What is Doujinshi?
"Doujinshi, or Dojinshi, are self-published works, usually manga/comics or novels. They are often the work of amateurs, though some professional artists participate as a way to publish material outside the regular industry. The term dojinshi is derived from dojin, literally "same person", used to refer to a person or persons with whom one shares a common goal or interest) and shi, (a contraction of zasshi, meaning "magazine"). Doujinshi are part of a wider category of dojin including but not limited to art collections, anime, hentai and games. Groups of doujinshi artists refer to themselves as a circle. A number of such groups actually consist of a single artist: they are sometimes called kojin circles.

Doujinshi are made by artists or writers who prefer to publish their own materials. Avid fans of doujinshi attend regular doujinshi conventions, the largest of which is called Comiket (short for "Comic Market") held in the summer and winter in Tokyo's Big Sight. Here, over 20 acres of doujinshi are bought, sold, and traded by attendees. Doujinshi creators who based their materials on other creators' works normally publish in small numbers to maintain a low profile from litigation. This makes a talented creator's or circle's doujinshi a coveted commodity as only the fast or the lucky will be able to get them before they sell out.

Over the last decade, the practice of creating doujinshi has expanded significantly, attracting thousands of creators and fans alike. Advances in personal publishing technology have also fueled this expansion by making it easier for doujinshi creators to write, draw, promote, publish, and distribute their works. For example, some doujinshi are now published on digital media. Furthermore, many doujinshi creators are moving to online download and print-on-demand services, while others are beginning to distribute their works through American channels such as anime shop websites and specialized online direct distribution sites." (Source: Wikipedia Dojinshi)