Tokyo 1970: I'll draw Doraemon?

If you don't like what he says, tell him to go buy a drink.

"I have a suggestion."

Fushimikawa stood up, raising one finger.

"The dilemma faced by our predecessors can be summarized in one point: they lacked a platform to showcase their work. So why don't we create that platform ourselves... no, the market?"

With his hands resting on the conference table, he exclaimed confidently, "We provide the venue, gather many doujinshi artists, and attract comic book enthusiasts and passersby. We can handle everything from exhibition to sales, and that will solve everything!"

Fujiwara Maki was stunned.

"What did you say?"

Chapter Eleven CM Exhibition

Why is Fushimi-kun, whom I just disliked, so far away now?

I'm really worried that I might have missed some important things.

Fujiwara Maki kept waving her hand: "Come sit a little closer, come here, come here."

She then gave Utsunomiya, who was sitting to the left of her, a look.

So, Utsunomiya-senpai obediently left, and the seats were arranged in order. Kurokawa Hideaki sat at the door and became the errand boy.

Fushimikawa sat in the second seat, looking calm and composed.

"If members of our Waseda University Manga Club are struggling to serialize their manga, then manga clubs at other universities must be in the same boat."

There are even more comic book fans in the same situation. This gives us the possibility of establishing a doujinshi convention.

There are sellers and buyers; that's what a market is.

Break the monopoly of commercial comics, provide amateur creators with a space to freely publish and exchange ideas, and create a creative marketplace for enthusiasts.

This was Fushimikawa's idea.

Liang and the others simultaneously revealed expectant expressions; this was exactly the place they had been looking for.

Utsunomiya raised his hand.

Fushimikawa looked at him: "Please speak."

"As you said, the Japanese manga industry is booming, with Weekly Shonen Magazine's circulation even exceeding one million. This has cultivated many readers and fans, giving us the opportunity to create a doujinshi convention. But..." There's always a "but," Utsunomiya continued, "there are also many difficulties, such as copyright, venues, and promotion... Are there any solutions?"

Before Fushimikawa could answer, Fujiwara Maki retorted, "If you only consider the difficulties, nothing can be accomplished."

Her eyes lit up; she completely agreed with Fushimikawa's suggestion.

I'm afraid she'll do it even if everyone opposes it.

Wanting to make a big splash, Maki Fujiwara undoubtedly expressed her opinion directly.

“If there’s a doujinshi convention, I’ll definitely go,” Liang said, raising his hand.

Hideaki Kurokawa agreed: "Yeah, I want to experience what it's like to be a doujinshi vendor."

“Alright, with this tone in mind, let’s continue our discussion,” Utsunomiya nodded without changing his expression. “First, there’s the copyright issue. How do we resolve this?”

The Comic Market doujinshi convention was held smoothly for dozens of years afterward, and Fushimikawa never heard of the organizers being sued.

He has also considered this.

"Also, derivative works are indeed copyright infringement, existing in a gray area, but they are also free promotion for the original work, which is definitely more beneficial than harmful to the copyright holder." Fushimi's words were very persuasive, spoken in a calm tone. "Of course, we also need to leave ourselves enough room for maneuver."

"Our manga club only provides the venue and does not participate in the creation; we only allow non-profit, small-batch sales of doujinshi; and we require the club to assume full responsibility for copyright. I think these points are enough to avoid copyright issues."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone else looked at Utsunomiya.

Utsunomiya pondered, "There are still risks..."

"If there are any problems, let them come to me. I'm the president of the manga club, I'll handle it," Fujiwara Maki patted her chest. "Let's skip the copyright issue. I'll talk to the school about the venue. The school has so much open space, why don't we use it?"

Although she is a student, Fujiwara Maki, as a timely helper, undoubtedly has a lot of say. If she communicates with the school, there will be a good outcome.

"As for publicity and distribution, that's easy to solve," she continued. "I have many friends, and many of the senior students who graduated from the comics club are also working in the comics industry. I will contact them. I won't say I'll find hundreds of clubs, but I'll definitely find dozens."

Fushimikawa suggested, "University students love experiencing new things. There are so many universities in Tokyo. If we can mobilize all the students, we won't lack customers."

He and Fujiwara Maki exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with mutual appreciation, and then they said in unison, "Does that solve all the problems?"

Utsunomiya was writing down the conversation in his notebook when he heard this, and calmly looked up.

When will it be held?

Fujiwara Maki replied, "Let me think... about summer vacation in August!"

"Isn't that a bit too rushed? How about doing it during winter break?"

"No way! Go for it, Utsunomiya!"

"That's really capricious. So, what's the name? The name of the event?"

“Comic Market, abbreviated as CM,” Fushimikawa perked up. “Comic is manga, and Market is a marketplace, so together it’s manga market.”

“It’s simple, easy to remember, and the meaning is very clear.” Utsunomiya nodded.

The core group then discussed matters such as advertising design and personnel arrangements.

Fushimikawa didn't know much about the Manga Club, so he didn't interrupt.

Just hearing them say that they were going to mobilize more than 30 members to distribute flyers all over Tokyo to universities made me feel that the manga club was really full of energy.

If he were to do it, he definitely wouldn't be able to do this.

Fortunately, there's the Manga Research Club, so his "Doraemon" was able to ride the wave of popularity.

Those who want to sell doujinshi can sell doujinshi; those who don't can become organizers.

The stance of members of the manga club can be very flexible.

……

"University is a great place."

At Fujiko Fujio's studio, Fushimikawa talked about the Manga Club's creation of the CM exhibition.

“The school not only fully supported our activities and provided the venue, but also helped contact the police to maintain order.”

The student movement in Tokyo is in full swing, and schools are doing their best to appease the students and provide them with all necessary assistance.

Fujimoto Hiroshi said with a smile, "Although I didn't go to university, we should make good use of the resources available at university. It's difficult to get things done outside of school."

Previously, he and his partners at Tokiwa-so founded New Manga Party and Zero Studio for the creation of manga and animation.

When drawing "Astro Boy" and "Q-Taro", communicating with companies was particularly troublesome, even more so than drawing comics.

Fushimikawa nodded: "I understand."

This is also a major reason why he went to Waseda University; connections are key to success in any country.

There's a buzz about CM doujinshi conventions going around universities in Tokyo right now, all thanks to Maki Fujiwara.

Her network of connections is terrifyingly strong.

"The CM exhibition is related to Fushimi-kun."

After hearing what had happened, the assistant, Adachi Mian, was quite interested: "Will a lot of people go?"

“I heard from senior members of the club that at least two or three thousand people will attend the CM exhibition this summer in August,” Fushimikawa replied.

"Wow, that's quite a lot," Adachi Mian exclaimed. "Even if Shonen Sunday held an event, it wouldn't necessarily attract this many people."

"Is Mr. Adachi planning to participate?"

“No,” Adachi shook his head, “I’ve given up drawing manga. I’m thinking about my brother. He’s working as an assistant to Ishii-sensei while aimlessly submitting his work everywhere. Maybe participating in the CM doujinshi convention can cheer him up.”

Fushimikawa, drawing Doraemon, nodded slightly: "Waseda Manga Club welcomes all manga lovers, and I look forward to his arrival."

"Okay, then I'll tell Ah Chong about it."

"Mitsuru? Adachi?" Fushimikawa was taken aback, his hand, which was drawing a manga, paused. "Your younger brother is Adachi Mitsuru?"

Chapter Twelve Editing

Who is Mitsuru Adachi?

He is the author of "Touch," and that title alone is enough.

Rank all comic artists by achievement.

Osamu Tezuka, Akira Toriyama, Eiichiro Oda... Mitsuru Adachi would also be in the top five.

He is one of the two pillars of Weekly Shonen Sunday, on par with Rumiko Takahashi, the author of Inuyasha.

He is considered by many to be the man who drew the most perfect comics.

However, at present, Mitsuru Adachi is still just an unknown figure.

Fushimikawa once again marveled at the wonder of time; the manga master revered by countless people was now being criticized by his brother for being unambitious.

……

"Good afternoon, Brother Chuan."

"Brother Chuan, if you have time, please take a look at my doujinshi. I hope it can sell 100 copies."

"Is your comic finished, Brother Chuan?"

By proposing to organize a doujinshi convention and obtaining Fujiko Fujio's autograph, Fushimikawa's status in the manga club was greatly enhanced, making him a senior figure among the freshmen and even second-year students.

“Yes,” Fushimikawa nodded, “It’s finished. Thank you for your concern.”

In the past month or so, he completed the beginnings of "Try to Say Goodbye" and "Ikkyu the Clever".

He's going to meet his editor tomorrow; this marks his first official step on the path to becoming a cartoonist.

If it were anyone else, they might have been anxious and hesitant, but Fushimikawa was surprisingly calm, only hoping that the editor was a reliable person who could offer him advice rather than cause trouble.

The man asked, "How many copies do you plan to print?"

"Let's tentatively set it at 500 copies," Fushimikawa said after a moment's thought.

If it were a future CM exhibition, he could easily print 2000 copies in one go, but that would be a huge event with more than 20 participants.