Fanlore:Featured Article Archives/2019: Week 52
A yaoi paddle was a wooden paddle with the word "YAOI" printed on or burnt into the paddle end, used for spanking people. It was a common sight among fans of yaoi who attended anime conventions, primarily in North America and other western countries, in the mid-2000s. They were produced primarily by the doujinshi vendor Hendane! Their ubiquitous presence at cons unfortunately caused much misfortune, and many wielders of yaoi paddles injured several con-goers. By 2010, most major cons had banned the use of yaoi paddles as a result.
In addition to the signature "YAOI" printed on each side of the paddle, one side says "softcore side" and the other "hardcore side." It is unknown if there is any structural difference between the two sides, but it is unlikely. A standard paddle is around 25 inches (64 cm) long.