The academics contributing to “Boys Love Manga and Beyond” come to the defense of the genre known as “boys love,” which first appeared in Japanese manga — involving male-male romantic and sexual relationships — but has now expanded into animation and games.

Produced primarily by and for females, it has come under increasing attack over the past two decades, initially by gay male activists and later due to changes in government legislation that restricted its availability to minors in Tokyo.

A number of the essays take a dry approach, presenting the historical lineage of the genre — which can be traced back to texts such as “The Tale of Genji” — and meticulously outlining its many subgenres. Remaining chapters, however, present lively discussion that addresses the producers and consumers of boys love media in Japan. Read More