Dr. FangLang 's Pavement

A MASSPRODUCTION COLUMN(01/13/98, 01/29/99, 02/08/99 Revised)

The Limitation of Doujinshi-Business, the Relation between Doujinshi Cartoons and Commercial Broadcasting and Publishing (Report 6)

Comic Market 53 (Japanese: Fuyu-Comike 53) was held at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo from 12/28/97 till 12/29/97. Comic Market is the largest event of Doujinshi cartoon free market in Japan as I wrote here. The entries at this winter were about 250,000 man-days.
Some authorities in Japan including Mr. Misaki said, "Doujinshi cartoons related with TV-animation have begun to decline." Instead of the phenomenon, they thought that doujinshi cartoons related with videogames were popular.

Many costume-players appeared on the place again. It was rather cold in Tokyo. They made costume with cushions. For example, characters from another world in Japanese animation often have strange hair. Costume-players made the large hair with cushion. A female character often exposes her person in public. In summer, costume-players utilize swimming suits. On the other hand, they utilizes cushions and leather in winter. These costumes were available for a kind of cushion or rug.
Ms Sakura Shinguji from Sakura Wars, Naga the Serpent from Slayers series and Ryoko (a space pirate) from No Need For Tenchi (Japanese: Tenchi Muyo!) are popular among costume-players. Many characters from CLAMP works are also popular. Several Rimururu costume-players from Samurai Shodown (Japanese: Samurai Spirits) and several Rei Ayanami costume-players from Eva appeared on the place. However Ms Anthy Himemiya from UTENA and Mr. Makoto Shishio from Rurouni Kenshin (English: Samurai X) have begun to decline.

I got up at 4 a.m. on 12/29/97. I got in the HIKARI 340 superexpress for Tokyo at 6:20 a.m. The train reached Tokyo at 8:24 a.m. and Tokyo Big Sight at 9:00 a.m. However thousands of fans had already gathered at the parking space. Many fans must wait there till 11 a.m. Therefore most of fans could not obtain some titles.
That day Comike mainly dealed with erotic doujinshi-cartoons, amateur computer hardware and software, doujinshi-cartoon circles in universities, novel fans and railway fans.
As you know, circles by the wall are called the Major (Japanese: oute or oute-san). Majors often include professional cartoonists. Recently Uloboros is very popular. The circle includes Mr. Hiroyuki Utatane, a famous cartoonist in Japan. He also drew Nakoruru portraits long time ago. He is famous for "Seraphic Feather" in Monthly Afternoon of Kodansha.
That day Comike included Uloboros' booth as the Major. Unfortunately I could not obtain those Uloboros doujinshi-cartoon books then. I will try the next chance.

As I could not obtain the Uloboros books, I got angry, felt sad, and was bewildered. Thereafter I bought some erotic doujinshi-cartoons which I had not wanted to obtain first. They were very expensive. Soon later I became penniless. However I could go home because I had some german bills then. (I went to a branch of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.)
Then I felt Akari's posters (1 copy = 100 yen) and Akari's postcards (1 copy = 150 yen) very expensive in front of the booth of Increment P which produced videogame "Battle Athletess DAIUNDOUKAI." I left the place at 1 p.m. (I left Tokyo by Nozomi 57 superexpress at 3 p.m.)

I have here some Doujinshi samples on the second day of Comike. Doujinshi comics on Card Captor Sakura and DAIUNDOUKAI enjoyed great popularity. I will introduce them the next chance.

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