Inazuma Inc. today announced the worldwide release of ePaperCraft SHIRYU on Steam, following its earlier launch on the Microsoft Store. The software, created by Takahiro Yonemura, Ph.D. (Engineering), allows users to design 3D models on a PC, automatically unfold them into printable templates, and assemble the finished objects in the real world using paper, scissors, and glue. SHIRYU ships with more than 70 ready-to-build models, and users retain the right to use their original creations commercially.
The original software, known in Japan as "Paper Dragon," was selected as a Jury Recommended Work at the 10th Japan Media Arts Festival hosted by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, and its underlying research was published in the NICOGRAPH technical journal. The Steam release is an expanded successor refined over more than two decades of continuous development. It has been used successfully by elementary school students, yet offers depth for careful manual work and inventive model design by hobbyists, educators, makers, and artists.
Notably, no generative AI was used to create the included models or the program code. In an era of instant generation, SHIRYU is built around the opposite pleasure: designing something yourself, printing it, and holding it in your hands. This approach emphasizes craftsmanship and personal creativity, appealing to those who value hands-on creation in a digital age.
Yonemura is no stranger to the American market. He is the author of the sci-fi manga "Beast Code" (eigoMANGA, 2022) and "Recycled Brain" (eigoMANGA, 2025-2026), both published commercially in the United States and covered by Anime News Network. His English-language book "The Metal Brain" was distributed to 12 countries under a Japanese government support program in 2019. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and lectures at a university of science and technology in Japan.
"People ask why an engineering PhD writes manga and folds paper. I say: a scientist's job is to turn imagination into something real. SHIRYU turns a screen into scissors, glue, and a creature on your desk," said Yonemura.
For business leaders and technology enthusiasts, SHIRYU represents a convergence of digital design and physical manufacturing, offering a low-barrier entry point for prototyping, education, and creative expression. Its availability on Steam and the Microsoft Store makes it accessible to a broad audience. The software is categorized under Design & Illustration, Education, and Utilities on Steam, and its commercial use rights for original creations could appeal to entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to create physical products from digital designs.
The release of SHIRYU underscores a growing trend toward integrating digital tools with tangible outcomes, potentially impacting industries such as education, where it can enhance STEM learning, and manufacturing, where it can facilitate rapid prototyping. As makerspaces and DIY culture continue to expand, tools like SHIRYU that bridge the digital-physical divide become increasingly valuable.
More information is available on the official website at https://craft.inazuma7.co.jp/index_en.html.
