Dark Water is a collection of short stories originally published in Japan as Honogurai mizu no soko kara , From the Depths of Dark Waters). Suzuki places very little emphasis on the supernatural aspects of the plots, although there are those aspects, to be sure. He is more concerned with the atrocities committed by humans themselves rather than by otherworldly forces. There are themes of urban decay, family troubles and domestic abuse running throughout the stories. The characters themselves are often selfish, cruel and self-absorbed. Suzuki uses these characters to explore emotions such as rage, fear and longing.