Comment: Preprints and the evolution of scientific communication

Prof. Kenjiro Matsumoto (Kyoto University) reflects on the accelerating shift toward preprint-first publishing in the physical sciences and engineering. Drawing on data from arXiv, engrXiv, and institutional repositories, Prof. Matsumoto argues that preprints have improved the speed, accessibility, and collaborative potential of scientific communication, but cautions that their proliferation raises unresolved questions about version control, citation practice, and the role of journals as curators and validators. "The journal is not obsolete," he concludes. "But its function is shifting from gatekeeper to quality mark — and that is a healthy evolution."