Linus Lam's Coverage of Yaoi-Con 2001


Who's on Top? Seme/Uke ID'ing: "Seme" is the aggressive leader in yaoi relationships (the Top), whereas the "Uke" is the taker (the Bottom). Usually it's not very hard to identify who exactly plays the dominant role in various scenes as characters from popular manga or anime come with stereotypes that let the readers use their imaginations on the more important matters, but sometimes finding out who is the dominant figure is part of the fun and excitement of yaoi fiction. Examples of these pairing relationships included Gundam Wing Endless Waltz, Descendant of the Dark, and numerous other titles in shounen-ai doujinshis.	Yaoi Websites: As the electronic medium for self-expression grows, so must the rules for good use of website design be encouraged to excite the web-weary audiences looking for informative yaoi-related venues. Basic rules: keep updating the content (keep it fresh to encourage repeat visitors), don't use fonts below 8pt, keep at least 1" screen margins, have a personality and sense of humor, keep the site easy to navigate (complications will only drive your visitors away), join some webrings, put up password protections if needed, and try to avoid animated gifs, lengthy Flash intros, and assorted distractions that readers generally do not like.

Shopping for Yaoi in Japan: While Comic Market is hands-down the biggest and best place to get yaoi fan fictions, other places of doujinshi sources brought up by members included Manga no Mori in Akihabara, Animate in Ikebukuro, and used bookstores like Jimbocho and Sansui's Bookstore in Tokyo. Yaoi-related collectibles also included character goods, calendars, shitajikis, and trading cards. Word to the wise: most places do not accept credit cards, so be prepared to handle cash if needed! Additionally, members interested in an easy Comic Market travel package can contact JTEC.	Cosplay in Japan - Comiket Speaker: In Japan, a seasoned and spirited cosplayer can indeed become famous fashion models, singers, spokespeople, or any other sort of celebrity. Representatives from Comic Market have been impressed with the increase in American efforts to cosplay and pointed out heightened cosplay interests in Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Discussion also included the wild costumes in Harajuku, photography abuse, cosplay fitting rooms, and almost no cosplay competitions.

Shota - Why is it, How is it?: Members discussed the difficulties of interpreting shota, otherwise known as an advanced form of conversational Japanese using complicated grammar, vocabulary, and especially Kanji characters exclusive to Japanese culture. It's an entirely different way of thinking in as opposed to our Western thinking and most analogies can fail. Probably the best way to learn shota is frequent Japanese language usage, a real Japanese education, and maybe reading lots of RG Veda or CLAMP manga.	CLAMP Discussion: In CLAMP mangas and doujinshis, discussion members point out that little bishounen kids are definitely not pure angels, as fiction writers and readers note many of CLAMP's characters often have to deal with emotional damage, romantic interludes, intense crushes, sexual awareness and impulses, and androgynous characteristics that leave many areas in love relationship fictions to explore.