It is impossible to talk about manga of the twenty-first century without forefronting the role of the fan. Far more than just entertaining graphic narratives, manga for many have become a mode of reality and a way of existence, with their private time activities centered around manga. Rather than passive recipients of published manga productions, many fans have become active participants in the creation of their favorite manga, either by composing their own spin-offs (dojinshi) with the help of publishing and design software, or else by creating appreciation websites and online fan clubs that seek to celebrate and raise the prominence of select manga. Activities like cosplay (costume play; dressing up as a manga character) not only allow fans to interact with manga and through fantasy become a favored figure, but even influence creators to make memorable, standout characters worthy of a cosplayers attention. Such activities are no longer limited to Japan, but in the last two decades have spread internationally. For non-Japanese readers, crowd-sourced translation sites explicate the content of new manga, even before the publishers can create authorized translations. At massive conventions in cities throughout the world, fans dress as manga characters and sell and trade their own privately published, usually spin-off, comic books and goods to other eager fans. Far more than just light entertainment, therefore, manga for devoted fans have become an activity in which they are involved, and even a defining way of life.