The doujinshi market has undergone a huge process of digitalization, just like video games, and this has evidently caused sales of printed versions to decline and, although they are still kept afloat through conventions and mail order sales, electronic doujinshi is way to dominate the market.
And that’s where the large distribution platforms for this type of content come in, such as FANZA and the DLsite, but it is the first that has recently caught attention. Different artists began to reveal on social media that the FANZA contacted them to inform them that the production of doujinshi for adults based on the franchise Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Frieren) is now completely banned.
Artists like “Shiraki (@wwood126)” shared an email he received from FANZA announcing these new guidelines:
Thank you for your continued support, this is FANZA Doujin Support. Thank you very much for registering your work for sale through our service. We are very sorry, but in accordance with the wishes of the copyright holders, we have decided to refrain from managing works that parody the following elements: “Sousou no Frieren”. We inform you that we have changed the status of the works in question to “Suspended” for the reasons indicated above. Thank you for your continued support”.
Already “小黒唯 (@ogro_yui)“, commented:
FANZA banned Sousou no Frieren “because they are commercial doujinshi” and “because electronic sales are dangerous”. Remember that often searching for a term on Google can cause the search engine to show a hentai doujinshi instead of the original manga. Sales are currently still permitted on DLsite, Toranoana and Melonbooks. Why did only FANZA make this decision? Maybe they announced it before everyone else?
On the forums, fans reacted like this:
- Well, Shogakukan generally protects its popular franchises.
- Well now it’s really dangerous to post the content without official approval
- If FANZA doesn’t allow it, we will have to switch to DLsite.
- It’s been a while since I’ve seen one of those doujinshi ban announcements. It would be helpful if publishers established these terms from the beginning.
- I assume they mean all types of doujinshi, right?”
- In the past, it was necessary to obtain express permission from the publisher and pay a commission.
- Has the erotic content of Sousou no Frieren really become so popular?
- Could this be the beginning of the franchise’s decline?
- Well, there still aren’t many people who are going to put their stuff on Twitter, don’t worry
