Manga Chapter Drawn in Space for 'Space Brothers' Finale

Publisher Kodansha has released a video documenting a first-of-its-kind project: drawing a manga chapter in space to conclude the long-running manga 'Space Brothers' (Uchuu Kyodai). The 'Mission: SPACE COMIC' initiative used a robotic arm aboard the International Space Station's Kibo module to remotely draw a special chapter of the series.

The project used JAXA's Kibo Paid Use program. Over two years, engineers and creators worked on operating in microgravity, including a six-second communication delay and strict limitations on astronaut time and available tools. The robotic arm was controlled remotely from Earth to draw the chapter.

The space-drawn chapter, 'Episode 425.5,' is a full-color work by series creator Chuya Koyama. A full-color version of the space-drawn chapter is included in the special edition of 'Space Brothers' Volume 46, the series' final volume, which went on sale July 22.

The video documents the project from conception to the final drawing in orbit. It shows how Koyama's digital pen strokes were translated into vector data for the robotic arm 400 kilometers above Earth.

Serialized in 2007, 'Space Brothers' centers on brothers Mutta and Hibito Nanba and their quest to become astronauts. The manga has sold over 35 million copies, won awards including the Manga Taisho and Kodansha Manga Award, and inspired an anime and a live-action film. The series concluded its 18-year run in June 2026.

The 'Mission: SPACE COMIC' project involved multiple companies, including Kodansha, creative agency Cork, software developer Celsys, and robotics firms Space Entry and Meno. The special video is available on YouTube. Further details about the project and the final manga volume are available on the official campaign website.

Source: PR Times via 株式会社講談社