A dōjinshi printer (同人誌印刷所, dōjinshi insatsujo, also 同人誌印刷会社, dōjinshi insatsugaisha) is a printer that specializes in dōjinshi, self-published works. They are mostly active in Japan.
Contents
Summary
Dōjinshi printers are companies that specialize in professional printing and binding of the self-published magazines called dōjinshi. Dōjinshi are a popular medium of self-publishing in Japan, mostly for fan-made manga. Dōjinshi printers print not only dōjinshi but also fan-made merchandise such as stationary, stickers, posters and mugs. The companies are also involved in the organization of dōjinshi conventions, and play a role in establishing and enforcing content regulations for dōjinshi. Over a hundred dōjinshi printers are active in Japan today.
History
Specialized dōjinshi printers emerged in the later half of the 1970s, and they went on to play an important role in the growth of dōjinshi culture by making printing services more available and affordable for amateur creators. Their activities also included organizing dōjinshi conventions where their customers could sell their works. Throughout the boom in dōjinshi culture in the mid-1980s and the expansion of distribution channels such as dōjin shops and dōjinshi conventions, the number of dōjinshi printers rose as well, and the kinds of services they offered diversified. In 1992, around 52 dōjinshi printers were operating in Japan. By 2014, this number had at least doubled.
1994 saw the founding of an industry association, the Japan Doujin-shi Printing Group (Nihon dōjinshi insatsugyō kumiai, 日本同人誌印刷業組合). The association has 24 members.
How it works
A dōjinshi creator compares the manuals of different dōjinshi printers, which detail the company's prices and submission procedures, and selects a plan that fits with their budget and publication schedule. They agree on a delivery date with the printer, send in their manuscript in analog format via postal mail or in digital format through the printer's FTP server, and make the required payment. The dōjinshi are then printed and delivered. In the likely event that the creator wants to sell a dōjinshi at an upcoming dōjinshi convention, it is often possible to have the printer deliver the finished dōjinshi directly to the convention location. In that case, the dōjinshi creator has to submit their manuscript by a strict deadline that cannot usually be extended except by paying more. Some dōjinshi printers also deliver to dōjin shops that have agreed to distribute a creator's dōjinshi.
Dōjinshi printers advertise by distributing flyers and sometimes full manuals at dōjinshi conventions and dōjin shops, and sponsoring banners on websites that attract many fans. Some dōjinshi printers still organize dōjinshi conventions, and many take part in conventions with booths.
Examples
Some examples of dōjinshi printers include: