Very fascinating, indeed. It’s always interesting to read about surveys like these.

I just ran across another similar online study by Antonia Levi (“North American Reactions to Yaoi”, in the recently-published book The Japanification of Children’s Popular Culture, edited by Mark West); it was conducted a bit earlier (2003) but the demographic results are surprisingly similar: 86% female (58% of whom categorized themselves as heterosexual) vs 9% male (12% heterosexual), mostly teens/twenties, etc. (Male + female don’t add up to 100% because 4% of respondents listed their sex as “other”. Not sure what to make of that…)

The more interesting part of the article is the questionnaire addressing why the respondents read yaoi (although it appears men and women saw a different set of questions). Both male and female respondents responded favorably to statements suggesting (paraphrased) “lack of socially-determined gender roles” and “nurturing, sensitive men” as attractions while generally disagreeing with “it’s just porn”. Write-in responses also mentioned the appeal of good stories and character development (women also cited attractive and/or androgynous men).

The one explanation that seems to have gotten a significant gender split was “exploration of kinky sex” (the question mentioned BDSM, rape, incest, shota, etc), which women generally agreed with but men somewhat less so.

Women also had a generally favorable view of “two hot guys for the price of one”, “identify with either partner”, and “frighteningly intense sexual or emotional relationships”, while largely rejecting “safe fantasies of same-sex relationships” and “safe exploration of traumatic experiences” (men either did not see these questions or their responses are not reported).

Men strongly agreed with “more romance and emotional intensity than most gay porn” and “more relationships and bonding than most gay porn”. Write-in responses also mention lack of homophobia and social disapproval.

The only question addressing reality vs. fantasy as such was (direct quote because weirdly-phrased): “Yaoi and/or shonen-ai is hysterically funny because it is so totally unrealistic; I do not take it seriously at all, not as a sexual fantasy, a dream of a gentler male, or any of that.” Both men and women disagreed strongly with this statement, although write-in responses from readers of both sexes indicated that they did not think yaoi had a particularly accurate representation of gay men.

This survey happened pretty much in the barest infancy of yaoi in the US (I think the same year the first translated yaoi manga were released) and the amount and diversity of yaoi in English has increased immensely since; it would be interesting to compare an up-to-date version to see what, if anything, has changed. (Having just read an article on a Medieval English poem and another on 17th century Japanese homoerotic prints, it’s weird to be discussing a narrative genre where something five years old is practically paleolithic…)

b) is (in romaji for easier Googling) Mede Shireru Yoru no Junjou (“innocent steps” or something like that), by Suzuki Ami (story) and Itsuki Kaname (art) – not licensed in English but has been scanlated.

d) is Sono Kuchibiru ni Yoru no Tsuyu (“the dew on those lips”), by Fukai Youki – ditto.

The Judged, several works by Miyamato Kano (more usually spelled Miyamoto), Banana Fish, Future Lovers and the Silver Diamond series are all licensed in English.

Very interesting. Little Butterfly makes sense – it’s something I recommend to new readers – and I’ve always heard that Banana Fish had cross-over appeal…

Thanks for sharing, Dee!

P.S. Maybe you can guide some of them to Yaoi 911, hm? We might have enough action-adventure to make the reading about the sex worth it…

i) Future Lovers by Kunieda Saika

Hmmm okay, I don’t remember too many titles as a lot are in japanese and I forgot the rest but here’re a few examples(English and Japanese titles given or author names, if I don’t know which specific titles they’re talking about):

a) Little Butterfly and other titles by Hinako Takanaga

b) A few didn’t even mind this series:

愛で痴れる夜の純情 by Itsuki Kaname(not published in English) and some author. I think the English title is Mede something.

c) The Judged by Akira Honma.

d) その唇に夜の露 . Pretty dark with a lot of rape going on… the ones who read it, said it was pretty psychological. *shrugs*

e) Some of the better works by Miyamato Kano

f) Banana Fish by Akimi Yoshida

g) Some didn’t mind the first few volumes of Haru wo Daite Ita though most found the later volumes to be too melodramatic and soap-operaish.

h) Some of the titles by Suguira Shiho like Silver Diamond and Koori no Mamono no Monogatari.

I guess most simply saw the characters in BL as humans falling in love, instead of obsessing over the “boundaries” and “definitions” regarding gender stereotypes and behaviours.

And many of these guys first started off reading shounen like Naruto and Bleach and slowly delved into other demographics. Now, almost all read from many genres/demographics and shy away from Naruto and plenty of shounen, complaining about the angst and melodrama level, saying that almost all Shounen Jump series tend to dip in quality after a while and that almost all new shounen series are cookie-cutter plots. They also tend to dislike series which have too many volumes unless they’re really good.

A lot of them also started out by reading BL scanlations or by filching a copy from somewhere ‘cos they were not about to ask their classmates, girlfriends, sisters or even mothers. And definitely so if their mom was a living copy of Kurokawa’s mother from Challengers. It’d be really hard trying to convince her that they’re straight if she’s fixated on finding a right partner for them. :p

Although, all of them now buy their own BL but make sure to find out through reviews, etc. on how good the plot/story/characterisation is.

Most are now accustomed to the level of sex in a lot of BL but some still are… well, kinda squeamish about it. I guess it’s just like how I used to freak out at yuri.

Phew… that was a long comment.

An interesting observation. Now, off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of yaoi books which would NOT be good for the kind of straight guy you’re talking about (for example, this one…)

But now I’m curious, what yaoi books have you found to be most appealing to the straight guys you know?