Japan YouTuber novelist woos global audience with visual, accessible horror

Uketsu, who credits the great Japanese mystery writer Ranpo Edogawa as his inspiration, said he merely wants to make his works accessible, even for people who don’t like to read. Photo: AP

He wears a black bodysuit and a white mask, speaks in an electronically altered squeaky voice and makes creepiness his signature mode of art.

Uketsu, whose name literally translates to "rain hole,” both words that he loves, is Japan’s latest YouTube star and million-selling mystery writer.