The Exhibition of The World of Shirow Masamune
- “The Ghost in the Shell” and The Path of Creation -
Saturday, April 12 - Sunday, August 17, 2025

Exhibition Overview

Shirow Masamune, creator of the immensely popular manga The Ghost in the Shell, made his major debut with Appleseed in 1985, going on to launch The Ghost in the Shell series in 1989. He adopted futuristic technology that had yet to spread in the public conscious with his unique perspective, and his worldview, one that seemed to predict our modern information society, fascinated countless readers. His highly detailed drawings, the immense volume of information in the plotting, and his text that escapes beyond the borders, brought passion to his works and stirred the imagination of the readers. The worldview of Shirow Masamune, woven with his deep philosophical explorations, influenced numerous subsequent creators, giving rise to works in a wide range of genres.

Black Magic, an early story collection, depicted a world governed by a super-giant computer called Nemesis. Appleseed is an SF action manga that depicts former SWAT officers Deunan and Briareos, the latter a full-body cyborg, as they survive in an abandoned city after the end of World War Five. Dominion is a work that comically depicts Leona and her beloved squad of Bonaparte-class small sized tanks in their struggle against a gang of villains and warriors. The Ghost in the Shell depicts the struggles of Public Security Section 9 under the direct control of the Prime Minister. Orion is a fantasy work that depicts the struggles of extremely ancient wizards and the gods they summon surrounding the magical nine-headed Nāga.

This exhibition traces the works of Shirow Masamune, covering both his Analog Manuscripts and Digital Manuscripts, through his wide range of output up to his current activities, accompanied by a plethora of books and comments from the artist, and even touching on his personal side. Enjoy the first large scale exhibition by Shirow Masamune, an amalgamation of the manga and SF exhibits held by the Setagaya Literary Museum to date, as we approach our 30th anniversary.

Profile

Shirow Masamune
Manga artist and illustrator Shirow Masamune was born in Hyogo Prefecture. He began producing manga and illustrations in 1980 and made his commercial debut with Appleseed in 1985.In 1989, he began producing his most well-known manga series, The Ghost in the Shell. He served as co-director of the anime work Black Magic M-66. He is also active in a variety of other fields, including games and art books.

Venue
Setagaya Literary Museum, 2F Exhibition Room

Closed
Closed every Monday and May 7, July 22, and August 12. *However, the museum will be open on May 5, July 21, and August 11.

Open
10:00 am - 6:00 pm (exhibition and museum shop admission closes at 5:30 pm)

Ticket Information
https://eplus.tickets/gdpr_privacypolicy

Other
The special museum shop is only accessible to those entering the exhibition.

Sponsors
Setagaya Arts Foundation, Setagaya Literary Museum, Kodansha, Parco

Planning cooperation
Seishinsha

Special cooperation
Shirow Masamune

Support
Setagaya City, Setagaya City Board of Educatione

Other
The special museum shop for this exhibition is only accessible to those entering the exhibition.

Exhibition Information
Official exhibition website
Official social media account (X)
Official website of Ghost in the Shell
Official social media account (X)