Inazuma Inc. today announced the global release of ePaperCraft SHIRYU on Steam, marking a significant expansion for the digital papercraft design software previously available only on the Microsoft Store. Developed by Takahiro Yonemura, Ph.D. (Engineering), the software allows users to design 3D models on a PC, automatically unfold them into printable templates, and construct the finished objects with paper, scissors, and glue.
The software ships with more than 70 ready-to-build models, and users retain commercial rights to their original creations. SHIRYU builds on a legacy dating back to its original version, "Paper Dragon," which was selected as a Jury Recommended Work at the 10th Japan Media Arts Festival hosted by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. The underlying research was published in the NICOGRAPH technical journal, and the software has been refined over more than two decades of continuous development.
In an era dominated by generative AI, SHIRYU stands out for its commitment to handcrafted design. No generative AI was used to create the included models or the program code, emphasizing the value of designing something oneself, printing it, and holding it in one's hands. The software has been successfully used by elementary school students while still offering depth for hobbyists, educators, makers, and artists engaged in careful manual work and inventive model design.
Yonemura is already known in the American market as the author of the sci-fi manga "Beast Code" (eigoMANGA, 2022) and "Recycled Brain" (eigoMANGA, 2025-2026), both 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. Holding a Ph.D. in Engineering, he 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.
The software is available on Steam for Windows and on the Microsoft Store. More information can be found on the official website.
