Latest news with #TheGhostintheShell
Asahi Shimbun
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Kodansha to release Young Magazine manga edition in U.S.
Kodansha Ltd. will publish the first U.S. edition of manga anthology Young Magazine in August, the publisher announced, as it seeks a new foothold outside Japan. A total of 30,000 copies of the one-time extra issue will be distributed for free in the United States. The publisher is seeking to create a new demand and use the special edition to expand its business outside Japan. The U.S. edition will be released as Young Magazine USA. "The habit of reading manga has become more widespread thanks to the worldwide popularity of anime, and there is a growing number of customers who want to read manga in wide-ranging genres," said Hidemi Shiraki, editor-in-chief of Young Magazine USA. "We want to bring out more potential readers." The publisher intends to produce hit manga works in North America and bring them into Europe and other regions, he added. Having marked its 45th anniversary in June, Young Magazine is intended for young adult men and has a strong following in Japan. The anthology has been home to many manga works that won critical acclaim in and out of the country, including "Akira," "The Ghost in the Shell" and "Initial D." The special issue features an illustration drawn by "Ghost in the Shell" author Masamune Shirow. 20 TITLES, 1,000 PAGES Young Magazine USA will feature 20 manga works. While some will be one-shot stories, many are new series beginning with the first episode. They are mainly drawn by rookie artists selected from talents recruited by the publisher to create comics for overseas readers. The U.S. edition also offers works by popular artists, including "Spriggan" writer Hiroshi Takashige and "My Little Monster" creator Robico. Copies will be distributed for free at Anime NYC, a large convention opening in the U.S. state of New York on Aug. 21, bookstores and elsewhere. The magazine will also hold a readers' vote for 16 titles on a special website and through X (formerly Twitter), and the five most popular works will be serialized and published in compiled volumes. The winning titles will run on K Manga, Kodansha's app for overseas readers, as well as on the website, simultaneously in Japan and the United States, to sustain readership interest. GAUGING THE MARKET The publisher aims to ascertain the needs of U.S. readers more accurately with Young Magazine USA. The special edition is intended to serve as an antenna to explore what overseas readers want, a representative said. The U.S. content market was worth $508.3 billion (74.699 trillion yen) in 2022, accounting for more than half of the world's market share. But normally, a manga title becomes a hit after it is adapted into animation for video streaming services or in other limited circumstances. Japanese manga is catching on outside Japan. According to research firm Humanmedia Inc., overseas sales of publications in 2023 totaled 320 billion yen, 2.3 times more than the figure for 2013, which was 141.3 billion yen. Manga is believed to have accounted for the most sales. Japanese anime titles have become popular after they were streamed on Crunchyroll, Netflix and other platforms, and their original comics have also attracted attention more frequently. But it appears there are not many instances where manga itself proved to be a hit before it was adapted into anime. JUMP'S TRAILBLAZING EFFORTS Meanwhile, Shueisha Inc. has started exploring the possibilities of producing hit manga titles. The company publishes Weekly Shonen Jump and other comic anthologies in which many popular works are serialized. It launched the Manga Plus by Shueisha app and website for overseas readers in 2019. The service is currently available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Vietnamese and German. About 100 titles serialized in Shonen Jump and its sister magazines are streamed on Manga Plus. "When I attended manga and anime events outside Japan, there were many enthusiastic fans in cosplay. But as I stepped out of the venue and went around towns, I didn't see comic books as widespread as in Japan," said Yuta Momiyama, editor-in-chief of the Shonen Jump + service who is in charge of Manga Plus and was also involved in setting it up. "We wanted to fill the void in demand and have them read manga like we do in Japan." Manga Plus currently has about 5.5 million active monthly users. "In many cases overseas, (manga titles) become popular after they are adapted into anime, but we are seeing some works that are popular from the first episode," Momiyama said. TRANSLATION DIFFICULTIES However, only major publishers with strong financial foundations can make a foray into overseas markets on a certain scale on their own accord. In many cases, foreign publishers signed licensing agreements for Japanese comic books before selling them in overseas markets. And it is even hard to say major publishers are successfully marketing their comics toward a wide range of readers across the world. One hurdle in expanding their businesses overseas is translation. According to several sources close to the publishing industry, translating a manga requires an understanding of the cultural background of the country in which it will be sold. And because characters deliver distinctive and short lines many times in each work, advanced translation skills are necessary to translate a manga without ruining its worldview. The government intends to develop the content industry, including manga, into a key industry alongside the automotive and other sectors. In its report on the Entertainment and Creative Industry Strategy compiled in June, the trade ministry noted there is a shortage of comics that are translated and distributed outside the country. There are also challenges to overcome, including a scarcity of highly skilled professionals who can translate expressions unique to manga, as well as localization costs. For that reason, the government will support the development of industrial infrastructure tools that can contribute to translation and provide other assistance. (This article was written by Sho Ito and Shiki Iwasawa.)
