In this article, we will explore the fascinating life of the famous Yuricon, whose contributions have left an indelible mark on history. From his humble beginnings to his rise to the top, Yuricon has captivated people of all ages and from all walks of life. Throughout these pages, we will discover the achievements, challenges, and important moments that have defined Yuricon's journey, as well as his lasting impact on the world around him. Join us on this journey through the life of Yuricon and discover how his legacy continues to inspire and influence generations to come.
Yuricon was an anime convention geared toward fans of yuri anime and manga.[1] The first Yuricon event was held in 2003 in Newark, New Jersey with about 200 attending,[2] although Yuricon has existed as an online entity since 2000.[3] The event was organized by Yuricon, LLC., which continues to run Yuri-focused events of its own,[4] collaborates with other organizations to hold unique events,[5][6] and hosts contests.[7]
History
In 2000, Erica Friedman founded Yuricon on Usenet with the name of "Anilesbocon" but this was changed to Yuricon in 2003 in an effort to better "celebrate Yuri in anime and manga."[8][9] In 2003, the organization had a "three-day anime and manga convention" in Newark, New Jersey.[10] Two years later, Yuricon hosted an event in Tokyo and co-sponsored Onna!, together with the Shoujo Arts Society, which focused on women's roles in animation and comics.[10] Two years after that, in 2007, Yuricon ran a small one-day event, named Yurisai, to recreate the feel of the Tokyo event from 2005.[11] During this time period, Yuricon hosted several panels,[12]cosplay events,[13]anime music video contests, and other competitions, while Yuricon maintained a library of yuri manga for attendees to read.[14]
Some years later, in 2011, Yuricon moved to a new website.[15] The same year, the Kyoto International Manga Museum added works published by ALC Publishing, the publishing arm of Yuricon, into its permanent collection.[16] Also that year, Renbooks, an Italian publisher announced that an Italian edition of Rica 'tte Kanji!? would be published.[17] The following year, ALC Publishing announced a partnership with JManga to publish POOR POOR LIPS!,[18]Kimi no Tamenara Shineru,[19] and
three other yuri comic titles.[20] The next year, Okazu, then just a blog of Friedman, joined the domain of Yuricon[21] and ALC publishing stopped publishing new material.[8]
In later years, the webpage of the Yuricon website as a whole was improved, while the group's founder, Erica Friedman, asked for donations to ensure that Yuricon and Okazu are "on the cutting edge of Yuri Culture."[22] Later, the new-and-improved Yuricon store would be opened[23] and the page listing yuri essays would be improved.[24] Then, in May 2018, Friedman appeared at a guest panelist at AnimeNEXT in Atlantic City, NJ.[25] The following year, Yuricon joined forces with PacSet to launch a guided trip across Japan "dedicated to the Yuri genre of Japanese animation and manga," which would take place in September of that year.[26] The same year, Erica Friedman appeared at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival to celebrate 100 years of Yuri,[27] while speaking at various other events that year.[28]
In May 2020, Yuricon hosted an online panel about yuri.[29]
Yuricon has a publishing arm, ALC Publishing, the only all-yuri publisher in the world.[1] Publications include translations from the Japanese—such as Rica 'tte Kanji!? and WORKS—as well as the original English-language anthology series Yuri Monogatari.
Additionally, Friedman has run a blog titled Okazu since 2002, which she describes as the "world's oldest and most comprehensive blog" which focuses on lesbian themes in Japanese comics, cartoons, and other media.[37] Yuricon also describes Okazu as their "official" blog.[38] In 2022 essays written for Okazu, including those detailing the history of Yuricon and ALC Publishing, were published alongside Friedman's other works within By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga.
Publications
Yuri Monogatari (named for Nobuko Yoshiya's Hana Monogatari) is an annual anthology of yuri-themed short comics. In September 2007, Yuri Monogatari 3 was nominated for the Lambda Book Award.[39] Five Yuri Monogatari anthologies have been published, with volumes 4 and 6 currently listed in the Yuricon store.[40][41] Caroline Ryder of The Advocate called Yuri Monogatari a "must-have manga".[42]
^ ab"What is Yuricon?". Yuricon. March 3, 2012. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
^Friedman, Erica (June 29, 2008). "Interview: Erica Friedman" (Online). Interviewed by Deb Aoki. Geeks Out. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
^Friedman, Erica (August 3, 2012). "Interview With Erica Friedman (Yuricon)" (Online). Interviewed by Samantha Ferreira. Anime Herald. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
^MIT Reports to the President 2002–2003 (Report). MIT. 2003. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2020. Film and WS Events..."Schoolgirls and Superheroes: Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Japanese Animation," by Sarah Frederick (Boston University), Erica Friedman (director of Shoujoai Conferences), and Kerey Luis (Brandeis University)