The Gallery in Japan - Haru Comic City 14

Damn kids, The Gallery is back! As promised, I've got a few weeks of super-special content lined up for all of you, but first: another SHAMELESS PLUG:

I'll be in Minneapolis/St. Paul for Anime Detour this coming weekend, and I'll be hosting "Anime Improv," "The Great Debate" and some other panels while I'm there. If you're in the area, come by and laugh (or participate, and be laughed at. It's just as rewarding, trust me). Good times are guaranteed, unless you hate everything and everybody. In that case, uh... they serve nice cocktails at the hotel bar.

Starting this week, The Gallery heads overseas!

For our first Gallery in Japan Special, we're taking a peek at a well-known but often misunderstood facet of the Japanese anime and manga scene: dōjinshi (fan-produced fan manga) conventions.

Female Dominated: Girls pack the hallways and East Hall, searching for dōjinshi

It's another Sunday on Odaiba, the man-made island that plays home to Tokyo Big Sight, one of the largest convention facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area. I'm at Big Sight, in a line of people that are all staring at me. As I make my way into the event hall, I feel even more out of place. The hall is packed with people moving in and out of halls, each of them holding the phone book-sized book that I also had to buy to gain access to this place. A high school girl looks at me and turns away. "Shit, this is making me tense..." I think as I retreat to a vending machine to buy a drink. Is it because I'm a white guy?

Or is it because I seem to be the only male in this entire building?

The Entryway outside Tokyo Big Sight

I'm at Haru ("Spring") Comic City 14, a huge dōjinshi sokubaikai (literally "fan magazine sales conference") held at Tokyo Big Sight every March. Unlike the American anime conventions that I am used to, this event only lasts five hours, has hundreds of thousands of attendees, and finding another male here is like trying to find authentic chinese cuisine in mid-state Nebraska. I chat with one of the artists behind her table about North American anime cons. "Wow, [those conventions] sound really different," she says with a laugh. "If I were you and suddenly walked into a hall with this many girls, I'd be shocked too." True, I had been to other, smaller dōjinshi conventions before and noticed that there weren't many guys there. Still, I figured that there would be a larger number of males at one of the largest events of this kind in the entire nation. Instead, the 14th Haru Comic City spoke to an already visible trend in the Japanese manga fan community: the women aren't nearly as shy as their male counterparts.

Haru Comic City is one of the largest conventions operated by the Akaboo company, a firm that produces a seemingly countless number of these events at venues across the country. Although the Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF), which takes place in this same convention center a week later, gets more press, Haru Comic City takes up three times the space TAF does. The event uses the entire East Hall of Tokyo Big Sight, as well as half the West Hall. In total, the event takes up over 750,000 square feet of space. If you're wondering how much that is: that's more floor space than the entire Los Angeles Convention Center, which Anime Expo uses. The convention welcomes tens of thousands of artists and art groups (called "circles"), who buy tables to sell their own dōjinshi and other goods. Their reasons for doing this vary; some start a table in the hopes of gaining attention from their peers, while others just consider attending the event to be an irreplaceable part of their social calendar. Whatever the reason, tables are usually rented out for 4,500 to 7,000 yen or so (45 to 70 dollars US), so budgeting to attend the convention isn't a strain on most people's budget.

The Phone Book-sized Guide

To enter the event, fans must purchase a show catalog, a giant guide that rivals a phone book in size and features small drawings from each circle advertising their stuff. The idea is that fans can purchase the guide ahead of time if they like (presales are often held at major manga, anime, and fan-focused stores, such as chain retailer Animate) and plan out how they want to spend their day at the event. This is a wise move, since the actual event lasts only five hours. The guide also maps out where to go if you want to buy dōjinshi from a popular series, since people drawing manga featuring popular shows are grouped together in the event hall. Counting tables in these groups is usually a good way to gage the popularity of a title. Since manga serialized in Shōnen Jump are always popular, Haru Comic City dedicated the entire west hall - and a whole separate entrance - to circles and fans focusing on Jump-based series. Based on the number of tables, Reborn! is the most popular Jump title at the show, while the high number of tables for Gundam 00 and Axis Powers Hetalia reflect the popularity of those titles among the female fan community in Japan. Haru Comic City is an "all genre" event, which means that it welcomes artists who draw dōjinshi for their favorite series or their own work. However, it's interesting to note that people selling original work make up barely 8% of the tables at this convention - a number reflected at many other events like Comic City, as well as by the large number of "only" events, which are geared towards artists and circles drawing only a specific series. The lack of originality may seem a bit surprising, but it's not really something on the minds of artists here; besides, most of them are here to enjoy themselves.

