Yaoi

toc =**Definition**=

Yaoi (pronounced ya-oh-ee) refers to a genre particular to Japanese anime and manga that is created for women by women. Yaoi is a Japanese acronym: ‘**ya**ma nashi, **o**chi nashi, **i**mi nashi.’ This translates ‘to no climax, no point, no meaning’ in English. This is representative of what yaoi illustrates: sexually explicit homosexual relationships (McLelland 54).

=**Seme and Uke**=

Seme (pronounced seh-may) and uke (pronounced (oo-kay) are two Japanese terms used to identify the power relations in a homosexual relationship (Jeanne). Uke refers to the passive one in the relationship, while seme refers to the dominant one in the relationship.

Seme comes from the Japanese verb "semeru," which means attack. This refers to how the seme is the one who is on "top" (during sex). Uke comes from the verb "ukeru," which means receive. This refers to how the uke is the one who is on the "bottom" during sex (Jeanne).

The seme is the masculine one in the relationship, while the uke is the feminine one in the relationship. Thus, seme displays stereotypical traits of men, such as being tall (or at least taller than the uke), aggressiveness, logical, and straightforward. The uke displays stereotypical traits of women, such as being short (or at least shorter that the seme), conservative, emotional, and meek.

These stereotypes are not always cut and dry in a yaoi anime or manga. For example, in the manga FAKE, the two men in the relationship are the same height. Moreover, Ryo (the uke) is not meek and emotional, and Dee (the seme) is not always logical.

=**Yaoi vs. Boys’ Love**=

Boy's' love (BL) is another similar genre. Unlike yaoi, which concentrates on homosexual erotica, BL refers to homosexual romance. While yaoi consists of sexual activities, BL often consists of hugging, kissing, passionate crushes and emotional situations (Fall). Although there is a distinction between yaoi and BL, Western fans and distributors increasingly use the term yaoi to as a blanket term for yaoi and BL (Anime News Network).

=**Publishers and Distributers**=

In Japan, the main source of professional yaoi publications came from [|Biblos], who published the magazine called //[|Be X Boy]//. However, Biblios went into bankruptcy because of their failed venture into the non-yaoi market. After that, other Japanese competitors have taken up a larger share of the professional market for yaoi manga (Wikipedia).

In English-speaking communities, there are several popular companies that publish yaoi, such as [|TokyoPop], [|Be Beautiful], [|DramaQueen], and [|Digital Manga Publishing]. English-based publishers and distributors have slowly begun appreciating the large market for yaoi (and BL). In fact, UK Distributors "have even expressed a feeling that the demand for yaoi and BL publications has been largely under estimated in the market and many fans have commented on the increasing difficulty in finding specific titles" (Sharon-Ann).

=Fandom=

The yaoi fandom consists of fans that enjoy yaoi. Although many yaoi fans are female, there are yaoi fans that are male; for example, straight men (Fall). The stereotype about how the yaoi fandom consists of only fan //girls// may be a factor that reinforces that stereotype. For instance, straight male fans may not feel comfortable expressing their interest in yaoi, as they might be labeled in a strange, perhaps negative light.

The yaoi fandom is highly supported by users on the web. The web allows fans to socialize, learn and build information to express themselves (Benasa). The web is wonderful for socializing with other yaoi fans because there may not be any yaoi fans in close physical proximity. The web offers many online communities that are depicted to yaoi, such [|Aarinfantasy].

The web also acts as a medium to find and build information. "By the late 1990s, URLS devoted to Japanese boys-love products, original or YAOI, reached the hundreds. To give just a few examples, there are more than 450 pages for Ai no kusabi, 64 for Kizuna, about 70 for Zetsu ai/Bronze, and several of the more recent pages are even devoted to the promotion of comparatively obscure series" (Sabucco). Thus, finding information on yaoi online is not difficult, and the collection of information continuously grows.

Many yaoi fans express themselves creatively by writing fan fiction (fiction written by fans), drawing fan art (art drawn by fans), and much more. The web is an excellent medium for these activities. Publishing creative works is "easier, cheaper, and quicker" (Pullen; Benasa). Fans can publish their works by either posting it on their own website or signing up for a site that archives fan works, such as [|Fanfiction.net] and/or [|DeviantArt]. Moreover, the web allows fans to receive immediate feedback on their works (Pullen).

