Why Banana Fish Isn't (But Kind of Is) a Boys Love Classic
By Timothy Blake Donohoo – May 17, 2023
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Banana Fish, a classic manga from the 1980s and 1990s, provided a look at the life
of American street gangs during those eras. Although it debuted at a time when it
wouldn't have been able to become mainstream in the West, it's widely regarded as
one of the best crime manga in Japan. This reputation has been revitalized in recent
years, following the 2018 MAPPA anime adaptation.
One of the most notable elements of Banana Fish is its homoerotic nature. Despite
not being an official Boys Love series, Banana Fish has several cross-genre elements
that were influenced by BL. Here's how, despite not being classified as BL, the series
still ranks as one of the most prototypical and mainstream examples of it.
Before becoming an anime, the series began as a manga from Akimi Yoshida that
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ran from 1985 to 1994, amassing almost 20 tankobon volumes. The story follows a
young street thug named Ash, who, after a series of mysterious events, begins
investigating the meaning behind the phrase "banana fish." Ash tends to his
mentally ill older brother, who came home from Vietnam severely impaired after
going ballistic, and stating the same "banana fish" term. Ash is also the sexual
plaything of a French mob boss, which both keeps him out of, and puts him into,
trouble.
Along the way to discovering what the odd phrase means, Ash befriends rival gang
members, and a pair of investigators from Japan. Chief among them is the young
assistant, Eiji, who becomes much more involved with Ash than either of them
expected. What ensues is a story of gang warfare and street crime in a derelict New
York, a look into the America's attempts to topple foreign powers, and perhaps one
of the most understated same-sex romances in manga, at least at the time. That has
led many to question whether the romance was merely a subplot, or if it truly
defines the genre of Banana Fish.
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Another focus in the series is sexual exploitation, mostly in the form of rich older
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gentlemen essentially coercing young boys into sex trafficking. This makes sexuality,
particularly homosexuality, a chief part of the storyline, even if any actual
consummation is pretty much exclusively non-consensual. This still ties somewhat
into the shojo and arguably Boy's Love genres, but certainly looks at things in a
much less idealistic fashion.
Whether the series is a Boys Love tale itself, it's undeniable that Banana Fish has
become a huge influence on that genre. This stems mainly from its more realistic
look at relationships and real-world issues, as well as having a focus beyond mere
smooches. Ultimately, it might be up to fans to decide for themselves.
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