The exhibition Ghost and the Shell opens at TOKYO NODE, presenting a new perspective on Ghost in the Shell at a moment when its once-futuristic visions feel strikingly close to everyday reality. Rather than revisiting the work as a retrospective, the exhibition positions Ghost in the Shell as a lens through which to consider how we live with technology today—and how we may live with it in the future.
Norihiko Terayama “Ruins of Knowledge” – World Tree: Ghost and the Shell
photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
From Science Fiction to Lived Reality
First serialized in 1989 by manga artist Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell envisioned a world shaped by artificial intelligence, cyberbrains, and blurred boundaries between body and machine. Nearly four decades later, many of these ideas—cloud memory, networked identities, AI as an everyday presence—have quietly become part of daily life.
This temporal shift lies at the core of Ghost and the Shell. The exhibition invites visitors not only to enjoy the animations and imagery, but also to reflect on how the questions posed by the series now intersect with contemporary experience.
Exhibition view | photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
Why “Ghost and the Shell”?
The choice of the exhibition title is deliberate.
According to Chief Director Isao Kuwana, replacing the familiar “in” with “and” signals a change in perspective. The exhibition asks visitors to consider what we perceive today as ghost—consciousness, emotion, individuality—and what functions as shell—technology, systems, interfaces—in a world where the two are no longer easily separable.
GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995) © Masamune Shirow / Kodansha・Bandai Visual・MANGA ENTERTAINMENT
photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
This question echoes the inner conflict of Major Motoko Kusanagi, whose struggle to define her own humanity remains one of the most enduring aspects of the series.
At the same time, it extends beyond fiction, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationship with technology.
GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995) © Masamune Shirow / Kodansha・Bandai Visual・MANGA ENTERTAINMENT
photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
Process, Memory, and the Human Hand
Another key layer of the exhibition lies in its focus on process.
Original drawings and intermediate materials—often considered invisible steps toward a finished animation—are presented alongside completed works. These artifacts embody the ghost of their creators: traces of human intention, labor, and imagination embedded within each frame.
Seen through this lens, the boundary between ghost and shell becomes fluid—not only within the narrative of Ghost in the Shell, but also within the act of creation itself.
Exhibition view | photo by ©FASHION HEADLINE
Experiencing the Cyberbrain
Extending beyond traditional exhibition formats, Ghost and the Shell also incorporates immersive technology. Visitors can experience “Cyberbrain VISION,” a paid AR-glass program that overlays digital information onto the physical exhibition space, offering a glimpse into perception shaped by augmented consciousness.
AR Glasses "Dennou VISION" (paid experience)
A Space to Reconsider the Future
Rather than providing definitive answers, Ghost and the Shell opens a space for reflection. What does it mean to be human in an era where technology is inseparable from memory, identity, and daily life?
By returning to Ghost in the Shell at this particular moment in time, the exhibition reframes the series not as distant science fiction, but as an ongoing conversation—one that continues to shape how we imagine the future.
《Sexy Robot_The Ghost in the Shell type 1》 Hajime Sorayama 2026
©︎Hajime Sorayama. Courtesy of NANZUKA, ©︎Shirow Masamune / KODANSHA
©︎Shirow Masamune/Kodansha/Ghost and the Shell exhibition committee
About Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell is a science-fiction work created by manga artist Masamune Shirow, first serialized in 1989.
Set in a highly networked future society, the story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg leading an elite task force that confronts increasingly complex cyber crimes.
Renowned for its detailed visual language and philosophical depth, the series explores themes such as the fusion of humanity and technology, identity, and consciousness.
Since its debut, Ghost in the Shell has expanded across multiple media, including animated films, television series, games, and live-action adaptations—each offering distinct interpretations while continuing to influence creators worldwide.
A new television anime, Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, produced by Science SARU, is scheduled for release in 2026.
