To begin this finale of the 100 Years of Yuri, welcome one of my longtime and most respected peers in Yuri fandom, Erin Subramanian! Erin has been a translator of  Yuri manga for years and has translated some of your favorite titles for ALC Publishing and JManga.

When I asked everyone to contribute to this project, I specified no rules or limitations. Everyone was free to interpret the idea on their own.  When she submitted this list, I asked Erin what criteria she went with  – she replied that her “only criteria was that the work be Japanese.” So without further ado, here is Erin’s Top Yuri List for the first 100 years of Yuri!

Titles have been edited so series available in English use official English-language titles, and Japanese-only are in Romaji (with Kanji in parentheses).

The Classics:

Where it all began, from the “Class S” novels of the early 20th century to the girls’ manga and anime of the mid- to late-20th century. My top titles are:

Shiroi Heya no Futari (白い部屋のふたり) by Ryouko Yamagishi: Despite the terrible ending, this was a ground-breaking manga that deserves to be enshrined in the yuri canon.

Sakura Namiki (さくら並木) by Makoto Takahashi: Though it lacks the overt Yuri of later titles, the subtext is strong and the art and setting are charming.

The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda: One of the best series I’ve ever read/watched.

Dear Brother by Riyoko Ikeda: It sweeps you up in the dark, brooding drama and makes you care about its characters even as you know things won’t end well for some of them. There are multiple Yuri storylines.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi: A cultural phenomenon. I was obsessed with Sailors Uranus and Neptune back when I was in high school, and they still hold a special place in my heart, along with the series itself.

Revolutionary Girl Utena: It’s a wild ride. I still don’t have it all figured out

Queer Women’s Magazines:

Anise (アニース) and Phryne (フリーネ) offered manga created by and for queer women.

Each issue is a precious artifact to me. The stories were short and tended toward one-shots rather than continuing stories, but they managed to cover a variety of genres and topics. Anise also included articles and photos.

Yuri Hime(/Shimai) Magazine:

THE top and longest-running Yuri magazine. It paved the way for the plethora of Yuri content we’re currently enjoying and has produced many gems itself. Some of my top titles:
Strawberry Shake Sweet (ストロベリーシェイク) by Shizuru Hayashiya
Cirque Arachne (サーク・アラクニ) by Nika Saida
Kawaii Anata (かわいいあなた) by Hiyori Otsu
Mermaid Line (マーメイドライン) by Renjuurou Kindaichi
Fu-Fu (ふ~ふ) by Hisanari Minamoto
Ibara no Namida (いばらの泪) by Rikachi

Mist  (美粋) Magazine:

This ladies’ manga magazine was an experience. Despite the cheese and formulaic plotlines, there was a lot to love about it.

Hirari (ひらり) and Tsubomi (つぼみ)  anthologies:

Two of the better anthologies of the early 2010s. While many of the stories tread similar territory, they had much to offer. Stand-outs include:
Fujio’s under one roof
Fuka Mizutani’s works
Hiromi Takashima’s Kase-san series
Tsuyoshi Isomoto’s Girl’s Ride (ガールズライド)
Akira Kiduki and Nanki Satou’s Ebisu-san and Hotei-san (エビスさんとホテイさん)
Megane Ohtomo’s works
Yae Shimano’s works
Kirin Tendou’s Koisuru SugarCotton (恋するシュガーコットン)

Queer Women’s Manga:

Not every definition of Yuri encompasses titles with lesbian/queer identity, but mine does. My top choices:
Rica ‘tte Kanji!? by Rica Takashima: A pioneering work that’s a must-read.
Onna-doushi de Kodomo o Umukoto ni Shimashita (女どうしで子どもを産むことにしました) by Koyuki Higashi, Hiroko Masuhara, and Emiko Sugiyama: There are quite a few lesbian parenting stories in the West, but I haven’t seen many manga on the subject. This one is biographical.
Plica-chan (プリカちゃん) by Sae Amamiya: At times funny, at others poignant, whimsical, and sad. Generally a 4-panel comic.
Honey & Honey (ハニー&ハニーデラックス) by Sachiko Takeuchi: Educational comic aimed at a general audience but true-to-life.

Top Creators:

UKOZ (Uko Nishi and Koz Hojo): Subtle stories of life and love. They’ve done a plethora of doujinshi and also have several published works out. Nishi Uko’s Collectors (コレクターズ) in particular is funny and sweet.
Milk Morinaga: Girl Friends captivated the Yuri world, and Morinaga rarely disappoints.
Akiko Morishima: Don’t be fooled by the cute art style; Morishima tackles a variety of mature topics. She was one of the first to do stories about adult life in Yuri Hime magazine. Her Shiawase Enikki (しあわせ絵日記) series, which ran in Anise, is also worth a read if you can find it.
Jin Takemiya: Takemiya’s stories resonate and delight. Omoi no Kakera (想いの欠片) is one of my favorites.
Ebine Yamaji: Yamaji’s art and sparse style brought a realistic feel to Yuri.
Miyabi Fujieda: Fujieda is a master of sweet slice-of-life stories. Ame-iro Kochakan Kandan (あめ色紅茶館歓談) was one that I particularly savored.
Takako Shimura: Shimura has blessed the Yuri world with a number of great works. The anime adaptations of Sweet Blue Flowers and Wandering Son are also excellent.
Nagata Kabi: Kabi’s works are painful to read, but so necessary.
Nanae Haruno: Haruno’s quiet style sneaks up on you. Pieta (ピエタ) is a fan favorite for good reason.

Maria Watches Over Us by Oyuki Konno:

This lovely series, with its understated charm, makes you care about all the little dramas of its characters’ lives. The quintessential girls’ school story, with both Yuri subtext and canon.

Kase-san series by Hiromi Takashima:

A gem. Every volume is a joy to read, and the anime adaptation is wonderful as well.

Yuri Life by Kurukuruhime:

Not every pairing was to my taste, but I loved the snapshots into domestic life for a variety of Yuri couples.

Thank you Erin for your perspective! Tomorrow, we’ll be hearing from another Yuri collector with a wholly different outlook. Check back in for Part 2 of the Top 100 Years of Yuri 2020 Project!