TOKYO — Meet Uketsu, the spooky star taking Japan by storm! He wears a black bodysuit and a white mask, talks using a funny, squeaky voice, and his creepiness is what makes him special. Uketsu, which means “rain hole,” is not just a popular YouTube star but also a mystery writer with a bestselling book.
His new book, “Strange Pictures,” is coming out in 30 different countries, including the U.S. It has sold an amazing 1.5 million copies around the world! Uketsu tells his scary stories using pictures, diagrams, and text, creating a thrilling puzzle that gets solved piece by piece. Young readers love his style because it feels like their favorite manga comics and video games. Some kids even dressed up as him for Halloween!
Inspired by famous Japanese mystery writer Ranpo Edogawa, Uketsu wants to make his stories fun and easy to read, even for those who don’t like reading much. He has used his popularity online to reach more fans. With 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube and over 190 million views, his videos are a big hit. His first video, “The Strange House,” tells the story of a home with a strange layout, including a creepy room. It even became a movie last year and made over 5 billion yen at the Japanese box office!
Uketsu’s stories are really scary, and he knows it. Though he looks strange, he claims he looks normal without his mask. Using his image on book covers helps sell more copies, but he doesn’t think it’s just a trick. Currently, he is working on a new book and even has a song out! According to Takuji Watanabe from Futabasha Publishers, Uketsu is a unique star in Japanese horror.
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