The Enigma of Amigara Fault

[cyberghostface]

It's been almost a decade since this was last posted so for Halloween here is one of Junji Ito's most famous horror stories.

Following an earthquake in an unnamed prefecture, a fault near to the epicentre of the quake is discovered on Amigara Mountain (the name Amigara meaning "empty shell").

Owaki, a hiker, is lost on the mountain.







Scientists examining the holes announce that there is no way to find out how deep into the mountain the holes go. The holes are not natural and must have been dug from the inside. They figure that the accumulation of soil over the centuries eventually sealed up the entrance, yet they have no way of knowing why the holes were made or who would have the technology to do it.

Owaki sees Yoshida looking for something, and asks what. She explains she came here because on TV, she had seen a hole in her own shape. She swears it is her exact silhouette and was meant for her. Owaki's sceptical, but another man called Nakagaki overhears and says that the same thing happened to him.



The scientists' equipment can find no trace of Nakagaki. A rescue squad is dispatched, but have to retreat after getting no more than five meters inside the hole.

Owaki camps out overnight and has a nightmare in which he is Nakagaki.



When Owaki awakes, Nakagaki hasn't been found. Yoshida tells Owaki that she has found her own hole at the foot of the mountain.







Owaki fills Yoshida's hole with rocks to dissuade her from entering.



They kiss.

That night, Owaki has another dream. In this one, he is a criminal in the past who has committed a horrific crime. His sentence is to enter inside a hole in the mountain that was dug out for him.



Owaki wakes to find that Yoshida has unblocked her hole and disappeared into it. Distraught, he notices another nearby.

Comments

[mister_terrific]

Welp, ain't sleeping tonight!

[metadronos]

So considerate of the fault to prepare an easily-located, custom-fitted hole for everyone. Such service from eldritch eternal prisons is rare in today's economy.

[shakalooloo]

And Owaki's hole was even custom-carved to allow his hair to flow free!

[thanekos]

You wonder if Ito thought of ending the story on " Hey, these holes on the other side aren't human shaped.. " - there's certainly enough for the reader to go " So, what, they're.. oh. "

[super_fly]

This hole was made for MEMES!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bossfight/comments/9tcadq/amigara_dancer_ddr_king/
https://www.reddit.com/r/PeterExplainsTheJoke/comments/1blfoox/peeetah_please_enlighten_me/
https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/30147-it-was-made-for-me-this-is-my-hole
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/it-was-made-for-me-this-is-my-hole/photos
So many holes, so many memes

[cainofdreaming]

No, no, Wile. E. That hole was made by you, not for you. Geez, some super genius.

[superfangirl1]

This story always freak me out.

[petermilley]

"DRR...DRR...DRR..."

Apparently "Somebody help me!" translates into Japanese as "Darekatasukete!" ("誰か助けて!") if you were wondering.

"DRR...DRR...DRR..."

[superfangirl1]

Nice informative tidbit. :)

[leahandillyana]

A genial masterpiece!