 | |
| Author | Erica Friedman |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Rica Takashima |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Yuri (genre) |
| Genre | Academic |
| Publisher | Journey Press |
Publication date | April 25, 2022 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback), Digital |
| Pages | 282 |
| ISBN | 1951320204 |
By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga is a book of essays by Erica Friedman. Published by Journey Press in 2022, it was the first substantial English-language work to cover the history of yuri. [1]
The book is a collection of essays, articles and lectures written by Friedman, covering the history of yuri over 13 chapters. It draws from work from her own blog and various other online and print publications, as well as original material written for the book itself. It details the genre's influences and beginnings in Japan from the 20th century to its growth and global expansion in the 21st century.
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network praised the historical context the book gives to the publication of yuri in both English and Japanese, including early works that are currently unavailable in English. Silverman also noted there is some "repetition of concepts and content" in the book due to many of the essays originally being published in other venues, however Silverman did not believe this to solely be a weakness, believing "it serves as an aid to understanding key points and how Friedman's own writing and analysis has grown and changed over time as the genre has." [2]
Jonathan Clements also noted that a more mainstream publisher might have pushed Friedman to write a more cohesive single narrative of the genre's history, rather than the collection of essays that By Your Side draws from, however he felt this did not detract from the book's overall usefulness as each essay gave comments to aid in understanding their original context. [3]
Yuri, also known by the wasei-eigo construction girls' love, is a genre of Japanese media focusing on intimate relationships between female characters. While lesbian relationships are a commonly associated theme, the genre is also inclusive of works depicting emotional and spiritual relationships between women that are not necessarily romantic or sexual in nature. Yuri is most commonly associated with anime and manga, though the term has also been used to describe video games, light novels, and literature.
Yuricon was an anime convention geared toward fans of yuri anime and manga. The first Yuricon event was held in 2003 in Newark, New Jersey with about 200 attending, although Yuricon has existed as an online entity since 2000. The event was organized by Yuricon, LLC., which continues to run Yuri-focused events of its own, collaborates with other organizations to hold unique events, and hosts contests.
Claudine is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Riyoko Ikeda. It was serialized in two issues of Shueisha's Weekly Margaret magazine in January 1978 and later published in a single tankōbon volume under the Margaret Comics imprint on May 20, 1978. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the series for an English-language release in North America, published on June 26, 2018. Claudine is notable for being one of the earliest manga to feature a transgender protagonist.
Gakuen Polizi is a Japanese romance yuri manga series written and illustrated by Milk Morinaga and serialized in Comic High! by Futabasha. It's published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment.
NTR: Netsuzou Trap is a yuri manga series by Kodama Naoko. The story revolves around two high school girls/childhood friends, named Yuma and Hotaru, who each have a boyfriend but they secretly cheat with each other. Yuma cannot explain the feeling she gets around Hotaru, which eventually leads her to believe that their relationship may be more than just a friendship. The series was serialized in the monthly manga magazine Comic Yuri Hime from November 2014 to December 2017; the chapters were collected in six volumes. An anime television series adaptation by Creators in Pack aired from July to September 2017 and was simulcast with subtitles by Crunchyroll. Outside of Japan, the series is published in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment. The English version of the manga has received mixed reviews from critics.
In anime and manga, the term "LGBTQ themes" includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender material. Outside Japan, anime generally refers to a specific Japanese-style of animation, but the word anime is used by the Japanese themselves to broadly describe all forms of animated media there. According to Harry Benshoff and Sean Griffin, the fluid state of animation allows flexibility of animated characters to perform multiple roles at once. Manga genres that focus on same-sex intimacy and relationships resulted from fan work that depicted relationships between two same-sex characters. This includes characters who express their gender and sexuality outside of hetero-normative boundaries. There are also multiple sub genres that target specific consumers and themes: yaoi, yuri, shoujo-ai, shonen-ai, bara, etc. LGBT-related manga found its origins from fans who created an "alternative universe" in which they paired their favorite characters together. Many of the earliest works that contained LGBT themes were found in works by dōjinshi who has specifically written content outside the regular industry. The rise of yaoi and yuri was also slowed due to censorship laws in Japan that make it extremely hard for Japanese manga artists ("mangakas") and others to create work that is LGBT themed. Anime that contained LGBTQ content was changed to meet international standards. However, publishing companies continued to expand their repertoire to include yuri and yaoi, and conventions were created to form a community and culture for fans of this work.
