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Letter From Tokyo
‘Very nerdy’ hobby of doujinshi self-publishing is a growing billion-dollar market in Japan
While often associated with manga and fan fiction, the market also includes novels, poems and photo books.
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(From left) Mr Shinji Kashida and his wife Misato hold up doujinshi photo collections of the latter cosplaying, with Ms Makiko Bujo from Fujifilm Business Innovation Japan, and Mr Masaki Kohayakawa, CEO of Shimaya Printing Corporation, at Shimaya's factory in Tokyo.
ST PHOTO: WALTER SIM
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- Japan's vibrant "doujinshi" culture thrives on self-published works sold at events like Comiket, offering creators freedom of expression and direct engagement with fans.
- Printing companies like Shimaya support this culture by offering small print runs and specialised services, including unique binding formats and colour options.
- Creators value the tangible, collectible nature of physical books and the personal connections made at in-person events.
AI generated
TOKYO – Coffee barista Misato Kashida, 42, sells medium dark-roast coffee by day.
But she has an alter ego as Kikuichi, a prolific cosplayer who takes on different personas, from an assassin coolly walking away from a cinematic explosion, to a picture of refined elegance as she trails behind an abbot, to a cyberpunk chick sporting a fierce gaze.
