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Cover of Selfish Love by Naduki Koujima.
Yaoi (やおい) is a publishing genre which originated in Japan and often encompasses manga, dōjinshi, anime, and fan art. It is homosexual love between male characters and is sexually explicit.

Some Westerners consider yaoi to be synonymous with shōnen-ai or BL (Boy's Love), which contains similar themes; however by definition this is incorrect, and shōnen-ai material is not sexually explicit. Yaoi has spread beyond Japan; yaoi material is available in the United States, as well as other Western and Eastern nations worldwide.

Terminology

Pronunciation

Strictly speaking, all three vowels should be pronounced in separate morae, yielding a three-mora word, /jaoi/. However, yaoi is frequently heard as only two syllables, where under acceptable pronunciation produces the phoneme /oi/ with the 「お」 and 「い」 syllabic characters.

In the United States, it is commonly mispronounced as /jaʊi/ or /jeɪɔɪ/, "YOW-we".

Etymology

The English letters form an acronym of the Japanese phrase 「ヤマなし、オチなし、意味なし」 (yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi), often translated into English as, "no climax, no punch line, no meaning," or as the catchphrase, "No peak, no point, no problem."

The term appears to have been originally used in Japan, perhaps as early as the 1970s, to describe any doujinshi that was a bizarre, playful parody; however, it has come to refer solely to sexually explicit male-male homosexual material. Yaoi is not a common term in Japanese; it is specific to the otaku subculture.

Usage

Yaoi, outside of Japan, is an umbrella term for all male/male erotic comics made for women from Japan; as well as male/male erotic comics made in the west. The actual name of the genre in Japan is called 'BL' or 'Boy's Love'. BL is an extension of shoujo and Lady's categories, but is considered a separate category. Like 'Yaoi' is used in the United States, 'BL' is used in Japan to include: commercial and amateur works, works with no sex, works with sex, doujinshi about adolescents with little or no sex, works in all types of media - manga, anime, novels, games, and drama CDs with male/male content, and characters of all ages in male/male content. Terms such as yaoi, shounen-ai, tanbi, June, and original June, are all referred to in Japan, as 'BL'. However, it does not include gay publications[1].

Though yaoi is sometimes used to refer to any male homosexual content in film and print media, particularly in works created by females, that is generally considered a misuse of the term. Professional Japanese artists, such as Kodaka Kazuma, are careful to distinguish their works as "yaoi," rather than "gay," when describing them to English-speaking audiences.

Seme and uke

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The two participants in a yaoi relationship are often referred to as seme ("attacker") and uke ("receiver"). Although these terms originated in martial arts, they have apparently been used in a sexual context for centuries and do not carry any degrading connotations. Seme derives from the Japanese verb semeru (“to attack”) and uke from the Japanese verb ukeru (“to receive”). Though gay males are often referred to in English as "tops" or "bottoms," seme and uke are more nearly analogous to "pitcher" and "catcher."

The seme is often depicted as the stereotypical male of anime and manga culture: restrained, physically powerful, and/or protective. The seme usually has a stronger chin, shorter hair, smaller eyes, and a more masculine demeanor than the uke. The seme usually pursues the uke.

The uke is usually more androgynous or effeminate in appearance and demeanor and is often smaller and sometimes unrealistically girlish in behavior.

Though these stereotypes are common, not all works adhere to them. For example, some of the anthologies published by Be X Boy feature stories on themes such as "younger seme" or "reversibles." The "height rule," the implication that greater height confers greater power, is also sometimes broken.

While most earlier yaoi depicted both seme and uke partners as slightly effeminate, there has been an uprise of "muscle yaoi," in which adult men are portrayed as more masculine and strongly muscled. Yaoi of the former kind is now referred to as "bishie" within fan communities, after the word bishonen, a term for effeminate and/or androgynous "pretty boys" in anime and manga.

Some writers, both Japanese and Western, and especially in fannish BL/shonen ai/yaoi, are questioning whether the roles of seme and uke are truly an essential part of yaoi as a genre, and are either moving away from or totally abandoning traditional seme/uke roles and tropes. This is most common in yaoi fanfiction for anime or manga series that feature characters that do not fit seme or uke roles (Writing traditional seme or uke roles for these characters is often seen as "out of character" and "weepy uke" are often a source of annoyance.)

