As the clock ticks down on 2013 (a year that was, for me, both excellent and terrible), we find ourselves looking back at the people, companies and random things of note that made up our Yuri Year. Here’s my Top Ten Yuri …People, Companies and Random Things… of 2013

10 – Okazu Readers

Traditionally, I start each year’s final list thanking you, Okazu readers and Yuri fans everywhere. This is not affectation, I really mean it! Without you reading, I’d be writing this to an empty room. Without your passion for buying, watching, reading Yuri, we’d have little to say. Without your news tips, your opinions, your corrections, your guest reviews, your support, Okazu would not be what it is – the oldest and most comprehensive Yuri blog in the world.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, I say You deserve to be on the Top Ten List for 2013.

9 – Crunchyroll

I don’t give much love to Crunchyroll, which isn’t fair. It had a few years of being of generally low quality, but with higher profile, more investment and better project management, it has improved considerably since the early days. (The first one of you who mentions how it used to be something else, loses all commenting privileges for 2014. Move on already. That was years ago, sheesh.)

But you know, they have shown themselves to be very open to acquiring Yuri and LGBTQ-friendly anime and they are now moving forward with manga. I’m hoping that our shared ideal of the “manga library” we all want, to be able to click into and read lots of manga from lots of publishers, may one day be a reality. For giving it a try, CR makes #9.

8 – Funimation

Way back in the day, ADV was my go-to company for anime that had lesbian characters. Then Geneon picked up the baton. Now as I look back at my reviews for the past year, an awful lot of the anime have links back to Funimation.com. Thanks to Funimation, we have free, legal (with regional restrictions) anime for not-children that rather often includes lesbians. I’ll take it!

7 – One Peace Books

I know I am not alone in saying that I cannot wait for One Peace to bring out Sasamekikoto as Whispered Words. Woot. Double woot even. How cool to have a new publisher on the scene willing to invest in Yuri. More importantly, a publisher looking for decent stuff that might actually sell, instead of obscure junky titles no one wants, so they can say, “Look, we tried and you didn’t buy it” and we’d reply, “No, you didn’t. No one wanted Tori Koro. No one except Erica has ever heard of it. Try for real.” ^_^;

Tied for 5 – Ichijinsha, Shinsokan, Hobunsha and Futabasha

You may not really know these names, but you should For one thing, you need to know them to be able to shop for Yuri in Japan. These publishers have continued to publish Yuri manga that we want to read, by artists we want to support. Comic Yuri Hime and Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari are still with us and with their continued presence, Yuri the genre gets actual space on the manga store bookshelves.

4 – Seven Seas

The folks at Seven Seas continue to invest in Yuri, we continue to invest right back. It’s a win-win on all sides. They’ve got a lock on the Morinaga Milk pipeline and with luck we’ll see them expand on Yuri in the future. For putting out two Milk manga collections this year, they absolutely deserve a spot on the list!

♪ People. People who need Yuri need People. ♪  The people who create stuff we want to read and watch and obsess about….

3 – Hayashiya Shizuru

Hayate x Blade is over, long live Hayate x Blade Nyan! All hail Vegako!

Look, it’s just simple, Hayashiya-sensei draws stuff I want to read. You could totally read Hayate x Blade and never see Yuri in it. I can’t. ^_^ And with Shishunki Seimeitai Vega, we got her back in the 100% Yuri story for a bit. Any year I can put Hayashiya-sensei on this list is a good year. I declare 2013 to have been a good year, dammit. ^_^

2 – Shimura Takako

Aoi Hana completed a fabulous 8-volume run after a spectacular tie-in event last year and and release of the anime in English this year. Hourou Musukou is winding down, but the manga is being translated into English. It was a terrific year for lovers of Shimura-sensei’s work and for that I award her the #2 spot on this list.

This year, my top honor for mover and shaker in Yuri goes to…

1 – Riyoko Ikeda

The Goddess of Manga, whose skills and influence in Shoujo and Josei rivals that of Tezuka and whose influence in Yuri surpasses his. This year, her masterwork Rose of Versailles received a lovely release and amazingly we also were able to participate in the release of her classic Oniisama E, Dear Brother.

