Inspired at a young age by his older sister's drawing and the work of influential horror mangaka Kazuo Umezu, Ito first began writing and drawing manga as a hobby while working as a dental technician. In 1987, he submitted a short story to Gekkan Halloween that won an honorable mention in the Kazuo Umezu Prize (with Umezu himself as one of the judges).

In addition to Umezu, Ito has cited Hideshi Hino, Shinichi Furuka, Yasutaka Tsutsui, and H.P. Lovecraft as major influences on his work.

Manga

Films and TV

Following the success of the film Ringu, Tomie was adapted into a series of films, beginning in 1999. Several other works of Ito's have subsequently been adapted for film and television:

• The Fearsome Melody - (????? senritsu no senritsu), 1992
• Tomie - ( ?? Tomie), 1998
• Another Face - (???:???????), 1999
• Tomie Replay - ( ??:re-play Tomie: re-play), 2000
• Uzumaki - (???? Uzumaki), 2000
• Gravemarker Town - (???? bohyou no machi), 2000
• The Face Burglar - (??? kao dorobou), 2000
• The Hanging Balloons - (????? kubitsuri no kikyuu), 2000
• Long Dream - (??? nagai yume), 2000
• Oshikiri - (?? Oshikiri), 2000
• Kakashi - (??? Kakashi), 2001
• Lovesick Dead (also known as Love Ghost) - (????????? shibito no koiwazurai), 2001
• Rebirth - (??:Rebirth Tomie: Rebirth), 2001
• The Final Chapter - Forbidden Fruit - (????????????? Tomie: Saishuu-sh? - kindan no kajitsu), 2002
• Marronnier - (???? Marronnier), 2002
• The Groaning Drain - (??????), 2004
• Beginning 2005
• Revenge 2005
• Tomie Vs. Tomie 2007