AM by Sakana-san | Discuss (7 comments)

ufotable To Animate Horror Manga 'Gyo'

According to Big Comic Spirits, Ito Junji's horror manga Gyo was announced to get an OVA adaptation. The production studio is ufotable. Staff Director: Hirao Ta...read more

Mar 3, 2011 4:41 AM by dtshyk | Discuss (81 comments)

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Gyo Chapter 12 Discussion Zinvy - Mar 4, 2011	12 replies	by Dizzy-san »» Dec 10, 2024 1:58 PM
Poll: Gyo Chapter 8 Discussion Zinvy - Mar 3, 2011	13 replies	by Dizzy-san »» Dec 10, 2024 12:44 PM
Poll: Gyo Chapter 1 Discussion Beatnik - Dec 16, 2009	13 replies	by Dizzy-san »» Dec 8, 2024 9:58 AM
Poll: Gyo: Ugomeku Bukimi Chapter 21 Discussion (Chapter 19.5) Mana - Feb 15, 2016	17 replies	by yveltalkyogre »» Sep 30, 2024 12:39 PM
Poll: Gyo Chapter 14 Discussion Zinvy - Mar 4, 2011	11 replies	by tectacles »» Jan 12, 2024 12:56 AM

Gyo: Ugomeku Bukimi
Gyo: The Death-Stench Creeps
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Related Entries

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Gyo: Ugomeku BukimiGyo: The Death-Stench Creeps Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

EditSynopsis

EditBackground

Related Entries

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More charactersCharacters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

More featured articlesRecent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Gyo: Ugomeku Bukimi
Gyo: The Death-Stench Creeps
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles