Small-circulation, self-published works known as zines are quietly gaining traction in Japan, as a growing number of writers and artists are moving away from showcasing their creations on social media and are instead gravitating toward making more community-driven content.
Specialty shops that stock troves of literature, comics, and art in zine format have been holding specialist events for fans in recent years, with the movement growing particularly among the social media generation due to its ability to bring together small community subcultures with specific interests.
Typically produced in limited batches by writers and creative artists with a small-scale audience in mind, the format spans many genres — including art, poetry, photography, writing and other forms of expression to share common ideas and subjects.