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An Anime Web Turnpike Site of the Week 2/26-3/4/01
Introduction
In every community, there is typically a structural organisation that falls into place. This seems to occur no matter the size or the philosophy of the people in it. The quasi-real existence of a fan-community per say is no exception. As Orwell said in Animal Farm, "Some [people] are more equal than others." For instance, take the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon fan community, which I am moderately well acquainted with. I am sure that if you speak to other members of this community, certain names will repeatedly come out as being highly influential and respected. Of course, there will be the negative detractors, but this is an inevitable occurrence.
The Fushigi Yuugi community is, in my opinion, an excellent example of the manifestation of a class structure. It seems as if there are almost visible classification levels between the various people in the various groups. I cannot say for certain whether this was by design (probably not though), but I can say that it has turned out this way for the most part.
In my opinion, the way the community is structured shares remarkable similarities to the structure of the Tokugawa system (period of Japanese history from about 1603-1867). There are of course several differences (the key one being gender), but all in all, the similarities are quite strong. Why did I choose the Tokugawa system as my model? Two reasons: firstly, I know a fair bit about the Tokugawa period and secondly, I thought it was fitting that a Japanese system be used to describe a fan group of a particular Japanese animation title. A quote from an e-mail that I received triggered the entire process:
Another thing is that the Sailormoon Community isn't so tightly bound together.
Ever tried to become part of the FY community? Impossible..unless you're on the
FYML. Don't wanna be on the FYML? Can't get on the FYML? Too damn bad.
Another problem is that all the friends are friends with the other friends who are
friends..whoa, where am I? I admit, the Sailormoon community is hard to get on
top of, but at least you have a chance to actually talk to people who aren't on a
stupid mailing list.[1]
Brief overview of Tokugawa Japan
The Tokugawa period essentially started in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu (surname, first name order) managed to end the bitter warring that had been going on for years, and take control of the country. Japan then went into a period of seclusion for over 200 years. This seclusion was terminated fully in 1853 with the American Commodore Perry's arrival; the period ended finally in 1867 with the Meiji Restoration and return of the emperor to power. Although theoretically the emperor ruled Japan, the actual de facto leader of the country was the shogun.
The shogun and the bakufu (the central controlling body of Japan) had all of the power in the land for most of the period, though at the end, this power was crumbling. Underneath the shogun power-wise, were the daimyo. Daimyo were effectively minor lords who each controlled a minor territory, but were still under the control of the shogun. Underneath both of the classes were the samurai followed by the peasants and then 'the parasites' (the merchants and artisans). The eta, or the untouchables were the lowest of the low; no one associated with them. The class system was very important to the bakufu; this was one of the key things that kept them in power. The major reasons for the structured system were to control the populace and to prevent opposition to the bakufu rule.
This brief summary of the Tokugawa system should by no means be considered a definitive description. Far from it; this is only the barest of introductions for someone who knows nothing about the Tokugawa period in order to make the arguments presented in the paper understandable.
A leader in name alone
It was the emperor in Tokugawa Japan who theoretically had all power, but it was power in name alone. I think the ideal fit for emperor(ess) in the Fushigi Yuugi community is Watase Yu. She, being the creator does have a fair bit of significance to the community, but has very little power in the day-to-day activities.
In her role as creator of the series, Watase commands a lot of respect. For the most part, she gets it quite easily. Typically, she is fawned over by almost all in the community, which is somewhat like the fate of a Tokugawa emperor. However, there are a couple of differences between Watase and a Tokugawa emperor. First of all, Watase's word actually does carry some weight; for instance, her request that fans ease up on fansubtitled works of hers has been heeded for the most part. A Tokugawa emperor was subject to a fate of being cloistered by himself (with his family, servants, etc.) and spent his life learning about the 'finer things in life'; his word was meaningless and was usually ignored by the bakufu. Secondly, there is the obvious gender difference; females typically were powerless in Tokugawa Japan; there will be more discussion on this point below.
The 'bakufu trio'
If I were to go to any ordinary Fushigi Yuugi fan, and ask them "Who are the most influential/significant people in the community?" three names would appear time and time again. These three people have a lot of influence in the community. Some people are in awe of them, and some speak of them in a reverent tone. With the blessing of these three, a Fushigi Yuugi web site can get a significant number more hits than one would otherwise expect; the converse is also true.
This trio of individuals corresponds quite well to the bakufu, in the Tokugawa structure, in my opinion (at the midpoint of the era, before the bakufu began to weaken and lose power). Their word does carry a lot of weight in some circles. Effectively, any one of the three can make or break you, depending on their opinion of you or your work. Hence, it is probably a wise idea to treat these people with respect, no matter the personal opinion held of the three.
It is the very fact that these three people are so well known of in the fan community that makes it challenging to mask their identities. I have attempted to do my best in this regard, but one should keep in mind that such a task is almost a futile attempt. The names given, like every name in this paper, are pseudonyms; however, I'm sure that without much effort, the identities of the trio can be ascertained.
The first individual, whom I'll call Makoto[2] has influence in the community through two vehicles. Firstly, this person runs a major Fushigi Yuugi web site, one of the two most recognised on the Internet. Secondly, this individual is also in charge of a major Fushigi Yuugi mailing list that as well, is the most widely known Fushigi Yuugi mailing list. This provides access to a large chunk of the community, which most people would never get a chance to have (though it is debatable exactly how valuable this is). With a large audience, it is easy to see how this person could become very influential.
The remaining duo of the 'bakufu trio' actually do work together as a duo. Minako and Chibiusa are well recognised for a web site the two created (if I were to give any suggestion of the name, there would not even be the thin veneer of anonymity present). The site is a fairly valuable resource of information and has been lauded by many for this. The fact that their site was one of the first Fushigi Yuugi sites in existence helped to make their name in the community.[3] Quality also helped as well.
Elder statespeople
In spite of the significance of the 'bakufu trio', others do play important roles in the community. This next group of people are influential, but are not as influential as any member of the 'bakufu trio' in my opinion. For this reason, I see them as being quite representative of the daimyo. Many of the daimyo are friends with one or more of the 'bakufu trio' which shares parallels with Tokugawa Japan in which the bakufu had a close relationship with the daimyo (though in Japan, not necessarily to the daimyo's liking).
The group of individuals that I consider the daimyo consists of senior members of the community who are members of a particular mailing list. In the interest of disclosure, I am also a member of this list (at least as of this writing).
The daimyo were effectively the 'second in command' in the Tokugawa system. They had control over their own han (smaller territory), but the bakufu had the final say over the entire country. That is, the bakufu's word superceded that of the daimyo. The bakufu kept the daimyo in line through the policy of forcing the daimyo to spend every second year in Edo; the cost of the trip drained the daimyo greatly. Here, obviously, is one of the differences between the Fushigi Yuugi community and Tokugawa Japan. The Fushigi Yuugi community has no such policy, real or imagined (to my knowledge on the latter point). Overall, the daimyo are older people; the median age is about 23 with an average age slightly higher than that.
Like the overall structure, there is somewhat of a ranking system in the daimyo; some people are more significant than others are. I would say that there are five really major people in the daimyo classification. Their role is mostly due to their web site, although there are some exceptions. For the most part, these people own some of the earliest sites established although some sites are defunct now.
Just like the daimyo in Tokugawa era Japan, there can be some in fighting among the daimyo. It is almost a given that various people have differing opinions towards the others, with some people being very well liked, while others are less so. For instance, this summer one individual, Haruka decided to leave the daimyo mailing list due to some bad blood with one of the major players in the community, Michiru.[4] It seems as if Haruka was very angered at various things that Michiru had reportedly done to Haruka. This culminated in a long e-mail describing the situation, from Haruka's viewpoint and was somewhat bitter.[5] I should take care to note that this is the only flare-up I have seen thus far.
'Warriors' of the community
As Cyprine has observed, it seems impossible to become a part of the Fushigi Yuugi fan community without being a member of the FYML. I consider FYML members to fit into my somewhat arbitrary analogy as samurai. I am aware that this comparison is perhaps the weakest of all of them. There is no requirement for a bushido philosophy (way of the warrior), the FYML members are not vassals of the daimyo (as far as I know, mind you) and most FYML members don't carry two swords with them.
The samurai were ranked above the commoners; this distinction is manifested in the fact that only samurai could carry swords. In the Fushigi Yuugi community, this vaguely seems to be the case. Those on the FYML have a chance to be considered part of the established community. Those who are not find themselves faced with a difficult uphill struggle to achieve relative success. In almost all cases, FYML membership is the prerequisite for entrance to the daimyo rank.
The greater multitude
Overall, the minority of fans fit into the three top categories of this hierarchy that I have presented. Hence, the majority falls into another category; in Tokugawa Japan, this was the peasant category. In Tokugawa Japan, the peasants had a pretty rough life. They were dependent on their lords for mercy; if the lord wanted to work their peasant to death, than that happened. If a samurai wanted to strike a peasant down in the street for looking at him the wrong way, it happened. Being a peasant was not good in Tokugawa Japan.
To some extent, I do see slight parallel in the relationship between individuals of the samurai class and higher, and everyone else. There is some attempted currying of favour, I would presume by those trying to make their way up in the system. However, many people don't care at all about the so-called fan community structure and have no desire to be a part of it. This differs fairly significantly from the Tokugawa structure in that during the Tokugawa era, there was no choice. The class system was very rigid and was designed to keep the bakufu in power, as stated earlier.
My comments about peasants in Tokugawa Japan are not designed to say that "people not part of the FYML are pitiful examples of Fushigi Yuugi fans." Far from it--these comments are meant as historical background to add to the overall presentation of this paper. I am also not trying to imply anything negative by classifying the majority of fans as peasants. In actuality, peasants as a whole were quite powerful; their growing opposition to their higher ups is a part of the reason that the entire Tokugawa regime collapsed.
Artisans
For the sake of argument, I have classified the fan-artists and the fan-fiction writers as being the artisans of this community. Artisans are quite common in the Fushigi Yuugi community; this differs greatly from Tokugawa Japan where artisans were in the minority. There is no real boundary or stigma being attached to being an artisan in the Fushigi Yuugi community whereas in the Tokugawa era, it was rather shameful to a family. People in all of the groupings can be a part of this class which again; at least one of the 'bakufu trio' in fact would fit into the artisan category. Here again, is another obvious difference between the model and the actual community.
Lower than low; the eta
This category is where I have decided to lump the virtual outcasts from the community. In almost every case, people in this category are here due to the 'bakufu trio' or due to a daimyo member (typically high ranking). Success in terms of recognition in the community is possible, but very very unlikely. Mostly, people banished to this group typically fade out of the community entirely since they are ostracised for the most part by the top three ranks of the community. Members of these ranks (especially the top two) can make life a living hell for a bad member.
There is one difference between the Fushigi Yuugi fan community and Tokugawa Japan for the eta class. However, it is a fairly significant one. In Tokugawa Japan, everyone, no matter their class shunned the eta (or the untouchables). In the Fushigi Yuugi community, this is not the case. Peasants and others who choose to ignore the recommendations from the higher ups can and do give recognition to certain eta.
Differences between the Fushigi Yuugi fan community and Tokugawa Japan
I have already stated several important differences between the Fushigi Yuugi fan community and Tokugawa Japan above. In this section, I'd like to briefly discuss a few more differences-some in greater detail. However, before continuing proper, I would like to clarify one very important point. I am not implying anything, other than what I have directly said, through my comparison of the Tokugawa class system and the Fushigi Yuugi community. For instance, by my choice of comparison, I'm in no way suggesting that this class system is an intentional institution designed by the 'bakufu trio' so they can keep their place in the community.
By far the most important difference has to be in the distribution of the sexes. In Tokugawa Japan, men had, for all intents and purposes, 100% control . In the Fushigi Yuugi community, it's about 98% on the female side. Why is this the case? I'd presume mainly due to the fact that a small but growing minority of males are shoujo fans, and Fushigi Yuugi is definitely a shoujo work. I will comment a little more on this point below.
Another difference, mentioned above, is the fact that people can fit into multiple classes. For instance, I would fit into the daimyo, samurai and artisan classes as I am also a FYML list member (as of this writing) and do a bit of fan-derivative works (mostly non-fiction though). This would never occur in early modern Japan as one typically be bound to the class they were born into (this is an oversimplification mind you).
Personal opinions
I am sure that some readers would find this paper lacking if I omitted my personal thoughts on the community. I do feel that Cyprine's statement is valid to some extent (yes, I'll temper my words carefully, like always). Being part of the FYML is actually how I met most of the people I know now in the community, many of which I'm friends with now. However, I'm sure that inquisitive minds want to know more. I don't have any real problem with any person in the community although there are a couple of individuals that I am slightly colder to. Those people whom I speak to on a semi-regular basis shouldn't be concerned though as they are not one of the people I am cooler to. No, I won't give descriptions--this would be asking for trouble.
At times, I do feel however, that various individuals of the two top classes are bit overzealous in protecting what they feel to be their own property. At times, from a 3rd person point of view, the case seems rather iffy. Information is something that can't be claimed as one's own (unless a) it's proprietary, or b) it's patented). If someone happens to use the same information as another does, one shouldn't claim the second page is 'copying' though at times, this does unfortunately happen.[6]
Upon considering my original ideas (as of mid 2000), I think I may have to reconsider the significance that I placed to the 'bakufu trio' that I did. I say this because for a period of much of the autumn of 2000, the "bakufu trios' sites were inaccessible. The key to my change in thinking is that I did not see any mailing list posts asking about the status of the sites. One would expect that if the sites were so important in the community, I'd have seen at least one post asking about it. I still feel that the 'bakufu trio' do play a significant role in the community, though may be not as significant as I had originally thought.
Am I disappointed that the community is mostly female? No, I'm not. Perhaps, when hearing about events such as "the head panelist [at Shoujocon] express[ing] that he doesn't really like shoujo, that he only watches it for the p*ssy."[7] On the flip side, for every bad male example, a female equivalent can be found; Taiki's original comments on a definition of a fangirl are fitting to consider at this time.[8]
I'm torn as to my feelings on the hierarchy that has emerged in the community. I'm not the biggest fan of hierarchy myself, though I'd wager that my opinion would shift if I made it to near the top of one (I'm not close at all incidentally, but I don't care at all). In spite of this, I think that even if the grouping didn't resemble tiers, grouping would occur anyway. People with similar interests, of a similar age, would be drawn to each other.
I have had a very enjoyable time with the people in the community, and hope that I will be able to continue doing so for a long time in the future. I should take this time to thank everyone that I have met along my path for all they have done. Again, special thanks to the members of "La maison palée" and the "Bird Admirers" for their conversation and friendship. Arigato.[9]
Conclusions
The Fushigi Yuugi community shares a large number of parallels with the Tokugawa system. Both have a pyramid like structure that is bottom heavy. A few on the top have great influence over those at the bottom. Still, there are a number of significant differences to consider. Nonetheless, in my opinion, it seems as if the Tokugawa system is a relatively good model for the Fushigi Yuugi fan community.
What does the future hold for the Fushigi Yuugi community? As with any predictions, it's difficult to be very accurate. From my personal viewpoint, it seems as if everyone in the higher 'ranks' is slowly drifting off to newer interests, although Fushigi Yuugi still remains a favourite. I'm no exception to this trend; I am moving on to new series (although I'm trying to only follow a few series at a time, due to both financial and time constraints).
If anything, the structure of the community is becoming weaker overall due to both the moving on of the older fans and the influx of new fans. These people are not really aware of the established structure, although some do become involved in the community. The newer trend seems to be for little pockets of groups to be formed, rather than one larger system. These new changes are inevitable and perhaps are for the best. Only time will tell.
1 Cyprine. E-mail to xxxxx. "Why Do We
Care? [A Little OT]" 15 February 2000.
2 This continues the naming pattern begun in
"Frightening Fangirls".
3 I am not actually sure of the early chronology of
the community (as in order of site establishment). I was a relative
latecomer to the community, entering in about summer 1998.
4 The irony of this name choice is not lost on
me.
5 Michiru. E-mail to xxxxx. "[xxxxx] Dear
Farewell to " 15 June 2000. (I have deleted identifying
phrases with an eclipse)
6 I should clarify this point. If for instance,
the information posted was obtained through significant effort
(example, researching the significance of one particular
constellation in an old tome), then yes, I see the validity in the
complaint [though I hope that the work used was credited on the
original site]. On the other hand, if it's something like
"Tasuki is a bandit", then it's really not
appropriate.
7 Setsuna. E-mail to xxxxx. "[xxxxx]
Shoujocon 2000." 18 July 2000.
8 Taiki: "Re: 'Monopoly?!' "
10/29 as cited in my earlier paper "Frightening Fangirls: On
Being a Male Fushigi Yuugi Fan" (1999).
9 As well, a deep thank you to my pre-readers
whose comments and corrections were enlightening and helpful.
Comments on this paper are solicited. They may be sent by
e-mailing the comments to
scongly@softhome.net
Copyright ©2000-2001 Stephen Congly
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9985 since 24 January 2001. |