Have you ever heard the word “ZINE?” The term “ZINE” comes from the word “magazine.” It’s said to have originated from “fanzines,” which were magazines that sci-fi fans used to create and distribute themselves.
When you hear “magazine,” you might picture fashion or business publications. Those types of magazines target a general audience and often include corporate ads. A ZINE, on the other hand, is self-published, allowing an individual creator to showcase whatever content they want to convey. ZINEs can span a wide variety of formats, including novels, poetry, essays, manga, and photo collections.
Recently, ZINEs have been quietly booming in Japan. There are several events centered around ZINEs, and one well-known example is “Bungaku Furima” (Literary Flea Market). At this event, authors who create their own ZINEs and amateur clubs can sell their works in a flea market–style setting.
At the first Literary Flea Market held in Tokyo, there were around 80 exhibitors and about 1,000 visitors. Those numbers grew each year, and by 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the event featured around 1,000 exhibitors and about 6,000 visitors. Although attendance dipped during the pandemic, the most recent Literary Flea Market saw roughly 2,300 exhibitors and around 15,000 visitors. It was also the first time the event took place at Tokyo Big Sight. Recently, even celebrities and well-known authors have started to take part in the Literary Flea Market.
Unlike most books you can find at a bookstore, everything about a ZINE—from its size and thickness to the method of binding—is left entirely up to the creator. Some people send their work to a printing company for binding, while others take on the entire binding process themselves. Because everyone’s experience and talents differ, each ZINE varies in its own way, and that individuality is what makes ZINEs so appealing.
I’ve been to the Literary Flea Market a few times over the past two years. Every time, I’m overwhelmed by the energy at the venue and enjoy picking up ZINEs and chatting with their creators. My interest has grown to the point that I’m now preparing to exhibit my own work. The Literary Flea Market is a wonderful event where you can be both a seller and a creator.
However, I’ve noticed that nobody exhibits foreign-language books, which is a bit disappointing as an English learner. I look forward to a future where we can enjoy ZINEs from all over the world, in many different languages.
Why not visit the Literary Flea Market—now a small but growing phenomenon—and create your own ZINE to share what you want to express?
I’ve been working at a global pharmaceutical company for about 10 years. Love studying English, reading books, taking pictures and playing tennis!
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