The anime "THE GHOST IN THE SHELL," which has been captivating audiences since its premiere on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, has just dropped a major update.
The series has officially released the image song "po-ai feat. Mirai Moriyama," a collaboration between music director Taisei Iwasaki and acclaimed performer Mirai Moriyama. To celebrate, a special promotional video directed by the series' own director, Moko-chan, is now live.
In addition to the musical drop, we’ve received exclusive comments from the cast of "Episode 07: BYE BYE CLAY," including legendary voice actress Kikuko Inoue as the Puppet Master and Shigeru Chiba as Minister Nakamura. Fans can also feast their eyes on a new end card and fresh character visuals.
<The following content is quoted from the official announcement>
Special Promotional Video Released!
The special promotional video was directed by Moko-chan, the director of this series. The featured track, "po-ai feat. Mirai Moriyama," was produced as the image song for the anime "THE GHOST IN THE SHELL." It features vocals by Mirai Moriyama—the renowned actor and dancer hailing from Kobe—with lyrics, composition, and arrangement handled by the series' music director, Taisei Iwasaki.
This track previously graced the ending of the international preview editions, including the world premiere screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. To coincide with the PV's release, the digital single is now available on all major streaming platforms.
In a process mirroring the high-tech world of "Ghost in the Shell," Taisei Iwasaki developed the lyrics through extensive dialogues with various AIs. Together, they constructed a unique language that does not exist on Earth. Iwasaki then took his original Japanese lyrics and reconstructed them entirely into this new tongue, even incorporating physical actions as linguistic elements.
The offer to perform the track was extended to Mirai Moriyama due to his exceptional "physicality"—a core theme of this "Ghost in the Shell" iteration. The result is a hauntingly beautiful piece perfectly suited for the story's climax.
The digital single will also be included in the original soundtrack, set to hit shelves on September 9.
"po-ai feat. Mirai Moriyama"
LinkFire: https://flyingdog.lnk.to/po_ai
Anime "THE GHOST IN THE SHELL" Special Promotional Video directed by MOKOCHAN
Artist Comments Released!
Comment from Mirai Moriyama
I suddenly received a message from Taisei Iwasaki, a musician I’m close with both personally and professionally.
"The anime I’m working on is set in a place modeled after Kobe’s Port Island, and I want to start the music with your voice, Mirai."
I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
"It’s for the new 'Ghost in the Shell' series," he added.
I must humbly apologize, but despite this being a legendary work loved worldwide, I had almost no prior connection to it.
Regardless, I accepted immediately.
Once I heard that the name of the artificial island in Hyogo Prefecture—the birthplace of both the original creator Masamune Shirow and myself—was involved, my curiosity was piqued.
Apparently, there is a theory that the "New Port City" featured in the very first panel of the "Ghost in the Shell" manga was modeled after Port Island.
Looking at the art, I thought, "Yeah, this is definitely Po-ai!" (Note: "Po-ai" is the local nickname for Port Island).
Before I knew it, the song title became "po-ai," and it even became the image theme song. It’s a bit humbling, but as a local, I’m deeply moved.
It would be hilarious if "po-ai" was blasted at full volume on Port Island someday.
— Mirai Moriyama
Comment from Taisei Iwasaki
Philip K. Dick once wrote in his books: "The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words."
So, I wondered—what would happen if we manipulated "language" itself?
This question crossed my mind while I was composing.
From there, I engaged in repeated dialogues with various AIs to construct a unique linguistic system that exists nowhere on Earth. I then reconstructed all the lyrics into this new language.
At times, I was astonished by the AI responses, which recognized not just vocal sounds but even physical acts like "tapping the left chest" as "language." I continued to search for that threshold where humanity and technology merge.
For the final version of the song, I wanted someone with incredible "physicality"—one of the themes of this work—to sing it, so I reached out to my old friend, Mirai Moriyama.
His voice, singing in a language that exists nowhere else in the world, resonates with a strange, mysterious nostalgia.
Please enjoy his vocals as they envelop New Port City.
— Taisei Iwasaki
"Episode 07: BYE BYE CLAY" Cast Info & Comments!
Kikuko Inoue as the Puppet Master
Being entrusted with the complex and pivotal role of the "Puppet Master" filled me with both tension and anxiety. However, during the recording sessions, I was so moved by the passion of the director, the sound team, and the entire staff. I am incredibly grateful that they allowed me to do as many takes as I needed until we were satisfied.
The time I spent facing and conversing with the "Major," played by the sincere and dedicated Maaya Sakamoto, became a very precious moment for me. When you access the Net, when you access "Ghost in the Shell," I hope everything connects and reaches the distant skies...
I offer this performance with the hope that the wonderful world of "Ghost in the Shell" will continue to shine forever.
Shigeru Chiba as Minister Nakamura
The first time I stepped into the world depicted in "Ghost in the Shell," I was a simple garbage collector (Note: A reference to his role in the 1995 film).
Time has passed, and I have returned as the persona "Nakamura" of Public Security Section 6. Yet, I wonder... is this world actually reality? I thought I was the one managing the Ghosts, but perhaps even that thought was created by an AI…
Such thoughts appear and vanish in my mind, and "I" feel more and more thin... I say all this as I write this comment... but is even this being written by an AI? No, no, I’m overthinking it. Let’s have a drink... Wait... is this even my own thought...?
"Episode 07: BYE BYE CLAY" End Card Released!
"Episode 07: BYE BYE CLAY"
End Card
Artwork: Hajime Sorayama
New Character Visuals Released!
"THE GHOST IN THE SHELL" Series Information
Synopsis
A.D. 2029. In a near-future Japan, the corporate networks have covered the planet, and electrons and light dance through the void. Yet, the world is not so digitized that nations or ethnic groups have vanished. Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg, commands an elite team including the formidable Batou.
Amidst their missions, she envisions the creation of a specialized unit dedicated to preemptive strike crime prevention. Daisuke Aramaki of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who shares a similar vision, scouts Kusanagi and her crew. Thus begins the activities of Public Security Section 9—an aggressive tactical organization known as "Ghost in the Shell."
As they confront cyber-crimes swirling in a vortex of international intrigue, the shadow of a mysterious hacker known only as the "Puppet Master" emerges on the horizon. What destiny awaits Kusanagi? And what is the Puppet Master’s true objective? The next generation of cyberpunk action begins now!!
Cast
Motoko Kusanagi: Maaya Sakamoto
Daisuke Aramaki: Kazuhiro Yamaji
Batou: Hiroki Yasumoto
Togusa: Yuichi Nakamura
Ishikawa: Kosuke Goto
Saito: Toru Nara
Borma: Atsushi Miyauchi
Operator: Marie Oi
Fuchikoma: Tomoko Kaneda
Colonel Malles: Akio Otsuka
Colonel Tonoda: Kenichi Ogata
President of Hanka Precision: Masashi Ebara
Anna Puma: Aya Hisakawa
Uni Puma: Nina Kumagaya
© 2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
