Interest

11 Japanese College Clubs Rank Their Favorite Sci-Fi Picks

Science fiction and literature clubs (kenkyū-kai) from 11 Japanese universities reported what they think are the current “best science fiction” during the 63rd Japan Science Fiction Convention (nicknamed “Kamakon” this year) on August 30. 20 students from 11 universities explored the “hottest science fiction stories of the moment across all genres.” Participating universities and clubs included University of Tokyo's Shingetsu Ocha no Kai, University of Tsukuba's SF Kenkyū-kai Albireo, Tohoku University's SF/Mystery Novel Kenkyū-kai, and the SF Kenkyu-kai (Science Fiction Clubs) at Kyoto University, University of Osaka, Keio University, Chuo University, Kyushu University, Ochanomizu University, Nagoya University, and Doshisha University.

The 11 clubs listed their top three picks for best science fiction across all media. The most prevalent medium was animation with all but University of Osaka and Ochanomizu University selecting at least one animated title. In particular, Nagoya University, Keio University, Chuo University, and Kyushu University ranked the latest Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. The first Mobile Suit Gundam anime also made Doshisha University's list.

Manga was also prevalent among all 11 clubs' lists. Notable series and franchises included Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell franchise and Yu Aida's 2002 series Gunslinger Girl.

The university science fiction and literature clubs' selections are:

University of Tokyo's Shingetsu Ocha no Kai

1. The Hundred Million Years Telescope (novel by Kōichi Harukure)
2. Hakozoko no Elpis (light novel by Takehiko Okishi)
3. Godzilla Singular Point (anime)

Nagoya University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (anime)
2. Planetes (manga by Makoto Yukimura)
3. 60 Nendai Nihon SF Best Shūsei [Best of 1960s Japanese Science-Fiction] (short story collection edited by Yasutaka Tsutsui)

Kyoto University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Anata no Bubun no Monogatari (short story by Bōryoku to Hametsu no Hakobite)
2. All the Motorbike Lights (novel by Tokio Amasawa)
3. Link Click (Chinese animation)

University of Osaka's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Deatte 4-Kōnen de Gattai (manga by Futotta Obasan)
2. Full Metal Daemon: Muramasa (visual novel)
3. Cyberpunk 2077 (video game)

Keio University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Hakozoko no Elpis (light novel by Takehiko Okishi)
2. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (anime)
3. Mouse (short story collection by Osamu Makino)

Chuo University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (anime)
2. The God Gun (novel by Barrington J. Bayley)
3. Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)

University of Tsukuba's SF Kenkyū-kai Albireo

1. Kaguya Planet No.2 Tokushu Palestine (magazine)
2. JUNK WORLD (stop-motion movie)
3. Rick and Morty (animated series)

Kyushu University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (anime)
2. Rascal Does Not Dream series (light novel series by Hajime Kamoshida)
3. Cosmic Encounter (board game)

Ochanomizu University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Gunslinger Girl manga by Yu Aida)
2. Vanishing World (novel by Sayaka Murata)
3. If We Can't Go at the Speed of Light (novel by Kim Cho-Yup)

Tohoku University's SF/Mystery Novel Kenkyū-kai

1. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (anime)
2. Tamanegi to Kurarion (light novel by Kazuto Minazuki)
3. Gunparade March (video game)

Doshisha University's SF Kenkyu-kai

1. Mobile Suit Gundam (1979 anime)
2. Daicon IV opening animation (anime)
3. Ghost in the Shell franchise (manga by Masamune Shirow and tie-ins)

Sources: 63rd Japan Science Fiction Convention Kamakon's website, @pessimstkohan's X/Twitter account, Pessim's Note website