Guide Page

This desire to have fun is a big part of the most striking difference between shows like Haru Comic City and American anime conventions: the private nature of the event. At North American conventions, everyone is armed with a camera, flamboyance is common, and anything you do at any moment might end up on YouTube a week after the con. Japanese dōjinshi events, by comparison, are a far more private affair. Pictures are usually a no-no, and if you do take them, it is expected that you'll blur any visible faces in the images if they are uploaded to the internet (by request, I have done this as well with one of the images from the show). Like many other events, Haru Comic City forbids cosplay entirely and the guide warns that anyone who tries to dress in a "cosplay-esque"style at the event will be escorted from the premises. Likewise, the guide strictly forbids impromptu "performances" of any kind. This might make the entire event sound dull, but it is all done with a singular purpose: to make sure everyone who attends will be able to share in their somewhat-deviant hobby without having to worry about anything else. Privacy is of the utmost importance here.

A panel from a Parody Dōjinshi

The act of liking manga may not seem that deviant, but once I hit the floor of Haru Comic City, I could see why some of the participants might like a bit of privacy. The genres on the floor run the gamut, and while only half the dōjinshi sold contain any kind of pornographic content, it is still significant enough to color the event. These people are clearly here to do something they truly have a passion for, and the fact they don't want that stuff getting back to their parents or classmates is understandable. As I passed a few rows of tables, I was offered a copy of a free Hetalia flyer that comically advertised an 18+ Hetalia dōjinshi with the English tag line, "No Pants." I chatted with the artist about what they like about the series, and the answer I got was about as simple as it could be: "I really like the characters," she said, carefully adding, "I'm not sure if you'll like this stuff though." True, I'm not a yaoi fan to any degree, but it didn't matter - there was plenty of non-yaoi gag dōjinshi out there as well.

This ain't for the kids: Moyashimon characters make fun of the "18 and over" limits, while a poster suggestively advertises adult material

The issue of adult material at dōjinshi conventions is an often misunderstood aspect of these shows, and for good reason. When I told my friend Ed Chavez, editor of popular manga blog Mangacast, that I was going to remind my readers that there's more than just porn at these shows, he cautioned me, saying that the pornography is an important facet of why these events are so well attended. "People at [dōjinshi conventions] are sort of rebelling against the system," he said, noting that many of the dōjinshi that go on to sell well at stores (such as the iconic Tora no Ana in Akihabara) are adult titles. Ed is certainly right; not only do events like these are certainly well attended by females, they offer them an opportunity to consume material that is typically off limits to them. As a consequence of this, the word "dōjinshi" is sometimes mistakenly used to refer to pornography by North American fans. However, porn isn't the only part of shows like Haru Comic City; there's still lots of non-adult material out there to purchase. In fact, there has to be: sales of adult products are limited to people 18 and up, and the restrictions are enforced by staff and police on site, so as long as younger attendees need something to buy as well, there will be non-porno material at the event. Still, it is hard to deny that the theme of pornography is a vital component of the experience one has attending an event like this. The theme of things being "adult" is parodied in non-pornographic dōjinshi often, including those where you wouldn't even expect it. The characters in the Moyashimon dōjinshi pictured above joke about their game being "adult" because their role as bacteria can involve "private" organs in the human body. Even if you don't like adult material, it's safe to assume that any trip to an event like Haru Comic City will in some way touch upon its unmistakable influence.

Cover for another Haruka dōjinshi featuring characters from Tales of the Heike

Midori no Uta dōjinshi for Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time-

Since I've spent so much time talking with North American manga artists about their workloads and responsibilities, I decided that I would track down a few artists and ask them just how hard they work. I came across the author of Midori no Uta, a dōjinshi for the shōjo manga series Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time-, and asked her just how hard her lifestyle is. "I usually draw about 120 pages a year," she said, adding that most of those pages get fed into small volumes that are sold at shows like Haru Comic City. Most of the simple dōjinshi I saw at the event were like hers; thin, with about 24 pages, and retailing for as little as 300 yen or as much as 600 yen. The volumes vary considerably in quality of printing, color (or lack thereof), paper texture, and style of binding. Although the number of fans that publish in this way seemingly outnumber the people who self-publish larger volumes, the way they get their work printed is the same: by using one of the many print companies that cater to the dōjinshi crowd. The impact of these companies is considerable. One such company, Sunrise (not to be mistaken with the Gundam-producing studio of the same name), has made such a profit from the support of the fan community that they regularly purchase advertising banner space around Tokyo Big Sight to correlate with big manga-focused events that take place at the venue.

Cell Phone strap for sale

Sales aren't just limited to books and dōjinshi either. Like their American Artists Alley counterparts, Japanese fans also produce a wide variety of "character goods" that feature their own renderings of popular characters or their own drawings. Products include tins, stickers, buttons, postcards, clocks, and of course cell phone accessories, like this Cell Phone cleaner I purchased when I was making my way around the floor. Regardless of what you purchase, the people who sell you the dōjinshi and goods you buy are always courteous. One manifestation of this kindness is the sketch book (dubbed sukebu), which are actual sketch books of varying size that fans bring to circle tables to ask for sketches - which are usually drawn for free. While this is not a service that everyone offers, it is one that many fans still practice, not to mention an easy way for the artist to show appreciation to their fans and visitors.

