- Badi (magazine)
March 2004 issue
:"For other uses of Badi, see disambiguation."" Badi " (バデイ) is a monthly Japanese magazine for gay men. The title comes from the Japanese pronunciation of "buddy." "Badi" is published by Terra Publications.
Gay magazines in Japan, along with much gay culture, are segregated by "type"; most are aimed at an audience with specific interests. "Badi" frequently has approximately 500-1000 pages, including several pages of glossy colour and some black and white photographs and drawings of young, fit men in their teens and early twenties (these photographs are censored in accordance with Japan's rules; while they feature explicit depictions of sex, genitals — and most pubic hair — are obscured). Despite the pornographic pictures and stories, however, "Badi" is not mainly a pornographic magazine.
"Badi" appeals to a young market (and to admirers of younger men). It features fashion, health and relationship articles and community news and event listings as well as the stories — often pornographic and several in comic form — common to all gay men's magazines in Japan. There are also advertisements from gay-related and gay-friendly businesses such as spas, clubs and hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants, host bars (hustler bars), brothels, and retail shops.
Readers can also place personal ads free of charge, and each month there are several pages of these, most from men in search of romantic attachments, friends or sex partners. Such ads have long been a popular way for gay men to meet each other in Japan, though text messaging and the internet are probably more popular now. "Badi" has developed a user-friendly system of icons to complement personal ads, which allow readers to quickly scan the pages for icons that match their specifications. This service is also available on the website.
The magazine is printed in Japanese only, and currently sells for ¥1500.
External links
* [http://www.badi.jp/ "Badi" homepage] ja
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