Yaoi-Con is the only Western fan convention dedicated solely to the yaoi genre of Japanese anime and manga. The event will take place at the Marriott San Mateo-San Francisco Airport hotel in the South San Francisco Bay area.
Created primarily by women for a largely female audience, yaoi is unique in its exploration of deep platonic bonds and romantic relationships between male characters. The intense and highly idealized examples of love and romance commonly found in yaoi works are a major factor in the genre's soaring popularity outside Japan, including the U.S. In its country of origin, many popular mainstream mangaka or manga artists had their start in the genre.
Since its inception, Yaoi-Con has been committed to the promotion and celebration of this unique genre, inviting guests who represent the broad spectrum of art and stories available. This year, the convention welcomes veteran illustrator Mamiya Oki and novelist Tsubasa Kawahara as our guests of honor. These two have collaborated on the PLATONIC DANCE and JADOU novel series (the latter of which has also appeared in manga format). Oki is a celebrated illustrator whose work can also be seen in the LOCUS OF BLUE and RECORD OF THE DELFINIAN WAR novels. These two will be attending focus panels and autograph sessions during the convention.
Yaoi-Con would also like to welcome several guests who will be appearing at the convention courtesy of their publishers. Digital Manga Press has invited manga artist Hinako Takanaga, author of the popular title LITTLE BUTTERFLIES, while Yaoi Press will be bringing the Italian duo Dany & Dany (Daniela Serri and Daniela Orr
