YAOI MANGA BOOKSTORES IN IKEBUKURO, TOKYO: BOYS LOVE, BISHONEN COMIC BOOKS.
Yowee for yaoi! Sebastian, the Black Butler from the popular manga, welcomes otaku into an Ikebukuro manga store dedicated to Boys’ Love — Japanese comics about intimacies between men.
The recurring theme in yaoi is romantic relationships between the male characters — usually young beautiful boys (bishonen).
The “action” can get quite explicit. Usually, one has the seme (top) role, while the other is uke.
Interestingly, most readers of yaoi manga are not gay men — but women seeking romance stories. As one told me, “Most of the time, real relationships cause trouble and we don’t want to feel hurt. Reading yaoi is a flight from reality. No woman exists between you and the boys in the stories.”
That’s why “fan service” moments, such as kisses between male Jrock musicians, get fans swooning.
The Ikebukuro district of Tokyo is boys love central. Be sure to visit the Swallowtail butler cafe, where 19th century style pretty boys serve you tea. Nearby, there’s a large selection of yaoi manga and figurine stores. To get there, please check out my Ikebukuro map and guide.
I photographed a Shibuya butlers cafe for my book, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo. Please check it out — there are stories and images from Tokyo’s strangest themed cafes.
Do you read yaoi? If so, what is it about the male relationships or themes that compels you? Why do you think yaoi is popular in Japan among women?
Song of the Day: Here’s one of the many Visual Kei fan service videos on the net.
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LA CARMINA
48 Comments
I like yaoi because of the raw emotion of it all. Unlike a typical male/female love story with all the usual mooshy goopy drama going on, there’s a sense of danger almost. Raw emotions coming to light in the heat of the moment, more passionate connections between characters, a slight sense of the taboo that everyone is innately attracted to.
Of course there are the “meh” yaoi stories out there that emulate the typical heterosexual relationship stories… but I prefer mine with a little more “umph” lurking in the dark corners :3
I totally agree with you. But I would also like to add the fact that, for me, it’s also sheer shameless escapism ;) When I read yaoi, I can forget about the troubles in my life for a little while as I read it. Also, in yaoi I can look at the relationships from afar without feeling any personal pressure from the typical male/female stereotypes and pressure that are usually present in mainstream romance novels, manga, etc
Oh I totally agree on that too.
Oops pre-mature send off XD /shot
Anyway I was just going to add that there is a lot stranger things out there that people enjoy, I honestly think yaoi is at the bottom of the list anyway lol.
haha yes, life is full of oddities!
Very true! It breaks down the usual norms that we expect, while still being romantic.
<3
Yaoi is one of my favorite things, I honestly like the j-rock ukes, emo, or gothic uke (clothes, style and hair) and I am honestly not into the anime or manga as much as I use to, I like live action ones (there are a few foreign language ones that have movies about it based off manga’s and whatnot). The seme is more strong, muscular and has no idea why but loves the adorable uke.
I honestly do not know about the yaoi being popular I think it is because of the thrill and the prefect males being together. Although I do wish they would explore true sides of the emotional homosexual relationships with the challenges of it all by interviewing real homosexuals and maybe a little less paper cut and less tragic dark stories.
Interesting how the fantasy attracts so many women. I think there are gay manga too, but I’ve never read any.
Uwah! i want to go there~ >w<
oh damn!lol!!i think i have seen those before
I’m not a yaoi fan myself but I see why women like it. It’s the slight thrill of taboo that there is an attraction to. Although I’ll admit I’m a Black Butler fan; it’s where I’ve drawn inspiration for a lot of my future costumes.
Mm I love the look of Sebastian (and Sebastiano? haha)
I can see similarities but somehow ‘Sebby’ doesn’t sound right for Sebastiano.
Gosh.. I really want to go there too…>__<
I landed in yaoi land because I’m attracted to beauty of any kind. I discovered Ayano Yamane and fell in love with her characters at first sight. Then I immediately decided to stay in yaoi land indefinitely because a lot of the stories are dramatic and full of conflict, but also funny, and I inevitably fall into them and enjoy them very much. And yes, there is the frisson of the taboo topic.
I havent read Black Butler yet, but I’ll be sure to chech it out!! Any other suggestions? :-)
I don’t read manga myself, so I’m the worst person to ask for recommendations… but I know Black Butler is highly recommended. It isn’t yaoi, though (although I think there are some scenes that come close?) Not sure..
It is quite good. The anime as well, though I only liked the first season, 2nd season just got on my nerves a bit.
