<p>Well I was surprised that my question didn't really get that much interest really, but I think I may know why bears appear in Yaoi's and quite frequently. I think this is in relation to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_%28gay_culture%29" rel="nofollow">gay culture</a>.....</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In male bisexual and gay culture, a <em>Bear</em> is a <strong>large, hairy man who projects an image of rugged masculinity. Bears are one of many LGBT communities</strong> with events, codes, and a culture-specific identity.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It obviously does not mean an actual bear, but in Yaoi's I think it showcases or quite frequently shows/depicts bears as to relate to (well obviously) homosexuals or gays and the definition for yaoi is....</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Yaoi, also known as Boys' Love, is a Japanese genre of fictional media <strong>focusing on homoerotic romantic or sexual relationships between male characters</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Also see <a href="https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130911103627AAVwei7" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-07T04:32:15.170Z
2014-06-07T04:32:15.170Z
Izumi-reiLuLu
<p>I'm no expert, but sometimes a member of a gay couple can be called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_%28gay_culture%29" rel="nofollow">Bear</a>. This man is usually rugged and macho, and usually hairy. </p>

<p>Wikipedia describes a <strong>Teddy</strong> Bear as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A fully hairy Bear. Chest, back, beard, everything is hairy</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So perhaps this is a reference to that, seeing as you mention it occurs significantly often in yaoi?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T21:18:33.493Z
2014-05-28T21:18:33.493Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>It may be because the mangaka, Nakamura Shungiku, likes to show link between her two works, Junjou Romantica and Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi. In Junjou Romantica, bears have debuted the work as "Suzuki-san" and hence maybe she likes to show links using the bear and bunny mascots</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-17T16:36:50.363Z
2015-06-17T16:36:50.363Z
HisokaNaSora
<p>In Yaoi I have fairly noticed a highly recurring thing which is <strong>Bears</strong>. In particular I am aiming this at Yaoi's such as Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi and Junjou Romantica.</p>

<p>Examples:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uF6Rj.jpg" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XHQYJ.jpg" alt="enter image description here"> <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jYHRE.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>So my question is <strong>what is the relationship between the re-occurring bears seen in Yaoi's such as Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi and Junjou Romantica</strong> and <strong>are bears related to homosexuals in yaoi?</strong> and where did the idea of <strong>bears</strong> come from? <strong>Why bears?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T11:05:58.210Z
Perhaps some sort of reference to [Pedobear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedobear)?
Madara's Ghost
<tropes>
Why are bears in yaoi animes?
# Why are bears in yaoi animes?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-05-28
In Yaoi I have fairly noticed a highly recurring thing which is **Bears**. In particular I am aiming this at Yaoi's such as Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi and Junjou Romantica.

Examples:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/uF6Rj.jpg)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/XHQYJ.jpg) ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/jYHRE.jpg)

So my question is **what is the relationship between the re-occurring bears seen in Yaoi's such as Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi and Junjou Romantica** and **are bears related to homosexuals in yaoi?** and where did the idea of **bears** come from? **Why bears?**
**Tags:** tropes
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Perhaps some sort of reference to [Pedobear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedobear)?  
---
## 3 answers
### Answer by username_0 on 2014-06-07. Score: 1 | Accepted answer
Well I was surprised that my question didn't really get that much interest really, but I think I may know why bears appear in Yaoi's and quite frequently. I think this is in relation to [gay culture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_%28gay_culture%29).....

> In male bisexual and gay culture, a *Bear* is a **large, hairy man who projects an image of rugged masculinity. Bears are one of many LGBT communities** with events, codes, and a culture-specific identity.

It obviously does not mean an actual bear, but in Yaoi's I think it showcases or quite frequently shows/depicts bears as to relate to (well obviously) homosexuals or gays and the definition for yaoi is....

> Yaoi, also known as Boys' Love, is a Japanese genre of fictional media **focusing on homoerotic romantic or sexual relationships between male characters**

Also see [here](https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130911103627AAVwei7).
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2014-05-28. Score: 2
I'm no expert, but sometimes a member of a gay couple can be called a [Bear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_%28gay_culture%29). This man is usually rugged and macho, and usually hairy.

Wikipedia describes a **Teddy** Bear as:

> A fully hairy Bear. Chest, back, beard, everything is hairy

So perhaps this is a reference to that, seeing as you mention it occurs significantly often in yaoi?
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2015-06-17. Score: 1
It may be because the mangaka, Nakamura Shungiku, likes to show link between her two works, Junjou Romantica and Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi. In Junjou Romantica, bears have debuted the work as "Suzuki-san" and hence maybe she likes to show links using the bear and bunny mascots
---