Bloom Into You is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Nio Nakatani. The manga began serialization in the Japanese monthly shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on April 27, 2015, and ended on September 27, 2019. The story follows two female high school students, Yuu Koito and Touko Nanami, and the relationship that develops between them as they learn more about themselves through their experiences together.
I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Kodama Naoko. The series follows Machi Morimoto, a woman who enters into a same-sex sham marriage with her kōhai (junior). I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up was serialized in the manga magazine Comic Yuri Hime in 2018 and collected into a bound volume by Ichijinsha that same year, and was licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment in 2019.
Otherside Picnic is a Japanese yuri science fiction novel series written by Iori Miyazawa and illustrated by shirakaba, inspired by the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Hayakawa Publishing have released nine volumes of the series since February 2017. A manga adaptation with art by Eita Mizuno has been serialized since February 2018 via Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Gangan, and has been collected in thirteen tankōbon volumes. The novels are licensed in North America by J-Novel Club, while the manga is licensed by Square Enix. An anime television series adaptation by Liden Films and Felix Film aired from January to March 2021.
Syrup: A Yuri Anthology is a Japanese yuri manga anthology written and illustrated by numerous creators such as Kodama Naoko, Milk Morinaga, Pikachi Ohi and Kana Yoshimura. It was licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment in 2019.
Farewell to My Alter: Nakatani Nio Short Story Collection is a Japanese manga anthology written and illustrated by Nio Nakatani. It was first published as individual one-shots in Dengeki Daioh and the Éclair anthology series, before being collected into a single tankōbon volume by Kadokawa Shoten in 2020. It was licensed in English by Yen Press.
Beauty and the Beast Girl is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Neji. The series follows the relationship between Heath, a troubled monster, and Lily, a blind girl who is unaware Heath is a monster. Beauty and the Beast Girl was first self-published on Neji's Pixiv account starting November 21, 2016 and collected into a bound volume by Ichijinsha in 2017. It was licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment in 2018.
Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon is a Japanese yuri manga written and illustrated by Shio Usui. It was serialized in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime from March 2019 to May 2022. It is licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment.
Yuri Life is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Kurukuruhime. It was first published on Kurukuruhime's Twitter and Pixiv accounts, after which it was published by Kadokawa in 2018 as a single tankōbon volume. Yuri Life follows everyday romances of various couples living together. It is licensed for an English-language release by Yen Press.
Secret of the Princess is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Milk Morinaga. It was published in Shinshokan's Hirari from November 30, 2012, till the magazines discontiation on July 30, 2014, after which it continued in Web Magazine Wings to January 28, 2015. It was collected into a single tankōbon volume in 2015 and was licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment in 2016.
Yuri Espoir is a Japanese yuri manga written and illustrated by Mai Naoi. It began serialization online via Tokuma Shoten's Comic Ryu Web manga website in March 2019, and was licensed for an English-language release by Tokyopop in 2022.
Transparent Light Blue is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Kiyoko Iwami. It was published in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime from October 18, 2017, to December 18, 2017, before being collected into a single tankōbon volume in 2018. It is licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment.
The Witches’ Marriage is a Japanese yuri manga written and illustrated by Studio Headline. It was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Comic Newtype from February 12, 2021 to June 9, 2023, and was licensed for an English-language release by Yen Press in 2023. The series follows Melissa and Tanya, two witches who seek to gain enough magical power to open the door of truth.
Eve and Eve is a Japanese yuri manga anthology written and illustrated by Nagashiro Rouge. It was first published as individual one-shots in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime and Kill Time Communications's Yuri Pregnancies anthology series from April 2016, to March 2018, before being collected into a single tankōbon volume by Ichijinsha in 2018. It was licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment.