Premonition of a break in Japan ... The trend of "BL drama" in Thailand's "BL Drama" Success "BL Drama" from Thailand "BL Drama" is a great break

During the self -restraint period, the Korean wave boom reigned, such as the “Memorial Wear of Love” and the “Rashi -in Class”, which gained enthusiastic popularity, but the number of fans is rapidly increasing through the Internet.This is a drama from Thailand (called "Y" in Thailand).

Why is the BL drama popular in Thailand, and is forecasting a break in Japan?I would like to analyze the background from the perspective of Thai culture and history.

"2GETHER" as the beginning of BL

The work of the Japanese Thai BL boom was sparked by the work called "2Gether".A popular BL novel in Thailand has been filmed in Thailand in February 2020, and 13 episodes were released in Thailand, and from around March, it was introduced to Japan through SNS, and has quickly won enthusiastic Japanese fans.。

(Photo provided: Content Seven / © GMMTV)

Synopsis is a school drama in which a male student Tine, who was asked by a male student at a university, tries to survive with Sarawat and fake romance, but gradually "the impersonation turns into real romance."The two leading actors and the male students surrounding them are all good styles and good faces.

During the distribution of 2Gethers, the topic of the world was hot due to the overlapping period of self -restraint.According to Timeout Magazine, Twitter has entered the world trend for 13 consecutive weeks, and the number of Instagram followers for two leading actors has increased by more than 1 million in a few weeks.

In the first place, BLs in Thailand were originally sold as novels in bookstores, and the readers were limited.However, in 2014, Thailand's first BL story "LOVE SICK" has begun to increase little by little since GMMTV, the largest GMM Grammy, was broadcast on television.

The full -fledged BL boom was said to be "SOTUS" (15 episodes) released in 2016.This is also a school love story called a romantic story of a college student and a new student.And in this 2GETHER, its popularity began to propagate not only in Thailand but also around the world.

GMMTV's director Nopanut Chawi Mall said to the local online media, "The first attempt was only a trial, but this was a positive reaction from Thai society, and the popularity has been boiling.Is a mainstream from the subculture. "

BL is no longer indispensable

In the BL viewer's popularity voting in Thailand, the first place was "SOTUS", the second and lower places were "THARNTYPE" (2019, 12 episodes), "Until We Meet Again" (2019, 17 episodes)., "2Gether" (2020, 13 episodes), "LOVE by CHANCE" (2018, 14 episodes), "Why R U?" (2020, 13 episodes), explosive popularity in Japan."2Gether" is ranked 4th.

「2gether」は人気投票では4位となった(Photo provided: Content Seven / © GMMTV)

In recent years, the number of young people watching dramas through the Internet, such as netflix and LINE TV, has been increasing, and these layers are boosting BL.In Thai LINE TV, BL dramas began to be broadcast in 2016, and 33 were aired to date."The BL program in 2019 was 5 % in 2019, but it was growing to 34 % in the first year of 2020," said Kanop Spamnop on the TV.It emphasizes that it is an important content.

These booms have a positive impact on the "Satapone Bookstore", which has published BL novels since 2018, and now have about 70 BL novels in major bookstores.Twenty titles are said to be a TV drama.

Thai BL fans are enthusiastic, and at the same time, the stage of the drama is overlapped with the scene where young people actually live, so it is also popular, which is also popular.It is spurred.

For example, in "2GETHER", there is a scene where Sarawatt shoots Tine's drunk and uploads it to Instagram.Many fans have criticized this scene, saying that they are not convinced, do not do that.

Dr. Utine Boon Oraya, a doctor of LGBT, said, "Many BL novels are both authors and readers, a teenager, and school life such as universities in which readers go are in a novel.It also has a popular background to matching the world. "

Professor Ronimas Utriat, who is studying Thai BL phenomena, pointed out that many of the BL novel writers were young women, saying, "The male student depicted in the BL symbolizes the ideal and desire of young women.It seems to reflect the appearance. For example, it seems to be reliable in the science system of engineering major, the appearance is cool, and the personality and family are ideal to set the ideal person's wishes for women.It is a popular secret. "

Why conscription tests become news every year

So, where is the foundation of the same way about Thai society that supports the popularity of BL, and the wide framework of LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender)?

In Thailand, a conscription test is basically conducted for boys who have reached the age of 21 every year.The Thai army is composed of volunteers and volunteers selected as a recruitment, and not all soldiers like Korea, that is, all members, are imposed on military service, but boys in the right age are drawn to military service.It is a system.

This year, a recruitment test for men over the age of 21 was conducted throughout Thailand from July 23.In Thailand, this conscription test is played on television, newspapers, and online news every year, but those who have been talking about recruitment tests are those who have been recruiting.

He was inspected in a bodycon that emphasized a large breast on a super mini skirt, smiling with a "disqualified certificate" saying "physical service inadequate", and a two -shot inspector in military uniforms.The appearance, the self -photographed self -made appearance, is crowded with the media and the Internet.If your appearance and heart are a woman in a family register, escape from conscription is a penalty, so every year you appear in the lottery venue every year and talk about it.

