#Takumi-kun Series 1

[ineffable-opinions]

School Culture & Male Androphilia in Japan

[This is part of a series on Takumi-kun 6. The aim of this piece is to discuss the origins of student culture and male androphilia & how it plays out in Takumi-kun series.]

Takumi-kun series is an early BL novel by Shinobu Gotoh with an enduring legacy. It is also an on-going work as we follow Takumi-kun and others beyond their student (gakusei) days and into adult (shakaijin) life.

Takumi-kun series is mostly set in an all-males boarding school Shido Academy. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, pre-modern Japan has a long tradition of male androphilia[1], much of which was age-stratified, class-stratified or both and involved strict/normative inserter/insertee dichotomy. BL has inherited (such as in seme/uke dynamics) and bastardized (such as with younger seme/older uke pairing) traditions of male androphilia in its tropes. Let's discuss a bit of the history before diving into how Shinobu Gotoh plays around with the setup of boarding school male-male sexuality that emerged in the Meiji period.

Part 1

[ Main resource used for this part of the write-up is the chapter titled “Toward the Margins: Male-Male Sexuality in Meiji Popular Discourse” from the book Cartographies of Desire: Male-Male Sexuality in Japanese Discourse, 1600-1950 by Gregory M. Pflugfelder. ]

What Review of Senryu From Meiji Japan Reveals

Meiji period Japan saw transformation of Japanese customary male-male sexuality ‘within the newly established framework of a centralized nation-state’.

…male-male sexuality, which had enjoyed a prominent and respectable place in Edo-period popular texts, came during Meiji times to be routinely represented as “barbarous,” “immoral,” or simply “unspeakable.”

The marginalization of male-male sexuality can be traced through its representation in senryü verse composed during that period. In post-Meiji Restoration popular humor Yoshichö districts of Edo well-known for organized sex work was no longer associated with the kagema or male sex worker. Instead, it was associated with female geisha, mirroring the 18th centuary decline of kagema teahouse and their shutdown by local authorities'. Once mainstream male-male sex work had to go underground and faded from popular memory.

Just as old customs were forgotten, new ones emerged in senryu of 1880.

Two figures […] associated with male-male sexuality were the bantö and detchi—clerk and apprentice, respectively, in a commercial house. The bantö wielded considerable authority over other employees, and had been portrayed in senryü since the Edo period indulging his lechery with young male coworkers. The detchi, on the other hand, may be seen as the merchant version of the priestly chigo or samurai page boy: male adolescents for whom the favor or disfavor of senior males might have significant consequences for their professional advancement.

Meanwhile male-male sexuality involving Buddhist priests went from being considered ‘a lesser transgression than fornication with women’ and a ‘contradiction between the priest's personal indulgence and the ascetic ideals of his religion” to an “emblem of “ancient evils” (kyühei) in dire need of reform’ and ‘a criminal offense’.

Following period saw state regulation of representation of sexuality in media (print media, theatre and paintings - artist Kawanabe Kyösai’s erotic drawing of Meiji oligarch Sanjö Sanetomi & a male foreigner landed him in jail; not much different from jailing of ero BL creators in present day[2]) and a shift in popular discourse that deemed that male-male eroticism has no place in the “civilized” environment of Meiji. Male-male sexuality was further marginalized through silence resulting from ‘state censorship, editorial discretion, authorial inclination, public taste’, etc. Meiji journalists continued reporting on male-male sexuality but adopted a tone of moralistic outrage and condemnation.

In the demarcation of civilized behavior, male-male sexuality was relegated to ‘the Japanese past, the southwestern periphery, and the world of adolescence’.

Japanese Past

‘Male-male erotic practices lay in the past’ which was seen as ‘a backward and “feudal” age, whose institutions and customs Japan must abandon in order to achieve “civilization.”’

Meiji era authors depicted male-male sexuality with historical backdrop (such as samurai society of the Sengoku and Edo eras) that would excuse their representation in the name of historical accuracy. [This is in contrast to say depiction in cinema which has largely avoided depiction of nanshoku with exception of Taboo (1999) and Kubi (2023).]

Pflugfelder gives a couple of examples:

Higeotoko (Man with a Beard; 1890–1896) by Köda Rohan – very shonen ai about the whole thing – involved light hand-holding and fade to blank.

Kagema no adauchi (Kagema's Vendetta; 1899) by Jöno Denpei –about a professional “love boy”. As a person born in 1832 Jöno was familiar with male sex workers like the protagonist from his childhood. But the practice has thoroughly disappeared from the cultural fabric by 1899 that Jöno had to introduce the protagonist whose profession was “disgraceful” “from today's perspective” and his gender identity ambiguous.

Marginalization of Male-Male Sexuality Was Japan's Southwestern Periphery

Centered around Kagoshima prefecture (the former domain of Satsuma), the region encompassed various parts of Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu. During the Meiji period, it was popularly believed that male-male erotic practices were more prevalent here than in the rest of Japan. Other than the obvious geographic distinction, there was a social reason too for this distinction. It was believed the region was a stronghold of old customs with lasting imprints of samurai class and the high concentration of warrior families. Satsuma had customary homosocial groups with strict sex-segregation practices such as hekogumi and gojü until the Restoration.

Male-male erotic interaction […] was reportedly common within such groups.

… the martial ethos of the samurai class slowly dissolved under the pressure of social change and “civilized morality.” Contemporary observers correlated the deterioration of shiki or “warrior morale” with a decline in male-male erotic practices.[3]

During the Meiji period, southwestern region (Kagoshima in particular) was known for its male-male sexual practices. These practices were seen as regional peculiarities, distinct from the mainstream culture centered in Tokyo. The southwestern region was viewed as a “feudal” backwater, and the association of male-male erotic practices with this area underscored their perceived “uncivilized” nature. Instead of being seen as a universal practice [the way shudo was percieved], male-male sexuality was considered a “folkway” (füzokü) surviving on the cultural margins of a newly “civilized” nation-state. In the 20th century, sexologists further marginalized these practices by diagnosing regions like Kagoshima with a hereditary condition called “regional same-sex love” (chihôteki döseiai). This effectively contained male-male sexuality within specific geographical and cultural boundaries.

Moreover, from Kagoshima men’s regional identity imperial navy and seafaring got associated with male-male eroticism in Meiji Japan.

male-male sexuality & the world of adolescence

… the sexual object in shudö had always been defined as a young male. In Meiji popular discourse, as in that of the Edo period, it was generally understood that youthfulness formed one of the conditions of male-male erotic desirability. More and more commonly, however, the desiring party too was presumed to be an adolescent, older than his partner as a rule, but neither of them yet an adult.

‘Adolescence (seishun) as an “institutionalized moratorium between childhood and adulthood” [allowed for a] social space where adult standards did not fully apply’. This also allowed male-male sexuality which had gained the status of uncivilized behavior to be excused as ‘youthful folly’.

Institutions of formal education were around since Edo period and so was male-male erotic practices in them. Not only that but also ‘violence between rivals in love’. Following the Restoration, schools mushroomed throughout Japan with an added emphasis on education as a vehicle for social mobility. Students, tasked with future nation building, were expected to be diligent in their study and to stay away from sexual diversion. Male-male sexuality in schools were not just that in discourse of the day but was inextricably linked with ‘shifting definitions of masculinity, regional and political rivalries, and the ongoing “civilization” of morality’. 

Mori Ögai - father of Mori Mari who wrote the first BL

Two terms born out of Mori Ögai's 1909 novel critiquing naturalism[4] Wita sekusuarisu (Vita Sexualis) köha and nanpa were used in discourses surrounding male-male sexuality among students. The term köha (translated as “roughnecks” by Pflugfelder and “queers” by Kazuji Ninomiya and Sanford Goldstein) referred to students who eschewed interest in male-female eroticism instead engaged in male-male sexual relations. This was in contrast to their nanpa (translated as “smoothies” by Pflugfelder and “mashers” by Kazuji Ninomiya and Sanford Goldstein) classmates.

[These are penetrator roles but not fixed categories. Students did move from one category to another even in Mori's novel. "Boy" (shonen) who were penetrated could take up penetrator role later on.]

“Smoothies” […] did not tuck up their sleeves or swagger about with menacing shoulders like their “roughneck” peers, but instead dandified themselves in silk kimonos and white socks (tabi) in order to win the favor of women.

In Mori’s school köha student were mostly from Kyushu and southwest Honshu prefecture of Yamaguchi while nanpa were from northeastern region. This regional distinction shows up in Tsubouchi Shöyö's novel Tösei shosei katagi (Spirit of Present Day Students; 1885–1886) wherein Kiriyama Benroku a quintessential köha is a native of Kyushu who wears coarse garb and is contrasted against his classmates womanizing peers not only by his leaning towards samurai ideals of masculinity but also by his interest in his companion Miyaga.

The köha-style of masculinity was modelled on engaging brute strength even in erotic dealings. Moreover ‘the strict age hierarchy that prevailed in student society constrained the very notion of consent, since junior males were in principle supposed to obey the dictates of senior schoolmates.’

In such an environment, male-male sexual practices often took a predatory form, with younger students providing fodder for older ones.

However, there were also non-forced köha-shonen sexual relations too.

Mori describes, for instance, a set of crude hand signals whereby a “boy” could consent to or refuse a senior male's overtures; subtler forms of seduction involved treats, favors, and the prospect of “special protection” (tokubetsu na hogo) by the older party.

Meiji newspapers was eager to cover köha violence wherein the older students who preyed upon “beautiful boy” in the streets of Tokyo and other Meiji cities or fought over a “beautiful boy”. They stood to gain readership especially those from middle- and upper-class who were likely to send their kids to boarding schools. It also fit well in the political context with journalistic crusade aimed at male-male sexuality & exploitation as a “Satsuma habit” in a time when ‘domination of the national government by the so-called “Satsuma clique” (Satsubatsu) faced mounting criticism’.

The portrayal of köha by journalists in post-Restoration Japan led to a strong association between male-male sexuality and adolescence. This association was so strong that any discussion of male-male sexuality would inevitably reference student societies and dormitories as common places for such relationships. Furthermore, accounts of school life often highlighted the culture of male-male eroticism as a distinctive feature. This is evident in memoirs by several notable figures such as Ösugi Sakae (himself a former köha), Iwaya Saza-nami, Ubukata Toshirô, as well as in literary works by Dazai Osamu, Hori Tatsuo, Kawabata Yasunari, Mushanoköji Saneatsu, Origuchi Shinobu, Satomi Ton, Tanizaki Jun’ichirö, and Uno Köji.

Chigo-nise ties (that is, erotic relationships between junior and senior youths) were reportedly common [in Kagoshima] as late as the 1940s, while student memoirs and other accounts describe similar attachments in schools outside the region. With the twentieth-century rise of the notion of [döseiai] “same-sex love,” however, popular representations of such relationships would come increasingly to focus on their psychological features, rather than on physical predation of the Meiji type.    

The other half of the ‘asymmetric dyad that made up a male-male erotic relationship’, the sexually penetrated partner, is referred to as ‘shonen’ (boy) in student lingo. By then a mix of inherited knowledge from various arena – Japanese past, classical Chinese, and contemporary forensic pathology – entered public discourse such as seen in Kömurö Shujin's Bishönenron (On the Beautiful Boy).

In Kömurö Shujin's work, the primary effect of this paradigm was to bring to the fore the psychology and physiology of the “beautiful boy” in a manner that would become increasingly common as the century progressed. Kömurö Shujin cited an impressive array of Western authorities on “same-sex love,” most of them doctors or scientists who believed that the “passive” partner in male-male intercourse differed from others of his sex on the basis of certain mental and physical peculiarities, both inborn and acquired. At the same time, the author's understanding of Western sexology was filtered through a set of native assumptions, emerging in a form that often differed in telling ways from the intentions of the original theorists.

Masculinity of wakashu was rarely ever problematized during Edo period. But with the medicalization of male-male sexuality led to attribution of “effemination” with “passive” partner put forth by Western sexologists as Richard von Krafft-Ebing to gain traction in Japan and persist.

[Parallels can be found in bishonen (beautiful boy) stock in BL deemed feminine by readers unfamiliar with the bishonen aesthetics. For example, misattribution bishonen Ayase even when contrasted with feminine Someya in No Money. This also extends to treatment of seme/uke dynamics as though it is a reflection of heterosexual pairing when it is in fact a pairing of two different masculine aesthetics, not to ignore the misogynistic, xenophobic and colonial conception of men who do not fit into specific masculine aesthetics being deemed unmanly/feminine.

Interestingly, Miki Koichiro the director (and screenwriter) of Pornographer, Given, Zettai BL, Bokura no Micro na Shuumatsu  etc. is well versed in the male androphilic traditions (among other queer traditions). We can see him using the term “shonen” when instructing the young actor playing Mob-san’s brother’s friend who has a crush on Mob-san. His usage was perfect, proving that he knows what he is doing.]

Part 2

Relics of traditional androphilia in Takumi-kun series

The norm or at least the expectation is that senior students (senpai) pursue pretty boy (bishonen) juniors (kouhai).

This is what outsiders expect even within the universe the novel series is set in as is seen from the conversation between Gii, his best friend Akaike Shouzou and Namiko (Shouzou’s girlfriend) in Sorera Subete Itoshiki Hibi (Those Were Precious Days), a part that never got live action adaptation.

This plays out in Takumi-kun series in various ways. There are two notable bishonen in Takumi-kun’s batch: Gii with his exotic beauty and the princess-like Takabayashi Izumi. In case of pursuit of Gii plays out in a pretty straight forward manner. He is relentlessly chased by seniors who are interested in Gii and their numerous attempts at wooing him.

Takumi-kun 4 - Gii & Sagara

Notable pursuer is Sagara Takahiro who was in the third year when Gii joins Shidou. Sagara as the school president organized many recreational events hoping Gii would participate and they would grow closer. But Gii refuses to participate except for in the final one which took place in Sagara’s absence, the Shinto Shrine Hunt event that is depicted in Takumi-kun 6. Even though the pursuit plays out straight forwardly, it come to nothing since Gii is not there to be pursued. He is there to pursue Takumi-kun.

In case of Takabayashi Izumi, he turns his most ardent pursuers into a band of followers. This obedient little group of lackeys help him to stir up trouble for his love rival Takumi. Moreover, Takabayashi is one of Gii’s pursuers. This pursuit also doesn’t yield any result as Gii doesn’t entertain any pursuit.

Thus, both bishonen of Takumi’s batch subverts expectations surrounding bishonen by being pursuers.

Takabayashi’s plot gets further complicated when he falls in love with Yoshizawa Michio. Their pairing is that of weak seme x weak uke type – both are reluctant to actively pursue each other and requires external intervention to set their ship in motion.

Meanwhile Misu Arata wishes to be the target of his senior Sagara Takahiro’s affections. He actively participates in Sagara’s events wanting to get close [and they do get close as schoolmates] but Sagara is only interested in Gii.

Takumi-kun 4 - Shingyouji & Misu

Misu’s plot further deviates from the pursued bishonen track when a junior (Shingyouji Kanemi) pursues and eventually gets together with him in a clear inversion of the norm.

Takumi is also pursued by his seniors. Aso Kei’s pursuit is depicted in Takumi-kun 6 while Nozaki Daisuke’s attempts at courtship is depicted in Takumi-kun 1.

Aso Kei is the only one Takumi is comfortable interacting with apart from Katakura Toshihisa (Takumi’s best friend). Aso’s pursuit is aided by Gii who wholeheartedly wishes for Takumi’s happiness irrespective of whom he gets together with. Gii creates opportunities for Aso and Takumi to meet by delegating library duty to Takumi when Aso is around thus getting them to interact. Aso’s courtship fails and he takes it out on Gii by showing off – he lies to him that Takumi agreed to shrine hunt with him. When Gii notices that Takumi doesn’t reciprocate Aso’s feelings, he decides to actively pursue Takumi and turns from Aso’s enabler to rival in love.

Nozaki Daisuke’s pursuit of Takumi plays out within the senior pursuing junior set up. Another classic trope is that of love rivals fighting over a bishonen with both literary and in real life precedents. This is evoked in a race between Gii and Nozaki in Takumi’s name from Takumi-kun 1. Here the love rival’s competition is complicated since Gii is a bishonen who is fought over by many others (Takumi, Takabayashi, Nogawa Masaru*, etc).

* Nogawa Masaru is not depicted in any of the movies as far as I can remember.

Even though the novel series is called Takumi-kun series, there are many parts that doesn’t involve Takumi-kun and some of them are exclusively from the point of view of other characters. All in all, Takumi-kun series is like an anthology of many many love stories involving characters who are directly or indirectly connected to Takumi-kun. There are other stories involving younger pursuer and older pursued with all sorts of seme/uke arrangements. Here are some that I can recall right away:

Even guys who are not androphilic such as Akaike Shouzou gets pursued by seniors (Shibata Shun in Shouzou’s case). But these courtships are doomed from the get go.

Younger guy pursues older – senior & junior, teacher & student, etc.

senior x junior pursuit abandoned to establish senior x senior romance (Moriyama & Shibata) or junior x junior romance.

senior x junior romance sometimes end in heartbreak. (Takumi-kun 2)

senior x senior relationships are abandoned in pursuit of senior x junior relationship.

Sometimes seniors employ their seniority to retain power imbalance. (Misu and Shingyouji)

In case it is not clear, who pursues who has got nothing to do with who is seme, uke or riba and vice versa. Since the novel series involves many pairings, we get to see all sorts of seme/uke/riba dynamics (if we are to call it that given Takumi-kun is a June novel).

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Footnotes

[1] I prefer using male androphilia because queerness is a bit too vague and in most case in inappropriate since it was the norm. Academics usually use male-male sexuality, male-male desire, male-male eroticism, etc. Male androphilia must not be confused with the narrower term homosexuality.

[2] Danmei author Tian Yi and her companions were sentenced for 10 years for profiting from obscene content on male-male sexuality.

[3] while the courting of “beautiful boys” was a “barbaric custom” (banpü), domain authorities during the Edo period had tacitly encouraged it as a means of preventing young men from going “soft” (nyüjaku) through erotic involvement with women (joshoku).

[4] In the Company of Men: Representations of Male-Male Sexuality In Meiji Literature by Jim Reichert (199-208)

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Takumi-kun meta series

1.Trailer plus

2.School culture and male androphilia in Japan. (you are here)

3.How does the movie compare with the source novel?

4.How does the movie compare with previous adaptations?

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - new entries upset the rankings

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

April 2024 Wk 2

Ongoing Series - Thai

City of Stars (Fri iQIYI) ep 11 of 12 - Like most Thai BL pulps, this show doesn’t have much story to it. But I'm discovering that what it does have I actually really enjoy. I love that the gay boys got to play matchmaker for a change and I like how just GAY they are. It's nice. Refreshing.

We Are (Weds GMMTV iQIYI) ep 1-2 of 16 - University ensemble BL featuring PondPhuwin, WinnySatang, AouBoom, MarcPawinPoon. I like it. It’s old school Thai BL, but having fun with itself and its tropes. I’m not expecting much, so I don’t mind it waffling. All the couples are comfy. Chemistry is okay. Friendships are nifty. I like Pond's floppy hair. We fine. 

Two Worlds (Thurs IQIYI) ep 5 of 10 - What an extremely bloody episode. And bad guy turned out to be very bad indeed. And now pretty much everyone is dead. Nice kiss. Of course. 

Deep Night (Thurs iQiyi) ep 6 of 8 - It’s cute, they happy, not a ton happened. Random gratuitous bathing. As you do in BL. And I still think the sides should just end up in a thrupple

Only Boo! (Sun YouTube) ep 2 of 12 - Oh they very cute. Also very silly. 

1000 Years Old (Thurs iQIYI) ep 9 of 12 - No. NOT THE GUITAR. YES abandon guitar for the sniff test! Love this for them. And me. My most favorite trope defeated my least favorite trope. VICTORY!!!  

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Unknown (Taiwan Tues YouTube & Viki) ep 8 of 11 - It’s just so good. Baby went away, grew up, and learned how to become a temptation... and a husband. 

Gray Shelter AKA Gray Currents (Korea Thurs iQIYI) 1 of 5 eps - SooHyuk, only just surviving, reunites with YoonDae, his (brief) younger stepbrother who feels abandoned. They end up living together. The younger brother is played by Lee Jae Bin of Choco Milk Shake. OMG. STEPBROTHERS TROPE. Lucky me! Two in one season. Yay!!!! It's Korea so great visuals too. I shallow but yeah, this is great.

Living With Him AKA Kare no Iru Seikatsu (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - Kindly Ryota goes off to uni only to find his new roommate is his childhood bestie, Kazuhito. Kazuhito doesn’t have a girlfriend and Ryota tries to help him figure out why. Same director as Old Fashion Cupcake. It’s utterly charming. I am charmed. Also the framing is gorgeous (of course). Very stylish.

Love is Better the Second Time Around AKA Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto (Japan Weds Gaga) ep 6fin - I don’t know. Kind of a flat ending with the leads apart for most of it. I enjoyed this show but it never really hit with me. 

Summation

After a teen betrayal and resulting separation a reporter reunites with his first love. That love wants him back. I enjoyed the authenticity of a reunion romance explored in Japan's quintessentially contemplative yet surreal way. The juxtaposition of the tenderness of the sex scenes with this Japanese style of authenticity was oddly elegant but all in all this still fell a little flat for me. There's nothing objectively wrong with it, but in total the narrative felt sluggish and the main couple were just... stiff (in the wrong way). Frankly, I'd rather just rewatch Tokyo in April is. 8/10

Love is like a Cat (Korea Mon Viki) eps 3-4 of 12 - What is going on with this show? No, I get the plot. I just don't get the show or why I’m watching it. Annoying. 

It's done, but I suck

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps

To Be Continued (Sat C3 Thailand grey) ep 7-8fin - I can't for the life of me find the final 2 episodes. Haven't had a real hunt, but yeah. No dice so far.

It's airing but...

Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai Monogatari (Japan Furritsubs) eps 1-? of 10 - I may wait and binge it.

Lady Boy Friends (Thai WeTV grey) 16 eps - reminds me a bit too much of Diary of Tootsies only high school. Not my thing. DNF unless it turns a corner and is truly amazing.

Kiseki Chapter 2 (Sun iQIYI) 6 eps - It’s so boring DNFed at 2.

Close Friend Season 3: Soju Bomb! (Weds iQIYI) 6 - The problem with situational comedy BL is it must be situational, comedic and a BL. This show gets 1 of 3 claims correct. 33% is not a passing grade. Dropped at 3.

Memory in the Letter (Thai WeTV) - only 4 eps, tell me if I should bother?

Next Week Looks Like This:

4/18 At 25:00 in Alaska AKA 25 Ji Akasaka de (Japan Thurs Gaga) 10 eps - Yuki lands his first starring role in a BL drama alongside superstar Asami (previously his senior at uni). Said superstar suggests they form a sham relationship until filming concludes. As they actually begin to fall in love, the spotlight begins to burn. I think I've seen this before (joke) and also the trailer doesn't inspire confidence.

Still to Come in April

4/25 Boys Be Brave! AKA Roommates (Korea Thurs Viki) 8 eps - Trailer Jung Ki Sub is Kim Jin Woo's slacker friend - and secret crush. So when Ki Sub crashes at his place, his heart tingles to be near him everyday. But as the short stay turns into permanent mooch, how long can Jin Woo keep his true feelings under wraps and hold back from confessing?

4/26 My Stand-In (Thai iQIYI) 12 eps - adaptation of Chinese novel "Professional Body Double" by Shui Qiang Cheng. Stars Up (Lovely Writer) and Poom (Bake Me Please) directed by the same team as KP (not a recommendation IMHO - my biggest criticism of that show was the clashing directing styles). This one looks complicated, lemme try: Joe is a stuntman for famous actor Tong. Joe falls in love with Ming but Ming sees Joe as nothing more than a Tong-replacement. After learning this horrible truth, Joe dies. Joe then wakes up in the body of another man also named Joe. He manages to rebuild the same life as before—with the same people eventually re-meeting Ming. Ming wants Joe back but Joe doesn't understand why. But Ming seems to know what's going on and wants to give him some kind of explanation.

I'm exhausted just trying to describe the plot.

Knock-Knock Boys (Thai WeTV) - 4 college friends conspire to help their friend lose his virginity. Familiar faces like Seng (yes, Billy's previous pairing) and Best, news here. But will it actually air this month?

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

NOTE: It looks like one of my personal favorites of last year Unintentional Love Story is getting a spin off!

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENT

Sniff test turning into a make out sesh? Please and thank you. City of Stars

(Last week)

Streaming services are listed by how I (usually) watch, which is with a USA based IP, and often offset by a day because time zones are a bother.

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly

If ya wanna be tagged each week leave a comment and I will add you to the template. Easy peesy.

[negrowhat]

My Thoughts on Ep 1 of 25 Ji, Akasaka de

Japan BL really loves to pair up the overthinking-awkward-inexperienced-late bloomer with the popular-famous-reserved-cool guy don't they? That is a classic pairing dynamic for Japan.

I just know I'm going to be thinking about Takumi-kun series every ep because one of the main lead's name is Hayama and the other main lead is playing a character named Takumi. So naturally I'm going to be defaulting to Hayama Takumi whenever I hear either of those names.

I love that Shirasaki thinks that Hayama doesn't remember him from their Uni days but it seems they had a brief encounter that only Hayama remembers.

It seems Hayama is thrilled (on the inside) to see Shirasaki again.

I love that we're getting an onscreen rookie actor paired up with a seasoned actor and I love that this onscreen series seems to be first-time leading roles for them both.

I love that the onscreen series is based off a BL Manga. I love that the director seems to be extremely passionate about her project. She seems to be putting a lot of thought into how her actors can relate to their characters.

I love that Shirasaki is determined to find common ground with his character. He wants to emotionally relate to his character. But going to a gay bar to find a sex partner is an extreme way to go about it, especially when he has zero prior experience.

Of course Hayama offered himself up to be Shirasaki's sex partner. It's step one of his grandmaster plan to woo Shirasaki.

How are Japanese BL stans going to perceive Shirasaki being paired up with Hayama? What is the shipping culture like in Japan? I never really hear about toxic shipping stans, but I know Japanese stans can be toxic when it comes to their favorite actors.

[littleragondin]

Hello!

For the Asian QL Ask Game. Number 1 and number 3.

Have a good night. Rose💜

Hi Rose! (´꒳`)♡ thank you so much for asking ♡

1. What was your first ever Asian ql?

I came to Asian QL through manga and Japanese dramas, and so my very first was either Boys Love (2006) or the first Takumi-kun/its remake (2007 and 2009) before I went on a bender and tried to catch every single thing Japanese QL I could get my hands on.

Then (just because I think it's fun) my first Taiwanese QL was Formula 17, Thai was actually a GL with Yes or No (and 2Moons (2016) for series), and Korean was Long Time No See (2017) (because I don't think The Lover (2015) fully counts).

3. Who was your first Asian ql blorbo?

Hmm... okay that's a hard one here but I think I will have to go with Pharm and In from Until We Meet Again (yes, two, I’m cheating but they come from the same show at least?).

UWMA was the first Thai QL I watched more or less as it aired, and I completely fell in love with it and those two! I have been rotating them in my mind since 2019.

Asian QL Ask Game

[rivalsforlife]

About a month late to the party, but here's some excerpts from the most recently translated gyakuten saiban library article, from around the time of AA4's original release.

The article features Shu Takumi, Mitsuru Endō, Minae Matsukawa, and Takeshi Yamazaki. I always encourage reading the original article but here are some parts I thought were interesting!

About how the Perceive mechanic came about:

Interviewer: I’ll be asking you a bit about the story now. This game adds the new Perceive mechanic. How was that created? Takumi: We wanted to brainstorm training with the younger staff members, and had them come up with all kinds of ideas. Perceive was an idea we kept in the back of our heads just to be sure we had something. Matsukawa: I believe you wanted a new mechanic or feature that’d use the touch screen? Takumi: 4 is a renewal of the series, so we had decided early on we wanted new features in the game. Of the many ideas proposed, Perceive was the one that seemed the best implementable. Yamazaki: It took a long time before we actually settled on the final form of the mechanic. Endō: We only decided on how to actually control it quite late in the cycle I remember. Takumi: But on the whole, on the whole, I think the game is quite easy to understand. I really hope Gyakuten Saiban 4 will sell like crazy. Everyone: Yeah! Matsukawa: Wow, you sound like a producer! (laugh)

About the origins of Apollo's bracelet:

Interviewer: Were there times you had trouble with creating the characters? Takumi: I guess Odoroki-kun’s bracelet. Yamazaki: That bracelet was added because Odoroki-kun rolls up his sleeves and Mr. Nuri (the character designer) thought his arm looked so empty. The design of the bracelet however seemed to suggest it was important, so it was decided to make it a key item. Takumi: Originally, we just wanted to make it a wristwatch. Yamazaki: I think we even talked about actually releasing such a wristwatch. Takumi: Ah! Yeah, that’s true! We certainly didn’t forget about money! (laugh) Interviewer: Why was the wristwatch changed to a bracelet? Takumi: I don’t remember. Did someone say a wristwatch was a no-go? Yamazaki: I remember we came up with the idea of making an eye-shaped wristwatch because of the Perceive mechanic. Takumi: I don’t remember that all (laugh). Yamazaki: I think we discussed a few times, and eventually asked Mr. Nuri to come up with something besides a wristwatch. Takumi: He came up with an intricately designed wristwatch, so we decided to give it a backstory, and it became an important item.

About Phoenix's drinking and gambling:

Interviewer: Do you ever argue when you are exchanging ideas? Takumi: Arguing? I have the feeling we were always fighting. For example, Naruhodo-kun was supposed to drink, and be a gambler in the story. But then someone asked if that was okay ethics-wise. The game would also be played by children, and it was a lot harder to handle themes like alcohol and gambling than I had expected. I personally liked the idea, so I ended up arguing with several people regarding this. Matsukawa: We were struggling how to keep the core trick while removing what would commonly be considered a gambling aspect. It took a long time before we found a way to make it not about gambling in a practical sense. Takumi: The alcohol was not really important, so changing that was easy. But the gambling part was really difficult. We tried a few things, and eventually, decided upon the characters not gambling for money, but by having the men put their own prides at stake in a 1:1 confrontation. If you play the game, you’ll see for yourself how the story handles that. Matsukawa: We wanted the game to be accessible to all ages. I think the change was for the good in the end.

And Takumi's favorite phrase to hear:

Interviewer: Let’s talk about the short questionnaires we asked you to answer earlier. I was wondering about Mr. Takumi’s reply to his favorite sayings. “Mr. Takumi, the deadline’s been moved back!” (laugh). Takumi: Well, I love hearing those words. (laugh) Yamazaki: Yep, I like that too. Endō: I change my answer to “Mr. Endō, we made the deadline!” Matsukawa: I’ll change mine to “Ms. Matsukawa, we’re done!” (laugh)

[infogramika]

Trailer:  Takumi-kun Series 6: The Morning of the Beginning of a Long, Long Story

Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai Monogatari no Hajimari no Asa (2023)

On the day of Shido Academy’s entrance exam, Takumi witnesses Gii for the first time--

On the day of Shido Academy’s entrance exam, Gii (Giichi Saki), who stands out in a crowd with his striking presence, walks past Takumi Hayama in the hallway. Takumi is mesmerized by Gii’s exotic, attractive appearance. When school starts, Takumi is treated like a freak by his classmates because of his fear of touching and being touched by other people. But Takumi manages to get by, thanks to Toshihisa Katakura, his only good friend and roommate in the dorm. However, the peaceful days don’t last very long. In the library, third-year student Kei Aso asks Takumi to participate in the campus “shrine hunt” event with him. Izumi Takabayashi, who’s head over heels in love with Gii, and students who idolize Takabayashi start picking on Takumi. When Takabayashi realizes that his beloved Gii not only shrugs him off but is also interested in Takumi the freak, he gets consumed with jealousy and masterminds an attack on Takumi. Spring comes, and Takumi and Gii are now second-year students. They’re assigned to the same room in the dorm, and their relationship gets much closer. Then Takabayashi makes another move and drives Takumi into a corner. Gii realizes Takabayashi’s plot and tries to save Takumi, however… And thus starts Takumi and Gii’s long, long sparkly story.

Introduction: The beginning of Takumi and Gii’s sparkly days

Over 15 years since the first 2007 film adaptation of the Takumi kun Series, a popular “boys’ love” novel series with over 5 million copies in print, a new series has been launched with a new cast and story. The film is a combination of three titles from the Kanzen-ban 1 (omnibus edition) of the original novels—Akatsuki wo Matsumade (tr. Until I Wait for the Dawn), Soshite Harukaze ni Sasayaite (tr. And Then, I Whisper into the Spring Breeze), Nagai Nagai Monogatari no Hajimari no Asa (tr. The Morning of the Beginning of a Long, Long Story ). It portrays Takumi’s encounter with Gii on the day of Shido Academy’s entrance exam and the beginning of their sparkly days.

Takumi Hayama, one of the main characters, is played by Shion Morishita, a new actor stepping into the spotlight in 2023, and Giichi Saki (Gii), the other main character, is played by Daigo Kato, who is a musician as well as a cast member of musicals Touken Ranbu and HYPNOSIS MIC Division Rap Battle Rule the Stage. Other fresh talent in the cast adds vibrance to Shido Academy, namely Satsuki Nakayama of Kamen Rider Zero One as Izumi Takabayashi; Rio Takahashi, who models for magazine MEN’S NON-NO, as Shozo Akaike; Yusuke Noguchi of Hi☆Five as Toshihisa Katakura; Souta Uemura, an actor popular with teenagers, as Michio Yoshizawa; Ryunosuke Nagashima, who performed in HYPNOSIS MIC Division Rap Battle Rule the Stage, as Kei Aso; Kosei Tsubokura from a play called Promise of Wizard as Kenji Suzuki; and Tsubasa Kizu, who acted in the stage adaptation of Tokyo Revengers, as Arata Misu.

Screenwriter Hiroko Kanasugi and Director Kenji Yokoi, the same duo from the previous film who know the Takumi kun Series inside and out, are back together again. With a new screenplay and a new cast, they light the torch to the beginning of a beautiful, sparkly Takumi kun Series.

[seerstella]

Takumi-kun Series + Texts from Last Night (1/?)

[forkaround]

Classic BL Watch/List

List:

To borrow from @waitmyturtles, a list of shows I'll cover:

ThaiBL: 1) Love Sick and Love Sick 2 2) Make It Right + Make It Right 2 3) SOTUS + SOTUS S 4) Together With Me 5) Love By Chance 6) He’s Coming To Me 7) Dark Blue Kiss 8) TharnType 9) Puppy Honey 10) Theory of Love 11) Until We Meet Again 12) 2gether + Still 2gether 13) I Told Sunset About You + I Promised You the Moon 14) Manner of Death 15) A Tale of Thousand Stars 16) Lovely Writer I will group these into either productions i.e. all GMMTV or by writer i.e. all MAME, all Jittiran, all Sammon, etc

Korean BL: 1) Where Your Eyes Linger 2) Color Rush 3) To My Star 4) You Make Me Dance 5) Nobleman's Ryu's Wedding 6) Light On Me 7) Peach of Time 8) Kissable Lips 9) Long Time No See 10) Cherry Blossoms After Winter 11) Blueming 12) Our Dating Sim 13) The Eighth Sense Others like The Tasty Florida, Where Your Eyes Linger, Semantic Error, etc. I've already seen and don't include on this list.

Japanese BL: (from @absolutebl's recs) 1) Seven Days 2) My Love Mix-up 3) Restart after Come back Home 4) Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss! 5) Life: Love on the line 6) Man who defies the world of BL 7) Takumi kun 8) Boys Love 9) Cornered Mouse Dream of Cheese 10) Eternal Yesterday 11) Ossan's Love 12) Given Others like Cherry Magic, Old Fashion Cupcake, Minato Coin Laundry, etc. I've already seen and don't include on this list.

Taiwanese BL: 1 - 5) HIStory Series 6) Be Loved in this House: I Do 7) See you after Quarantine? 8) DNA says I love you 9) We are Gamily 10) Your Name Engraved Herein 11) Papa & Daddy 12) Plus Minus 13) Love is Science Others like We Best Love, About Youth I've already seen and don't include on this list.

Chinese BL: (If I can find them) 1) Addicted Heroin 2) The Untamed 3) Advance Bravely 4) My Esport Genius Brother 5) Like Love: I love you as a man 6) Mr. CEO is falling in Love with him 7) S.C.I 8) Irresistible Love 9) Mr. X and I Others like Guardian and Word of Honor I've already seen and don't include on this list

[16/06/2023]

[ineffable-opinions]

Takumi-kun 6 – trailer plus

Takumi Kun Series: The Dawn of The Long Tales

[Here’s a bit of an introduction to characters and plot. Covers the material directly lifted from the description box of the trailer. Contains mild spoilers.

The movie has been fan-subbed by furritsubs.]

Introduction

The beginning of Takumi and Gii’s sparkly days

Over 15 years since the first 2007 film adaptation of the Takumi kun Series, a popular “boys’ love” novel series with over 5 million copies in print, a new series has been launched with a new cast and story. The film is a combination of three titles from the Kanzen-ban 1 (omnibus edition) of the original novels—

Akatsuki wo Matsumade (tr. Until I Wait for the Dawn)

Soshite Harukaze ni Sasayaite (tr. And Then, I Whisper into the Spring Breeze)

Nagai Nagai Monogatari no Hajimari no Asa (tr. The Morning of the Beginning of a Long, Long Story).

[This is the order in which the stories appear in the omnibus edition. Third story is new addition to the novel series.]

It portrays Takumi’s encounter with Gii on the day of Shido Academy’s entrance exam and the beginning of their sparkly days.

Takumi Hayama, one of the main characters, is played by Shion Morishita, a new actor stepping into the spotlight in 2023

Giichi Saki (Gii), the other main character, is played by Daigo Kato, who is a musician as well as a cast member of musicals Touken Ranbu and HYPNOSIS MIC Division Rap Battle Rule the Stage.

Other fresh talent in the cast adds vibrance to Shido Academy:

Satsuki Nakayama of Kamen Rider Zero One as Izumi Takabayashi

Rio Takahashi, who models for magazine MEN’S NON-NO, as Shozo Akaike

Yusuke Noguchi of Hi☆Five as Toshihisa Katakura

Souta Uemura, an actor popular with teenagers, as Michio Yoshizawa

Ryunosuke Nagashima, who performed in HYPNOSIS MIC Division Rap Battle Rule the Stage, as Kei Aso

Kosei Tsubokura from a play called Promise of Wizard as Kenji Suzuki

Tsubasa Kizu, who acted in the stage adaptation of Tokyo Revengers, as Arata Misu

Screenwriter Hiroko Kanasugi and Director Kenji Yokoi, the same duo from the previous film who know the Takumi kun Series inside and out, are back together again. With a new screenplay and a new cast, they light the torch to the beginning of a beautiful, sparkly Takumi kun Series.

Story

On the day of Shido Academy’s entrance exam, Takumi witnesses Gii for the first time--

On the day of Shido Academy’s entrance exam, Gii (Giichi Saki), who stands out in a crowd with his striking presence, walks past Takumi Hayama in the hallway. Takumi is mesmerized by Gii’s exotic, attractive appearance.

[fan-subbed by furritsubs]

When school starts, Takumi is treated like a freak by his classmates because of his fear of touching and being touched by other people.

But Takumi manages to get by, thanks to Toshihisa Katakura, his only good friend and roommate in the dorm. However, the peaceful days don’t last very long.

In the library, third-year student Kei Aso asks Takumi to participate in the campus “shrine hunt” event with him.

Izumi Takabayashi, who’s head over heels in love with Gii, and students who idolize Takabayashi start picking on Takumi.

When Takabayashi realizes that his beloved Gii not only shrugs him off but is also interested in Takumi the freak, he gets consumed with jealousy and masterminds an attack on Takumi.

Spring comes, and Takumi and Gii are now second-year students. They’re assigned to the same room in the dorm, and their relationship gets much closer.

Then Takabayashi makes another move and drives Takumi into a corner. Gii realizes Takabayashi’s plot and tries to save Takumi, however...

And thus starts Takumi and Gii’s long, long sparkly story.

-

Fan-subbed by furritsubs

-

This post is planned as a part of a series:

1.Trailer plus (you are here)

2.Introduction to the school culture and male androphilia in Japan.

3.How does the movie compare with the source novel?

4.How does the movie compare with previous adaptations?

[absolutebl]

Out of curiosity (and because I just saw you’re going through Pit Babe), what do you consider the most cursed/batshit BLs out there? I doubt very much anything in the world will top an honest to fuck omegaverse show. But, still curious.

10 Most Batshit BLs!

Fun fun fun. I'm going with shows that I enjoyed but were just truly BONKERS. In no particular order. Also remember I have different expectations of the different countries, i.e. Chinese and Taiwanese BLs are just generally more unhinged than say, Korea.

1 Advance Bravely

WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY SO HOT?

2 My Esports Genius Brother

What is going on and why so cute?

3 The Takumi-Kun series

No one knows what's going on - them, us, production, but it started everything, anyway.

4 My Day The Series

What is going on, why so hot and so cute?

5 Because of You

So much all at once, how many pairs and how many languages? Is it hot? Is it cute? Who knows?

6 HIStory 4: Close to You

Cheesy cute v problematic hot = whiplash.

7 My Lascivious Boss

Okay but what, fine but what, but.... what? Cuuuteeeee

8 Gen Y 1 & 2

There is an interpretive dance love offering of sponsored products to the female queen bee of campus. I am not making a joke, that is an actual scene in this show.

Gen Y the series the original trash watch & Gen Y 2 - The Glorious Trash Watch Reborn

9 KinnPorsche (yes I said it)

Yes but think about this show. Three different storylines and couples, the contrast between harsh, cheesy, camp, cute, and hot. It's ALL OVER THE PLACE.

10 To Sir With Love

DEATH GLITTER

Need I say more?

MOAR?

Laws of Attraction

My Dear Gangster Oppa

My Engineer

Manner of Death - This one was kind of hilarious since I spent most of the show trying to figure out what it wanted to be and if is was actually BL, but to be fair, so did it. Actual title? MurderY 

Oh My Sunshine Night

Secret Crush On You

TharnType - TharnType 2: 7 Years of I Can’t Even - serious trash watch

Why R U?

What Zabb Man

Y- Destiny

Honorable mention to currently airing:

Pit Babe - currently trashing here

The Sign

(source)

[negrowhat]

1, 7 and 16 for the asian ql ask game?

What was your first ever Asian ql?

I'm fairly certain it was Takumi-kun Series but also Shiawase no Katachi and Ai No Kotodama. That was before Thai BLs took over the scene and I was reading a bunch of Japanese manga and wanted to find something to watch and that's when everyone was putting everything on YouTube so they were all easy to find. I used to watch them all in rotation for a long time.

7. Who is your favorite friend character in Asian ql?

Recently it's been Pearl from Gameboys. But also Yihwa from Together With Me. I really liked Hia Kor from City of Stars. Chot from Step By Step. Namgoong from Light on Me. Pil Hyun and Ho Min from To My Star. Kao from Oxygen the Series.

16. If you could remake one Asian ql, which would it be and how would you change it?

Two Worlds. I would've made it at least 12 eps and develop World 1 Tai's story arc more. He had a ton of potential and he was killed off too soon. There was a story that could've told. Also I would've def expounded on Kram's sudden mysterious disease. I'd write a better storyline for SkyJao and maybe give a better ending to Phupha and his wife. I would even out the pace and not make it so heavy on the end. The series is really good but it could be epic.

Asian QL Ask Game

[liankuea]

Reveal your watch & rewatch drama list

Thank you for tagging me @porschetheerapanyakul 💖

CURRENTLY WATCHING:

KinnPorsche

Love Mechanics

Check Out

Unforgotten Night

Minato's Laundromat

Even Sun

— Really only up to date with KinnPorsche, as it has consumed my entire being 😅

REWATCHING: 

Why R U?

Takumi-kun saga

The Novelist saga

To My Star 1 & 2

— I'd believe it if someone said that Why R U? was laced with crack because here I am on my fourth rewatch 😩 /// Gagaoolala recently added the Takumi-kun series to their catalog so a rewatch was inevitable and let me tell you something... it has been quite the experience 😂 /// I recently discovered that there are two side stories (Spring Life & Continued Spring Life) and a movie (Playback) that continue Rio & Haruhiko's story from Mood Indigo and The Novelist — naturally I have to rewatch everything in preparation 😌 /// To My Star rewatch is self-explanatory — all hail queen Hwang Da Suel 🙌

LOOKING FORWARD TO: 

Big Dragon

Between Us

GAP

Eclipse

Fahlanruk

Chains of the Heart

Vice Versa

Tagging: @liyazaki @snimeat @laowen @lutawolf @wanderlust-in-my-soul @moerusai @absolutebl @billlkin @smittenskitten @luckydragon10 @chaos0pikachu @luna-lina @jaehwany @apomiles @onstoryladders and anyone else who'd like to share~ 💖

Note: The explanations aren't part of the tag rules, only the lists — I just like to over-share lol

[tsuki-sennin]

Oh what's this!? A double-stuffed deluxe serving of PreCure, served at late night! 25 and 26! We're goin' out into the woods! And make a new nemesis, but such is life! And in Episode 26? Who knows~! But with a title like "Kokone's Promise! Challenging King Green Pepper" I think this might be a simple one.

Spoilers, I guess...

This is a long boi btw, figured you'd like to know.

-Ohayo, Yuin~!

-Yeah kicked ass two weeks ago, huh?

-That's definitely a Delicioustone, but what we buildin', Narshe?

-Spiritoru?

-Bundoru bundoru?

-Holy shit he made a robot.

-Nikoniko? Nico Nico Nii?

-Alright ladies, I realize there's quite a natural bounty before us, but don't take chances with mushrooms and unfamiliar berries, eh?

-They put shades on the fox.

-The dog and dragon too!

-Oh Mari-chan, you too?

-Guess Kokone would feel nervous. I can't imagine she's spent much time so far away from an urban setting.

-Oh fuck

-Ghoast!

-To be fair, ghosts are kinda real in other PreCure titles.

-What a nice town!

-I see the soundtrack's followed us here, hmm?

-"Fuck it, I can't find my way around here, I'm gonna set this whole forest on fire."

-Alriiiight, let's go!

-Koko-neechan!

-Y'know, for a murder ghost robot, Spiritoru seems like a pretty swell chap.

-Spin the tent!

-We used to play this game a lot in elementary school.

-No pot!

-It's okay, I know a dealer~!

-...Takumicchi, did you run here!?

-Oh, Minato-san.

-"Goddammit, I have to wake up early..."

-Listen to Amai-kaichou. Having a meal out here in such a beautiful campground as this would be perfect!

-Ooooooh, paella~!

-Oooooh, a seafood paella~!

-No fire, huh?

-Well, can't really blame them. Most of the fires I usually start are by accident.

-My grandmother said this... "If you wish it to be so, luck will always be on your side."

-Ranchi, my girl.

-Hooray! Fire!

-Spoooooky happenings!

-Oh, a thicc boi, huh?

-Ranchi got Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen's number 1 hat.

-There was a thicc boi!

Ran-Ran: He was the Eggman! Takumi: He was the Eggman? Amane: He was the Walrus!? Goo goo g'joob!?

-"Dinner's ready, bitches!"

-Oh shit, Narshe's building up.

-Y'know Seccy, I'd probably like you a lot more if you actually did something!

-Oh shit, Spiritoru face reveal.

-I love him already.

-Ooooh, a whole barbecue goin' on!

-Recibepis

-"Fuck, my clout!"

-And just like that, Takumicchi takes his leave.

-Ahhhh, c'mon lad!

-Recipeppi, hellooooo!

-Don-Don! Iitotokomkke! Oh wait, wrong series

-Cubed meat?

-Is he... spoiling the eat?

-"Is he a fucking robot. That's cringe."

-As a recently converted Ruru Amour stan, your distaste is noted, Rosemary.

-"Ohhhhh, the famous Pretty Cures!"

-Oh shit, he's got a wrench!

-I see, so an Ubau-zo doesn't have to be strictly a kitchen tool, eh?

-I kinda knew that, but feels weird to see this used.

-"On behalf of my Dad, I will beat you up!"

-What should I call you, Spiritoru? I like you, I'd hate to be mean to you the way I am to Narshe and ambivalent like I am to Seccy...

-"Ganbare! Ganbare! U-Bau-Zo!"

-One of my favorite villain archetypes is the "Surprisingly strong comic relief", so I'm definitely having fun with Spiritoru. He's got such a banger design, I love him.

-"You meatbag humans don't get it! Why eat when you can recharge!?"

-That's it, Yuin, punch that gigantic solid metal monster thing.

-Don't stop on our account Precious!

-"Nisen Kilocalorie Punch!"

-Unit conversion tells me 2000 Kilocalories is equivalent to 8368 kilojoules. 2 kilos worth of of TNT!

-GIrl's got a lot of power behind those punches.

-We did it! The barbecue has been saved!

-What a nice guy he is!

-Men need their beauty sleep just as much as men do!

-Ah, old maid! I kick ass at this game, deal me in!

-Gotta water your mind for your

-Oooooooh, that starscape is very nicely drawn.

-Kokone episode, hell yeah!

-Well, I'll see you all next time when I see Kokone talk about green peppers.

-.

-Next time, let's go!

-Mmm... Spiritoru, Spiritoru...

-Supi-kun?

-Supi-kun, definitely.

-Oh shoot, there's nobody who can make Delicioustones huh?

-...I have to ask though... what exactly is Supi-kun doing to the food by capturing the Recipepsiman?

-Like, Gentle fucked up the flavor and ruins everybody's meals. I can see how this can completely fuck over a restaurant's reputation and how Amane would feel guilty over this.

-Narshe steals memories associated with certain foods, and we saw first hand how that can hurt a person and how tragic it'd be to lose a cherished memory.

-All we've seen Supi-kun do is cube meat. I can see why having something like that happen to you while you're eating dinner would frazzle you, but the food seems otherwise just fine.

-"Fuck it, lunchbreak!"

-Oooooh, I love green peppers!

-God, stuffed with cheese and baked, or chopped up into a salsa, or cut up with beef in steak fajitas...

-I should pull a Shinichi Saruhara and imagine myself some of my favorite dishes after this. It's super late at night and it'd take way too long to cook, and I don't even think we have the ingredients...

-Kome-Kome's suffering is incalculable.

-Kokone, a hardened veteran of the Pepper Wars.

-I will save you, Kone-Kone.

-I mean, Koko-meechan.

-Koko-Koko

-I used to be a pretty picky eater as a kid. I don't know exactly how I grew out of it, but nowadays I usually try to recognize ingredients I like and how they fit into the bigger picture of the dish.

-Takumicchi's dad has the right idea! Introducing them as components to something you do like.

-Oh, Takkun!

-...Takkun...

-Ah, sorry, uh... "Takkun" is a nickname reserved for somebody else, in my heart.

-Yeah, help us out!

-Hide the bitterness.

-Green peppers in a pound cake?

-I'm a big carrot cake guy, but... how on earth?

-Is Yui one of those moms who'd try to bake brussel sprouts into brownies?