Yomiuri Shimbun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Manga Artist Shirow Masamune Talks About His Works, AI, in Exclusive Interview; Exhibition Showcasing His Work Being Held in Tokyo
Manga artist Shirow Masamune's 'The Ghost in the Shell' is said to have predicted the information society that we live in today. In an exclusive written interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, conducted several times in March, Shirow wrote about his work and the future of humanity that artificial intelligence will bring. This year marks the 40th anniversary since Shirow's work first debuted. The artist, 63, also known for works like 'Appleseed,' has a devoted fan base around the world. The Setagaya Literary Museum in Tokyo is holding the first large-scale exhibition on his career. Shirow, who has rarely been interviewed by the media, reflected on his career with deep emotion. 'I've created very few works, and have had so many works suspended, unpublished or rejected for various reasons,' Shirow said. 'I feel very fortunate to have been able to continue with my career this long.' Shirow was raised in Kobe. His father provided illustrations for textbooks and other media, so Shirow was surrounded by art books and design magazines from an early age. He loved reading manga by Leiji Matsumoto and Go graduating from Osaka University of Arts, he later made his major debut with 'Appleseed,' which was published in 1985. Set in a world recovering from devastation, the story follows the exploits of former police officer Deunan and her cyborg partner Briareos. It became popular for its thoroughly thought-out setting and meticulously drawn machines and backgrounds. His cyberpunk science fiction manga 'The Ghost in the Shell,' which began serialization in 1989, features Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg heroine belonging to Public Security Section 9. The work is set in a near future in which nations and ethnic groups survive despite a vast corporate network covering the planet. The work was a big influence on the creators who came after Shirow. In 1995, the anime film 'Ghost in the Shell,' directed by Mamoru Oshii, was released. Oshii also directed its sequel, 'Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,' which was released in 2004. 'I feel grateful [to Oshii and everyone involved] for having worked so hard on these films,' said Shirow. 'Personally, I prefer 'Innocence,' which really shows off Oshii's style.' According to Kodansha Ltd., which publishes the manga, the series has sold more than 3.47 million copies in Japan and has been translated and published in 24 countries and regions, including the United States and Russia. Expanding online society Technology has advanced dramatically since 'The Ghost in the Shell' was first published in the 1980s. We are now constantly connected to the internet, just like in the manga. Regarding the online society is expanding, Shirow said: 'There are many challenges, such as the misuse of AI by people with malicious intent and security concerns.' 'The world is becoming more interconnected and therefore smaller,' he added. 'At the same time, it is becoming more divided and fragmented, increasing the distance between us.''I think that today's society is in a state in which people cannot communicate through language, leading to the beginning of the collapse of the Tower of Babel,' he said. 'I hope the undesirable aspects of computerization don't become too influential.' In 'The Ghost in the Shell,' a hacker called the 'Puppet Master,' who is considered the most unique in the history of cybercrime, appears and introduces himself as a living, thinking entity that was created in the sea of information. It depicts a world in which AI, which once functioned only as programmed, has an independent will. When asked how he feels about AI in the real world, which has evolved dramatically and is getting closer to the world depicted in the work, Shirow said: 'The convenience of AI and its possibility of causing harm are two sides of the same coin. While it can open up the possibility of a brighter future, it can also be abused or used to incite people more easily than before.' Shirow said, 'I hope those involved in its research and development will make every effort to develop AI correctly.' Motoko Kusanagi, the main character in the work, is a cybernetic human described as a 'full-body prosthetic.' She has a 'cyberbrain' that can be connected to the net. The work also considers the relationship between the human body's physical senses and the mind. 'I think humans are complex and mysterious. Some systems are controlled by the brain, while others are physical reflexes. Then there are some body parts, such as the appendix, which can be removed,' Shirow said. Future works Shirow's works are characterized by occasional gags while giving detailed supplementary scientific and philosophical explanations provided outside the manga frame containing the art. 'I believe that by writing sentences outside the frames, I can reduce explanatory lines and conversations from the story.' Shirow is currently creating illustrations and is busy preparing for the publication of an art book and other works. 'I still draw, plot and write regardless of day and night while living an irregular, unhealthy life,' Shirow said. 'I'll continue to create something every day, maintaining my personal best and changing nothing, not to be too ambitious or acquisitive. There is nothing else I want to do.' He also said: 'My eyesight and physical strength are declining, and I have a big pile of books I've yet to read. It's a problem.' He wrote in a lighthearted manner, mixing humor with his serious drawings on display A large-scale exhibition of original manga drawings by Shirow Masamune, titled 'The Exhibition of The World of Shirow Masamune — 'The Ghost in the Shell' and The Path of Creation —', is being held at the Setagaya Literary Museum in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. At the entrance to the exhibition space, visitors are greeted by a huge noren curtain with a manga panel printed with the words 'The net is vast and infinite' in Japanese, one of Motoko's famous lines from 'The Ghost in the Shell.' About 440 items are on display, including many original manga drawings for his works, including from his debut work 'Appleseed.' Drawing tools and materials along with some of his favorite books are being exhibited. Shirow's own comments can also be seen throughout the exhibition space. He reveals some unexpected aspects of his life, such as the fact that he does not use a smartphone nor post on social media. The worlds of his creations are vividly presented as if visitors were peering into Shirow's mind. In a written interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, Shirow said: 'I am very grateful for this opportunity. If such a large-scale exhibition of original manga drawings is possible for a 'small-scale, mercenary soldier-like manga artist' like me, I think the Japanese content industry will be able to delve more deeply into a wide variety of artists and their works.' The exhibition will run through Aug. 17.