It's interesting to notice that, despite the grouping of tables for popular manga titles, more obscure titles always find a way to find a niche at events like Haru Comic City. I stumbled onto a large group of tables featuring artists dedicated to the Moyashimon series, as well as a surprising number of tables selling dōjinshi based on the popular Smash Bros. video game series. In one title (pictured later in this article), the artist tries to bring each of the game's characters into the work by having them try to remove a flower from the head of Fire Emblem character Marth. While these tables were mostly devoid of pornographic content, they often feature unique storylines and attempts to redefine the relationships (friend or otherwise) of the characters, much like the dōjinshi that is aimed at an older audience.

The art of sales: Shots of typical tables at the convention

Pikmin and a flower-headed Marth

With all these artists attending the convention, it's no surprise that the organizers of the event are always searching for feedback from the people who attend, especially the circles that exhibit. All attendees are encouraged to fill out a survey that the organizers put together that is arranged much like the spaces in the event guide are: like a picture. Attendees are encouraged to fill the box with their thoughts on the event, what they would like to see more of, and what kind of music they would like to listen to in the event hall during the event. The information is gathered by the hundred-or-so event staff, most of whom spend the entire day at Tokyo Big Sight helping artists check in, check out, and get everything they need. The staff also help out with snack retail counters in the event hall, setting up and moving equipment, and working at other tables which are for questions and directing guests to the place they want to go. Although Haru Comic City can seem like a huge spectacle, the entire thing runs a whole lot smoother than one might expect it to. There's even a counter for the Kuroneko Takkyūbin shipping company, so fans can fill a box with their purchases and mail it home from the show floor if they like.

Takkyūbin shipping station

With so much going on, it's natural to wonder just how this entire event runs without falling apart. The reason is the Kei Corporation, the corporate arm of the Akaboo company that runs the event. The company has a full time staff group that works at their office, as well as a part time work force that they call in to help set up and tear down the event. Their work is completely funded by the attendance of events like Haru Comic City, and considering that the show was packed, I don't think anyone is in danger of losing their job anytime soon. In fact, the number of staff that one sees running around the event is a pleasant surprise for someone used to understaffed American shows. The staff can be seen mingling with one another and offering to help - a sign that the event is well-staffed and in sound financial shape. Of course, this also means that Haru Comic City is a far cry from being a fan run affair. It is abundantly clear that, even though there is less advertising than at the North American cons, there are vendors who attend Haru Comic City to target the female manga fan market. Akaboo has a table selling drawing tablets and other computer hardware and software for artists, while stationery companies IC and Deleter both attend the show to market and sell their products. The biggest advertiser at the show was the trading card game company Bushi Road, who were there for good reason: they've launched a game called Alice Cross, which is the first major trading card game to target a mature female audience. Since that demographic is practically 99 percent of the Haru Comic City attendance, Bushi Road went all out and set up a huge coffee and tea area called the Alice Cross Cafe in the center area near the west halls. Attendees spend 100 yen to get all the coffee and tea they like for the day and also get a free coaster featuring art from the game. It's a shameless promotion, but I have to hand it to Bushi Road - they know their audience.

After I left Big Sight, I reflected on my day at Haru Comic City for a while. Being a foreign guy in a hall full of shy female manga fans was an odd experience, but I think the fact that a lot of the dōjinshi and products for sale bear a resemblance to products from Artists Alleys in North America speaks to the fact that being a manga artist does have a few universal experiences and challenges that everyone faces, regardless of where they live. As for my take on the show, I also figured that my experience at the event would probably be scrutinized by others who have been to bigger shows (in other words, Comiket). Still, that's the nature of fandom itself. It's easily stereotyped, but difficult to fully understand. An event like Haru Comic City might be crowded, but the experience alone is different things to different people. If any of you readers out there ever have the chance to visit Japan, I hope you have the chance to experience a convention like Haru Comic City for yourself. Besides, the best way to approach manga fandom in Japan is the same as the best way to approach it here: to simply experience it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Corporate Joy: Akaboo sells software while attendees pack the Alice Cross Cafe

An Alice Cross coaster from the Cafe

If you're thinking of heading to a Japanese dōjinshi sokubaikai, here's a few handy links you can check out. Unfortunately, these links are all in Japanese, and there is not an English language site for these events that covers anything beyond Comiket. So: please use these links to find a convention, and then come back and help me write a guide for them. The internet thanks you.

Akaboo, the organizers of Comic City, have their main info site here. If you're interested in searching for an event elsewhere in Japan, or for other gatherings that are series-specific, Ketto dot com lists all of them along with details on whether cosplay is allowed at each event listed.

Are you an aspiring manga artist looking for some extra page views? Do you have a friend or loved one who draws extremely good original manga but needs a boost? Don't just sit there! Submit two links to your work, including one original piece (no file attachments please! File attachments will be chased around a blue wire maze by a hungry circular yellow thing with a huge appetite), to evan [at] animenewsnetwork dot com, and you could be featured in a future Gallery column!

All works © the original rights holders and the dōjin circles featured.