腐男子 [fudanshi]
Not I forgot to mention this in the previous entry, but I wanted to make a separate post. I was actually wondering if I should talk about this, but maybe I should. Now is the time.
When I join a cosplay event, I sometimes see several male cosplayers who do characters from BL anime or games here and there like Lamento or Togainu no Chi. It is not very unusual. That they do such a character means they sure play or watch the original. Furthermore, they like BL. In other words, yes, they are 腐男子[fudanshi] or BL fanboys. You can also say 腐兄[fukei] or 腐士[bushi].
When I browse other cosplayers’ sites, I sometimes see that some of them even claim thay are 腐男子. Like 腐男子でーす、よろしく！[Hi, I am a fudanshi]. I was a bit surprised, but I got to used to it…I wonder how they decided to come out of the closet?
But wait. Here is a question which anybody has in mind. Don’t say anything, I know what you must be thinking.
Are 腐男子 gay?
No. Not necessarily. Even though there are fudanshis who are really gay, most of them are straight. Those who do not about BL often say like, “They are truly gay because they like a homosexual love.” This is wrong.
First, Boys’ Love(yaoi) is a fantasy of girls, by girls, for girls(笑). Although a story always follows two boys, it goes like a typical shoujo manga. Because the authors are women. How could they understand a real gay love? So, it boils down that fudanshis just enjoys BL like fujoshis do. In other words, their hearts are decayed(腐っている) as a fujoshi. It has nothing to do with gay.
Meanwhile, how do real gay people feel about BL? Some(most?) are against it because it is too far from the reality. Yes, that is a fantasy(笑). It’s no wonder they feel impatient about やおい穴[yaoi ana]. あれは完全にファンタジーだから（苦笑） As I have said, there are some fudanshis who are really gay. As for them, they are gay in the first place. And then they see BL, and accept it. That’s it. Gay comes first, not fudanshi.
By the way, what do fudanshis find in BL? They just follow a good story, I mean, not literally yaoi(yamanashi, ochinashi, iminashi, or no climax, no conclusion, no meaning), but a heartful story. Is there something like this in ero-doujin for men? So that is why they come down to the decayed world to seek such a heartful story. Even if it is homosexual, it is not a big deal so long as a story is worth reading. I think I agree with this.
I strictly claim I am an otomen, but I have no prejudice towards BL. Because I give it a try if a story is good. Nothing comes out unless you do. そうでしょ？
Anyway, anyone has something to love. I am sure you do. If you really love it, there would be no reason why you love it. Just because you love it, you do it. 好きなものは好きだからしょうがない！Isn’t there a game like this? So please stop asking a fujoshi or a fudanshi why they like BL. Because such a question actually irritates them.
Tekochi said,
May 10, 2009 at 11:20 pm
My cousin likes BL stories, but he’s not gay at all. :<
He is also an otomen. ^^
gelangenie said,
May 11, 2009 at 2:55 am
The reason there aren’t as many gay fudanshi’s? It’s probably because gay guys have more ‘carnal’ needs that they can satisfy through other means–and in the real world at that. And since these other means are, by far, a lot more… engaging, they usually don’t see any reason to watch BL–they’re already living the fantasy.
But for everyone else, and for the gay guys who do, they’re probably there to satisfy a completely different part of themselves that enjoys watching the macho-tough-guy loving: perhaps bromance. Sam and Frodo did this for me, the fudanshi in me teared-up a little too.
bangin said,
May 11, 2009 at 3:21 am
Tekochi: I am seriously wanting more otomens. Can I make a brigade for otomen?
gelangenie: I see. I know that some gay hate that kind of androgynous looking since it is like a fairytale. Here is a point to distinct whether he is gay or merely a fudanshi.
子犬 said,
May 11, 2009 at 4:32 am
I wonder if it is harder for a straight boy to come out about liking BL then it is for a gay one? They are brave to admit it then. There are also Fujoshi that are not attracted to BL, but still enjoy it.
By the way, Brokeback Mountain is a movie gay man like (with the exception of the scene, which is unrealistic… like Yaoi Ana).
bangin said,
May 11, 2009 at 5:39 am
I know at least three fudanshis who has come out. But well, I don’t think they are who they are in public. They are open while they are allowed, so I don’t think they are so at work.
Brokeback Mountain is actually popular among fujoshis. They call it ホモ山.
w said,
May 11, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I’m curious about the term ホモ. I’ve seen it so often on the net and on fansites used in a relatively non-offensive manner (as far as I can remember, anyway) But a Japanese friend once told me not to use it because it’s derogatory, in the same way “homo” is in everyday English speech in most places. So which is it?
And I think it’d be awesome if more 腐男子 “came out”.
bangin said,
May 11, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Your friend is right. Even among gay, they don’t like to be called ホモ. To call your favorite character ホモ on the net or in a conversation is fine, but it would be offensive to real people.
jaredinnakano said,
May 11, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Japan can be confusing: straight fudanshis and straight soshokukeis. I love how with this over-abundance of heterosexuality, there is still a negative birth rate, huge men’s hair and the most severe male eyebrows on earth. The line between male vanity and moe is something that fujoshis and gay men can both enjoy!
taki-desu said,
May 11, 2009 at 7:01 pm
:O aww i always was confused about this ^^;; ha ha how useful to have someone clear it up for mi
over the years i’ve made a few male friends who would point out watching BL and mi first thought was the obvious but i get it now xD;
a good storyline was always something i personally look for as well
Selidor said,
May 11, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Most of the straight men I know would never try BL because they’re too afraid of being seen as gay and they think BL is all porn ^^;
I can understand why gay men wouldn’t like BL – I’m a fan and I get annoyed by the lack of reality sometimes! Although the gay manga I’ve seen isn’t very realistic either, it’s just a different sort of fantasy.
Marie said,
May 12, 2009 at 2:40 am
Interesting post ^^;; I’ve also wondered what would real gay people feel about BL. I think the main problem is not with the questions like why a fujoshi or a fudanshi like BL. But it’s the labeling or stereotyping of these people and as always, the labeling can create a false image.
imbeleth said,
May 12, 2009 at 5:21 am
My gay friends are all against BL and Yaoi, it irritates them to no end that I read them. “Stay a faghag,” they say. “Not fujoushi or whatever you call it. That’s way too freaky.” I’ll love to meet a fudanshi though! So much to talk about!
gelangenie said,
May 12, 2009 at 5:49 am
@imbeleth: fudanshi desu!! Junjou Romantica toteme daisuki desu yo!! sorekara, otoko no koibito ga imasu ^_^
bangin said,
May 12, 2009 at 9:48 am
Whoa, what happened while I was away? Thank you for your feedbacks.
jared: What confuses me the most is that a new word is being born putting aside otomen.
taki-desu: I am looking for a good story. Whatever it is, it is not a big deal to me as long as it is interesting.
Selidor: That is why most fudanshis are in the closet. I think thet do care about it more than fujoshis do.
Marie: I agree. We Japanese tend to label people even if it is wrong.
imbeleth: Thank you for your comment, and you proved what I said here, I mean, the fact that most gay people dislike yaoi. Good for you, now you got a fudanshi below.
gelangenie: I didn’t think someone would come out here. NIce Japanese.
jaredinnakano said,
May 12, 2009 at 12:24 pm
gelangenie, 僕も純情ロマンチカが大すき。Your Filipino Good Friday photos are a dirty pleasure. どうもありがとう。
Teko-chi said,
May 13, 2009 at 1:47 am
An otomen-fudanshi website? :O
bangin said,
May 13, 2009 at 2:24 am
What do you mean? This blog?
Nah, here is a blog by an otomen. :p
miskune haruna said,
June 29, 2009 at 4:48 am
Dude……. about the [seibetsu-uke] or whatever in that anime the guy does NOT cross dress. he only did that to get info on some guy. =_= baka……..
bangin said,
June 29, 2009 at 12:27 pm
At any rate, you should have commented on seibetsu-uke, not here. Here is about fudanshi.
