This weekend, while the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area party people go in search of tricks, treats and Halloween merriment, boys love fans from all over the U.S. will be converging on the San Mateo Marriott Hotel to experience the 9th annual Yaoi-Con. Billed as "a celebration of male beauty and passion in anime and manga," Yaoi-Con promises a weekend of fun for girls/boys who love stories about boys who love boys.
Registration opens on Friday, October 30 at 1:00 pm. The swap meet starts at 3:00 pm and the opening ceremonies kick things off at 7:30 pm. The dealers room is open from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 31 and 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 1. Panels are scheduled from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am - 7:00 pm on Sunday.
One thing worth noting is that Yaoi-Con is an event that's strictly for fans age 18 and over. So if you're thinking of attending, leave your kids at home and bring your ID. Why? Boys love manga / anime runs the gamut from sweet teen romances to steamy erotica with extremely explicit sex scenes. Trust me, when a con has panels with titles like "Flogging 101" and "JAM-IT-IN: A Guide to Writing Gay Sex," the 18 and over thing is a good idea.
Although as previously announced, Guest of Honor Haruka Minami will not be in attendance, special guests Makoto Tateno and Kano Miyamoto will be signing their numerous graphic novels for fans on both Saturday and Sunday. Special guest artist Jo Chen (The Other Side of the Mirror, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will also be on hand in the dealers room all weekend.
Yaoi-Con has an ecclectic array of panels, from the fascinating to the utterly absurd -- but here's a list of events especially for manga fans:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
The dealers room and fan market room are open from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, and panels run from 9:30 - 5:00 pm. Please note that the dealers room will be closed for lunch from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.
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9:30 am - 10:00: Digital Manga Publishing / June Manga Industry Panel at Convene 1 / Main Events Room A
Find out what's new and coming soon from this Southern California publisher's three boys love imprints: June Manga, Doki Doki and 801 Media. -
10:00 am - 11:00 am: "Since the Birth of Boys Love" Panel with special guest Kano Miyamoto at Convene 1 / Main Events Room A
Learn more about the origins and history of boys love manga, plus get a taste of Miyamoto-sensei's creative process. -
11:00 am - 12:00 noon: Yaoi Press Industry Panel at Convene 2 / Main Events Room B
Yaoi-Con industry guest and Yaoi Press publisher Yamilla Abraham talks about the latest and greatest graphic novels and yaoi goodies from this publisher of original English manga. -
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm: Guest Focus: Makoto Tateno at Convene 1 / Main Events Room A
Manga artist Makoto Tateno, the creator of yaoi titles such as Yellow,and Hero Heel and fantasy manga titles such as King of Cards and Red Angel will be on hand to answer all your questions and maybe show off her sketching skills too. -
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm: Yaoi in Tokusatsu at Connect 5 / Panel Room D
Yaoi-Con has its share of "OMG/WTF" panels -- this is one of 'em. Tokusatsu refers to the costumed superhero TV shows created for kids, like Power Rangers or Kamen Rider. Panel hostess Angela will explain the yaoi/slash/homoerotic undertones in these "Super Sentai" series. -
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Miyamoto Kano Q&A and Autograph session at Connect 1 / Panel Room A
Deux Press' special guest Miyamoto Kano, the creator of Two of Hearts, Say Please and Lovers and Souls will be on hand to answer fans' questions, and sign copies of her graphic novels. -
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Makoto Tateno Autograph Session at Convene Ballroom Lobby
Buy or bring your copies of Tateno-sensei's many manga titles and get them signed by the creator herself. Digital Manga Publishing will also have early releases of the first volume of the new Yellow Omnibus edition and the limited edition Yellow cells for purchase, while they last.Please note that Tateno-sensei will only be signing copies of her books -- no autograph boards or fan art. Also, due to time constraints, she will not be able to do individual sketches.
