The word 同人誌 doujinshi literally means “same person publication” and refers to an amateur-published work (these days nearly always a comic book, though literary magazines used to be common) made by a group of like-minded fans who share the same passion for embracing and extending Japan’s pop culture. Unfortunately this view isn’t 100% universal, as witnessed by one individual who sent more than 400 letters — some containing lethal substances like hydrogen sulphide — threatening violence against shops and doujinshi events that carried works related to the anime and manga 黒子のバスケ Kuroko no Basuke (Kuroko’s Basketball). As a result of the letters, circles producing comics related to the anime and manga were banned from selling their works at Comiket, and several other events were canceled entirely over public safety concerns. When the police announced that 36 year old failed manga-ka Hirofumi Watanabe, the individual responsible for the letters, had been safely arrested, there was much rejoicing throughout Japan’s otaku community.
The reign of terrorism against sweaty anime boys has come to an end.
