Nikkei Science to Release 'Science of SF: How to Create Masamune Shirow' on July 13th, Exploring the Foundations of the Artist's Worldview

Nikkei Science (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Publisher: Emi Nishimura) will release "Special Edition Nikkei Science 289: Science of SF - How to Create Masamune Shirow" at bookstores nationwide and online bookstores on July 13.

Experience the origin of the inspiration of a manga artist who continues to influence not only SF fans around the world but also many scientists and creators!

To mark the 40th anniversary of his debut, the first major exhibition for Masamune Shirow, the manga artist who boasts enthusiastic global popularity, was held under the title "Masamune Shirow Exhibition: 'Ghost in the Shell' and the Trajectory of Creation." Among the items displayed was "Masamune Shirow's Bookshelf," which included "Nikkei Science."

Where did the exceptional foresight and creativity, often described as "predicting the future," come from? How were his meticulously crafted "future views" and "worldviews" cultivated?

Masamune Shirow himself has selected articles and themes from past issues of Nikkei Science that he feels were the source of his ideas.

The editor's afterword is a newly written text of approximately 6,800 characters.

This is a volume for not only fans who wish to deeply understand Masamune Shirow's works but also for all creators involved in artistic activities or those aiming to become the next Masamune Shirow, offering a glimpse into the possibilities that "science" and "creation" can bring.

◆First Edition Purchase Benefit As a purchase benefit, a special postcard will be presented at selected bookstores. (Designs cannot be chosen.) Participating stores will be listed on the Nikkei Science official website at a later date.

◆Structure of the Book Preface Chapter 1: The Journey Goes Somewhere Chapter 2: We Who Are Reflected on the Water Surface... Chapter 3: Young People Who Want to Be Entangled Chapter 4: Where Is God Editor's Afterword (New)

◆Editor Information: Masamune Shirow Manga artist. Active since 1985 in fields such as anime plot and setting production, novel illustrations, and game package illustrations. Representative works include "Appleseed" (Seidosha, 1985) and "Ghost in the Shell" (Kodansha, 1989). A new animation of "Ghost in the Shell" will be broadcast from July 2026.

◆About Nikkei Science The Japanese edition of "SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN," the world's oldest general-interest science magazine, which celebrated its 185th anniversary. It delivers domestic and international science news through a hybrid structure of translated articles from the US edition and original Japanese articles, presented with accessible visuals and written by top researchers and science writers in each field.

[Book Overview] Title: "Special Edition Nikkei Science 289: Science of SF - How to Create Masamune Shirow" Editor: Masamune Shirow Release Date: July 13, 2026 (Mon) Price: 2,750 yen (10% tax included) Specifications: A4 format, softcover, full color, 170 pages ISBN: 978-4-296-13058-0 Publisher: Nikkei Science Distributor: Nikkei BP Marketing