>Hugz<

Korean band " Monni " released their second album this year in five years after their first album in 2005. I heard their song for the first time, when I visited clubs around Hongik Univ areas. I liked them instantly. But recently I came across the fact that their promotion video for " Leaving Me " was banned for lesbianism. Now I like Monni even more. :)

Recently I bought iPod touch. I installed some apps for gays. Ie scruff and grindr. I got shocked how open and proud korean gays are. So many pics from those who are not afraid or shamed of who they are. So impressed I am.

Ihara Saikaku is a famous Japanese writer in 1600s. He wrote many modern novels including, Life of an Amorous Man and The Eternal Storehouse of Japan . Safe from Christianism through centuries, Japan has old traditions of homosexual relationships. So Saikaku also wrote on homosexual relationships which were common among samurais and monks in this book.

James Baldwin's 2 novels, Go Tell It on the Mountain and Giovanni's room were translated in Korean in 1980's. While searching for "Giovanni's room" in local libraries, I came to know the fact. After some more research I could purchase the book from one used books store(which was several months ago, maybe more than a year ago).

The title "Notes of a desolate man" was changed to Korean title meaning "The portrait of a gay man". The subpublisher knows how to sell a book, I suppose. It was almost 9 years ago since I read this novel. So I didn't remember anything about the story. I came across this book while moving my books here and there.

No Regret is a Korean queer movie. One is an orphan who became sex worker. And the other is rich boy with a secret agenda and fiancee!!!! This movie is very intense in every way. I have watched it before and I bought the 2-disk DVD yesterday. But I am not sure when I watch this movie. Even though I'm a huge fan of queer movies, intense queer movies make me feel uneasy. "Just Friends"' director produced this movie.

During my short trip to Japan, I found this book unexpectedly. The cover caught my eyes instantly. And from the word "forbidden" I could guess this book is about homosexual desires. So I bought it but I haven't finished the first chapter. When I looked back, I couldn't remember finishing any English novel besides Maurice . Maybe I just like collecting gay-themed things. Anyway, this book is about a man who uses young lover to hurt women's feeling because he dislikes women.