Norihiko Terayama “Ruins of Knowledge” – World Tree: Ghost and the Shellphoto by ©FASHION HEADLINE
From Science Fiction to Lived Reality
First serialized in 1989 by manga artist Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell envisioned a world shaped by artificial intelligence, cyberbrains, and blurred boundaries between body and machine. Nearly four decades later, many of these ideas—cloud memory, networked identities, AI as an everyday presence—have quietly become part of daily life.
This temporal shift lies at the core of Ghost and the Shell. The exhibition invites visitors not only to enjoy the animations and imagery, but also to reflect on how the questions posed by the series now intersect with contemporary experience.
Exhibition view | photo by ©FASHION HEADLINEWhy “Ghost and the Shell”?
The choice of the exhibition title is deliberate.
According to Chief Director Isao Kuwana, replacing the familiar “in” with “and” signals a change in perspective. The exhibition asks visitors to consider what we perceive today as ghost—consciousness, emotion, individuality—and what functions as shell—technology, systems, interfaces—in a world where the two are no longer easily separable.
GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995) © Masamune Shirow / Kodansha・Bandai Visual・MANGA ENTERTAINMENTphoto by ©FASHION HEADLINE
This question echoes the inner conflict of Major Motoko Kusanagi, whose struggle to define her own humanity remains one of the most enduring aspects of the series.
At the same time, it extends beyond fiction, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationship with technology.
GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995) © Masamune Shirow / Kodansha・Bandai Visual・MANGA ENTERTAINMENTphoto by ©FASHION HEADLINE
Process, Memory, and the Human Hand
Another key layer of the exhibition lies in its focus on process.
Original drawings and intermediate materials—often considered invisible steps toward a finished animation—are presented alongside completed works. These artifacts embody the ghost of their creators: traces of human intention, labor, and imagination embedded within each frame.
Seen through this lens, the boundary between ghost and shell becomes fluid—not only within the narrative of Ghost in the Shell, but also within the act of creation itself.
Exhibition view | photo by ©FASHION HEADLINEExperiencing the Cyberbrain
Extending beyond traditional exhibition formats, Ghost and the Shell also incorporates immersive technology. Visitors can experience “Cyberbrain VISION,” a paid AR-glass program that overlays digital information onto the physical exhibition space, offering a glimpse into perception shaped by augmented consciousness.
AR Glasses "Dennou VISION" (paid experience)A Space to Reconsider the Future
Rather than providing definitive answers, Ghost and the Shell opens a space for reflection. What does it mean to be human in an era where technology is inseparable from memory, identity, and daily life?
By returning to Ghost in the Shell at this particular moment in time, the exhibition reframes the series not as distant science fiction, but as an ongoing conversation—one that continues to shape how we imagine the future.
《Sexy Robot_The Ghost in the Shell type 1》 Hajime Sorayama 2026©︎Hajime Sorayama. Courtesy of NANZUKA, ©︎Shirow Masamune / KODANSHA
©︎Shirow Masamune/Kodansha/Ghost and the Shell exhibition committee
Exhibition Information
Exhibition Title: Ghost and the Shell
Dates: January 30 – April 5, 2026
Venue: TOKYO NODE GALLERY A/B/C
(Toranomon Hills Station Tower, 45F)
Address: 2-6-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Exhibition Title: Ghost and the Shell
Dates: January 30 – April 5, 2026
Venue: TOKYO NODE GALLERY A/B/C
(Toranomon Hills Station Tower, 45F)
Address: 2-6-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
About Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell is a science-fiction work created by manga artist Masamune Shirow, first serialized in 1989.
Set in a highly networked future society, the story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg leading an elite task force that confronts increasingly complex cyber crimes.
Renowned for its detailed visual language and philosophical depth, the series explores themes such as the fusion of humanity and technology, identity, and consciousness.
Since its debut, Ghost in the Shell has expanded across multiple media, including animated films, television series, games, and live-action adaptations—each offering distinct interpretations while continuing to influence creators worldwide.
A new television anime, Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, produced by Science SARU, is scheduled for release in 2026.