Yaoi vs. BL

Contrary to the belief of many English-speaking fans, "yaoi" is not the primary name of this genre in Japan. Originally much of the material was called "june," a name derived from a publication of the same name that published male/male tanbi romances, stories written for and about the worship of beauty using particularly flowery language. Eventually "june" died out in favor of "BL" or "boys love," which remains the most common name.

Though originally a Japanese portmanteau, fans in Japan have only recently started using "yaoi" as a name of the boys love genre, usually in the form of 801. "801" is derived from cell phone text messaging, where the "8" key hosts the kana や (ya), 0 is "o," and 1 is "i." For example, an Internet manga called Tonari no 801-chan, about a guy who wants to date a girl who turns out to be a BL fan, has become quite popular of late.

These Japanese definitions are somewhat different than what is common in English-speaking fans online, where "yaoi" usually refers to hardcore BL and the term "shounen-ai" for non-hardcore BL. However, Japan does not utilize this distinction. In Japan, "shounen-ai" refers to an obsolete shoujo subgenre that told stories of prepubescent boys in relationships ranging from the platonic to the romantic. "Shounen-ai" can also be used to refer to an adult who likes young boys.[2]

Doujinshi

Typical yaoi doujinshi features male-male pairings from non-romantic, published manga and anime. Much of the material derives from male-oriented shōnen and seinen works which contained male-male relationships and are perceived by fans to imply homosexual attraction. However, yaoi fans may ship any male-male pairing from published manga and anime. Crack pairings and crossovers often feature impossible or improbable romantic couples.

Though collectors often focus on doujinshi based on particular manga, any male character may become the subject of a yaoi doujinshi, even characters from non-manga titles such as Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean. Video games have also been a target, including titles like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy.

Most doujinshi is created by amateurs who often work in "circles"; for example, the group CLAMP began as an amateur doujinshi circle. However, some professional artists, such as Kodaka Kazuma and Maki Murakami, create doujinshi as well.

Yaoi fanon is common; some authors even create separate sub-universes in their stories and doujinshi. In some cases, these sub-universes, called "AUs" or "Alternate Universes," gain their own fan bases in which they may be more popular than the original series.

American yaoi

As Japanese yaoi gained popularity in the U.S., a few American artists began creating gay-themed comics referred to as "American yaoi." What started as a small subculture in North America, has, in the last three years, become a burgeoning market, as new publishers began producing male/male erotic comics and manga from creators outside Japan.[3] Because creators from all parts of the globe are published in these original English language works, the term 'American yaoi' is not used; the term 'Global BL', is considered more acceptable.

'Global BL', like its Japanese counterpart, have titles ranging the implicit Off*beat by Jennifer Lee Quick, published by TokyoPop; to the explicit Incubus by Yayoi Neko, now published by Kitty Media.

Major publishers of 'Global BL' are Yaoi Press, who currently have over twenty titles on the market,[4] and Iris Print, publisher of Only Words by Tina Anderson and Caroline Monaco, as well the new 'Global BL' lifestyle magazine called BL-Twist.[5] In 2006, Dramaqueen, licensor of Japanese yaoi manga, debuted their 'Global BL' quarterly anthology RUSH,[6] and at this years Anime Expo, Seven Seas Entertainment announced its first 'English Yaoi' title, Invisible, written by Tristan Crane and illustrated by Rhea Silva.[7]

Publishing

The Japanese publisher Biblos was once the most commercially successful publisher of yaoi in Japan, but their bankruptcy due to failure of their non-yaoi ventures caused them to fold, and provided an opportunity for competitors to take up a larger share of the professional yaoi and BL manga market.

Japanese yaoi and BL works are sold to English-speaking countries by companies that translate and print them in English; companies such as Digital Manga Publishing with their imprints 801 Media and June, as well as Dramaqueen, Kitty Media, and Tokyo Pop under their imprint BLU.

