shounenai

Shounen ai is a Japanese term used to describe media that focuses on romantic or affectionate relationships between male characters, typically aimed at a female audience. In English-language fandom, it is often used to distinguish non-explicit or lightly romantic material from yaoi, which emphasizes sexual content, with "boy's love" (BL) serving as an umbrella term.

Etymology-wise, shounen ai literally means "boy love" (shounen = boy, ai = love). Historically, the label arose within fan communities in the late 20th century to describe certain male/male relationships in manga and doujinshi.

Historically, shounen ai emerged alongside yaoi in Japanese fanzines and early BL publishing, gaining broader attention in the 1990s and 2000s as translations and licensed works reached international audiences.

Content and tone vary widely: many works center on emotional romance, character development, and consent-based storytelling, while some titles include more explicit content labeled separately as yaoi. The target readership is often, but not exclusively, female.

In contemporary discussions, shounen ai is sometimes viewed as an older or narrower term; some fans use BL as a broader, more inclusive label for male/male romance across media, while others reserve shounen ai for non-explicit stories.

Critiques address representation, the potential objectification of male-male relationships presented for female readers, and stereotypes about gender roles, though advocates point to diverse storytelling and cross-cultural exchange within the genre.