Girls Love Shines Bright on Yuri Day

June 25th is the assigned day for the lily flower in Japan. Any cultured otaku can tell you that “lily” means “yuri” and “yuri” means “cute girls doing cute things.” Otaku recognize June 25th as Yuri Day, a time to appreciate cute girls falling in love. Let’s take a look at a few cute yuri couples. There’s even more cute girls’ love on Twitter (X)’s #百合の日.

1. Yukino Sakurai & Kanade Sakurai (Candy Boy)

We’re starting our Yuri Day list right. Yukino and Kanade share the same last name for a reason, and it’s not because they’re married. These girls are twin sisters in a romantic relationship. Yes, it’s twincest. These two live together in a university student dorm where they don’t try to hide their close relationship. The rich girl Sakuya Kamiyama is desperately in love with Kanade, but the sisters still consider her a friend.

Takafumi Hoshikawa directed the original Candy Boy anime for studio AIC. Seven episodes were aired from May 2nd, 2008 to May 8th, 2009.

2. Yurika Kamishiro & Saori (YuriCam ~Yurika no Campus Life~)

Yurika attends the prestigious Hakusen Women’s University. There are about 10,000 students in attendance, and they’re all women from wealthy families. Yurika has a strange reputation: the students believe that she’s a lady killer who slept with half of the students. In reality, she’s completely straight and has never touched a woman before. Yurika is forced to earn her reputation by sleeping with women for money when her father’s business collapses and he can no longer pay her tuition. Saori is Yurika’s roommate and, despite what she says, is very much in love with Yurika. This is despite Yurika sleeping around with other women.

Shigemitsu Harada and Takahiro Seguchi released the original YuriCam ~Yurika no Campus Life~ manga series from May 14th, 2010, to January 11th, 2013. Hakusensha published all five volumes in Young Animal.

3. Haruka Tenou / Sailor Uranus & Michiru Kaiou / Sailor Neptune (Sailor Moon)

The tomboy Haruka and the beautiful maiden Michiru first appear in the series already in a relationship. Michiru introduced Haruka to the concept of the Sailor Scouts and warned her of the dangers. The two have since adopted Hotaru Tomoe / Sailor Saturn as their daughter. Maybe Michiru can explain why it’s fine for her girlfriend to flirt with Usagi so brazenly.

Naoko Takeuchi wrote and illustrated Sailor Moon from December 28th, 1991, to February 3rd, 1997. Kodansha published all eighteen volumes in the pages of Nakayoshi. Toei Animation’s anime adaptation first premiered on March 7th, 1992.

4. Nagisa Aoi & Shizuma Hanazono (Strawberry Panic!)

Nagisa transferred to the prestigious all-girls school called St. Miator Girl’s Academy after her parents transferred to work abroad. Her free-spirited and lively demeanor contrasts with the traditional atmosphere of the school. She catches the Etoile Shizuma’s eye. Shizuma appears stoic and prefers playing the piano to performing her duties. Their true feelings come through and they become a stellar couple.

Sakurako Kimino and Chitose Maki released the original Strawberry Panic! light novel between December 30th, 2003 and July 30th, 2005. MediaWorks published eighteen volumes in Dengeki G’s Magazine. Madhouse’s anime adaptation premiered on April 3rd, 2006.

5. Anisphia “Anis” Wynn Palettia & Euphyllia “Euphy” Magenta (The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady)

Anis is the princess of the Kingdom of Palettia. She is also a reincarnator from modern-day Japan. Anis ceded the throne to her younger brother so she could live out her fantasy world dreams while making magical inventions that compensate for her lack of magic. She saw the moment her brother abandoned his fiancée Euphy and so she flew off with her to make Euphy her assistant. Their employer/employee relationship quickly became romantic.

Joe has written extensive reviews of The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady.

Piero Karasu posted the original The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady novel to Shosetsuka ni Naro between February 13th, 2019 and August 19th, 2021. Kadokawa Shoten obtained the publishing rights and hired the artist Yuri Kisaragi to adapt the series to a light novel format. This new run began on January 18th, 2020, in the Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint. Seven volumes have been published thus far. Diomedéa’s anime adaptation premiered on January 4th, 2023.

6. Hunter & Valkyrie (Bikini Warriors)

I did tell you that the bikini-clad warriors in this series had plenty of yuri elements to enjoy. Yuri Day cannot be properly celebrated without a yuri couple that got together after a “groping battle.” Hunter never joined a party before, and Valkyrie hoped to join Fighter’s party. Their plans changed and these two formed their own party.

Bikini Warriors, based on a series of fantasy figures created by Hobby Japan, much like Queen’s Blade, ran from July 8th, 2015, to July 27th, 2018, which consists of twelve episodes and six OVAs. Studios Feel and PRA saw what Agent Aika did and said, “Hold my sake!”

What do you think of our Yuri Day list? Did you find a new couple to support? Who would you suggest for a similar list? Let us know in the comments below.