“Yaranaika?”: The Gay Manga Meme That Took Over the Internet

🔹 TL;DR

Originally a niche gay manga published in 1987, Kuso Miso Technique was rediscovered in the early 2000s by Japanese internet users—and exploded into one of the most iconic, remixable, and memed pieces of digital culture. Its signature phrase, “Yaranaika?” (Shall we do it?), became shorthand for absurd homoerotic humor and remains deeply embedded in Japanese meme culture.

1. The Origin: A Gay Manga Rediscovered

In 1987, underground manga artist Junichi Yamakawa published Kuso Miso Technique in the gay magazine Barazoku. The short, unapologetically explicit story follows a random sexual encounter between two men in a public bathroom. Despite its graphic nature, it was mostly forgotten—until it was scanned and shared online in 2002.

2. The Meme Awakens (2003–2007)

Once the scans hit 2channel and Futaba☆Channel (Japanese imageboards), it spread like wildfire for two reasons:

• The artwork, especially Abe Takakazu’s extremely suggestive expression
• The absurd but oddly poetic pickup line: “Yaranaika?” (やらないか？)

Paired with quotes like “Uho! Nice guy…” and deadpan facial expressions, the manga lent itself perfectly to:

• ASCII art
• Flash animations
• Vocaloid remixes
• Image macros
• Doujin (fan-made) parodies

By 2007, “Yaranaika” had become a full-blown internet phenomenon.

3. The Power of a Phrase

The phrase “Yaranaika?”, literally meaning “Shall we do it?”, is:

• Suggestive, but ambiguous
• Short and easy to remember
• Visually tied to an instantly recognizable face

This combination made it ideal for:

• Catchphrases in video titles
• Subversive T-shirt slogans
• Fake political ads and billboards
• Greeting cards, stickers, and even emoji

Much like “Do you know da wae?” or “Nyan Nyan Nyan”, it became a pop-cultural skeleton key.

4. Global Recognition and Cultural Reuse

The meme didn’t stay in Japan.

It reached English-speaking forums, then YouTube, and finally TikTok, where it remains used in:

• “Out-of-context” anime joke videos
• Gay-coded meme compilations
• Reaction content using Abe’s face or “Yaranaika?” as punchlines

And then came the big moves…

5. The Anime and the Merch (2023–2025)

Despite its NSFW origins, Kuso Miso Technique was officially greenlit for an OVA adaptation in 2023. At first thought to be an April Fool’s joke, the project gained traction through crowdfunding and was confirmed as a real anime, released in 2024.

Other spin-offs and reinterpretations include:

• “Safe for work” Abe-san action figures, sold in Japan
• Memetic reboots of the manga on digital platforms
• Fan art posted on Pixiv, Twitter/X, and DeviantArt—ranging from wholesome to explicit

The cultural tone shifted:
From taboo → ironic humor → nostalgic internet legend

6. Why Did This Meme Endure?

Most memes vanish in weeks. Yaranaika? has been going strong for over 20 years. Why?

🔁 A. Universal Simplicity

At its core, “Yaranaika?” is a short, punchy phrase. It doesn’t require you to understand Japanese deeply. The phrase, paired with Abe’s face, instantly communicates a vibe: “This is getting weird—in a fun way.”

🔁 B. Visual + Auditory Balance

The meme works both as an image (reaction face) and as sound (“yaranaikaaaa~”). This duality has made it perfect for MAD videos, YouTube Poop, TikTok sound edits, and voice-over memes.

“You see it. You hear it. You repeat it.”

🔁 C. Queer Iconography Meets Meme Culture

Unintentionally, Kuso Miso Technique became one of Japan’s most visible queer texts, albeit ironically at first.

It allowed young internet users to:

• Explore homoerotic humor safely
• Parody heteronormative media tropes
• Normalize camp and absurdity in online spaces

For some, Abe became a queer-coded icon—a gay character who wasn’t hidden, tragic, or tokenized, but ridiculous and confident.

7. Cultural Commentary: Subversion as Legacy

From a cultural perspective, this meme reveals several deeper layers:

📊 Think Piece: When Cringe Becomes Cool

Just like “Borat” or “Hide the Pain Harold,” “Yaranaika?” crosses the cringe-to-cool curve:

• 🟠 Stage 1: Shock (2002–2005)
• 🟡 Stage 2: Meme remix era (2006–2012)
• 🟢 Stage 3: Nostalgic embrace (2015–present)

Each phase brought new uses, new audiences, and less stigma.

What was once NSFW content is now sometimes used in schools, business presentations, or merch lines—with the layers of irony intact.

8. Conclusion: “Shall We Meme?”

“Kuso Miso Technique” is proof that:

• Internet culture finds value in the absurd
• Queer-coded content can become mainstream, even by accident
• A single phrase—“Yaranaika?”—can evolve from taboo to tradition

Even if many don’t know the full manga, they know the face. The pose. The line.

“Yaranaika?” isn’t just a meme. It’s a moment. And we’ve all said yes.”

✅ Summary Points

• “Yaranaika?” originates from the 1987 gay manga Kuso Miso Technique by Junichi Yamakawa.
• It became a viral meme after being scanned and spread on Japanese forums in the early 2000s.
• The phrase’s suggestiveness and the iconic art style made it ideal for remix culture.
• It saw renewed life through official anime adaptation, merchandise, and global meme platforms.
• The meme represents the transformation of niche queer content into a long-standing cultural icon.

🔗 References

• KnowYourMeme – Yaranaika
• Wikipedia – Kuso Miso Technique
• Automaton – OVA and Amazon Ban
• CoolMic Blog – Junichi Yamakawa’s Legacy
• Tropedia – Kuso Miso Meme Page