The Life of Namazuko is a dark, poetic, and visually bizarre graphic novella by Japanese underground artist Daisuke Ichiba, published in its third edition by Hollow Press in July 2024 and limited to 350 English-language copies. Originally self-published in 2006, this narrative follows Jesuido Namazuko, a singer at a bar called The Pool of Blood, frequented by post-work demons. Facing death, he is spared when his song moves their hearts – and so he becomes the singer of the riverbed. Printed in A5 format on 140g paper with a stitched softcover and a dust-jacket featuring BLACK UV ink, this 136-page book embodies Hollow Press’s signature mix of high craft and mutant aesthetics. A rare gem of Japanese outsider manga.
Daisuke Ichiba (b. 1963, Tokyo) is a Japanese artist and author known for his psychologically surreal, erotic-grotesque manga. Blending fragmented storytelling, bodily horror, and existential unease, his work reflects the influence of Butoh, folklore, and outsider art. Ichiba has been published by Le Dernier Cri, Hollow Press, and others, and is regarded as a cult figure in both the European and Japanese underground scenes.
