It's true that Yaoi is manga with boy-love in it and some are more explicit than others but the fact is these things in America have the +18 label on them. Now a lot of book stores don't check for ID. Yaoi and Yuri (girls-love manga) are seen shrink-wrapped right alongside the other titles because a lot of people make the general assumption that all these comics are for kids. Something is going to happen and I can see it happening soon. Some senator's daughter is going to be caught with a yaoi manga and that day will not be a bright one.

Posted by Tripwire at 4:13am on February 12, 2008

Heh. Excuse me, have you seen the boys of Tokyo Hotel? And did you notice how popular they are? I think it's safe to assume that Yaoi has indeed started to set foot in Europe. Sure, it's a little harder to find comics, movies etc. over here (at least in Germany it is) but that's what the internet is for. As for yaoi and yuri being shrink-wrapped with other comics in the US? I've browsed and bought Yaoi across the states from North (NY) to South (AL) and I've never seen the explicit mangas sold as a combo with anything. In fact they're always clearly labeled and in their own section. So if that senator's daughter ever gets caught? She totally doesn't have an excuse.

Posted by Sabs at 6:26pm on October 9, 2008

This article has a few things wrong with it. :) First, "a yaoi convention was recently held" ? You need to do your research. Yaoicon is not recent, it's been going strong for near ten years. The newest 'yaoi' con was Yaoi Jamboree, held in Arizona. There are two new cons centering around Yaoi in Canada this year, Yaoifest in Alberta and Yaoithon in Quebec. I wont even mention the 10+ 'slash' cons that are organized and carried out annually in the US. It's widely held that the latest BL market mini-boom is in Germany and Spain. Another miscalculation you made was about 'why' women read yaoi. "Yaoi is a way for women to explore and enjoy male sexuality, in a non-threatening way." I've never heard of this-- I think what you're trying to say [and it's been states elsewhere] is that yaoi is a way for some women to explore their own sexuality in erotica--in a non-threatening way. :) As for the first commenter-- BL is rarely shelved in major bookstores anymore. [As far as I know--there are only 2 pro yuri titles out there from Seven Seas--they're rarely seen] and while I agree that the way book stores handle 'yaoi manga' is poor [they don't separate manga by genre like they should, they shelf them alphabetically] BL books have been hard hit by bookstore manga buyers frugal purchasing. Yes, there are some stores that still carry large quantities of BL, but they are the exception--not the norm. No senators kid is going to bring home gay porn because it's not that accessible. Also, young teen girls are not the market that has made BL in the USA successful--just look at the primary make-up of the fandom: college age and older-women. :) DMP releases mostly young-adult BL titles, and those sell to the appropriate age groups--but the hardcore stuff still remains available online through publisher sites, specialty retailers like everythingyaoi.com and Amazon.com I hope BL does well in the UK, as it has in the US and Europe, but keep in mind-- it's not like mainstream manga. It's fans aren't the sort to expect the 'whole market' to understand the niche and make room for it. It's a quiet little scene, and we like it that way. :)

Posted by tina anderson at 8:16pm on February 7, 2009