News
Tokyopop good bye letter
posted on
As we previously mentioned, Tokyopop Magazine (Formerly Mixxzine) has shipped its last issue and is now discontinued. Here is a copy of the e-mail that Tokyopop sent to many of its subscribers.
=====
Hello,
If you've been along for much of the ride, you know that TOKYOPOP has seen a lot of changes since we started back in 1997. As pioneers in this new territory of Asian Entertainment, we've been a bit like a battering ram: Many times we've broken through the walls; other times we've just smashed our heads against them. But throughout we've stuck to the vision that got us started in all this in the first place: Bringing entertainment from Asia to the US and beyond.
For over 3 years, we delivered - and we hope you enjoyed - a magazine that was, if nothing else, unique. We raised a few eyebrows (and a few other things if you believe our more feminist critics) and we introduced a lot of people to this exciting new world, as well as provided a source for those already into it. To help give you better access to the entertainment of Asia, we launched TOKYOPOP.com in December 1998, and strived to provide the best selection of imported anime, music, games and more at the best possible prices.
But, in the end, we couldn't batter our way through the walls surrounding financial reality. We're a small company with limited resources and we just can't do all the things that we want to do and we believe you want to get. We never want to sacrifice product quality or customer service, and we've learned the hard way that those are expensive objectives to meet. Therefore, we've decided to
focus on what we do best and on what we know we can deliver at the quality both you and we demand. As a result, we will be closing the doors on our e-commerce operation at the end of this year, and, as of this issue, we will no longer be putting out TOKYOPOP magazine.
That is not to say, however, that we will no longer be putting out Asian Entertainment. While the methods may change, the vision does not: We will always continue to bring entertainment from Asia to the US and beyond. As much as we hate to shut down the magazine and e-commerce, we know there is no way to shut down the force they represent. The trick is to channel that energy and passion into
different, more sustainable formats. No one believes more deeply in or is more committed to the expansion of Asian Entertainment than the people on our team. In the future, that passion will continue to be reflected not only on TOKYOPOP.com, but also in all the new and existing lines we have in film, music, and publishing.
TOKYOPOP has broken down a lot of walls. TOKYOPOP magazine was the first national magazine to focus exclusively on Asian entertainment and our online shop was one of the early pioneers in bringing hard-to-find Japanese products to US fans at a great price. But, after 25 issues of magazines (including 12 issues of Mixxzine, the predecessor to TOKYOPOP) and 2 years of e-commerce, the time has come to move on. Reflecting on the legacy of the magazine and online shop, in many ways, it is the trail they have blazed for the next phase of TOKYOPOP. The journey continues on a new and exciting path, and we hope you continue along for the ride.
Thank you for your support.
The TOKYOPOP Team
P.S. If you are a paid subscriber, you will be receiving a postcard in the mail explaining subscription refunds.
=====
Hello,
If you've been along for much of the ride, you know that TOKYOPOP has seen a lot of changes since we started back in 1997. As pioneers in this new territory of Asian Entertainment, we've been a bit like a battering ram: Many times we've broken through the walls; other times we've just smashed our heads against them. But throughout we've stuck to the vision that got us started in all this in the first place: Bringing entertainment from Asia to the US and beyond.
For over 3 years, we delivered - and we hope you enjoyed - a magazine that was, if nothing else, unique. We raised a few eyebrows (and a few other things if you believe our more feminist critics) and we introduced a lot of people to this exciting new world, as well as provided a source for those already into it. To help give you better access to the entertainment of Asia, we launched TOKYOPOP.com in December 1998, and strived to provide the best selection of imported anime, music, games and more at the best possible prices.
But, in the end, we couldn't batter our way through the walls surrounding financial reality. We're a small company with limited resources and we just can't do all the things that we want to do and we believe you want to get. We never want to sacrifice product quality or customer service, and we've learned the hard way that those are expensive objectives to meet. Therefore, we've decided to
focus on what we do best and on what we know we can deliver at the quality both you and we demand. As a result, we will be closing the doors on our e-commerce operation at the end of this year, and, as of this issue, we will no longer be putting out TOKYOPOP magazine.
That is not to say, however, that we will no longer be putting out Asian Entertainment. While the methods may change, the vision does not: We will always continue to bring entertainment from Asia to the US and beyond. As much as we hate to shut down the magazine and e-commerce, we know there is no way to shut down the force they represent. The trick is to channel that energy and passion into
different, more sustainable formats. No one believes more deeply in or is more committed to the expansion of Asian Entertainment than the people on our team. In the future, that passion will continue to be reflected not only on TOKYOPOP.com, but also in all the new and existing lines we have in film, music, and publishing.
TOKYOPOP has broken down a lot of walls. TOKYOPOP magazine was the first national magazine to focus exclusively on Asian entertainment and our online shop was one of the early pioneers in bringing hard-to-find Japanese products to US fans at a great price. But, after 25 issues of magazines (including 12 issues of Mixxzine, the predecessor to TOKYOPOP) and 2 years of e-commerce, the time has come to move on. Reflecting on the legacy of the magazine and online shop, in many ways, it is the trail they have blazed for the next phase of TOKYOPOP. The journey continues on a new and exciting path, and we hope you continue along for the ride.
Thank you for your support.
The TOKYOPOP Team
P.S. If you are a paid subscriber, you will be receiving a postcard in the mail explaining subscription refunds.
bookmark/share with:
