First Ever! 'Space Brothers' x 'Mission: SPACE COMIC' Announced: Drawing Manga in Space 400km Above Earth

Kodansha Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce its challenge in 'Mission: SPACE COMIC,' the first-ever attempt by humans to draw manga in space. This mission will utilize the Kibō Unpaid Usage System (*1) provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibō' on the International Space Station (ISS). We will attempt to demonstrate remote drawing in the space environment using a robotic arm installed within the 'Kibō' module. By bringing together the expertise of private companies, engineers, and creators, this unprecedented initiative aims to pioneer new possibilities in expression and space technology.

Mission: SPACE COMIC URL: https://morning.kodansha.co.jp/spacecomic/

As a project uniquely suited for 'Space Brothers,' which has had a significant impact on the space community and been loved by many fans for 19 years, we are challenging ourselves to 'draw manga in space.' The content of the manga will be an episode, '425.5,' set between episodes 425 and 426 of the main story. We will operate a robotic arm installed in the 'Kibō' Japanese Experiment Module from Earth to perform drawing in the microgravity environment of space.

(*1) Kibō Unpaid Usage System (Non-standard Service): https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/kibouser/provide/more/

■ 'Mission: SPACE COMIC' Overview

Name
Mission: SPACE COMIC

Participating Companies
Kodansha (Publisher), Cork (Creative Agency), Celsys (Software Development), Space Enter, Menou, Intelligent Robot Technology (Robotics Development, Operation, Testing), TBWA HAKUHODO (Planning, Production), Tokyo Ad Designers / Hakuhodo Products / Contrast (Graphics), Y’s (Video Production), Sketch (PR)

Cooperation
Mitsui & Co. Aerospace

Implementation Location
International Space Station (ISS) 'Kibō' Japanese Experiment Module
(Utilizing JAXA's Kibō Unpaid Usage System)

Drawing Method
Drawing via remote operation of a robotic arm within the ISS 'Kibō' Japanese Experiment Module

Manga Content
'Episode 425.5,' which was not told in the main story of 'Space Brothers'

Scheduled Release
'Space Brothers' Final Volume 46 Release Date: July 22, 2026 (Wednesday)

Mission Logo. © Chūya Koyama / Kodansha

・Drawing Process
In this mission, we will achieve manga production in space through the following process: First, the hand movements of Mr. Chūya Koyama when drawing manga on Earth will be digitized. This data will be transmitted to the robotic arm installed in the ISS 'Kibō' Japanese Experiment Module, and reproduced on paper.

・Robotic Arm Control Software 'Verrocchio'
The name of the robotic arm control software, 'Verrocchio,' is inspired by the remote-controlled robot 'Da Vinci' that appears in Volume 34 of 'Space Brothers.' 'Da Vinci' plays a key role in the story in 2029. The name is derived from Andrea del Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci's teacher, with the hope that the technology and knowledge gained from this 2026 mission will connect to that future.

Project Member Comments
Takayuki Goto, Space Business Development Department, Space Enter Inc.
The robotic arm in the ISS 'Kibō' Japanese Experiment Module that we will use this time is a new machine launched by JAXA in 2025 with the aim of acquiring demonstration data for the automation and remote operation of space experiments. This is the first commercial mission utilizing it, and we are challenging ourselves with the delicate task of 'drawing manga.' While this theme might seem like a simple task of reproducing lines in microgravity, it includes experimental trials to verify work reproducibility under numerous constraints different from Earth, such as time limits, launch weight, strength and flame retardant measures, heat generation in a convection-free environment, and ink evaporation countermeasures. The knowledge and challenges gained here will be utilized in our future endeavors towards automation and remote operation, contributing to the development of Japan's future space industry. I am deeply honored to have been involved in this mission during such a precious time that overlaps with the timeline of the main 'Space Brothers' story.

Masato Nemoto, Representative Director, Menou Co., Ltd.
Menou is responsible for the robotic arm's control software and motion programming. Manga drawing involves a series of extremely delicate and complex movements, including straight and curved lines, and varying pen pressure. To reproduce these precise movements in the completely different environment of microgravity and under numerous constraints, we have repeatedly conducted simulations and adjustments. I am confident that the data obtained from this mission will form the foundation for future remote precision work in extreme environments. We hope that fans of 'Space Brothers' will also feel the challenge behind the technology.

Naoya Oda, Department Manager, App Development Department, Celsys, Inc.
In this mission, we are providing technical support for the process of accurately transmitting the brushstroke data drawn using Celsys's manga creation app 'CLIP STUDIO PAINT,' which Mr. Chūya Koyama uses for his daily work, to the robotic arm in space. We believe this unprecedented challenge of 'faithfully reproducing lines drawn by human hands in space' will open up new possibilities for digital drawing technology. We are greatly honored to be involved in this moment where the fusion of creativity and technology extends to space.

Chūya Koyama, Author of 'Space Brothers'
When I first heard about this project, I was surprised, thinking it was like the remote-controlled robot 'Da Vinci' from my manga. It makes me truly happy that the technology I depicted as a near-future dream is becoming a reality, with a pen being held and manga being drawn in space. Isn't this mission perfectly suited for 'Space Brothers' as a conclusion to its space saga? I sincerely hope to share the moment when fiction becomes reality with everyone. I also hope you will enjoy the special episode, 'Episode 425.5,' which bridges the gaps in the main story.

■ About 'Space Brothers'

'Space Brothers' is a manga series by Chūya Koyama. It began serialization in Kodansha's 'Morning' in 2007. The story depicts the lives of brothers Mutta Nanba (Mutta) and Hibito Nanba (Hibito) as they aspire to become astronauts. In 2011, it won both the 56th Shogakukan Manga Award (General Category) and the 35th Kodansha Manga Award (General Category). The series has sold over 35 million copies and has been adapted into an anime and live-action film. The serialization is scheduled to conclude in June 2026, with the final 46th volume set for release in July of the same year.