Yaoi-Con


Yaoi-Con was an annual three-day anime convention, founded in 2001, aimed at fans of yaoi-related anime, manga, and other aspects of Asian culture. It typically took place during the Fall in California.
Since the 2012 edition, its organizer and main sponsor is Digital Manga Publishing. It is known mostly for its unique events that use volunteers known as "bishounen". The bishounen are male volunteers who represent the attractive characters shown in Yaoi manga, and run many of the events.

Programming

As with other anime conventions, Yaoi-Con had panels and workshops, a 24-hour video room, a manga library, swap meet, a Dealers' Room filled with merchandise, a cosplay Masquerade and an anime music video contest. In addition, Yaoi-Con held a fan fiction contest, Bishounen Bingo, and its extraordinarily popular Saturday night fundraising Bishounen Auction. At bingo, and the auction, the bishounen volunteers put on shows and strip to entertain the convention goers.
Each year Yaoi-Con sponsored at least one Japanese yaoi manga artist as guest of honor. And, as yaoi publishing expands in the U.S., the companies who attend Yaoi-Con have become interested in bringing guests with them. Guests of honor usually participated in question and answer/autograph sessions as well as sketch sessions where they demonstrate to attendees how they produce their work.
Because of the adult nature of its theme, Yaoi-Con required all attendees to be at least 18 and checks the legal ID of all attendees upon registration. As of 2003, 85% of Yaoi-Con membership were female, and mostly heterosexual.

Inactivity

As of 2018 there was no more updates after announced cancellation and as of 2020 their website stopped working.

History

Event history

Convention reports

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