|
is Japan's first male gay magazine commercially circulated.〔There had been a member-only magazine called ''Adonis'' and its extra issue ''Apollo'' in around 1960.〕 It began publication in July 1971 by Daini Shobō's owner's son and editor . It is Japan's oldest and longest running monthly magazine for gay men. However, it has ceased publication 3 times due to the publisher's financial hardships. In 2008, Itō has announced the 400th issue would be the final one. The title means "the rose tribe" in Japanese, hinted from King Laius' homosexual episodes in Greek mythology. The magazine has been printed in Japanese only. ==Features== Gay magazines in Japan, along with much gay culture, are segregated by "type"; most are aimed at an audience with specific interests. ''Barazoku'', however, attempted to reach a broad audience and thus contained "a little of something for everybody". A typical issue of ''Barazoku'' had approximately 300 pages, including several pages of glossy colour and some black and white photographs of younger, fit men in their late teens and twenties (these photographs were censored in accordance with Japan's rules, which require the obscuring of genitals and pubic hair). Despite the inclusion of pornographic pictures, however, ''Barazoku'' was not a pornographic magazine. The bulk of a typical issue of ''Barazoku'' was made up of articles and short stories, advice, how-tos, interviews, news, arts, and community listings. In comparison with other gay magazines like ''Badi'', ''Barazoku'' typically had fewer pictures and less manga stories and news, which may have contributed to its demise. Much of the magazine's revenue came from the "personal ads" - advertisements placed by readers in search of romantic attachments, friends or sex partners. Such advertisements have long been a popular way for gay men to meet each other in Japan, but the advent of the internet, with its free dating sites, also contributed to the magazine's eventual end, especially when such sites became accessible from mobile phones. Along with the rise in use of the internet and a decrease in paid advertising, ''Barazoku'' blamed its demise on the increasing inclusion of gay news in mainstream publications. ''Barazoku'' was Japan's oldest gay magazine, and was in print for 33 years. First published in 1971, ''Barazoku'' was known as a trailblazer for other gay publications and a leader in Japanese gay culture. During its 33 years, the magazine survived mainstream disapproval and legal injunctions. ''Barazoku'' was the first gay magazine in Asia to be sold at mainstream bookshops, such as Kinokuniya. It became such a cultural phenomenon that its title has entered the mainstream language as a synonym for "gay" and gay manga. In its early years, the magazine published artwork by Goto Mishima. Founder Ito's determination to fight discrimination led the magazine to publish an interview with Japan’s first known AIDS sufferer when the mainstream media refused to address the issue. The demise of ''Barazoku'' may come as a blow to gays in isolated communities in Japan: the magazine's strongest sales came from small, independent bookshops in such areas. Several attempts were made to restart the magazine, twice in 2005, and then again in 2007. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Barazoku」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|