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Yaoi is a term of Japanese origin used to refer to Manga or fan art that focuses on Homosexual relationships between male characters. It can be compared with Shōnen-ai , which focuses on the same topic, but is (typically) not as graphic in its portrayal of homosexuality. Both categories are now commonly referred to as Boys' Love in Japan. OVERVIEW The word Yaoi was originally used to refer to fan Manga (such as Doujinshi ) that focused on homosexual relationships between male characters, especially two Bishōnen - the manga equivalent of Slash . In most cases, the attraction is often focused on the romantic situations more than the actual homosexuality and Homoeroticism . Pronunciation The pronunciation has been a source of considerable debate. In Japan, where the term originated, people generally pronounce each vowel separately, but quickly, as yah-oh-ee 「やおい」. Because of Japanese pronunciation rules, that is the only possible way of pronouncing it. In America, people have argued over whether the pronunciation of yaoi should be written as '''yah-oy''' or yah-oh-ee. The former pronunciation implies that the 'oi' is a Dipthong pronounced like Boy , but the latter pronunciation implies a slow pronunciation of each vowel, which is not necessarily true. There is also a contention that yaoi is pronounced as '''yow-ee''', where "ow" has the sound like ouch. However, it should be regarded that due to the original pronounciation rules, the correct pronounciation is yah-oh-ee. Etymology The term is an Acronym derived from the Japanese phrase 「ヤマなし、オチなし、意味なし」 (''yama nashi, '''o'''chi nashi, '''i'''mi nashi''), meaning "no climax, no punch line, no meaning." Its target audience, readership and creators are mostly young to middle-age women. The generally accepted theory as to the cause of its popularity among women is that Heterosexual women find male-male relationships erotic, as much as some men consider Lesbian relationships appealing, and that while gay and bisexual men do have just as large an interest, there are simply fewer of them in the world than there are heterosexual women. Usage The term is often used in a general way to refer to male-male sexual or romantic content anywhere in Anime , Manga and Fan Fiction based on these; usually of a more sexually explicit nature than the now-obsolete Shōnen-ai . Little is known about Shounen-ai's predecesor Tanbi . The term "BL" (Boys' Love, Shōnen-ai ) is constantly mistaken for as Yaoi, and all commercially published works are referred to as "yaoi" in America & "Boy's Love" in Japan. There exists a large mainstream market for Boys' Love comics in Japan, as well as a flourishing Dōjinshi market. In recent years, several popular Japanese BL works have been commercially translated and imported to English-speaking countries by companies such as Be Beautiful and Digital Manga Publishing. Currently-available works include Kazuma Kodaka's Kizuna and Only the Ring Finger Knows by Satoru Kannagi and Hotaru Odagiri. Whether such works will have comparable popularity in English-speaking countries remains to be seen. A distinction between yaoi and BL is only seen in translated works; whereas in English a manga might be referred to as Boys' Love if it is not very graphic, in Japan all homosexually-themed manga (written mostly by and aimed at females) is referred to as Boys' Love, and Boys' Love was originally a subsect of Yaoi . Over the years, gay-themed comic strips inspired by and referred to as yaoi have been adapted as a sub-culture in North America, with writings and art displayed on websites devoted to it. Notable American yaoi comics include the Webcomic '' Boy Meets Boy '' by K. Sandra Fuhr , and its successor '' Friendly Hostility '' hosted on Keenspot . Some common subjects of the American yaoi subculture include the boys of Trigun , Cardcaptor Sakura , Dragon Ball , Final Fantasy , Megaman Battle Network (aka Megaman Nt warrior, axcess,stream,etc..) Gravitation , Gundam Wing , Naruto , Prince Of Tennis , Weiss Kreuz , Yu-Gi-Oh! , YuYu Hakusho , Rurouni Kenshin , Wolf Rain and One Piece . Generally speaking, if a series features Attractive Male Characters , it will attract yaoi fans. Thus a large amount actually comes from male-oriented Shounen and Seinen demographics. This sometimes causes conflict because many fans dislike such themes, especially when inserted as Fanon . Yaoi is often thought of as less "story-based" than heterosexual Hentai manga or anime; as there are often pairings between mortal enimes or rivals. (Goku and Vegeta,Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, etc.) however, a broad spectrum of "intensity" exists in the genre. Themes range from ordinary themes and mild adult situations to extreme fetish-oriented works, including anthromorphism, Cosplay , nonconsensual sex ("non-con"), and even monsters, incest, orgies, and assorted other highly taboo depictions of homosexuality. Interestingly, though protagonists are male, definite gender-related power structures are prevalent in much of the genre. The "seme," (攻め) or "giving," tends to be depicted as the standard male of anime and manga culture: restrained, physically powerful, protective. The "uke" (受け), or "receiving," may be more androgynous or feminized in appearance and demeanor: younger, physically weak, et cetera. Certain authors and works exploit and re-invent these stereotypes; anthologies published by Be x Boy, for example, feature sets of stories centered around themes such as "younger seme" or "reversibles". The infamous "height rule"-- referencing height as a measure of power-- also relates to this element of yaoi culture. (For years a great percentage of yaoi mangaka have been steering away from such stereotyical pairings, preferring reversible pairings of similar build or twisting it to where the uke body has a seme personality and vice versa)(There is also an uprise of Muscle yaoi where adult men are featured with strong muscles and usually less feminine behaviors. The y-gallery's muscle club,and muscle otoko are examples). Popular best-selling yaoi/BL authors/artists in America include Chi-Ran, Tori Maia, Shin Mizukami, Mamiya Oki, Yuu Higuri, Kazuma Kodaka, Ozaki, Keiko Takamiya, Yuuka Nitta, Yun Kouga, Shiuko Kano, Temari Matsumoto, Kazumi Ouya, & Ayano Yamane. {Link without Title} EXAMPLES OF YAOI AND SHOUNEN AI
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