☆Aoi & Mafuyu TIMES Vol.15☆Recommended BL Manga

‡New Face, Aoi’s Blog!‡

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): Hi, our friends. It’s Aoi from Otaku Republic!

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): Hi, our friends. It’s Mafuyu from Otaku Republic!

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): So today, we’re going to share some Boys Love Manga with our friends as you can see in the title! If you cannot stand this kind of comics, just go back to the previous page!

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): Why BL all the sudden though...??

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): We newly started offering some items of Boys Love (Yaoi) Comics in July at Otaku Republic, right?

 

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): There are so many items in it, including the ones translated into English. Is Japanese manga still necessary?

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): Otaku always wants the original text, you know...? For instance, one of my friends who likes Harry Potter bought its original version, instead of the one translated into Japanese.

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): Hmm~

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): In July, “Boys Love Manga and Beyond:History, Culture and Community in Japan” was chosen as The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominee and in August, we had Comiket90 too, right? What’s more? Yaoi-Con takes place in September in San Francisco and we have Doujinshi Event, J.GARDEN for the original BL in Tokyo in October as well! As I mention here, BL has been livened up every month, which made me want to feature BL on this article some time, you know?

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): Hmm~

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): You’re never interested in this, huh...?!

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): (Oops, she knew it...!!)

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): There are so many stories that I want everybody to read, so I’ll try hard introducing them so that even Mafuyu, who is a beginner of BL, will get into this! I’d be so happy if you are already BL-lovers, just give me any comments or at least relate to them. (*Everything I say is subjective. I’ll definitely accept your objections.)

 

http://yaplog.jp/neru-taku/archive/46

 

 

 

☆Boys Love is Fantasy☆

      The manga that I will share with you are, what we call, a “Commercial BL”. To distinguish between the ones already sold such as BL Second Creation and BL Doujin that fans make, and the original ones released commercially, we sometimes use the words, a “Commercial BL” for the latter.

 

      The reading tendency for fujoshi (girls and women who prefer BL) is classified as three kinds: only the Commercial BL, only the Second Creation and both of the two. Even if you sort out Fujoshi, it will never affect your life.✌('ω'✌ )三✌('ω')✌三( ✌'ω')✌

 

       BL is classified as a fantasy genre based on the same-sex (men and men) love, which transcends the reality. It is also called JUNE, Tambi (estheticism) and Yaoi and they are sometimes sorted out or mixed up with each other but there’s no definite rules in them. The world of BL has been changed on a daily basis. To make it clearer, I’d say BL is a major way of calling it and “BL has rather a cheerful impression” and “JUNE and Tanbi have rather confused and worried impressions”. Yaoi is often used as the Second Creation Stories. If you want to know more about BL genre such as its term or its history, look it up on its Wikipedia page or read related books.(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

 

       Doujinshi is full of writer’s various “favorite things” and those writers often end up making their debut from it. The BL world, too, is full of “favorite things” too. In short, the writers rather expand their creative work as BL-lovers than try to provide consumers with their work, according to the consumers’ needs.

 

       One of the BL’s attractions is that each story differs, depending on how the writers depict characters’ relationship, how they develop the stories and how they show each story to the readers. What’s more? There are so many kinds of stories that we would think that there are no genres or characters that aren’t shown in BL.Please note that you should keep it in mind: When you step into the ocean of BL, “Other’s Moe (crush) are mine and my Moe is others.”(ノ)・ω・(ヾ)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pmpnaV0A0Y

 

 

 

☆Recommended BL Manga☆

What? I was just thrown in the ocean like that...? Don’t worry! We’ll show you some recommended BL Manga!

 

 

★School stories BL

 

・Doukyuusei (Classmate) (EDGE COMIX) / Nakamura Asumiko

     

       Hikaru Kusakabe noticed that his classmate, Sajou Rihito, who was an honor student wearing glasses, wasn’t singing during the music class for upcoming chorus festival. Even though Sajou thought singing was absurd, he finally talked to Kusakabe, who was seriously practicing singing in the empty classroom one afterschool... Here’s the Boys Love volume 1 with high school pure and fresh love!!

