INDEX
Why Ghost AND the Shell Instead of Ghost IN the Shell
The media preview offered roughly 75 minutes to explore the exhibition, but in all honesty, it felt far too short. The volume and richness of the production materials are substantial, and the contemporary artworks placed throughout the space invite lingering thought and reflection. For fans, it is wise to plan for at least two hours. As a point of reference, going through all of the explanations in Cyberbrain Vision alone reportedly takes around 40 minutes.
Finally, I want to touch on the title of the exhibition itself. When people hear Ghost in the Shell, many instinctively recall the phrase “Ghost in the Shell,” meaning a soul contained within a vessel. The original manga bears the English title The Ghost in the Shell, and Mamoru Oshii’s landmark film is titled GHOST IN THE SHELL.
This exhibition, however, deliberately chooses not “IN” but “AND,” presenting itself as Ghost and the Shell. By placing “ghost” and “shell” side by side as equal elements, the title precisely captures the curatorial intent: to honor both the themes that live within the work and continue to spread to other creators, its ghost, and the production materials that serve as its vessels, its shell. By the time I finished viewing the exhibition, this choice of title felt deeply convincing.
Beyond what has been introduced here, the exhibition also features a wealth of distinctive art works and newly recorded interview videos with past directors, among many other elements worth lingering over. With such a rich range of content, it is truly an exhibition packed with highlights. Various related events are scheduled throughout the run as well, turning Toranomon Hills into an unprecedented Ghost in the Shell festival of sorts. For longtime fans and for those who have never quite taken the plunge into the series, this winter may be the perfect moment to dive headfirst into the world of Ghost in the Shell.
Ghost in the Shell Exhibition Ghost and the Shell Production
Exhibition Period
January 30 to April 5, 2026
Venue
TOKYO NODE GALLERY A B C
Toranomon Hills Station Tower 45th Floor
Address
2 6 2 Toranomon Minato ku Tokyo
Ticket Information
Tickets scheduled to go on sale in autumn 2025
Organizers
Ghost and the Shell Exhibition Production Committee
Kodansha Ltd
Mori Building Co Ltd
KDDI Corporation
Production I G Inc
Parco Co Ltd
Official Website
https://www.tokyonode.jp/sp/exhibition-ghostintheshell/
