Legendary Japanese horror author Koji Suzuki passed away last week at the age of 68.
Suzuki was largely known for his Ring series of books, which were adapted into several movies and even received American adaptations. The first Ring book was released as a film in 1995 and again in 1998. The 1995 version of the film only ever released in Japan.
Sadako, the antagonist of the Ring series has become a staple of the horror genre, bringing the Japanese onryo to global audiences and paving the way for other films such as One Missed Call and Ju-on The Grudge. Sadako even appeared in the popular video game Dead by Daylight as a playable Killer.
Other works of his have also been adapted into films, including his short story Floating Water which was adapted into the film Dark Water. The Japanese film released in 2002 and a 2005 American adaptation featuring Jennifer Connelly was released later.
The creative works of Suzuki have played a huge role in the popularity of Japanese horror in the west.
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AloJapan.com