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2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Gundam: Gay Since '79 at Connect 5 / Panel Room D
It seems that anytime you bring together more than two male characters in any given anime series, voila! There is potential for yaoi pairings. Mecha fans will cringe, but slash sci-fi fans will enjoy this exploration of the erotic side of what really goes on in the cockpits of those giant robots. >wink wink nudge nudge< -
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Comiket 101 at Connect 4 / Panel Room C
The motherlode of yaoi / slash doujinshi (fan-created comics) is Comic Market, a.k.a. "Comiket" -- the twice-yearly otaku madhouse at Tokyo Big Sight convention center in Odaiba. Find out the ins and outs of this mecca for yaoi manga fans and how you too can experience its insanity first hand. -
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Anime Music Video Contest at Convene Ballroom
The ever-popular anime music video contest is given a boys love twist with the Yaoi-Con AMV contest. -
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Cosplay Contest at Convene Ballroom
Yaoi-Con attendees get into the Halloween spirit as they show off their fabulous costume creations for prizes. -
9:00 pm - 11:30 pm: Valentine's Day Bishounen Auction at Convene Ballroom
Okay, never mind that Valentine's Day is months away -- this Yaoi-Con tradition gives fans a chance to "bid" on their favorite real-live "bishie." I don't know what happens once a bidder purchases the "bishie" of their choice. I don't want to know.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
The dealers room and fan market rooms are open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and panels run from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm. Please note that the dealers room will be closed for lunch from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.
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12:00 noon - 1:00 pm: Makoto Tateno Q&A and autograph session at Convene 1 / Main Events Room A
Manga artist Makoto Tateno will make a second appearance on Sunday to answer questions and show off some of her past and current projects. -
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Makoto Tateno Autograph Session at Convene Ballroom Lobby
Buy or bring your copies of Tateno-sensei's many manga titles and get them signed by the creator herself. Digital Manga Publishing will also have early releases of the first volume of the new Yellow Omnibus edition and the limited edition Yellow cells for purchase, while they last. -
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: "Foods Corrupted by Yaoi" at Connect 3 / Panel Room B
Sunday's choice for the WTF/OMG Yaoi-Con panel offers a discussion of the erotic use of food as demonstrated in several fan-favorite yaoi manga and anime series. Can I say "ew"? -
Time TBD: Autograph session with Miyamoto Kano at Deux Press table / Dealers Room
Missed seeing Kano-sensei on Saturday? Deux Press is offering another chance with a Sunday afternoon signing session. Check their table in the Dealers Room for times. -
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Art Auction at Convene 1 / Main Events Room A
Bid on an array of yaoi-themed art and memorabilia and find that one-of-a-kind find to take home with you. -
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Closing Ceremonies / Raffle at Convene 1 / Main Events Room A
Bid a fond farewell to your friends, old and new at the closing ceremonies, and hear a few closing words from the con organizers as they hint at their plans for the 10th anniversary of Yaoi-Con in 2010.
Several publishers will be offering deals, exclusives and early releases at Yaoi-Con:
DEUX PRESS / AURORA PUBLISHING
Deux Press is promising blow-out sale prices at their table, plus an assortment of "rare, imported doujinshi." Get there early for best selection.
DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING
As promised from their recent blog entry, Digital Manga Publishing will have early copies of Yellow 2: Episode 1, La Satanica, Selfish Mr. Mermaid Vol. 2, Great Place High School Student Council Vol. 1, Ciao Ciao Bambino, and Blue Sheep Reverie Vol. 2, and the highly anticipated omnibus edition of Little Butterfly by Hinako Takanaga.
YAOI PRESS
According to the Yaoi Press blog, the YP gang is "bringing extra good goodies with super sale discounts!" And a pair of Winter Demon cosplayers too, just for fun? Why, yes!
Also in attendance at the Yaoi-Con dealers room will be NETcomics, Kitty Media and Kinokuniya Bookstores.
Pre-registration is closed for Yaoi-Con, but weekend passes can be purchased at the door for $60, or Friday-only passes for $10, Saturday-only passes for $35 and Sunday-only passes for $25.
The San Mateo Marriott is located at 1770 South Amphlett Blvd., just south of San Francisco, and is conveniently located near the 101 Freeway and the San Mateo Bridge.
I'll be there on Saturday and Sunday, snapping photos. Are you going to Yaoi-Con? What are you most looking forward to checking out? And remember -- it's pronounced "yah-oy," not "yowEE." My ears thank you.
Image credit: © Makoto Tateno, © Miyamoto Kano, © Hinako Takanaga, © Biseinenya
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