© 士郎正宗・Production I.G/講談社・攻殻機動隊2045製作委員会
© Shirow Masamune, Production I.G/KODANSHA/GITS2045

KODANSHA

攻殻機動隊 M.M.A. - Messed Mesh Ambitions_

2024.04.30M.M.A.
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ISSUE #02

Special Feature: Outlaws

While Public Security Section 9 in "Ghost in the Shell" operates as a public security organization under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it functions as a sort of "outlaw" entity, adhering to a code of
conduct distinct from that of the police, military, or even the government. The missions assigned to Section 9
and their methods of solving them are also extralegal. While the organization has established a chain of
command with Section Chief Aramaki, followed by Major Kusanagi, members primarily execute stand-alone
missions, allowing each member to act at their own discretion. In order to conduct an inquisition, the inquisitor
must be well-versed in what is considered heresy. Similarly, the detective division tasked with cracking down
on organized crime groups comes to resemble the very groups it seeks to dismantle. This same logic makes
Section 9 an "outlaw" entity as it deals with crimes unique to the parallel world of modern Japan, where cyberization and prosthetics have advanced for the sake of technological efficiency and convenience in life.

In this special feature, based on the outlaw nature of the "Ghost in the Shell" series, we will not directly criticize
"Ghost in the Shell." Instead, we will focus on the stories that have not received much attention in the series
and pick up on points of contention that have not been adequately addressed. Our aim is to chart an escape
route to the outside (outlaw) of the principles of the series by allowing each commentator to elaborate and
freely expand on a stand-alone basis. However, if we weave together the unique escape routes drawn by each
commentator, a truly faithful picture of the "Ghost in the Shell" series may emerge. We hope that you won't
concern yourself too much with the body, city, gender, sex, group, family, or the entirety of the work itself.
Instead, we invite you to enjoy the diverse perspectives and discussions presented by these outlaw
commentators with an open mind.

Special Feature #02 "Outlaw" is supervised by Yosuke Tsuji, the editor who runs the independent web media "DOZiNE," and Shitone Sakamaki, a stray researcher who serves as the head of the Kitakyushu branch of "DOZiNE."

Illustration: Heijiro Yagi

Yosuke TsujiBorn in Tokyo in 1983. Editor. He engages in creative activities across various domains and methodologies, including writing, visual content, and art. Editor of the web media "DOZiNE." After dropping out of university, he worked as an editor for an S&M magazine before becoming a freelancer. Since then, he has been involved in editing and writing for multiple magazines and books, including "STUDIO VOICE." In recent years, he has held exhibitions at various locations as an art unit with the artist Maki Ohkojima. His motto is "What can you do? Life is but a dream. Just go crazy!"

Shitone SakamakiBorn in Tokyo in 1978 and raised in Miyazaki Prefecture. Academic activist / Stray researcher. Her field of expertise is the thinking of Donna Haraway. Kitakyushu branch manager of the web media "DOZiNE." Co-director of the "Cyborg Witch Project" with modern witch Madoka. In addition, she hosts many academic events and talk events. She has contributed essays and translations to "Eureka," "Tagui," "Gendai Shiso," "Shisho," "Web Edition Bijutsu Techo," and other media. Currently on Ikinobiru Books, "Between Freedom and Unfreedom: Physical Theory on Restraint" https://ikinobirubooks.jp/series/sakamaki-shitone/87/ is being serialized. Her motto is "Don't assume your parents or your anus will always be there for you."