Yes, it's there; no, you're not imagining things; yes, you can't always ignore it; no, you'd don't have to like it.

First, a brief definition...

Yaoi is a Japanese acronym for "YAma nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi," which translates as "no peak, no point, no meaning." The English version of this is the infamous "Plot, what plot?" stories. Yaoi is essentially that--sex with little to no plot. However, use of the term "yaoi" has changed in many circles to generally indicate homosexuality, specifically male/male.

Yaoi and Homosexuality in Fushigi Yuugi

The first example that comes to mind is Nuriko's adoration of Hotohori. This pairing alone has created an entire realm of fanfiction devoted to them. Tasuki and Kouji are another popular example, although not as blatantly obvious. And then, there's Tomo, Watase Yuu's only clearly (and blatantly) homosexual character in Fushigi Yuugi.

Of course, there are a myriad of other pairings, using just about every character in the series, and then some. Some pairings may work, some may seem incredibly strange, some can make you scratch your head and wonder just what kind of medication the author was taking. With a cast of beautiful male characters, it's really no wonder that yaoi themes surface.

Just go read some fanfiction. Be it in the form of a seriously sensual lemon (sexually explicit) fanfic, or merely a joke in a parody or comedy, yaoi references are most certainly out there. Fandom in general is replete with it--you won't have to look very far.

So if there are all these different ideas floating around the web, and elsewhere, just where did they all come from? Anyone familiar with the manga and/or anime can tell you that no, Tasuki is never depicted sleeping with Kouji and Nakago never gave Tasuki a second look and so forth, yet countless fanfics suggest otherwise.

So where does it all come from?

Now that's a loaded question.

Fanfiction in general is derived in part from the story and the character's interactions in the anime/manga and in part from the author's own imagination, one without the other rarely works. Any half-way decent fanwork combines the facts with fiction. The same goes for yaoi fanfiction, fanart, etc.--keeping characters IN character is half of the battle. A fanfic in which Chiriko suddenly jumps Ashit--no, that's just too sick--er, Mitsukake is nearly impossible to make believable and therefore, enjoyable.

Therefore, in order to write a decent yaoi fanfic, it would require that there are indications of homosexuality and yaoi in the manga itself.

But is it really there?

Just how much of the yaoi themes in Fushigi Yuugi, or any other series for that matter, actually exist or are merely derived from our own perceptions?

Yes, it's in there, and no, it isn't. A lot of it really does depend heavily on the reader. There are obvious examples of homosexuality, with Nuriko and Tomo being the best examples, and there is very little to debate on that. One can easily argue that Nuriko is not truly gay--he has a female mind in a male body, etc., but Tomo is not as simple. Tomo is intentionally made out to be homosexual.

It is the veiled hints and ambiguous words and gestures that are open for interpretation. Are Tasuki and Kouji just friends? Or is there more to their relationship? And just what does Nakago do with that whip in his spare time?

If you look for it, it will be there...

For the majority of cases, you see what you want to see. Your personal values and beliefs colour your perceptions and interpretations to an extent that if you don't like yaoi, you probably won't see it.

If you think Nuriko was really meant to be with Tasuki, or Nakago was more serious about Tamahome than just for Yui's sake, chances are that you're going to see yaoi coursing through scenes with them in it.

Your own experience is also a factor. Many a time I have had things pointed out to me that I have completely missed, due to my own naivete as a beginner in the realm of yaoi, or simply due to the subtle cultural references that I didn't understand. But once these things are pointed out to you, there's often no turning back.

You're crazy! It's all in your imagination!

Yes, it is, but it's also in Watase Yuu's imagination too. After all, hints are dropped for reason, and if a lot of people see the same thing (albeit variations on the same thing), it's difficult to argue that it's all in your mind.

The currents of yaoi that can be seen in anime and manga can be best explained by alluding to the Western study of literature. Remember English literature class? I bet you never knew about all the mythological, religious, and symbolic elements there were in literature before you were forced to write an essay about them. Did the author intentionally put a reference to a Greek creation myth in that passage for you to find and analyze, or was it sheer coincidence?

There are a lot of philosophical and psychological theories that address this, but let's just suffice it to say "maybe." There are universal symbols that are employed by artists and authors, and sometimes the artists themselves may be unaware of the profundity of their own work.

I see it, but I don't like it!

As I mentioned, there are some things that you just can't ignore, regardless of your own personal views on sexuality. Yaoi is a very touchy subject, particularly in Western culture. Most major religions forbid it, some governments do, and general prejudice against it abounds. Now this isn't saying that the Japanese necessarily admire it, but it is a very different cultural setting in Japan. Private lives are private, and as long as you look respectable, then, for all intents and purposed, you are. Yaoi also holds a different place in the realm of manga and anime than it does in Western eyes, which I will go into further detail on later in this article.

This, of course, causes serious debate on the value of yaoi and homosexuality in manga and anime, and Fushigi Yuugi is no exception. Characters, just like people in real life, can be hated and condemned for their sexual preferences. The degree of reaction to yaoi varies considerably, as well as the receptiveness to changing one's views on yaoi.

Some people are steadfastly set against any homosexuality whatsoever; some people don't like it but tolerate it, choosing to look the other way; some don't really care one way or the other; some are confused and uncomfortable in this new territory for them, feeling the pressures of their society closing in on them; and some people slaver over a good Tasuki/Kouji yaoi fanfic (or Tasuki/Chichiri as the current trend seems to be). Depending on where you fall in the range of reactions, you may or may not be willing to listen to the opposing view. In my experience, as well as that of others, the more extreme your belief, the less likely you are to change your mind.

But in the end...

Yaoi is there, to what extent is up to you, as is whether you like it or not. And just like any other preference we have, you can examine yourself to determine why, or merely accept the fact that you like or dislike it.

And next time you watch episode 34, let this thought meander through your mind:

Just what DID Tomite and Hikitsu do to pass the time for 200 years?



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Article copyrighted 1999 Kichiri

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