ABSTRACT
This chapter critically examines the translation, adaptation, and reception of the Japanese yuri animation あさがおと加瀬さん (Kase-san and Morning Glories) on Bilibili, one of the few major online streaming platforms in China that still provides copyrighted queer content to its vast user base. The study begins with a chronological overview of Chinese media policies and regulations that have shaped the production and distribution of audiovisual works depicting same-sex intimacies in mainland China. Bilibili, in its efforts to navigate evolving regulatory pressures while satisfying audience demands, implemented multiple rounds of visual and translation modifications, transforming explicit romantic and intimate scenes in the work into platonic friendships, while retaining some subtle romantic cues. These modifications incited intense debate among Chinese yuri fans, who utilized Bilibili’s danmu function and comment sections to critique censorship and share unaltered content. This study underscores the complex interplay between state censorship, platform strategies, and fan agency, offering critical insights into the impact of regulatory policies on queer representation in China’s media landscape and highlighting the significant role of fan communities in resisting and negotiating censorship constraints.
