There is no doubt in my mind that many manga fans lose interest in a series when they hear that it is either a yuri (dealing with love between girls) or a yaoi (dealing with love between guys). No doubt the primary cause is that these genres have a reputation for being smutty and near pornographic (some do cross over into that territory). However, I argue that, like with any genre, there are gems hidden in these genres and I fully believe they are worth reading.
It is worth noting that the manga genre of Yaoi and Yuri were popularized in the 1970s by the Year 24 Group. A revolutionary group of women who reinterpreted what Shojo manga meant. Not only did they create new forms of Shojo art and manga panels but their works also dealt with gender and sexuality, themes rarely seen beforehand. These included depictions of male-male and female-female relationships.
In my early days of collecting manga, I avoided collecting any Yaoi or Yuri, aware that these genres were known for graphic depictions of sexual content. What changed my opinion was when I read a review of Girl Friends. The review was so enthusiastic and passionate about the quality of the manga that I decided to take the plunge.
I ordered Girl Friends and was blown away by the power of the storytelling. The manga deals with the steadily developing relationship between the shy Mariko Kumakura and Akiko Oohashi. The story takes its time to develop these characters and to explore the confusion surrounding their feelings towards each other. Despite an ending that feels a little rushed, I can honestly say that Girl Friends is not only the best Yuri manga I have read but also the best romance manga I have ever read!
Soon after, I got the chance to read The Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio (one of the Year 24 Group). Again, I was amazed at the power and intricacy of the storytelling (although not quite as much I was had been by Girl Friends). Dealing with the themes of suicide, guilt, loneliness and a growing relationship between two boys and sporting the outstanding artwork and panels of the Year 24 Group, again I was highly impressed.
Then I read Crimson Spell, a work that I had seen reviewed positively. I bought the first two volumes and sat down to read them (I read them during one of my 24 Hour Manga Marathons). I appreciated the art and thought that some of the humour was very well done but I was shocked at the very graphic depictions of male sex as well as portrayals of non-consensual sex and bestiality. Having learned to appreciate these genres from the previous two titles, Crimson Spell reminded me of the issues I had beforehand.
What you should take away from this article is that there are many great works in the field of Yaoi and Yuri. However, I think it is fair to say that there is plenty of content that justifies the reputations of being smutty and highly sexual. I fully encourage you to begin exploring these genres but I do recommend careful research through reviews, articles and word of mouth before purchasing any titles.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use bookdepository.com for all of your needs!