Goto Yuka draws from the wellspring of the heta-uma traditions and its conjuction of rude art and absurdist themes. Her drawings look like they were done with a nub. Her stories break the peace of everyday Japanese life, pitting neighbor against neighbor, arming the elderly, and organizing youth into vigilante leagues. In all of this, her work exhibits obvious influences from the lives of Janakuma Ysaku. With The Mystery of the Manhole, Goto received Second Price in the AX New Author competition of 2000. She is also active as a painter, muralist, and animator.