Besides the online setting, yaoi fans can also gather at anime conventions, such as [|Yaoi North].

=Yaoi North=

Yaoi North is a small, Canadian version of [|Yaoi-Con]: a large anime convention in San Francisco focused on yaoi. Unlike the Yaoi Con however, Yaoi North does not stand-alone. It is more like mini-convention within a larger convention.

Yaoi North is part of [|Anime North]: “Canada’s premier fan-run anime convention” (Anime North). It was originally created by Bishounen Hideto and Gryvon in 2004 and launched at Anime North 2005 (Yaoi North). Yaoi North had its own room at Anime North and provided fans with yaoi games, discussion panels, and of course, viewings of yaoi anime.

In its second year in 2006, Yaoi North held more events for fans. The yaoi publisher DramaQueen was Yaoi North’s first guest. DramaQueen conducted an information panel and also donated a number of prizes to the con. Yaoi North also held two contests: fan fiction and fanart.

Thus, anime conventions are another wonderful place where the yaoi fandom can gather.

=Examples= [|Fake] is a series by Sanami Matoh. It is about the relationship between Randy "Ryo" Maclean and Dee Laytner. They are both New York City detectives, who work together as partners and gradually fall in love.
 * Fake**

[|Gravitation] is a series by Maki Murakami. It's about the relationship between a rising pop star, Shindou Shuichi, and a famous romance novelist, Yuki Eiri.
 * Gravitation**

[|Only the Ring Finger Knows] is a one-volume manga by Satoru Kannagi and Hotaru Odagiri. It revolves around the dynamic relationship between two high school boys, Wataru Fujii and Yuichi Kazuki, who both have the same ring.
 * Only the Ring Finger Knows**

[|Yellow] is a series by Makoto Tateno. It is focused on two elite "snatchers:" Taki and Goh. The story revolves around both their adventures and their growing relationship with each other.
 * Yellow**

[|Banana Fish] [|Demon Diary] [|Earthian] [|Eerie Queerie!] [|Gorgeous Carat] [|Kizuna] [|Our Kingdom] [|Passion] [|Wild Rock]
 * More Titles** (Boys on Boys on Film)

=References=

"About Yaoi North." //Yaoi North//. 2006. 29 Nov 2006 <[|http://yaoinorth.com/index.php?content=about>.]

//Anime North//. 2006. 21 Nov 2006 <[|http://animenorth.com/>.]

Benassa, Anielyn. //Confessions of Yaoi Fans//. 12 Nov 2005. University of Toronto. 21 Nov 2006 <[|http://www.freewebtown.com/leina/utm/benasa_cct260_A2/web-content/>.]

Boys on Boys on Film. 2006. 21 Nov 2006 

Fall. "Common Notions About Yaoi." //Animepike Magazine//. 01 August 2005. 24 Nov 2006 <[|http://magazine.anipike.com/index.php?article=203>.]

Jeanne. "Aestheticism's Yaoi/Slash Glossary." //Aestheticism//. 1998. 27 Nov 2006 <[|http://www.aestheticism.com/visitors/reference/index.htm>.]

McLelland, Mark. "Japanese Queerscapes: Global/Local Intersection on the Internet." //Mobile Culture: new media in queer Asia//. Ed. Chris Berry, Fran Martin, Audrey Yue. United State of America: Duke University Press, 2003. 52-69.

Pullen, Kirsten. "Everybody’s Gotta Love Somebody, Sometime: Online Fan Community." //Web.Studies.// 2nd Edition. Ed. David Guantlett, Ross Horsely. London: Oxford University Press Inc, 2004. 80-91.

Sharon-Ann, Lees. "Topic: Yaoi and Boys Love ." Akiba Angels. 2006. 30 Nov 2006 <[|http://www.akibaangels.com/articles/06_2006/yaoiandBL.php>.]

Sabucco, Veruska. "Guided Fan Fiction: Western "Readings" of Japanese Homosexual-Themed Texts." //Mobile Culture: new media in queer Asia.// Ed. Chris Berry, Fran Martin, Audrey Yue. United State of America: Duke University Press, 2003. 70-86.

"Yaoi." //Anime News Network//. 2006. 30 Nov 2006 <[|http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/lexicon.php?id=23>.]

"Yaoi." //Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia//. 28 April 2006. 29 Nov 2006 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaoi>.] = =