Thanks to both. I don’t just read yaoi, so I’ll check it out anyway. Found it online last night, but haven’t started reading yet. yafaS, what are your favourite yaoi and why?
this is probably your best article ever mohahhaa ^^<3
For me I kind of fell in to yaoi by utter stupid luck. XD; A friend and I came across a yaoi pairing site when we where in our 2year of high school and got hooked on the fan-fiction and fan art we found. Not long after that the book store in my town started selling manga and one of the first mangas that they sold was the yaoi series Fake. I fell in love with the story and soon started searching out more titles. Its been 10 years since then and I’m still a fan, though my tastes in stories have changed. But I think the main thing that draws me to Yaoi is more or less the feeling of romance you get from the men in the stories, and knowing that unlike real men they can’t upset you with their drama.
Very nice to hear your story. :)
Being bisexual I find that yaoi, when well written, is interesting to read/watch. My main problem is that as a male who likes going to anime conventions it’s basically a ticking time-bomb going to anything related to yaoi. There will always (seriously always) be a girl or two or wants you to do “something” with another male, and may or may not take pictures. I like being adored and such (I’m vain, hurrah!), but this gets so creepy sometimes. I would assume it’s somewhat similar to frat boys yelling at girls to make out (which is also kinda creepy).
Hm yeah… anime conventions can sometimes get creepy. Such as the “photographers” taking pics of the cosplay girls in short skirts, from low positions.. >_>
The answer to that problem, as with so many of life’s problems is pants.
hahahaahh!!!
I wrote a term paper about yaoi last semester- it was quite well received ^_^
That’s a great topic to write about!
Those don’t quite look like men…
the quote about why girls like yaoi surprised me! I never thought of that…I don’t read yaoi (much),
YAOI 4 LIFE! It’s my anti-drug! ♥
hhaa
fantastic *_*
That’s totally amazing!
Double the men = double the fun :P
But, aside from that, I guess is a mix of all the things other people mentioned. Personally, I still need a good story and good characters; I really don’t like the stereotypical uke/seme and I’m more into stories with a “josei” feel. I guess that the fact that I find a lot of manga women utterly annoying is part of the reason why I like yaoi more than shojo.
PS There are gay comics for sure, I don’t know about mangas though. The ones that I saw were a bit different from the yaoi ones, especially in the fact that the men tended to be more muscular or “real”.
:) I can see that…
I’m very open to different kinds of relationships, so that probably explains why I’m attracted to yaoi. I like seeing love in all forms. I enjoy fluffy BL stories, as well as far more adult-themed material. Most yaoi I read is doujinshi and fanfic.
As far as Kuroshitsuji goes, I’ll take the Shinigami over Sebastian any day. ^_^
Hahah :)
Over the years I’ve grown a love for anime — although I am aware most are based from their original manga. I took notice of the flirtatious nature between men, but I didn’t realize there was a term for it until later. I have tried yaoi based anime, but I didn’t find myself enjoying it; it was too dramatic for my tastes, and there was more sex. As a female attracted to men with feminine qualities, I think I like characters I can imagine myself interacting with, so bisexuality is preferred. I love lots of beautiful men in stories, so The Wallflower and Ouran High School Host Club were a treat.
Romance in yaoi does seem more mutual, so I think this is why yaoi is more popular in Japan among women. So it’s not really about the taboo of two men together. In hetero manga the boy and girl argue a lot! So story is most often like Shakespeare’s “taming of the shrew,” which can get frustrating with such an indirect romance.
Very nice insight into the appeal ^^
Ever since I was little, I was fantasizing about kissing the boys I liked, but as a boy myself. So yaoi was something I was going to enjoy no matter what. I think the dynamics of a male-male relationship is more exciting to me, not only in physical terms but when also when it comes to emotion and relationship roles. I have the capacity to enjoy hetero and yuri relationships as well, though it’s a bit rare and I tend to feel like something is missing… unless it’s a hilarious frigging couple like Vegeta and Bulma. /nerd I also have an UKE shirt. My dad asked me what it meant once and I was like uuuh…
-Leon 8D!
>:) love it!
I love yaoi manga… BL, shounen ai… but i lol’d so hard at the PEACH cover because the uke’s looks like a girl from behind, including the butt and legs xD haha not that I’m complaining, though.. it’s pretty hot xD
hehe yes I agree
What is the name of the book that is 4 pictures down, and on the second row of books and has two “Victorian Styled” men on it? I would like to know so I can buy it!! Thanks Carmina!
Does anyone know who is the author of the doujinshii with the almost naked man sitting on the other man. I think it may be Sengoku Basara Doujinshi.
Yaoi is a release for some women who can not have the love life that they would like. Same for some gay men like me. Yaoi is male male love, or boy boy love and brings back memories of adventures lost or missed. Shotacon on the other hand is a bit much, as is Lolicon. That is sex between male or female adult and little boy or girl. However it does allow for an outlet or release to those who other wise might actually prey on little kids. So I dont knck it. i will stick to my Yaoi and adult gay manga, thank you very much.
I really love yaoi. I even watch the anime over and over again. There is a what they call it an animix Dash, oh I loved it, it was so funny and the character was so good. I wish there is a shop here in United Kingdom where I can buy the yaoi manga.