 

 

Just by holding hands, heart flutters! Pure love, struggle from being the same-sex and beautiful sight... You can enjoy a lyrical and sweet world. Make sure you check out the sequel, “Sotsugyousei (Graduate) - Winter,-Spring”, “Sora to Hara”, “O.B.1,2” and drama CD and anime film!

 

 

 

・SEVEN-DAYS　MONDAY→THURSDAY, FRIDAY→SUNDAY (CRAFT SERIES) / Takarai Rihito

 

“Will you go out with me, Seryou?” 

      Third year high school student, Shino Yuzuru, met Seryuo Touji, who is Shino’s junior in the archery club at the school gate. Seryou is popular among girls at any year of school and there is a rumor about him: going out with the first person to ask him out on Monday, before promptly dumping that person on Sunday. Seven-Days-Limited girlfriend... What’s going to happen to the two of them who started going out with the words that came out from Yuzuru’s casual mind...?

 

 

Takarai Rihito has been gaining explosive popularity in Ten Count. The two are gradually growing apart, not being able to communicate with each other, even though they love each other. Frustrated! But that’s the best part! Plus, it’s easy to read, full of beautiful pictures.

 

 

 

★Adult BL

・Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume wo Miru(he Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese) / Mizushiro Setona

 

      Kyouichi's indecisive character has led him to repeatedly commit the “foolish mistake” of adultery. One day, Imagase, a college classmate he hasn't seen since graduation, shows up as the private detective hired by his wife to investigate his infidelity. Imagase, however, proposes a deal. He won't tell Kyouichi's wife about his affairs, but, for compensation, he makes an unbelievable demand: "I want your body in exchange..."  Here’s a crazily sad adult man-and-man love story.

 

 

Psychological depiction that the two men love, hate and abuse with each other, getting rid of opportunism, are a little bitter. Beauty of non-girly manga-like destructive development and the ending remain in our mind forever. Please do not forget to check out its sequel, “Sojou no Koi wa Nido Haneru(The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice)” as well.

 

 

 

・Koi no Hanashi ga Shitai(I Want a Love Story) (MARBLE COMICS) / YamashitaTomoko

 

      He wasn’t gonna say he “loved” him. “He” wasn’t expected that he would be accepted. He wasn’t expected to have that “relationship”. He didn’t know that seeing the loved one was that fearful and happy....

 

 

The process that love gets rooted in a daily life is irritating and also lovable. This story makes us have a heartwarming mind.

 

 

 

★Fantasy BL

・Kabe no Naka no Tenshi (EDGE COMIX) / Bikke

 

      This is a romantic fairy tale, in which the angels and a human are depicted―  “― A picture with mind have a soul.” Julius and Marion are the angels drawn on the wall. They enjoy taking a walk at night, where they met a man. This is a jewelry-like love story spinned into sadly and touchingly!

 

 

This story heals and warmed our heart, which depicts the two angels’ love. Having a relationship with human, they realize pleasure that they haven’t felt before. How they are pleased is pure and lovable, which makes us happy and relaxed.

 

 

 

・Harem de Hitori(Alone in My King's Harem) (B-boy COMICS) / Hoshino Lily

 

      Hanabishi was asked to spend one cherished night with a young prince in a little tiny kingdom. He was satisfied with happiness by the prince’s kind care but the prince started to wish even more for Hanabishi― Five volumes collection along with a head! Cry with a whole-heartedly love.

 

 

You’ll enjoy a whole screen of stories such as cute story and sad story, filled with unique beauty. There’s no such cartoonist as this one, who can depict cube sugar this beautifully!

 

 

 

★Historical BL

・Gerard & Jacques (Hanamaru Comics) / Yoshinaga Fumi

 

         Jacques, a young noble, was sold into prostitution, due to his debt. His “first customer” was a silver-hair and one-eyed man, Gerard. Jacques ends up being hired as Gerard's new houseboy. Jacques' determination to make his own way in the world, and Gerard's surprising, quirky shows of kindness slowly bring the two together into a romance for the ages― It’s am immortal dramatic romance that is developed on the stage of violent French Revolution!

