By Tadashi Sudo

Doujin-shi ; publications, coterie magazines of Manga and Anime fans
Doujin-shi are independent works centered on Manga. They includes not only Manga but also novels or games, research books derived from Manga and Anime. More than 40,000 groups, producing Doujin-Manga are currently organized and sell several thousand to tens of thousands of copies as works to the market in Japan. These group are watched because of their impact on commercial business volumes and their ability to influence Manga and Anime fan subcultures.

Symposium participants;
This symposium was supported by wide variety of people concerned with Doujin-shi, including retail shops, critics, and lawyers. The attendees were exhibitors and sellers of Doujin-shi publications, particularly groups who also participate in “Comike”, the comic market. Also attending this symposium were organizations and persons who print more than 80% of all Doujin-shi publications, journalists, doctors of psychiatry and lawyers.

A “Symposium on fan publication and its expressions” was held on May 19th 2007 in Ikebukuro, Tokyo by the “Association of fan publications and its expressions.” The symposium focused on the expression sexual content in fan publications as well as other problems related to fan publications, particularly problems associated with Doujin-shi. Of particular concern, Doujin-shi, game and role playing software developed by fans of established software games, is that Doujin-shi is not evaluated in the same ways as the established commercial publications. Concerns regarding sexual content in “Doujin-shi” had been identified previously in the report “Protecting children from harm of virtual society” submitted to the consultative council of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Dept in December, 2006. This report marked the first time that sex expressions in Doujin-shi were widely discussed in official government documents. The report, however, contains misunderstandings about current Doujin-shi activities.

Part 1: “The latest status from worksite”

In the first part of the symposium, organizers of comic conventions, printers and resellers, who are involved in Doujin-shi directly, presented the latest status of regulation of control over Doujin-shi expressions.

The reality described by those involved in Doujin-shi directly is that the control over expression of sexual themes and sexual content in Doujin-shi works is much stricter than usually thought. The printers have their rules and checking functions before printing, and comic conventions also check all Doujin-shi books. Resellers also repeat these functions and thus review is extensive, not absent as some people believe.

The problem is believed to be a problem of perception rather than actual fact. It is argued that the perceived problem arises because affiliates do not communicate the existence of these review activities to society at large. This may be because Doujin-shi is a closed community of its fans and thus they did not feel it necessary to speak out about it more widely.

On the other hand, however, it may be dangerous if we only rely on a self checking system of expression in Doujin-shi because people who want to control expression of sexual themes may reject all Doujin-shi works which express any sexual themes or content, even when such expression is not dangerous or potentially harmful to anyone.

Part 2: “What should we do? – Panel discussion –“

Panelists, individuals with intellectual interest and expertise in freedom of expression discussed the relation between sex expressions and society.
*Panelists were formed by intellectuals and experts.

Tsuyoshi Ito pointed that those who want to regulate expression of sexual themes want to eliminate works, which they do not want to read, regardless of whether the materials comply with the established rules regarding sex expression. On that basis, he emphasized that it would be very effective to present “ Doujin-shi shows common sense and good manners” for promoting understanding by people with negative opinions. Yukari Fujimoto also spoke openly that the rules of the Comic Market, which are stricter than those of commercial publications, will demonstrate our responsible behavior regarding expression of sexuality in these publications and thus secure our freedom of expression.

Tamaki Saito additionally noted that there is no survey data which proves a correlation between the violence and expression sexual themes in publications and actions in the real world.

We need to pay attention to the media which often seeks causes of heinous crimes from Doujin-shi fans in the content of Doujin-shi publications. Such media coverage may lead to stricter restriction of expression of sexual content, unnecessarily and without benefit.

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