Why I Embrace Trading Cards Without Chasing Profit

I’ve faced some criticism in the trading card community, with people accusing me of jumping on the trading card bandwagon just to profit or get attention. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

For this entire promotional campaign, I haven’t made any money at all—I’ve actually lost money on purpose. The reason isn’t to earn profits but simply to promote my comic, which I’m offering for free. So, any financial loss is intentional, because the benefit I seek is only that people discover and enjoy the comic.

There’s no business behind this, no company to write off expenses, and I’m not trying to sell the promotions as income sources. This is about sharing something I care about, not about turning it into a moneymaking venture.

I’ve been a fan of anime and manga since the 1990s, back when it was considered genuinely nerdy and often led to insults and ridicule. I’m one of the people who’s stuck with it from the very beginning.

I understand that nowadays anime and manga have become mainstream, with many newcomers jumping on the trend. That’s perfectly fine—everyone should enjoy the entertainment they like. But I want to make clear that my involvement isn’t about adapting for trends or chasing profit.

So if you’re the type to say I’m just doing this for money or trying to be like a big influencer, I’d ask you to reconsider. This has been a genuine passion of mine for decades, and my only goal here is to share that passion and the free comics I create.