For Lady Oscar Francois De Jarjeyes, Saint-Juste and Claudine, (whom I hope one day you will all get to meet) Riyoko Ikeda-sensei is this years #1 on my Top Ten Yuri List.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014. Happy New Yuri Year!

P.S. – Yes, I know there’s no #6. Futabasha and Hobunsha would be 6 and Ichijinsha and Shinshokan would be 5, if I split them up. But I didn’t. ^_^

As always, you are welcome to tell me what I missed in the comments!

10 – Shishunki Seimeitai Vega, (思春期生命体ベガ)

I’m imagining you quirking your head slightly and making a noise that sounds like, “Hurh?” right now. Shishunki Seimeitai Vega, you say, Erica? Whah?

I look at you, meeting your eyes, with a slightly crazed look. Yes, Shishunki Seimeitai Vega! It was the first Yuri manga we’ve had from Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei since Strawberry Shake Sweet. And it had giant monsters! Yes. /nod nod/

9 – Zenryaku, Yuri no Sono Yori, Volume 1 and Volume 2 (前略、百合の園より)

I have no idea why this is on the list, except that when it was time to write the list…it totally felt like the right thing to do. The art wasn’t all that, the story wasn’t terribly original and yet, I found it charming and fun. I’m going with my gut and putting this doujinshi-like story of a doujinshi artist on the list at #9.

8 – Strange Babies (ストレンジベイビーズ)

The story that began in  Black Yagi to Gekiyaku Madeline (ブラックヤギーと劇薬まどれーぬ), just got weirder and less comfortable as it went on, but there is no doubt in my mind that I’m putting Ohsawa Yayoi’s series here because it starred a girl who wore a goat head. Full stop. You just can’t beat that.

Tied for 6 – Collectors (コレクターズ）and Fu~ Fu (ふ~ふ)

Two completely different stories about women in solid, stable and still, strangely goofy, relationships. Good reading and warm fuzzies all around.

Now we’re getting to the hard part…

5 – GIRL FRIENDS  (Volume 1 and Volume 2) & Kisses, Sighs, Cherry Blossoms Pink

2013 was a huge year for English-reading Morinaga Milk fans as Seven Seas offered up not one, but two collections of her work from both Futabasha and Ichinjinsha. Her moe art and realistic stories of love make her work a hit with readers of all kinds. And Seven Seas has already promised more.

You should see me working on these lists, switching titles around, trying to for optimum presentation.  Positions 4-2 were all so close in the running, they might as well have been tied. Even now, I’m waffling. So #4, #3 and #2 are all pretty much at the same level for me.

4 – Steps and Omoi no Kakera, Volume 2 (想いの欠片)

I unabashedly love Takemiya Jin-sensei’s work. One of my high points for 2013 was being able to interview her for Okazu. Her stories ring true, her characters have the kind of strength of self and honesty that I can’t get enough of, but it doesn’t mean they’re paladins. Snark runs high in her work. Satomi telling Ayuna to take her self-loathing and looking down on her and get lost was a highlight of my reading year. ^_^

3 – Ohana Holoholo (オハナホロホロ)

Torino Shino’s series was unexpected. It never did what it seemed like it was going to do, from beginning to end. I’m always happiest to see Yuri in Josei stories, where it is less of a fetish and more like life. I never gave up hope that this story would leave me with a smile and sure enough, that’s what it did. It could have ended in a dozen ways, but the way it chose was a celebration of love, of family, no matter how unconventional, and the girl deserved the girl she got, which is why Ohana Holoholo makes it on to my Top Ten manga list for the year. ^_^

2 – Aoi Hana (青い花)

Aoi Hana took us on a long ride and when it ended, I wasn’t sure that ride was really over. The reason this manga makes it so high on the list is not just that Fumi is the character I had always wanted, or that it had the ending so many fans wanted. The reason I ultimately find this series to be so good were the inconsistencies, the unanswered questions…the potholes in the road. I don’t actually consider the ending a happy ending, I consider it a possible happy beginning. Who knows what time will bring Fumi and Akira? I sure don’t. There may not be happily ever after and that intrigues me – and that is why Shimura Takako’s Aoi Hana manga is on this list. ^_^

I’ve been waiting to write this list for many weeks for this moment. ^_^ I’m thrilled to say that my Number 1 Yuri Manga of 2013 is….

