I'd like to get something out in the open.
A very sweet lady came by to talk to me after my Japan Ai panel at PMX. She was curious though about some rumors she'd heard about Japan Ai on the internet, specifically that the book had plagiarized and/or not credited people properly. She'd read Japan Ai didn't understand how that could be true, since the book was mostly my personal experiences. I have also had people email me saying similar things, to which I asked, "have you read the book, or can you tell me what specific things I plagiarized." The response is always "no, I haven't read the book, and no I don't know what specifically plagiarized... but I heard 10 people say it..."
JAPAN AI did not plagiarize anyone.
I tried very hard to be thorough and credit and link to any sources I might have used for the book and then some. There has been no "second corrected printing/edition" of the book. There has always been one version of the book and the credits in the book now, were always in the book.
In fact, due to the format of the book, it's almost ridiculous to think that I plagiarized someone's information. The book is a diary of my personal experience in Japan (with more information for people who would like to delve further into various aspects of what we did.) I can't plagiarize my memories. It is not a "all about Japan" book, nor is it "this is what lolita is" nor is it "all about Super Dollfie", etc...
The book is, in the end, an outpouring of my fascination with Japan and my happy memories from a very special time.
There have been some very specific rumors that started when I was trying to find out more about the history of lolita in Fall '07. I just wanted to learn more about it. Several people assumed that since I had a book coming out that had something to do with lolita, that I was planning on using this information (without crediting people) in my book.
Problems with this:
- I credited appropriately people in my book
- my book isn't about lolita history -at all-.
- my book had already gone to press at that point. In fact, the same week that this came up, I got my physical advance copy of Japan Ai. There's no way I could have changed or included information that they are accusing me of at that time.
- the people accusing me of this hadn't read my book (They couldn't have. it wasn't out yet) and had no factual basis.
So please, don't just believe crap rumors you hear on the internet, and even better... don't go spreading around crap rumors. If you're still curious or want to discuss it with me further, I'm totally open to email.
And truly, the book speaks for itself. Go to your local book store and read it.
And for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, have some Doctor with cake and tea. :)
Thanks for your support, guys! I'm going to keep working hard!
