"Yuri" redirect here. For the flower, see Lilium
Overview
The term 'Yuri' originally referred to a group of flowers and plants belonging to the Liliaceae family, while on pixiv it mainly refers to a creative genre based on the subject of intensive relationships between women, such as romance and friendship.
Nowadays, the mere term 'Yuri' is vague in its scope, and often includes not only works featuring romance and sexual love between women, but also those depicting relationships such as friendship, sisterhood, familial love, adoration, longing, vengeance and hatred. The only point on which there is agreement is that "Yuri is some kind of strong relationship between women".
Therefore, "yuri" by itself does not function as a distinguishing tag within pixiv, and can only be identified by adding some kind of prefix or suffix, or by using it in conjunction with a related tags. In addition, the word alone does not distinguish between sexuality and non-sexuality in any way, and when searching for content that makes this clear, it seems most appropriate to use the rating system "for all ages / R rating" together with the search terms.
See also the article coupling for points to consider with regard to the concept of pairing / coupling / shipping as a whole.
Sub-Genres
| Representational Genre (Media) | Yuri works Yuri Manga Yuri Games |
|---|---|
| Yuri in school | Student Yuri Soeur |
| Yuri Between Adults | Working Women's Yuri ('Shakaijin Yuri') |
| Marriage | Yuri Married Couple |
| Kinship | Sisters Yuri / Yuri Sisters Twin Yuri Parent-child Yuri |
| Loli | Loli Yuri OneLoli |
| Inhuman | Inhuman Yuri Kemo Yuri |
| Preference | Yuri Yume Yuri Harem |
| Non-romance | Slight yuri Friendship yuri |
Detail
Scope of 'Yuri'
Some people try to narrowly limit the scope of Yuri to homosexuality only, but as mentioned above, not all works labeled as 'Yuri' deal with romance. The Yuri genre depicts diverse and complex relationships between women, such as friendship, teacher-disciple and sisterhood, master-servant and partner relations, and even love-hate or rivalry. While numerous works depict such relationships that develop into romance, there are also many works that do not.
In the past, Yuri was often dismissed as a 'light relationship in adolescence that is less than romantic' and 'unrealistic fiction', and some people made a distinction between the female homosexual (lesbian) genre and Yuri. However, today's Yuri includes realistic works that can be sympathized with by female homosexuals, and works such as essay manga and essays that depict real-life experiences are also included in the Yuri category.
Against this backdrop, the present-day Yuri continues to change its scope through constant definitional debates and expressions of opinion in the interrelationships between various creators, fans, concerned individuals, publishers and female homosexual persons.
Etymology
The word yuri is based on the flower "Lily", and is a relatively common Japanese feminine name. Initially the term was used in many doujin circles for lesbian-pornographic theme, the meaning has since then drifted from its mostly pornographic connotation to describe the portrayal of intimate love, sex, or the intimate emotional connections between women.
While such genre has existed since the Taishō era, it is believed that the word "Yuri" is created by Bungaku Itou, the editor of Barazoku (薔薇族, lit. rose tribe), a magazine geared primarily towards gay men. He first used the term yurizoku (百合族, lit. lily tribe) in reference to female readers in the title of a column of letters called Yurizoku no heya (百合族の部屋, lit. lily tribe's room).
Since the Heisei era, works like Sailor Moon became the main topic for authors to create positive derivative Yuri stories, especially when Yuri stories were particularly tragic, possibly due to the society's negative reaction towards the genre.
From there, the idea of "Yuri" has survived the turbulent 1990s, been nurtured in the varied 2000s (a detailed account of these times is beyond the scope of this article), and has bloomed in colorful splendor in the 2010s.
In the present day, the territory of "Yuri" continues to expand, and the number of works considered Yuri continues to grow.
"Attack" (Seme, or Tachi) and "Receives" (Uke, or Neko), And The Nomenclatural Circumstances of Their Associated Coupling Names
In Boys' Love (BL), the counterpart of Yuri, pairing names are usually written by combining the names of the two persons in a couple, with the first combined name being considered the "offensive" persona and the second combined name being the "receiving" one.
In BL, there is often a focus on "receiving" and "offensive" personalities, and if a pairing's "receiving" and "offensive" personalities are reversed, they are often interpreted as a completely pairing.
In contrast, in Yuri, the concept of the distinction between "offensive" (often described as 'Tachi' in Yuri) and "receiving" ('neko' as well) in a pairing is rather weak or limited. In other words, 'reverse' in terms of BL is the norm in Yuri, and in many cases, the nomenclatural distinction is not treated as an interpretative distinction between "receiving" and "offensive".
(When referring to a pairing, for example, the pairing of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi in Puella Magi Madoka Magica is called "HomuMado" or "MadoHomu", but in this case only the order of the names is different, and basically no distinction is made.)
Thus, the difference in the order of the coupling names may be thin and pairing order can be flexible.
Sometimes, however, there are people who have a fixed order even among Yuri, and such people are particular about the naming of pairings and may express their discomfort at the reversal of the pairing designations. Therefore, it can be a source of trouble to make a blanket judgement that either pairing notation is acceptable.
Aside from the "receiving/offensive" situation, there are also examples of cases where the pairing itself changes when the notations are replaced. As an example, RitsuMako represents the coupling between Ritsuko Akizuki and Makoto Kikuchi from THE iDOLM@STER, while the opposite, MakoRitsu, would be Doki-Doki! PreCure's Makoto Kenzaki and Rikka Hishikawa.
Differences or Unique Situations
While may be similar in a way, it is advised that one should not confuse Gender Bender or Traps.
Only those who are willing to cause heated controversy in the comments section and cause a flame war on anonymous internet forums and social networking sites should engage in this kind of genre confusion.
