Doujin

In Japan, a doujin (Japanese: 同人, Hepburn: dōjin) is a group of people who share an interest, activity, or hobby.

One famous example is Ozaki Koyo, who led the Kenyusha society of literary writers that first published collected works in magazine form in 1885.

This makes a talented creator's or circle's products a coveted commodity as only the fast or the lucky will be able to get them before they sell out.

Over the last decade, the practice of creating doujin has expanded significantly, attracting thousands of creators and fans alike.

In Western cultures, doujin are often perceived to be derivative of existing work, analogous to fan fiction.

Manga for sale at Comic City, a regular doujin event held at venues around Japan
Comiket , pictured here in 2002, is the largest venue for the sale of doujin works.