***

 Enjoy today’s post? Subscribe to Okazu with Patreon!

***

1 – Watashi no Sekai o Kousei Suru Chiri no You na (私の世界を構成する塵のような何か) (Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3)

I love Amano Shuninta’s “lesbian drama” series. I love Ruki having basically no idea about love. I love Sachi for knowing too much. I love every character (except Fueko) and I want Asuna to find someone nice. I love Maasa’s personality, and I enjoy not particularly liking Remia and being annoyed at Meru. No one is unbelievable except in totally believable ways. You can imagine yourself, sitting at a bar, or a cafe and hearing these characters talking just near you.

This series has the rare honor of making it to a third volume, certainly the best Comic Yuri Hime series to have done so.

For great characters in realistic situations, and a refreshingly adult story, my Top Yuri Manga of 2013 is Amano Shuninta’s Watashi no Sekai o Kousei Suru Chiri no You na. ^_^

Next up, the wacky, devil-may-care Top Ten Yuri Anything list. ^_^

My annual disclaimer for this list – it is a random concatenation of things. I notice that this year it is almost completely made up of people with a few companies thrown in for good measure. There’s no deep meaning about this, except that this list is meant to highlight accomplishments in the Yuri genre, as opposed to just neat stuff to watch and read. This year we had so much to choose from it took a lot of effort whittling the list down (and some of my usual fudging) to make a list of ten. ^_^

10) Okazu Readers – Every year, I make a point of including you, my dear readers. My reasons for this are manyfold; You are the Yuri Network writing in with great ideas, news and heads-up for me to share with other readers. You write Guest Posts that make me smile. You support Yuri by purchasing anime and manga and by making sure your voice is heard and valued by the companies that produce Yuri. You are amazing commenters, providing me with unique and valuable perspective that is not my own. You correct me when I’m wrong – I can never thank you enough for that. You answer questions I cannot, you take up issues I know nothing about, you add infinite value to Okazu. I don’t hesitate to say this – You make Okazu what it is and for that, I am always, inexpressibly thankful. Once again you make my Top Ten list without reservation.

9) Comic Yuri Hime/Hirari/Tsubomi – Comic Yuri Hime this year shifted to a new format, and entered the English-language market in partnership with JManga. Tsubomi is making chapters available online, and offering print versions of collected volumes. Hirari continues on as before and hopefully, we’ll see some of their manga on JManga at some point. The publishing landscape is changing in Japan and Yuri magazines are right there trying out new ways to reach their audience. We continue to wish them all the very best and look forward to new innovations!

8) Rica Takashima – For 20 years, Rica has been creating manga that accurately reflects the life and loves of young women who love other women and she’s been doing it with humor and kindness (and a little bit of snark for spice.) Tokyo Love ~ Rica ‘tte Kanji!? is the terminal of that journey, and you can read it online, for free. I thank Rica for all her patience and perseverance with this project. I’m really proud of this effort and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

7) Riyoko Ikeda – The way you know something is “classic” is that no matter how old it is, it remains relevant, powerful and compelling. No matter how many times I watch or read something by Ikeda-sensei, I’m reminded that she is Tezuka’s closest counterpart. Rose of Versailles and Dear Brother back in one fell swoop, wow. It’s time to rediscover Riyoko Ikeda’s genius. Go, watch, learn, enjoy.