As each genre has its own corresponding tag, it can be said that you should not pollute search results by using tags that deviate from the original meaning of the term.
As most futanari are women, a pairing between two futanari women, or futanari woman and a regular woman, can be considered yuri. Similarly to situations in which a strap-on may be used in intimacy between girls, Futanari presents a near identical scenario but features some form of a penis instead of an artificial object meant to replicate that part. One scenario might have both girls, or just one, temporarily grow a penis for their intimate encounter, experiencing more sensations, before going back to normal afterwards. However since yuri does not of itself give any clue as to if futanari is involved, the futanari tag should be included along side yuri when used for such situations featuring futanari. Maybe including futanari/woman tag as well.
Yuri on pixiv
Generally, it is advised to tag Yuri when the illustration clearly depicts both girls intimating with each other. Regardless of intent, there may be people who don't like relationship between same sexes, similar to Yaoi.
It is also advised that one should not simply tag everything with two (or more) girls in an illustration as Yuri. Doing so may cause discomfort and some may even get offended. Since different people may have different definitions of Yuri, illustrators may depict things differently.
Furthermore, please be aware that people may get offended over fan or forced couplings (e.g: pairing up both girls even if the show does not explicitly imply them at all). While every fan has their right in fantasizing such elements, it is also important to write adequate warnings before one submits an artwork surrounding this particular theme.
Main Works on the Theme of Yuri
Listed in kana alphabetical order (A-I-U-E-O-...). For the sub-genre OneLoli, see the relevant article.
Manga
Ani no Yome to Kurashite Imasu
Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl
If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die
Kase-san series (Asagao to Kase-san)
Kitanai Kimi ga Ichiban Kawaii
Kyuuketsuki-chan x Kouhai-chan
Goukaku no Tame no! Yasashii Sankaku Kankei Nyuumon
Shinmai Shimai no Futari Gohan
Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood
Bousou Girls Teki Mousou Renaiteki Suteki Project (B・G・M・R・S・P)
Unicorn to sabishi-gari ya shoujo
Riko to Haru to Onsen to Iruka
Anime
Novels
I'm in Love with the Villainess
Game
Kanojo to Kanojo to Watashi no Nanoka
Kimihane: Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi Suru Ikkagetsu
A Kiss for the Petals (Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke o)
Hakuisei Renai Shoukougun / Hakuisei Aijou Izonshou
Magazine
Anthology
Éclair: Anata ni Hibiku Yuri Anthology
Other
Assault Lily ... A Yuri-themed franchise that began with Action Doll. It has been developed in several media, including novels, stage, anime and games.
Strawberry Panic! ... A reader-participatory magazine serialisation project.
Works that are Frequently Tagged with "Yuri"
※Mainly used for works that have heavy hints of Yuri
Specific Tags
※Works with Specific tags are prioritized here.
Manga
Anime
| Works | Tags/Articles Name |
|---|---|
| Ojamajo Doremi | Doremi Yuri CP |
| KILL la KILL | YURI la KILL |
| Katana Maidens: Toji No Miko | Toji No Yuri |
| Pretty Cure (PreCure) series | YuriCure |
Games
| Works | Tags/Articles Name |
|---|---|
| Aikatsu! | Yurikatsu! |
| Uta no Prince-sama | UtaYuri |
| Final Fantasy series | FFGL |
| Pokémon | pkmnYuri |
| Project SEKAI | YuriSEKA |
Other Genres
| Works | Tags/Articles Name |
|---|---|
| UTAU | UTAGL |
| Cardfight!! Vanguard | Vanguard【Yuri】 |
Articles in List Style
※Other CP genres are excluded in this list.
Works not listed above
Works that include Yuri-like representations and works that are often the subject of yuri derivative works. Excluding thematic works and those on Specific Tags and Articles in Lists.
Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll
Mobile Suit Gundam - the Witch from Mercury
Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story
Miss Bernard said. (Bernard-jou Iwaku.)
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
The Demon Girl Next Door (Machikado Mazoku)
Encouragement of Climb (Yamanosusume)
Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne (Rinne no Lagrange)
Related Contests and Projects on pixiv
PixYuri - Yuri School Softball Club
Related Illustrations
Original
Related Tags
Terms Related to Yuri
| General | Love Coupling Female Girl |
|---|---|
| Sexual Orientation | LBGT Homosexuality Les Lesbian |
| Creation | Original Yuri |
| Terms | Woman and Woman Strong Yuri Weak Yuri |
| GL | Girls Love GL |
| (Father of Yuri, who invented the term) | Bungaku Itou |
| Other Languages | 百合 |
| Antonym | BL (Rose) / For Fujoshi, NL / Heterosexual |
|---|---|
| Flower | Lilium (Yuri Flower) |
| Person's Name | Yuri (name) |
Terms Derived from Yuri
| Forms of Relationships | Yuri Couple Yuri Sisters Sister and Loli Master-Servant Yuri |
|---|---|
| Collaboration | Yuri Collaboration |
| Pseudo (needed discussion) | Pseudo Yuri Mild Yuri Yuri? Not Yuri It's Not Yuri |
| Memes | iPS Cell Yuri for World Peace Yuri Deity Yuri of Absence |
| "nmmn"※ | nmmn Yuri Eigyou Yuri Seiyuu VTuber Vnmmn |
| Other Related |
※...(dealing with relationships between real persons. RPF/RPS)
Creaters
"xx Users Bookmark" Related Tags
| Illustrations | Novels |
|---|---|
External Links
Yuri made me human — interview with Iori Miyazawa (May 2018)
Yuri made me human, part 2 (August 2018)
