Report on Our Participation in Comic Market 108

Summary

On August 16, 2026, the Seimei Monogatari Circle took part in Comic Market 108 (Tokyo Big Sight, West Hall) for the first time. Thirty copies of the music CD and the manga license key CD that had been produced were brought to the event. No copies were distributed; over the course of the day, not a single copy reached a visitor's hands. In light of this result, the form of participation in Comic Market will be fundamentally reconsidered.

Background

A large illustrated poster was set up at the booth, and handmade accessories, CD cases and business cards were displayed. A PC was also brought in order to add music and moving visuals, but amid the energy and noise of the venue, this intention hardly came across. Nearly all the surrounding circles offered books (booklets), and in the aisles of Comiket a cover conveys information in an instant. A stack of white CD cases most likely appeared to passers-by as nothing more than inventory. The choice of medium and the culture of this setting were fundamentally out of step.

It would be possible to conclude that the work itself was not the problem, but the figure of zero is honest and admits no excuses. Hope Princess Santaria is a work that is fully conveyed only through music, its world and moving presentation as well as manga, and the CD was meant to carry all of this. On the day, however, that intention did not reach beyond the booth. The music did not play, the movement was not seen, and only the surfaces of the CD cases lay under the fluorescent lights.

Additional notes

After this experience, it was judged that exhibiting for the purpose of sales and distribution does not match the present focus of the activity. From C109 onward, the form of participation in Comic Market will be fundamentally reconsidered, with a shift to non-profit activity. The serialization on xmasfantasy.org will continue. To everyone who passed by the booth that day: the fact that the work could not be taken up is regarded as a shortcoming on our side. This article has been published because recording the result of zero is considered necessary in order to move forward.