-"Nooooo, Kokone! They'll murder you!"

-King Green Pepper seem a charitable and courteous capsicum.

-He and his other bell pepper kin actually register at a solid zero on the Scoville scale, so if he proves too much for you, the name "Cure Spicy" will unfortunately prove to be wasted on you, Kokone.

-"Yo Godatz, I'm the new guy!"

-"NOOOO DON'T TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT YOU FOOL! YOU LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER WHILE SHE'S TALKING TO YOU!"

-I think I'm liking Seccy more and more now jhkjlh

-Eat the food, fox girl!

-"HOLY SHIT WHAT WHY IS SHE SO BIG"

-"...Fack."

-Oh wow, she bonked.

-C'mon Koko-neechan, be a big girl! This is... honestly very embarassing!

-Good evening, DILF Butler!

-Yeah, you at least attempted, huh?

-Y'know, there's quite a bit of what I personally read as neurodivergent subtext to Kokone's character, so I get where she's coming from with this.

-Hell, my distaste for non-fried shrimp even has a similar origin to hers.

-Let's just say there's a very good reason why you devein and remove the shells from them. No amount of thorough cooking will undo that pain.

-Dish washin' time.

-"IF THAT BITCH DOESN'T EAT THESE FUCKING PEPPERS I AM GOING TO SHIT"

-Y'know, maybe Narshe should've installed a GPS in Supi-kun. Probably would've helped.

-Whomst

-Ooooh, that pepper is a thicc boi

-That shot of Pam-Pam hiding in the peppers is honestly super adorable.

-Friends with the peppers!

-The secret ingredient is always love.

-Oooooh, that's tantalizing...

-"Pepper Detected."

-Don Don! Toru Toru! Bundoru!

-Takumicchi, you gotta breathe better man!

-Pepper flavored curry and rice! Smoked turkey and pepper jack panini! Bell pepper udon stir fry! Bell peppers are botanically fruits because their seeds are on the inside of the pods!

-Delicious Party Pepper Cure!

-Oh yeah, you're technically not that kinda pepper, huh Blackpep?

-Man, Supi-kun's way better at monster design than his Dad.

-Hmmm... part of me wonders if Narshe intentionally programmed him to have this kind of conflict?

-"For fuck's sake, just eat your goddamn peppers, kids!"

-Crusty Bread Barrier!

-Daaaamn, Kokone opening fire on her own.

-You go girl!

-Humans do a lot of things, Supi-kun.

-Don't look back Takumicchi, just run!

-Hell yeah, we've recovered!

-Oh god that mouth shot

-That was unneccesary

-Pepper Steak! From hit indie RPG Maker game off!

-Mmmmmm...

-I thoroughly enjoyed both of these episodes as usual. Not a lot left for me to say, other than "Goddammit, I need to imagine those peppers right fucking now."

-Now, if you would excuse me... Join me when I wake up for Kamen Rider Geats, Episode 1! And on Saturday! With episode 27 of this show~!

-Episode 27!

-RANCHI EPISODE

-Lot of Kome-Kome focus, huh?

-...Oh god, she's gonna fucking morb.

-Anyways, look forward to that, this has been way too fucking long~!

[trashexplorer]

BLCD 2021: January Releases

Legends:

✓ - have      

💡 - interested

✘ - not interested (but will probably still listen to)    

🙏 - dying for

1. Momichupa Opabbu ♂ Time 2  ✘

Release Date: 2021/01/08

Cast: Ono Yuuki x Satou Takuya

Synopsis: Adaptation of the second volume of the series of the same name.

2. Dear + Comics February Issue 2021 Etoiro Koizoushi 💡

Release Date: 2021/01/17

Synopsis: Special CD released along with fifth chapter of the seventh volume of the series.

3. Given 5 Cheri + March Issue 2021 💡 *any reason why Hiiragi’s giving the finger? 💀  

Release Date: 2021/01/20

Cast:

Furukawa Makoto + Saitou Souma

Hino Satoshi + Yasuaki Takumi

Tamaru Atsushi

Masuda Toshiki

Hamano Daiki

Synopsis: Special CD released along with the fifth volume of the series.

4. Hirano to Kagiura Comic Gene February 2021 Furoku Drama CD ✘ 

Release Date: 2021/01/20

Cast: Shimazaka Nobunaga + Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Synospsis: Extra from the series of the same name.

5. Tashiro-kun, Kimi tte yatsu wa. ✘

Release Date: 2021/01/20

Cast: Masuda Toshiki x Matsuoka Yoshitsugu

Synopsis: Ebihara gets mugged by Tashiro, his junior in college. They somehow end up hanging out together after that, and Ebihara slowly begins to realise that Tashiro may not be as frightening or as weird as he appears at first glance.

6. Yamashii Koi no Hajimekata ✘

Release Date: 2021/01/20

Cast: Nakajima Yoshiki x Kumagai Kentarou *Damn, mans really became his gen’s resident rapist, huh? 💀

Synopsis: A university student Araki Kentaro has a problem than he can’t reveal to anyone. It’ about the erotic dream he’s been having, certainly caused by the fact that he was violated by his young childhood friend Azuma Haru the day before Kentaro moves to Tokyo.

“You’re awake, Ken chan?” said he, while Kentaro struggled to keep his eyes closed. What he looked like when he said so, Kentaro wonders.

“Haru was just teasing me…” Kentaro’s been trying to make him believe so. It’s been two years since then, yet the words and feelings linger, and he can’t erase them. Now Kentaro discovers Haru is in the same university as his. Is his dream going to start all over again?

7. 24-jikan Ochi nai Kiss ✘ 

Release Date: 2021/01/22

Cast: Kijima Ryuuichi x Komada Wataru

Synopsis: A scandalous office romance about a cool young designer and a moderately annoying businessman! At this cosmetics company, the entire design division shares a common problem, and that problem is Takumi Tokura. A manager with a history in sales and a penchant for sports festivals and living the dream, Mr. Tokura unknowingly pushes impossible tasks on the design team while spewing idealisms at company parties...

In reaction, Ryo Takizawa falls deeper and deeper into a quiet rage. That anger comes to a head after the party when Mr. Tokura announces a mandatory trip to a brothel for all the male employees. Ryo stubbornly tries to go home, but his superior tries to act like a life coach and yells that "sex is important!" This situation leads to a surprising twist! "If you're so insistent, please teach me." This superior and his subordinate mix together like oil and water, but neither can go back once they open the door to new pleasures...! (Renta!)

8. Blue Sky Complex 5 ✘

Release Date: 2021/01/27

Cast: Satou Takuya x Eguchi Takuya

Synopsis: Adaptation of the fifth volume of the series.

9. Danshi Koukousei, Hajimete no after Disc 4th. ✘

Release Date: 2021/01/29

Cast:

Kumagai Kentarou x Enoki Junya

Hamano Daiki x Ono Yuuki

Nakajima Yoshiki x Horie Shun *welcome back!

Synopsis: 

[SIDE Aikawa x Mito] October. It’s almost time for the student council members to change. Mito is busy drowning himself in the preparations for the school festival in attempts to hide his loneliness.

[SIDE Hiroi x Amane] Just before Christmas, Amane proclaims that he and Hiroi should break up?!

[SIDE Neriya x Yamamoto] On one particular day, a stranger appears in front of Yamamoto who was staying at Neriya’s house as usual...

10. Kokoro—Watashi no Koi 💡

Release Date: 2021/01/29

Cast: 

Toki Shunichi

Takahashi Hidenori

Eguchi Takuya

Hamano Daiki *OMG! HE RETURNS AS SOMEONE NOT KASHIMA!

Synopsis: *inteRestING

“Romance is different from love, love is guilt.”

The student (me) meets an older male (teacher) by the Kamakura sea. Sensei is a thoughtful, kind, and easy-going type whose mind you can’t read. I felt a strange attraction to him and started visiting him at his mansion that he shares with Shizuma. 

They were partners of the same sex who lived without any worries nor inconveniences—at least, that’s how they seemed to me.

Forty-nine days of the memorial service after sensei commits suicide, I invited Shizuma to the sea of memories written in sensei’s suicide letter.

[almighty-an2]

An’s BL Masterlist

I decided to make my own list of BL cause I got shitty long term memory, and I need help remembering stuff I watched or not yet watch

Everything listed alphabetically

List included both series and stand alone movie

Currently Watching

Nah.

May rewatch some stuff

Interested, But Waiting For The Series To Finished Airings

It’s listed here cause I don’t watch unfinished series (but still want to be able to remember the name)

I have anxiety, and it’s usually triggered by unknown future. In this case, unknown ending. So I usually avoid watching unfinished series. Special episode included. Cause if I watch stuff that would still have special ep in the future, it usually ended up with me not watching the special ep.