Yes I know. I am not saying seibetsu-uke has to crossdress. Who are you talking about? Anyway, crossdressing is a way of making your favorite guy a seibetsu-uke. I think I explained it.
Please read the entry well before you say baka to me.
Palavra do Dia – Fudanshi | Blyme said,
July 2, 2010 at 6:12 pm
[...] sei até que ponto se usa o termo Fudanshi entre os fãs orientais e ocidentais. Neste ótimo blog, em inglês, temos a opinião e definição de um fudanshi japonês, o [...]
Shotaro-kun said,
September 20, 2010 at 7:49 am
Uhm, I’m gay and fudanshi, I really like BL, but I already know that all is fantasy. You mean “why?” Because is fun, cute and hot (sometimes) ;D
Ah, I also like shoujo, shounen, seinen, etc series. I mean if a story get my attention, I’ll read.
Bye.
Pd: sorry for my bad english, but It’s not my native languaje as you can tell xD
bangin said,
September 21, 2010 at 10:06 am
If a story is intersting, nothing matters.
I understand you, no problem!
krkr said,
September 25, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Having experience in real gay sex doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate fantasy about gay sex. It doesn’t matter if yaoi is unrealistic – fantasy is usually about things we can’t get in real life. Women in real life straight relationships read straight romances that are far from realistic but fulfil an emotional need.
krkr said,
September 25, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Hmm, one more thought occurred to me – I don’t like many straight romances for the same reason many gays hate yaoi – I seriously can’t relate to them even though I’m straight myself. It’s not just straight romance written by men that I don’t like. Just as many of them were written by women, and I just didn’t connect. This is why I don’t believe the unrealism is caused by the sexes or people of different sexual orientations being inherently unable to understand each other’s experiences, but because the purpose is different. Some women want to read fantasies I don’t because their values and particularly, beliefs about gender are different from mine, so different things turn them on (and off). Some of us value realism more than others. Yaoi for the most part doesn’t bother with realism for the same reason /manga/ for the most part doesn’t value realism – it’s fantasy.
bangin said,
September 26, 2010 at 5:22 am
Noted with thank you.
I like fantasy whatever it is. The thing is, the story is worth reading or not.
Jenn said,
January 6, 2011 at 11:19 pm
I hadn’t really thought that deeply about it i just like yaoi manga,[i personally don't know any males that like it]i like romance stories in general though.but prefer yaoi i never though of yaoi as real because its obviously not.but fantasy romance manga is the best.i’v never read any romance book where it’s really realistic but i don’t read it for that purpose.but because i simply enjoy a good story sometimes.guess i’m a semi fujoshi but i’ll never do cosplay that’s kind of weird to me.
bangin said,
January 7, 2011 at 12:58 pm
So do fudanshi. They just enjoy fantasy romance manga as well as shoujo manga.
LuluChan92 said,
June 23, 2011 at 10:58 am
Actually it’s shoujo that I find more unrealistic. That genre has deteriorated too much for my tastes. Well, I don’t say that yaoi is realistic, but most of them are not so over-the-top like most of the shoujo I’ve read in my 4 years being an otaku.
Oh, my younger brother is a fudanshi!!! Well, he’s also gay, but I never thought about those 2 facts being all that connected. Besides, I first knew he was a fudanshi and then he told me the rest just recently. But he doesn’t like my favorite stories, our tastes on yaoi are so different!!!
bangin said,
July 1, 2011 at 11:50 am
I see, so how different your taste is from your brother’s?
» Why Yu-Gi-Oh! is so homo? Must be the season of the Witch. 遊☆戯☆王 CiRCUS! said,
November 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm
[...] de Tvtropes ce matin que j’ai découvert que l’on surnommait les gars comme moi des Fudanshis (la version mâle des Fujoshi). Ben apparemment d’après une connasse dans une librairie, [...]
A Normal Person said,
January 30, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Fuck the fags.