Fujojocast No. 13: A Thai BL Primer with Thomas Baudinette

Explicit content warning

05/14/20 • -1 min

BL is taking an interesting turn and it’s not happening on the shelves of Ikebukuro but on television broadcasts and streams in Thailand. Thai BL has become a hot topic in recent years and as someone invested in boys love culture, the world of boys love in Thailand has definitely piqued my curiosity. My enabler for this is none other than Dr. Thomas Baudinette who has watched every Thai BL ever released and was more than happy to give me the lowdown on Thai BL.

Show Notes

As mentioned in the podcast, Thomas was one of the first anthropologists who has written on Thai BL in English. He has an article that explores the early years of the phenomenon as seen through Lovesick and he has also mentioned in the podcast that he’s currently developing a book on Thai BL. Recently, he also gave a online talk on Thai BL which is definitely something worth listening to as well. His work on Thai BL has led to articles on Asahi Japan that talks about the explosion of Thai BL in the region, his recommended shows, and the new queer practices emerging from this new Thai BL Idol culture.

The show also mentioned a chapter written by Dredge Kang who touches a bit on this culture in his chapter for BL Opening Doors (Japanese only). For those of you who are able to read Japanese, I strongly recommend this book so that you may see the transformation of the genre in the region.

Over the years, I’ve seen Tom’s research grow and I’m fascinated by its connection with the Philippines. In this podcast, we also discussed why Filipino fans are at the centre of Thai BL, the politics of its consumption, and its engagement with our local BL community. After the recording of this podcast, the local publisher for original BL, Black Ink, tangentially touches on Thai BL as they discuss this genre with one of our renowned gay writers, Danton Remoto.

What is clear from this podcast is that BL is changing its shape and it’s no longer centred in Japan alone. Thailand is writing its own chapter and so is China with danmei. The Philippines is thinking of creating their own BL too.

Certainly, BL as we know it is changing. Isn’t it a fun time to be a BL fan?

Fujojocast #13: A Thai BL Primer with Thomas Baudinette

Download Episode

OP Music: Kan Gu, 2gether’s Theme Song

ED Music: The Ultimate Saraleo Remix by gay spoon (fanvid)

Show Notes

Certainly, BL as we know it is changing. Isn’t it a fun time to be a BL fan?

Fujojocast #13: A Thai BL Primer with Thomas Baudinette

Download Episode

OP Music: Kan Gu, 2gether’s Theme Song

ED Music: The Ultimate Saraleo Remix by gay spoon (fanvid)

Previous Episode

Fujojocast #12: Gay Manga Dialogues with Thomas Baudinette (Part 2)

Herculion’s Full Service. Illustration by Mazjojo

I am finally back from check republic ((as my students call final markings)) with the second part of my conversation with Thomas Baudinette on gay manga.

In the last episode, we talked about Tom’s research, how he stumbled upon gay manga, and how this genre is consumed by readers in Japan. As for this episode, Tom and I will continue and conclude our discussions on gay manga as it moves in transnational spaces.

In this Episode

Thomas and I continue our discussions on gay manga. This time, we look into new concepts of “hard” BL or “hard” yaoi as terms fans use to describe what Tom considers as hybrids of BL manga and yaroukei. As we discuss the works of some artists such as Matsu Takeshi and Zariya Ranmaru, we acknowledge that these works are changing the landscape of BL manga and has shifted the eroticism of the manga to what some of his respondents consider as pornographic.

We continue to discuss the authenticity of these hybrid manga and see its in impact in transnational spaces. Thomas and I look into the works of Asian artists such as Mazjojo and Guilt|Pleasure and see how their works highlight the transformations of gay comic, as seen through this transnationational concept of “bara”.

As we conclude the show, we summarise the main points of the show and reflect upon the future of gay manga as it continues to navigate in a transnational space.

Fujojocast #12: Gay Manga Dialogues with Thomas Baudinette Part 2

Note: The opinions of both Thomas and Khursten do not represent their institutions

OP: Doukyusei BGM 1 by Oshio Kotaro (from the Doukyusei Movie OST)
EP: Doukyusei BGM 1 by Oshio Kotaro (from the Doukyusei Movie OST)

Show Notes

Scarlet Beriko’s BL Design Manuals: Kissing Scenes, Love Scenes, Mousou Poses) Ranmaru Zariya: Coyote, Void, Nemuri Otoko, Pet Keiyaku Kinnniku BL Naono Bohra (

Next Episode

Fujojocast No. 14: When Asian Fans Socially Distance because of Cultural Tensions in Fandom

Photo of a circle. Taken by the author at Comic Frontier 2018.

In case you missed the memo, fandom is not a safe place, especially for BIPOC fans.

It’s something that we Asian fans have been keenly aware of since our engagement online. It’s something that has been documented by scholars. In the last week, as different organisations respond to justice and equality, the Organisation for Transformative Works also made an effort to address racism in fandom. Of course, there are people who felt these promises are empty as there is no promise of structural change that supports BIPOC fans.

This recent drama has left my friends and me in a tiff, as we have been enraged as fans over the years. The ways in which Western ideas, practices, and morals are shoved down our throats has left a bitter taste in our fan experiences that, more often than not, we disengage with fandoms popular in the West or we seek for circles that understand our contexts. For a space that claims to be “our” own, this should not be the case and yet this displacement continues and it impacts the way we express our fandom.

Here are links to some of the articles and discussions I mentioned here and others that may also reflect the cultural tensions we face in fandom.