Ask John: Are Doujinshi Parodies Respectful to Their Source Material?

Question:
What do you think of canon vs. non-canon doujinshi and fanfics? What about canon vs. non-canon hentai/yaoi/yuri doujinshi? Some fans seem to like doujinshi and/or pornographic doujinshi, but some appear vehemently against it, especially doujinshi of a sexual nature when it involves characters that do not hook up in an anime or manga series. What about male pregnancy, the device in yaoi fan works in which a male character has the child of another male character through magic or super-science (such as Inuyasha giving birth to Sesshomaru’s baby)? Are these doujinshi that should be appreciated for their love of the original works or should they be viewed with scorn for violating the integrity of the original?

Answer:
The distinction of “canon” compared to “non-canon” doujinshi is a bit misleading as it implies a contrast between “official” and “non-official” manga spin-offs. Since fan produced comics are, by definition, unofficial, all doujinshi and fan fiction is “non-canon.” I presume that the distinction between “canon” and “non-canon” doesn’t distinguish whether or not a spin-off is an official part of the ongoing story, but rather whether or not the fan art respects character personalities and relationships established in the official manga or anime. So, in effect, this is a question about the validity of fan created interpretations of popular Japanese manga, video games, and anime.

The existance of stores in Tokyo that specialize in just doujinshi, the success of Japanese fan art conventions like Comic Market, and the enshrinement of the phenonenom of doujinshi in mainstream manga and anime like Genshiken attest to the prominence and acceptance of doujinshi in Japanese culture. I’m aware that some English speaking manga fans consider doujinshi, particular erotic doujinshi, to be a defamation of original manga and anime, but Japanese fans and creators don’t seem to take offense at fan art. I’ve heard rumors of Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi and her husband, Hunter x Hunter creator Yoshihiro Togashi opposing fans who sully characters by changing characters’ sexual orientation, or by putting characters in sexual situations, but I haven’t been able to confirm this rumored objection. I can also appreciate the idea of professional artists being unhappy with fan artists who consciously try to divert sales of official, authorized works by creating fan produced copies. But the support for doujinshi and fan art in Japan suggests that the majority of professional Japanese artists tolerate or even approve of fan art interpretations of their creations. Even professional manga artists including Ken Akamatsu, Johji Manabe, and Kenichi Sonoda have self-published erotic parody comics.

I must admit that I’m not very familiar with yaoi doujinshi. In fact, I never knew that plot devices like male pregnancy existed. However, regardless of content, the principle behind most doujinshi is the same. Fan art is created in homage to its source material. Fan art is an expression of the fan artist’s interest in the original subject. Doujinshi is not intended to undermine sales of the legitimate source material. It’s intended to parody the source material by providing an entertaining alternate perspective on the original characters and stories.

Calling doujinshi a blasphemy of the original work ignores the spirit of doujinshi. I think that doujinshi are tolerated in Japan because everyone recognizes that they are a compliment to manga and anime. They are affiliated merchandise that expand the popularity of the original work; not merchandise that compromise the original work. I don’t think it’s appropriate for foreigners to dictate the artistic expression of an entirely different country and culture. English speaking fans who think that hentai doujinshi are an affront to legitimate manga need not look at hentai. Regardless of whether a piece of fan created art respects the story and character relationships of the work it’s parodying is irrelevant. A doujinshi that depicts Kagome and Inuyasha having sex, and a doujinshi in which Inuyasha bears Sesshomaru’s baby are both examples of Inuyasha fans creating their own unique interpretations of Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha manga. Neither instance is intended to insult Takahashi or betray the spirit of the characters. These fan creations are a product of genuine fascination with the original work; the result of a desire to become more involved in and with the original work. I don’t refute the right of an individual to feel outraged over the existance of a doujinshi, or object to anyone feeling shocked by the way someone else percieves a work. But I do think that fans who reject fan art because it betrays or compromises the spirit of an original work are failing to recognize or acknowledge the spirit of fan art.

Doujinshi does not attempt to literally copy or profit from another artist’s work. Doujinshi is supposed to supplement and pay homage to the original work, and express the fan artist’s love of the original story and characters. Drastically different perspectives on characters aren’t a betrayal of the spirit of the original work; they’re an interesting and creative alternate interpretation made by a fan, for the enjoyment of other fans.