Hoshi was one of eleven founders and the first president of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan. He was honored with a posthumous, lifetime achievement award in 1998.

Komatsu was most famous for his best-selling novel "Japan Sinks." He later became a movie maker directing "Bye-bye Jupiter" based on his own novel.

Tsutsui's beloved "The Girl Who Leapt through Time" has been made into several movies and TV dramas, and has won numerous awards at both Japanese and foreign film festivals. Tsutsui is a Medal with Purple Ribbon recipient for his part in arts innovation.

• Sakyo Komatsu, Yasutaka Tsutsui and Shinichi Hoshi are considered "The Big Three of Japanese Science Fiction."

C 2010 Tezuka Production

Tezuka created masterpieces such as "Astro Boy" and "Kimba the White Lion" and is now known as the godfather of Manga. He was the first cartoonist to join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan.

• The main character of Tezuka's "The Amazing 3" is named Shinichi Hoshi.
• The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum hosted the exhibition "Shinichi Hoshi: Two Pioneers" from October 2010 to February 2011.

Hideaki Sena, Ph.D., is a cellular biologist and the award-winning author of "Parasite Eve" and "Brain Valley." He is currently the president of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan.