General
Do you translate everything here yourself?
Yes, along with the help of my partner Zorio (who is fluent in Japanese and fixes all my silly mistakes)
What do you use for scanning and editing?
I use an Epson Perfection V600 for most things, but also a non-destructive scanner for more delicate books. For editing, I use GIMP and Clip Studio Paint for typesetting.
Where can I buy old magazines/books/etc?
Japanese second hand stores that ship overseas like Mandarake and Surugaya tend to have a good selection though prices may vary. For larger lots of magazines (and sometimes great deals), Yahoo Auctions Japan and Mercari (Japan) are also options, but require a proxy. You can also check eBay, but be warned the prices are usually very high.
Regarding Doujinshi
What are doujinshi?
Doujinshi are self-published works, such as manga or novels, created by fans. I tend to also use the term ‘fan books’ when talking about them here. More information can be found on the Glossary page.
Where do you find them?
Most of the time from auction listings, as well as second-hand shopping sites.
How much do they cost?
It varies quite a bit. Some are as cheap as 200 yen, while others go for 20,000 yen or even more. Even from site to site or auction to auction, the price for the same book can be completely different. In general, I’ve found that older books (1979 and early 80s) and books with well known authors (regardless of date published) tend to sell for more.
Regarding Game Playthroughs
Where can I find these games?
Physical copies can sometimes be found for fairly cheap through Japanese second hand stores, though not all ship overseas. You can also check places such as eBay, though be aware of marked up prices. Also if you frequent anime cons, it’s always worth checking the video game related booths in the dealer’s room.
Are any of them in English?
Some versions of Gihren’s Greed have partial English patches, but none of the games I cover on this site have official English releases at the time of writing.