On Monday I was able to attend a solo exhibit celebrating 30 years of Yuri manga by Rica Takashima, with her past (and future!) art telling the story of a young woman who makes her lesbian debut in Tokyo’s gay district, the people she meets, Miho, the woman she falls in love with, and the life they make together.
Through November 30, 2025, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours from 1-6 PM, you are invited to join Rica Takashima at het Labo Gallery in Brooklyn, for a celebration of the 30th anniversary of her manga Rica ‘tte Kani!?, which became the very first Yuri manga published in English! Please enjoy this video, edited by our own Okazu Staff (and writer and amazing person) Ashley to get feel for what awaits you.
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I visited het Labo and was blown away by the exhibit. Rica had many of her original storyboards, Anise and Phryne covers, some of the art she did for ALC’s Yuri Monogatari volumes (and the first 4 of our anthologies). Plus, there were some images for an upcoming New York Love~ Rica ‘tte Kanji!? story that Rica is working on….and yes, I am already eying it, hoping to get it published. It’s not even done! ^_^
Rica is running an analog manga workshop for anyone who stops by – learn how to use Copic markers and screentones. I got to use screentone for the very first time while I was there. That was fun. No drawing skills needed – I certainly don’t have any. ^_^
I loved this, because a steady stream of younger artists would come in, work on something, we’d chat for a bit. We got to meet a guy thinking about submitting his work to Shonen Jump (of course we said to try!), a couple of great artists (hi, Anakin!) and a guest from Sweden who was going to tell his friends who love Yuri. ^_^
For those of you who haven’t followed me for 20 years, Rica and I met at a lesbian bar. ^_^ In 2002, I was running the very first Yuricon event – a Valentine’s Day showing of the Revolutionary Girl Utena – Adolescence of Utena movie at the late, lamented Meow Mix. Rica and her friend came to the event. I introduced myself, Rica told me she drew Yuri manga! Once I saw her work, I knew, suddenly, that I wanted to publish it. Rica and I have been working together since then and it’s been nothing short of a miraculous partnership. We almost always seem to agree on things. I often joke that we were separated at birth, we’re so similar.
In 2003, I published Rica ‘tte Kanji!?, the first Yuri manga in English as the premier book from our ALC Publishing imprint. I can’t express to you how amazing it was to see those pages of Rica, and think that although I am telling you all about this, I was also an integral part of this history. It is a very strange feeling, looking at the signboards that talked about me and Rica meeting as part of a historical exhibit. ^_^
So, get yourself over to het Labo (Brooklyn), 139 N 4th Street 2nd floor Brooklyn NY 11249 this weekend, from 1-6 to celebrate the history of Yuri manga in America!
