Junji Ito/Tearjerker

While Junji Ito is a master of various horrors and has a flair for dark comedy, his sad moments are no slouch either.


 * "The Hanging Balloons" is a great example:

"Kazuko: Terumi killed herself? I can't believe it."
 * Before all hell breaks loose, the story starts with the apparent suicide of Terumi Fujimo. A very well loved Pop Star. Kazuko sadly watches the news in disbelief that her former classmate and friend killed herself.  The anime adaptation in "Junji Ito Maniac" ups the ante in sadness.  Rather than just her have tears with her thinking about it, they show her turn the tv off in shock and let loose the mother of all cries while her mother desperately comforts her.


 * Terumi's funeral is even worse. Her friends, classmates and even legions of fans are all crying. The latter of which all gang up on her boyfriend Shinya Shirosi, simply because he opposed her being a celebrity.

"Shiroshi: TERUMI!!! TERUMI!!! Forgive me Terumi. Don't look at me like that!!"
 * Shirosi himself is even worse. The death alone was bad enough for him, but then her fans blaming him for it makes him even more depressed.  To make matters worse, her Hanging Balloon shows up, but due to it missing a wire, people first assume it's Terumi's ghost haunting Japan.  Shirosi himself thinking the sullen look on it's face is Terumi judging him. When he tries to reach out and call for her. His Hanging Balloon shows up and kills him and to add salt to the wound, both balloons kiss each other. As though mocking their victim's romance.  It's even more devastating for Kazuko, because she tried to save him.