The World Of Shirow Masamune Manga Exhibition (士郎正宗の世界展) was probably the biggest art exhibition highlight of my spring trip, not just because I’m a big fan of the legendary Ghost In The Shell creator, but also because a Shirow Masamune exhibition is unprecedented ( well, at least for the 21 years or so since I first lived in Tokyo as a film student in 2004 ).

The exhibition is held at the Setagaya Literary Museum, nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood not far from the Roka-Koen station on the Keio line. I strategically planned my visit on a weekday to avoid any crowds, and the visitor count was very light and comfortable.

All of Shirow’s major works were on display, original manga panels as well as colored illustrations from Dominion, Appleseed, Orion, and of course Ghost In The Shell. It is one thing to see his illustrations in an art book, but to actually gaze upon the originals in all their glory, right down to the ink smudges, white liquid paper corrections, and yellowed tape was just utterly amazing.

(above) A fascinating timeline of Shirow’s manga works, starting with Black Magic (1983).

(below) Using my entry ticket/hand as a reference to show the most common working size (B3) of professional manga artists. Almost all manga in circulation are printed on a smaller size to the originals, with a few rare, notable exceptions.

(image above) A cabinet showcasing Shirow’s collection of Heavy Metal magazines. Examining the art on the covers, it was clear they had a huge impact on Shirow’s own work.

(image above) The illustration that was used as the cover art for one of Shirow’s best art books, Intron Depot. Unfortunately this one on display looked like a reproduction rather than the original piece, so far as I can tell.

(image below) A photo booth which allows the visitor to become the Major, in the famous fetal position pose.

(above & below) And the final section of the exhibition showcases art work from guest artists like Katsuya Terada, Ilya Kuvshinov, Ito Ogure and many more.

(above & below) I took the opportunity to pick up some cool posters at the museum store.

And of course there’s also the 2 art books that I’ve already reviewed – Shirow Masamune Art Works In The Shell as well the catalogue art book for this exhibition.

The World Of Shirow Masamune Manga Exhibition will run until August 17th, so if you’re in Tokyo and also a Shirow fan, definitely visit. The exhibition will move on to Osaka next after August 17th 2025.


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