6) Seven Seas and Morinaga Milk – I gotta give Seven Seas points for perseverance, too.  ^_^ After launching their Strawberry imprint they ran into a number of issues outside their control. Hayate x Blade jumped publishers, Ichijinsha chose lukewarm titles to start with (my #1 complaint with Japanese publishers). But Seven Seas hasn’t given up on Yuri, for which they absolutely deserve credit. This year they’ve connected with Futabasha (who seems generally much more flexible than other publishers) and Morinaga Milk-sensei, giving us Girl Friends this year and Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry Blossom Pink next year. It’s a good fit and I’m very glad for all of us! ^_^

5) RightStuf – Not only has RightStuf persevered with Yuri, they’ve had their ears and eyes firmly fixed on us as a market. (THIS is why I’m always on about buying what we want, rather than downloading. Money talks, and a Yuri audience that spends money on things is a market worth courting.) They’ve asked us what we wanted to see and by god they’ve rolled up their sleeves and gotten us a lot of it! Rose of Versailles on DVD will take up much less space on my shelves than those old VHS tapes. Sweet Blue Flowers on DVD will fit neatly next to that, squee! They know what we want and are doing what they can to get it. It’s good to have them on our side. ^_^

4) JManga – Along with Seven Seas and RightStuf, JManga has made a commitment to the Yuri audience precisely because we’ve been a good market for them. We’re up to 12 series on their Yuri page, many of them multi-volume. They support Yuri as a separate genre, something I feel is much needed. They work with multiple publishers, so you get a nice variety of Yuri (and Ichijinsha has learned their lesson from the past – and is bringing out some strong titles.) JManga listened to you when you asked for international access, they listen to you as they continually evolve their site and apps. I’m thrilled to be able to partner ALC with them to bring you more and more Yuri manga in English!

I also want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Erin, Elina, Simona, Bill and Mari, the amazing translators who worked invisibly so that you could enjoy Yuri on JManga. They do a *lot* of work to make the manga you read enjoyable and comprehensible. If you’ve never noticed that you are reading a translation, you have them to thank!

Okay, we’ve made it to my top three Yuri anythings for the year and, like previous years, it always comes down to one thing for me. ^_^

***

Enjoy today’s post? Subscribe to Okazu with Patreon!

***

3) Morishima Akiko – Morishima-sensei’s most recent work, Renai Joshi File, may be her best work to date, but it’s the surprisingly excellent Hanjuku Joshi that we’re just now seeing in English.

Consistently, since her doujinshi circle days, Morishima-sensei has been in the education business. With her circle Girlish, she educated young lesbians about love and sex, with her professionally published manga, she educates non-LGBTQ readers about what LGBTQ love, life, sex –  and slang – are all about. You know me, I’m a sucker for Yuri manga that includes Japanese lesbian words.

If ever a person deserved to be on this list for her tireless, realistic, adorably cute and frequently sexy lessons about lesbian life, it’s Morishima-sensei.

2) Shimura Takako – Sweet Blue Flowers and The Devil is So Cute in English on JManga, Wandering Son anime on Crunchyroll, in print from Fantagraphics.

This is a quiet revolution, but if there’s a creator out there who can carry it off, It’s Shimura-sensei. Her work is simple, accessible and sublime, with edges so finely honed, you don’t notice the cuts until they start to sting, if they sting at all.

Hers is the voice of sexual and gender minorities in manga in English right now and because that voice is so sweet and gently persuasive, Shimura-sensei is my number 2 pick for the year. ^_^

1) Nishi UKO’s Collectors – Can you tell what the “one thing” it comes down to is yet? I’ll give you a hint: realism.

In reality, lesbians do not die after high school. In reality, lesbian relationships do not end with holding hands, or a kiss.

In reality, lesbian relationships can be long-term, totally functional (and ordinarily dysfunctional) and full of good and bad and a lot of in between.

I told you last year that this would top my list, so you can’t be all that surprised, really. ^_^ Collectors is about as real a couple as you’re going to see in manga. I adore Nishi UKO-sensei’s art; the characters are all adults, there are moments of elegance and awkwardness. But what it comes down to for me is Shinobu recognizing Takako from a distance, even with a completely different hair color, when no one else in the group did. Because that is what a relationship actually looks like.

My number on Top Yuri pick for 2012 is Collectors. Just like I told you it would be. ^_^

***

WAAAAH! In response to being named #1 for the year, Nishi UKO-sensei has sent over a glorious picture of Shinobu and Takako. She says she’s okay if I share it with you, so here it is!

I hope we can *really* blow her away by making Collectors a best-seller. ^_^