Enako’s Income and the Second Creation Controversy
Enako’s income has once again become a topic of discussion on social media after past comments about her annual earnings resurfaced. The famous Japanese cosplayer revealed in 2023 that she earns around 100 million yen per year, reigniting debate about the cosplay market and the anime industry.
Enako’s Income and the Second Creation Controversy
The debate began when internet users questioned how Enako’s income could be so high while entry-level workers in the animation industry receive relatively low wages. Some argued that it feels unfair for artists directly involved in anime production to earn less, while cosplayers and doujin circles profit from derivative works.
In response to the criticism, Enako addressed the issue publicly. She explained that the photobooks she sells at events like Comic Market are original productions, not based on third-party intellectual properties. In other words, they are her own creations, classified as original works rather than simple reuse of existing characters.
When she performs cosplay of copyrighted characters, Enako states that she obtains official permission from the rights holders before any commercial use. In cases where photobooks feature licensed characters, the material is published through official publishers, ensuring that rights holders also receive their share of the profits.
She also clarified that when appearing on TV programs or commercial events wearing cosplay from well-known series, all permissions are secured in advance. Additionally, she noted that she often appears in original outfits. The cosplayer criticized the lack of fact-checking before accusations were made and said the comments suggested that her income came exclusively from derivative works, which she considers inaccurate. The original poster later deleted the post and issued an apology.
The following day, Enako further explained that there is a clear difference between gaining popularity through derivative works and directly earning income from them. According to her, about 50% of her income comes from advertising. Roughly 30% is generated by photobooks and merchandise, while the remaining portion comes from television and other related work.
Regarding the broader structural issues within the anime industry, Enako stated that her income has no direct connection to animators’ salaries. Even if she were to stop working, it would not improve the financial situation of industry professionals. For that reason, she chose only to correct misinformation directly related to her name.