As you can see from this, Thailand is a relatively affordable country, and it is said that there are 18 kinds of gender, besides the two gender of men and women.In addition to gay, lesbians, and bisexuals, "Tom who likes male dressed women is Tom", "Tom like Tom is Tom Gay King", "Tom is a woman who likes Tom".It is said that there is a subdivided sex.

The scene where Thailand's tolerance was glimpsed was also the popular audition program "Thai Runs Gott Talent" in Thailand.The program, in which a person who excels in the United States and the United Kingdom performs songs and tricks in front of the judges and the audience, has gained extremely popularity in Thailand.There is one singer who has appeared on this program and has been played 7.7 million times on YouTube.

A long black hair to the chest and a tall and head -length woman sang with a stunning singing voice, and the audience and the judges are enthusiastic, and the woman sings in the middle of the way.The audience stands up and responds with applause to the voice of a thick man, and the judges do not hide the surprise.

She sings and sings on the stage with a voice and voice, then sings in the voice of a born man, and warmly supports it.I have to feel sex.

Buddhism teaching to respect each other

Thailand is a Buddhist who is enthusiastic about 95 % of the people.In Buddhism, the teaching of Buddhism that makes life compassionate and respect for each other, as "there is a possibility that all living things can become Buddhas" from the teachings of "all the people in the world."There is.

Furthermore, the teachings of Buddhism, "I live carefully regardless of the past or the future," "I forgot yesterday, I don't know tomorrow, so now, live hard here."It can be said that it has nurtured a sexual minority -friendly society.

Southeast Asian countries have historical backgrounds that were European powers colonies.British colonies (Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia), French colonies (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos), Dutch colonies (Indonesia), and Spanish colonies (Philippines).

During the colonial era, the idea and law of "homosexuality" were brought in, and it was thoroughly thorough in the long colonial rule, and Thailand protects independence without being able to control colonials.did.As a result, Thailand has not been forced to share the values of Europe and the United States historically.It is said that this history is also a tolerance between the people against LGBT.

In addition to such religions and history, it has been pointed out that the national character of Thai people is in the background.In the case of gender identity disorder that has "self -awareness" that is different from "biological gender", Thai society has a high barrier and hurdle when choosing "to live honestly".There is a reality that there is no.

In Thailand, respect for the other party is generally expressed in "Wai (Gassho)".This is a courtesy with a light bow to monks and elders, and this greeting "Wai" is a lubricating oil in Thai society, how to get along with multi -ethnic and diverse people.It is also the birth of wisdom to move.I guess it supports a generous society that is also tolerant of sexual minorities and social vulnerable.

Islam does not recognize the existence of LGBT

These Thai society is an overwhelming number of Islamic countries, such as Malaysia and Brunei in Southeast Asia (a nation whose Islam is stipulated as state religions), and about 88 % of Muslims, although not Islamic countries.It is a very different point from Indonesia, which is occupied by.

Islamic does not basically admit the existence of LGBT.A kind of illness can be discriminated against and abuse in all areas of political and economic and social culture.

In April 2019, Brunei decided that homosexuality and affair were a crime, whiplash, forbidden and punished.However, the application is currently in place due to the opposition from the international community and human rights organizations.

In Indonesia, homosexuality is not a violation of the law, but in Aceh, the northern part of Sumatra Island, which is only allowed to apply to the Islamic law "Shalia", affair, homosexuality, and minor intercourse are subject to the cosmetic norms.Published whiplashes are often featured in the news.Until then, the differences between Islamism and Buddhism, which exclude "Others, Pagans", are the tolerance of the country and society in LGBT, including homosexuality, including homosexuality.It can be said that they are deeply involved.

Nevertheless, homosexuality and discrimination against LGBT exist in Thai society.It is true that soldiers, police officers, judicial officials, public servants, large companies, etc. are said to have implicit discrimination.Some elders claim to be "LGBT for those who have poorly performed in the previous life are LGBT", and they have received "discrimination" among Buddhism reincarnation.

In Thailand, the idea of connecting serious HIV infection and homosexuality is still strong, and there are aspects that promote discrimination.

There are quite a few people who have the idea that "LGBT people and friends are normally treated and have no discomfort, but if they have such people in their family, they will inevitably be confused."It indicates that LGBT does not completely have citizenship in Thai society.

LGBT adoption is spreading in world other than entertainment

Nevertheless, in recent years, the social structure has gradually changed.In the 2019 general election, four LGBT members in Thailand have been born, strengthening their activities to pass the same -sex marriage bill.

In addition to the adoption of LGBT for flight attendants (CA), the airline has begun to be worn in uniforms based on "self -admission" other than official events, and there are also universities that install a ladyboy -only toilet.It is appearing.In 2015, a transgender -only medical institution operated by the Thai Red Cross Research Center was also established.

In this way, the number of LGBT people who are limited to the world of entertainment, beauty and barber, restaurant business, and entertainment businesses in Thai society is definitely increasing.

Under these circumstances, the BL spreads from a novel to the world of movies and dramas, grabbing the hearts of Thai youth regardless of gender, and gaining citizenship, and in many countries as a "Thai style" boom.The increase in the increase is that the tolerance of LGBT, not only in Thailand, but also around the world, will trigger even more.