Did people see these works as fine art or just as a subcultural phenomenon?
TAKASHI: The division between subculture and fine art seemed to be irrelevant. And that’s exactly what I was aiming for. By placing these works in an in-between area that didn’t solely belong to any individual category of animation, comics, art or literature, I wanted to suggest a freer position. MIDORI: Where do you get your information about animes and animation figures? TAKASHI: I get magazines about erotic game softs in local bookstores near my studio in Asaka. It’s one of those nondescript new suburbs of Tokyo, where bookstores rarely sell serious books, but lots of biker magazines and pornographic magazines. MIDORI: A real suburbia. TAKASHI: Yes. But I get fanzines in speciality shops in Tokyo, and Mr. gets really rare, underground stuff at Comiquet, the Comic Market. Have you heard of Comiquet? It’s the biggest fair for fanzines on anime and comics in Japan. It’s held twice a year in Tokyo, and they have more than 1500 booths. So I check up on what looks interesting in the fair’
