****CORRECTION: a Japanese friend translated the acronym y.a.o.i. as essentially meaning emptiness, pointlessness et cetera. Yaoi comes from the phrase "yama noshi, imi noshi, ochi noshi" which literally means "no climax, no meaning, no resolution" and is generally considered a derogatory term in Japan when applied to professional comics with original characters!***

image credit: Iason Mink and his" pet" Riki, cel from Ai no Kusabi, a futuristic adult anime series and novel.

Future expansions are in store. For now this page is a basic definition for those unfamiliar with the yaoi genre. The original page contained a far longer dissertation (broken up over three pages) which I am still researching and editing in light of several recent (and more accurate) commercial translations of anime and manga such as Utena and the works of CLAMP; and added insight provided by several native students and artists.

Since yaoi is a Japanese slang term, I do not use it as synonymous with gay sexuality or romance but only to refer to the Japanese romantic genre with its conventions, manga-styled stories by non-Japanese creators, and stories such as the Vampire Chronicles in which the characters have a similar dynamic, style and intent.

Clarifications and accurate input, verifiable by source are greatly appreciated. Please drop me a line at therubaiyat@hotmail.com with any information.