List of popular yaoi titles from Japan

  • Ai no Kusabi was originally a novel by Rieko Yoshihara. Although the anime has never been officially translated into English, fan-subs are available within the yaoi anime community. The property has been licensed by Digital Manga Publishing, and publication of the first volume in English is anticipated for October 2007.
  • Desire
  • ''Fake
  • Finder Series, by Ayano Yamane, is a yaoi series based on the relationship between an aspiring young photographer and a perverted underworld society boss. Though the manga contains scenes of questionable consent, the partnership turns out to be more affectionate and genuine than the early scenes imply.
  • Fujimi Orchestra is about a high school music teacher and concertmaster in a community orchestra. The group's Conductor admits his feelings for the violinist which leads to a very horrible misunderstanding.
  • Gravitation is about an aspiring young singer, Shuichi Shindou, who falls for the cold novelist Eiri Yuki.
  • Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love), by Youka Nitta, is a manga and anime which tells the story of two AV actors who fall in love while working together.
  • , by Kodaka Kazuma, is a manga about homosexuality within the Yakuza. Published in the early 1990s, it is one of the earliest professional yaoi works. Parts of the first few volumes have been adapted as anime.
  • La Esperanca is a manga about two high schoolers that learn about their pasts while learning the true meaning of friendship and love in an all-boys school.
  • Lesson XX, by Oonagi Ei, is a manga about two boys' journeys coming out of the closet and exploring their feelings for each other.
  • Level C
  • Lies & Kisses, by Masara Minase, is a manga about the relationship between two long-lost step brothers.
  • Love Mode is a manga about the romantic and sexual adventures of men associated with "Blue Boy," an all-male prostitute club.
  • My Sexual Harassment "depicts the rise of a young executive who prostitutes himself to his corporate superiors. The feeble plot is just there to string together the animated sex scenes." (Charles Solomon) This work, infamous for a corncob-porn scene, is both a novel and an anime which is available in English. Character designs are by Kazuma Kodaka.
  • Okane ga nai, a series of novels written by Hitoyo Shinozaki, and drawn as a yaoi manga by Tohru Kousaka, is about a college student rescued from a sex auction by a loan shark with ulterior motives.
  • Papa to Kiss in the Dark is a two-episode anime about a high school freshman who is involved in a sexual relationship with his father.
  • Sakende Yaruze or Shout Out Loud by Satosumi Takaguchi stars in-depth characters that are much more developed. The first four volumes are out in stores currently. It's hailed as one of the more detailed series and has a very large fan-base.
  • Selfish Love, by Naduki Koujima, is a two-volume manga which depicts the story of two students at a prestigious university: one a wealthy, overconfident freshman, the other a scholarship sophomore from a poor family.
  • Sensitive Pornograph is a yaoi manga anthology which contains explicit romance stories. An anime version is available.
  • Sukisyo
  • Under Grand Hotel - UGH, by Mika Sadahiro, tells the story of Owari Sen and Swordfish, two inmates in the Underground Hotel Prison, which is called “Under Grand Hotel” by the prisoners.
  • Wild Rock, by Kazusa Takashima, is a yaoi manga which tells the story of Yuuen, a child of the Forest Clan chief, who is given the task of seducing Emba, the son of the Lakeside Clan chief.
  • Yellow, by Makoto Tateno, is a yaoi manga which tells the story of the love and adventures of two drug and weapon snatchers.
  • Zetsuai 1989 and Bronze is the story of a musician and his fascination with a male soccer player. The anime and manga are considered yaoi classics.

Japanese Yaoi Imprints

Aqua Comics – CL DX – B's Anima Seires – Bamboo Comics – Be X Boy Comics – Boys L – Chara Comics – Chocolat Comics – Dear + Comics – Diamond Comics – Drap Comics – Enrous Comics – Gush Comics – Gust Comics – Hanaoto Comics – Hanawaru Comics – June Comics – Kousai Comics – Marble Comics – Misshi Comics – OAK Comix – Paper Moon Comics – Pias Series – Racish Comics – Sanwa Comics – SBK C (Shobukan Comics) – Scholar LC Rutile Series – Shubeiru Comics – Shy Comics – SUPER BBC – Zero Comics - Shota Comics - Yaoi Hentai Comics

Japanese Yaoi Magazines

B's Log – Be X Boy – Dear +

References



See also

External links

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Articles and interviews

Websites

  • Aestheticism – glossary of yaoi-related terms
  • Beautiful Androgyny - reviews and information about Yaoi focused on the written works in the United States as well as ISBN listings for Japanese manga, Information on Drama CDs, Boy's love games, and Doujinshi listed by couples and series
  • Boys on Boys on Film – reviews and information about yaoi anime and manga
  • YaoiSuki – Yaoi Reviews
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top means:
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top means:
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