 

 

It’s a story of a boy, Jacques’s growth and Gerard’s aid in the background of French Revolution. This story, full of love, makes us cry so badly at the end. “Why do you read BL?” If you wonder why, just go ahead and read this story.

 

 

 

・NenNen SaiSai (onBLUE Comics) / HideYoshiko

 

      Not getting old, not dying... This is a love by such reapers― It’s a Repeated Rakugo Series, written by Hide Yoshiko, which sadly and beautifully resonates our mind.

 

 

The episodes beased on Rakugo “Jyugemu” and “Binbou-gami” move our mind. It’s the perfect story for people who like incompetent men.

 

 

 

★Others

・Ouji to Kotori(Prince and Small Bird) (Hanaoto Comics CitaCita Series) / Yamanaka Hiko

 

         Poor art school student Suzuki Keiichi wakes up one day to find himself as part of an auction in some desert land he knows nothing about as a way to pay off his debts. He was about to be bought by a greed prince, when he was bought by the prince’s young brother, Khalid. Keiichi became his slave and tried to escape from him every day but he gradually started to be attracted by the prince’s kindness... It’s a dramatic comics in which they gain the true love, struggling themselves!!

 

 

This is a necessary genre, Arab-Story, in the BL world. Speaking of Arab-Story, they always have an auction of buttoms’ boys abduction and confinement. This story is not the exception and the main character is in the auction at the beginning. It’s rather a children’s story and fairy-tale-like story so try to check this out even if you want to avoid this kind of setting.

 

 

 

・Private Gymnastics (Dear Plus Comics) / Fuji Tamaki

 

      Kanna, who goes to the skate club, has been depressed lately. The reason why is that he is not only being attracted by a boy from Canada, Sera, but he is also having a complex toward Sera’s skating skill. Not knowing his complicated mind, Sera is innocently getting closer to Kanna. It’s a sweet summer story with confusion and frustration toward Sera...

 

 

This boys-story is depicted through figure skating matches or performances which require mental strength. The two boys growing apart with each other and ending up getting it over make us cry loudly. This story also features a “Coming-Out” and characters such as adults, boys and girls are attractive as well.

 

 

 

★Amimated BL

・Junjo Romantica: Pure Romance  (ASUKA Comics CL-DX) / Nakamura Syungiku

 

      Misaki accepted the help of his older brother's best friend, and famous author, Akihiko Usami. However, Masaki was about to find out that Usami's books are of a very naughty genre, “Boys Love Novel” written about the main characters; his brother and Usami! Misaki got so mad, when Usami, who just woke up, attacked him---!? Such an exciting☆First-Love Lesson of a bossy handsome guy and a naughty high school boy.♡

 

 

We can enjoy this story with a variety of relationships by three couples and girly-manga-style beauty as well. It’s very easy to read since even serious contents are depicted in a comedy-like way. Stay excited while reading it!

 

 

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): Actually, I want to share more stories such as Ima Ichiko, Kari Sumako, Kumota Haruko, KusamaSakae, Esutoemu and other BL novels! But it’s gonna go on forever, so I’ll call it a day here!

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): Ahhh... I want a little bit lighter one though~

 

 

Aoi( ´_ゝ`): Then I’ll share this with you at the end! It’s a gagged manga with a BL theme!

 

 

 

・Shounen yo Tambi wo Egake(Boys be Tambitious) / Mikimaki

 

      Araba Seri, 18 years old―. A good-looking and handsome boy. Wonder how many girls he hurt in the past... Guess what? He ended up getting into a Boys-Love and being dumped by her girlfriend who also loves BL. What are they gonna do next?!! What on earth is “BL” which is more important than himself!? To get his girlfriend back, Araba started to write BL manga, getting his friends involved...!?

 

 

I just laughed so much and my belly hurt, you know?! Boys never love each other. They will aim at the top in the BL world. BL=Banana Labyrinth!? You might be able to enjoy learning what the BL means in this story.

 

 

Mafuyu(^q^): Banana Labyrinth!?

 

 

 

M&A*･ω･)ﾉ*･ω･)ﾉ: Sayonara~

 

 

 

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