Category Archives: Asia

Happy Sexy Italian Yaoi Bara New Year! Gai Ragazzi Comi.

Posted on December 31, 2010 by | 1 comment

It’s not such a small world, after all. This ciao! to the new year is from Awakening Art, the site of an Italian illustrator who makes, collects and promotes gay erotic comics and illustrations. Many, like this one, are influenced by the Japanese manga genres of Yaoi, or boy’s love, and Bara, or Gai Comi, which features older, tougher characters and scenarios. The term Bara probably came from Bara Kei or Ordeal by Roses, the title of a 1961 book of semi-nude images of gay author Yukio Mishima by photographer Eikoh Hosoe. Barazoku was the first mainstream gay magazine in Asia, and began publication in 1971. And since the 1980s, the term bara-eiga or rose film has been used to describe gay cinema. Look forward to some genuine Japanese Bara on this site in 2011. Meantime, open up, enjoy the ride…and pop a cork! Ciao!

1 Comment

Posted in Art and Artists, Asia, Comics, Europe

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Sights seen in San Francisco Japantown Kinokuniya Mall

Posted on December 4, 2010 by | Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Toys, boys, and sushi.

The Kinokuniya Mall.

Happy Birthday, Kid.

Leave a comment

Posted in Japan, Photography, San Francisco, Signage, Subcultures

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Taiwan Cinema: A Contested Nation on Film – from Duke U’s Hong in 2011

Posted on December 1, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Friend of this site Guo-Juin Hong is looking forward to the March 2011 release of his book Taiwan Cinema: A Contested Nation on Film. Hong lives with his partner in Durham NC, teaches at Duke University, and drops digital gems such as this into the social ‘net. Taiwan Cinema is available for pre-order at Amazon.com Congratulations, Guo-Juin!

Leave a comment

Posted in Asia, SCANDAL: Politics, Crime, Revolution and More., Scholarship

Tagged , , , , , , ,

“Out and Vote!” Taiwan Gay Pride Parties for Policy Change

Posted on October 30, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Revelers at Taiwan Pride - Photo Reuters

In Taiwan, the Chinese speaking world’s largest Pride Celebration is underway. Like Pride celebrations everywhere, glitter and muscle abound. And like many, this party comes with a deeper message about human rights and dignity. Numbers speak…and with numbers can come political power. This year’s theme is “Out and Vote!” The Taipei Times reports.

Leave a comment

Posted in Asia, Taiwan

Tagged , , , ,

Cold War Red China Gay Comic Book Hero Saves Drowning Pal

Posted on September 17, 2010 by | 4 comments

Comrade in Arms

From friend of the site and Duke professor Hong Guo-Juin, who notes: “It is in fact from a comic books in 1960s China, to quote my friend who shared this image with me, ‘about spies and revolutionary war and…about two comrades-in-arms, literally!'”

4 Comments

Posted in China, Comics

Tagged , , , , , ,

Don’t Ask: Camping Soldiers are all a Gaga in Afghanistan

Posted on April 29, 2010 by | 1 comment

Taking a break from the horrors of war, these US soldiers camp it up to Lady Gaga’s hit Telephone. They don’t ask and don’t tell. But they do keep camping and dancing the swiveling hips. Thanks to Joe Jervis of Joe My God for this bit of strange fabulosity.

1 Comment

Posted in Afghanistan, Music, Video

Bacha Bazi – The “dancing boys” of Afghanistan

Posted on April 22, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Private dancer: The practice of bacha bazi ('boy for play') is growing in Afghanistan. Photograph: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

The PBS documentary series Frontline has produced an investigative piece on the ancient Afghan practice of Bacha Bazi, translated as “boy play.” Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi reports in The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan. Watch the full 53 minute program on-line at PBS. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad also reported on the apparently growing phenomena in September of last year in the UK’s Guardian.

Leave a comment

Posted in Afghanistan, Video

Tagged , , ,