Following the announcement of DLsite’s decision to “temporarily” suspend Western payment processors like VISA, Mastercard, and American Express, enjoyers of doujinshi and erotic content from outside Japan have been left in a sort of bind.
However, a collaborative effort between Japanese netizens and Western fans, particularly those passionate about DLsite’s content, has emerged to explore alternative payment methods that circumvent traditional processors.
For those who might not be up to date, DLsite recently made alterations to the names and descriptions of numerous search terms for content available on its platform.
Problematic tags like lolicon, molestation, and rape were rebranded as Flattie, Secret Fondling, and Non-consensual. These changes were clearly an attempt by DLsite to meet the demands of Western payment processors who wished to have such content removed outright, which mirrors the sudden guideline shift by Gumroad, which prohibited sexually explicit material with just 24 hours’ notice, catching its users off guard and leading to record sales.
Nevertheless, these modifications failed to satisfy Western credit card companies, prompting DLsite to “temporarily” halt payment options from VISA and MasterCard.
This move could be interpreted as a blunt message to foreign entities, essentially telling them to “get fucked.” Yet, there’s also the possibility that this action is genuinely temporary, giving DLsite an opportunity to adjust the content available on its platform before these payment processors are reinstated, given how credit card purchases make up a majority of sales on DLsite.
Moreover, according to DLsite’s own data report from 2022, a significant 37.57% of sales originate from outside Japan. Yielding to Western pressures by self-censoring would severely damage their reputation, standing, and image. Such a move would undoubtedly result in lost sales not only from foreign customers but also from Japanese individuals.
However, it’s crucial for foreigners to have accessible payment options for DLsite, even if this entails embracing digital currencies. For a vendor with over a third of its sales generated outside Japan, outright exclusion is simply not feasible.
Personally, I’m inclined to hope that the suspension of these foreign payment options was driven by their desire to refrain from removing “problematic” material because I’ve had enough with vindictive foreigners imposing their sensitivity standards amongst other nations, forbidding their users from spending their own money on “illicit” and “problematic” goods.
However, the removal of VISA and MasterCard options presents a clear obstacle for foreigners wanting to buy products from DLsite and back their beloved doujinshi/eroge content creators.
As a wise Japanese individual once remarked, “All mankind shares one thing: Love for dick. Through dick, unity.” Truly, these are words of wisdom.
For users residing outside Japan and facing limitations with credit card companies like VISA and Mastercard, there’s a solution to purchase goods from DLsite.
Enter DLPay, an alternative platform that enables you to buy “DL Points” using your credit card. These points can then be utilized to acquire content on the official DLsite platform.
For Western users, acquiring DL Points through DLPay comes in increments of 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 points, mirroring their equivalent value in Japanese Yen. Alternatively, DL Points can be purchased via PayPal, accepting credit cards like MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and Discover.
Upon purchase, a serial code is provided, which must be redeemed through your DLsite account, as detailed in the guide by Twitter user @white_and_pink.
Asian customers have additional avenues available to them, as they are more likely to find importers who carry Japanese web point cards. A Taiwanese user highlighted that the AFTEE payment method functioned in their region, while buyers in Hong Kong can obtain WebMoney from game shops that import and stock these cards.
I’d prefer inconvenience with checkouts and payment methods over seeing one of the largest Japanese digital distributors of doujinshi capitulate to communistic Western payment processors.
There’s nothing more detrimental than witnessing Western culture encroach upon Japanese businesses, infecting them with the cancerous influence of globalization, as it has already done to numerous game corporations like Capcom and SEGA.
The gesture from Japanese netizens to inform foreigners that all hope is not lost, and that there’s still a relatively straightforward method of purchasing desired content from DLsite using their preferred or possibly only means of payment, is not just considerate but commendable.
Where there’s a determination, there’s always a solution. People will inevitably discover viable alternatives when it comes to accessing the content they deeply cherish.
