YAOI MANGA BOOKSTORES IN IKEBUKURO, TOKYO: BOYS LOVE, BISHONEN COMIC BOOKS.
Yowee for yaoi! Sebastian, the Black Butler from the popular manga, welcomes otaku into an Ikebukuro manga store dedicated to Boys’ Love — Japanese comics about intimacies between men.
The recurring theme in yaoi is romantic relationships between the male characters — usually young beautiful boys (bishonen).
The “action” can get quite explicit. Usually, one has the seme (top) role, while the other is uke.
Interestingly, most readers of yaoi manga are not gay men — but women seeking romance stories. As one told me, “Most of the time, real relationships cause trouble and we don’t want to feel hurt. Reading yaoi is a flight from reality. No woman exists between you and the boys in the stories.”
That’s why “fan service” moments, such as kisses between male Jrock musicians, get fans swooning.
The Ikebukuro district of Tokyo is boys love central. Be sure to visit the Swallowtail butler cafe, where 19th century style pretty boys serve you tea. Nearby, there’s a large selection of yaoi manga and figurine stores. To get there, please check out my Ikebukuro map and guide.
I photographed a Shibuya butlers cafe for my book, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo. Please check it out — there are stories and images from Tokyo’s strangest themed cafes.
Do you read yaoi? If so, what is it about the male relationships or themes that compels you? Why do you think yaoi is popular in Japan among women?
Song of the Day: Here’s one of the many Visual Kei fan service videos on the net.
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SCOTTISH FOLD CAT HEALTH, PERSONALITY: SCOTTISH FOLDS, CUTE FAT BABY KITTENS FOR LIFE! FAQ ABOUT BASIL FARROW.
I’m lucky that my work enables me to travel so much (all trips are sponsored or paid for my companies, and always disclosed on this blog). I’m currently in Hong Kong and Macau, and then Italy next month.
The downside… I miss my Scottish Fold son, Basil Farrow. I know he’s in good hands, and I bought him cute presents. But life’s not the same without this fuzzy-face!
Many of you ask me questions about my earless kitty cat. In this post, I’ll attempt to answer the most popular queries; feel free to leave more in the comments.
Q: What happens to Basil Farrow when La Carmina travels the world?
A: He stays with his grandparents (my parents) in Vancouver. Don’t worry; they smother him with attention and spoil him silly. Basil is sensitive, so it’s best for him to stay in a familiar place rather than go on the road with me.
Q: Where did Basil Farrow come from? Where can I get a Scottish Fold?
A: Basil Farrow comes from a famous acting family! He grew up in Bridgewater, Connecticut with his grandma (Mia Farrow) and daddy (Ronan Farrow) — hence the blond fur and big eyes. I went to their house for Thanksgiving and fell in love with this round-faced teddy-bear. Since the Farrows were very busy at the time, we decided Basil could stay with me temporarily. Eventually, he ended up sticking with me permanently (though he kept his original last name!)
The Farrows got Basil from a Connecticut breeder. Unfortunately, they no longer breed Scottish Folds. However, there are many purebred Fold breeders around the US and worldwide; do your research, and get referrals. There is also the Scottish Fold Rescue to help abandoned cats find new homes.
Q: Why doesn’t Basil Farrow have ears?
A: He’s a Scottish Fold cat — a breed with folded ears. Basil’s are so small and folded, however, that it looks like he has no ears at all!
Q: What is Basil’s personality like?
A: He’s the sweetest teddy bear; he’s never scratched anyone in his life. Loves cuddling and tummy rubs, and “wahhhs” for attention (he doesn’t say “meow”). You can hear and see Basil in action on our YouTube channel.
Q: Is your cat overweight?
A: Basil looks like a Garfield, but he’s not as heavy as you think! Scottish Folds have round bodies and thick fur that makes them look plump. However, his vet says he’s within the healthy weight range. I only feed him byproduct-free, grain-free, high quality food, as well as catgrass and organic plain kefir.
Q: What’s up with the sideways feet?
A: If Scottish Folds are improperly bred, they have bone and joint problems. Basil doesn’t have this problem, but the same gene that causes the folded ears also made his feet point sideways! He’s perfectly healthy, and can jump and run around — he just looks like Charlie Chaplin sometimes.
For daily photos of Basil Farrow (my celebrity Scottish Fold cat), please follow my Twitter and add him on Facebook.
What happens to your pets when you travel? Got more questions about Basil Farrow? Write a comment and I’ll answer.
Song of the Day: Apoptygma Berzerk – Until the end of the world (The world was supposed to end today… did it?)
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LA CARMINA