Yes I read book from the very last chapter. Also watch series from the very last episode. How it usually goes: First episode (usually only pilot or introduction so I’m fine with it) > Last episode (and if I like how it ends) > Started watching normally.

180degree Longitude Passes Through Us (Th)

Check Out (Th)

Coffee Melody (Th)

Minato’s Laundromat (Jp)

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Jp)

The Eclipse (Th)

Unforgotten Night (Th)

On The Backburner (also known as the series I swear I’m gonna watch, but not really)

Partially watched series are marked with asterisk (*)

What I mean by partial: Watched 1 or 2 episode, usually last or special episode, then leave it be for 10 thousand years

Advance Bravely (Ch)

Bad Buddy (Th)

Dark Blue Kiss (Th)

DNA Says Love You (Tw)

Does the Flower Bloom? (Jp)

First Love Again (Th)

Given (Jp)

I Told Sunset About You (Th)

I Promised You The Moon (Th)

Kieta Hatsukoi (Jp)

La cuisine (Th)

Love Mechanics (Th)

Mr Unlucky Has No Choice But To Kiss (Jp)

Ocean Likes Me (Kr)

Old Fashion Cupcake (Jp)

Ossan’s Love (Hk)

Our Skyy (Th) *

Peach of Time (Kr-Th)

Plus & Minus (Tw)

S.C.I - Special Crime Investigation (Ch) *

Sotus (Th)

Sotus S (Th) *

Spring of Crush (Kr)

Theory of Love (Th) *

Word of Honor (Ch)

Y Destiny (Th) *

You Are Ma Boy (Vn)

Been There, Done That

My current favorite series marked with star (🌟)

Also sorted by country, just because

Some of Japanese BL are dark and R18, so please proceed with caution if you want to watch it (esp some of the earlier one)

Chinese Series are mostly censored BL, and usually adapted from BL novel. So if you want some action, read the novel instead

Thailand Series

2 Gether (S1, S2)

2 Moons (S1, S2)

2 Wish

A Tale of Thousand Star

Bite Me

Close Friend

Cutiepie

Don’t Say No

En of Love: Love Mechanics

Fish Upon The Sky

Gen Y

Golden Blood

Ingredients

KinnPorsche

Kiss Me Again - TayNew side pairing

Love by Chance 🌟

Love by Chance 2: A Chance to Love

Loveless Society

Lovely Writer

Manner of Death

My Engineer

My Gear and Your Gown

My Mate Match

Nitiman

Not Me 🌟

Oxygen

Paint With Love

Physical Therapy

Present Perfect (thai cast with Japanese support, filmed in Japan)

Present Still Perfect (sequel to Present Perfect)

Reminders

Secret Crush on You

Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey (S1, S2) - Offgun side pairing

Star in My Mind

Tharn Type (S1, S2, SP)

The Best Story 🌟

The Tuxedo

Tonhon Chonlatee

Top Secret Together

Triage

Until We Meet Again

Why R U?

Japanese Series

Ai no Kotodama

Boys Love (S1, S2)

Cherry Magic! 🌟

Close-Knit

Fujimi Orchestra

His (2019)

Kei x Yaku: Abunai Aibou

Kieta Hatsukoi

My Beautiful Man

No Touching at All

Ossan’s Love (S1, SP, S2)

P****grapher

Saitankyori wa Mawari Kudokute (2019)

Saitankyori wa Mawari Kudokute: Ame to Soda Mizu

Senpai This Can’t be Love

Seven Days 🌟

Takumi-Kun (All 5 Series)

The Cornered Mouse Dream Of Cheese

The Man Who Defies the World of BL (1 & 2)

What Did You Eat Yesterday?

Taiwanese Series

Be Loved in House: I Do 🌟

Dark Blue and Moonlight

History: Obsessed

History 2: Crossing The Line

History 2: Right or Wrong

History 3: Make Our Days Count

History 3: Trapped

History 4: Close to You

Innocent

Light

Papa & Daddy

We Best Love (S1, S2, SP) 🌟

Chinese Series

Guardian 🌟

The Ambiguous Focus

The Untamed

Uncontrolled love

Korean Series

Antique Bakery

Blueming 🌟

Cherry Blossom After Winter

Color Rush

Just Friends?

Kissable Lips

Long Time No See 🌟

Method

Mr. Heart

My Sweet Dear

Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding

Oh! Boarding House

Semantic Error 🌟

The Tasty Florida

To My Star (1&2) 🌟

Where Your Eyes Linger 🌟

Wish You: Your Melody in My Heart

You Make Me Dance

Swedish Series

Young Royals 🌟

Vietnam Series

My Lascivious Boss

British Series

Heartstopper 🌟

I want to put my completed list under the the cut, but I don’t know how to do it on my phone. Someone teach me how.

Might left some as I can’t remember shit. Will add more later.

Last update: 07.08.2022

[doorajar]

In the second half of 2021 I watched, in this order:

Handsome Devil

Young Royals

The Shore

Your Name Engraved Herein

Kiss Me Again

2Gether

Dark Blue Kiss

My Gear and Your Gown

Just Friends

Like in the Movies

Gameboys

Meet Me Outside

Monster Pies

Four Moons

Esteros

HIStory 2

HIStory 1

Who Am I?

HIStory 3 Trapped

HIStory 3 Make Our Days Count

Beloved Enemy

My Dream

Nitiman

Would You Be My Love?

Together With Me

A Fish Upon the Sky

Present Perfect

Present Still Perfect

Theory of Love

Our Skyy

The Best Story

Love Mechanics, En of Love

‘Cause You’re My Boy

Still 2Gether

He’s Coming to Me

Wish You

Football Guys

My Best Boyfriend

My Lascivious Boss

Follow My Sunshine

Gay Boylove

Golden Blood

Brother and Me

Addicted Lover

Boyfriend

You Had Me at Hello

Close Friend (1 - 5)

Love While You Can

Pa-Mine Pare

I’ll Be There (For You)

Love Love You

Last Summer

The Curiosity of Chance

Capture Lover

My Friendship

3 Will Be Free

I am Happiness on Earth

Dreams From Strangers

Please Tel Me So

Lovely Writer (1 -5, 10, 12)

Boys’ Lockdown

Out In the Open

Love by Chance

Love by Chance 2

SOTUS the Series

2 Moons

2 Moons 2

Club Friday #5

Love of Siam

Once in Memory:

Love at First Sight

Just Found Love

Until We Meet Again

A First Love Story

Hold Me

7 Project / Once Upon a Time

Where Your Eyes Linger

BxxM

Sky + Ace Story

Gao ShiDe + Zhou Shuyi

Boy, Friend

Y Destiny

Moi Quan He Open

2Wish

Hong Soek + Shi On Story

Mork + Pi Story

Jump the Boy!

Irresistible Love

LGBTQ+ Dramas Gay Clip (YT)

I Fell in Love With My Friend

Better Days

Broken Youth

Eternal Summer

Goodbye Mother

Win Jaime’s Heart

Gray

What is His Secret

Louder Than Words

Motti Bianche

We All Soft-hearted

A Secret Between Two Gays

Happenstance

Jump the Boy / Summertime /

From Now On

The Couple

Pok + Tong Story

Zhao Gang + Su Qi Story

Shinwoo + Taekyung

Birthday Tume

Just Ask Him

Out

My Broken Love Story

Leon + Pob

Phu + Kao Story

Phipha + Tian Story

Requited

Tharn & Type / Their Story

Dean and Pharm

Straight A

The Right Man Because

Book and Frame

Min and Jay

Craving You

Friend or Lover

The Most Beautiful Place is My

Place

Nation’s Brother

You Are Ma Boy

My Strange Friend

Teens Like Phil

Home From the Gym

Irresistible Love

De Vuelta

Teens Realize …

Hidden Away

I Love You When I’m Crazy

Breath

Alone

The Christmas Night

Photograph / My Bromance

Make it Right

Jin Yu Zhen + Shi Lei

Love is Science

Queer Beauty

Don’t Say No

Love With Flaws

The Lover

Once in Memory: Wish Me Luck

So Much in Love

2022:

My Day

The Awakening

Dos Chicos

Rendezvous Avec Diego

High Tide

Robbe + Sander

To You, for Me

Past Youth

Bad Buddy

Addicted

Oxygen the Series

Seo Joon x Ji Woo - I Really Like You

Phu x Kao Story

Miss Truth

He’s Mine

I Told Sunset About You

Last Twilight in Phuket

I Promised You the Moon

Utsukushii Kare

Cherry Magic

Takumi-kun The Rainbow-Colored Glass

SO: IVE REWATCHED FEWER THAN A HALF DOZEN OF THESE TITLES. If you were going to pick five of the series on this list to watch again, which would they be ?