As to be expected, the majority of romantic tension present in the Spring 2023 season follows a stereotypically heterosexual path (except for the particularly disturbing brother complex of My One-Hit Kill Sister.) Nevertheless, a pair of LGBTQ+-friendly representatives have joined the pack, in the form of Opus.Colors and Yuri Is My Job!
Both shows tastefully explore the homoerotic experience, prioritizing the romance of it all, over-and-above nonsensical, over-sexualized content. However, while Café Liebe is confirmed to be lesbian-worthy, Opus.Colors has not been officially classified as Yaoi, and the fandom is divided regarding the show's LGBTQ+ status. However, the following content will highlight the heartwarming potential of the series celebrating Boy's Love (whether it be platonic intimacy or otherwise.)
Yuri Is My Job!
Hime Shiraki (who is subsequently dubbed Hime Shirasagi after her "enrollment") is the sweetest girl that has ever existed. Well, at least that's the ruse, because burikko girls are more likely to find a wealthy husband and have a happy life, assumedly. However, Hime's strategy is completely derailed when she gets roped into working at Café Liebe, and the delectable Ayanokouji turns the self-declared straight girl's world upside-down. This stunning series is a respectable shojo about girls, for girls, who like girls! It feels like the last time the LGBTQ+ anime fandom was so fortunate was way back when Revolutionary Girl Utena came out (no pun intended.)
Romance (that distinctively sensational Shojo kind) is a major theme connecting these girls, and viewers can tell from the first episode alone that it will feature throughout the series. The whole basis of their fictional school of Liebe Girls Academy revolves around showcasing archetypal shojo storylines, with a tonne of enticing kabedon thrown in for good measure! The sisterly Schwestern twist conveniently pushes Hime and Mitsuki Yano even closer together, even if it is done purely to satisfy their expectant customers, who are all obsessed with the authenticity of the Cafe's romantic reenactments. And despite how aggravated Ayanokouji appears to be, she is evidently not immune to Hime's enchanting charm (or is it simply all part of the act?)
Another extremely refreshing element of Yuri Is My Job! is that, even though the show is overflowing with a selection of attractive waifus, the derogatory aspect of oversexualizing for the sake of fanservice is virtually non-existent. Assumedly because this anime was not made with the male gaze in mind, these girls can showcase their attractive features without baring too much skin or succumbing to the accompanying cringeworthy dialogue of most harem anime (just the swoon-worthy shojo kind!) Most other series that highlight any kind of Maid Cafe-orientated narrative would easily fall into the pitfalls of sacrificing the storyline for the sake of seduction, such as with The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, and many more.
Opus.Colors: A Complex Camaraderie
Although the Korean Boy's Love scene is simply overflowing with content, the anime industry is rather sparsely speckled with similarly inclusive storylines (and why the term "gay" is avoided is another story entirely.) The LGBTQ+ community grew hopeful when the Opus.Colors series was initially announced, and, as far as the first episode goes, it's safe to say that disappointment is not in the cards for fans (well, at least in the BL department.)
Despite the overwhelming info-dumping and song sequences, Opus.Colors has efficiently set the scene regarding how deep the boys' bond goes, while Kazuya's passionate pleas to rekindle this connection with Kyo are emotive and gutwrenching. Jun and Michitaka's little side story is also very intriguing, not to mention absolutely adorable! Furthermore, the subtlety of Kyo and Kazuya's suggestive romantic plot twist is so effective that viewers may still be oblivious, unless they were already aware of the Yaoi potential (or read into the fact that there are no girls around!)
At first glance, this show is about art and friendship; so, basically a state-of-the-art version of Blue Period. This right here is a good sign! Too often, shows attempt to become LGBTQ+ allies by inserting a homosexual character and basing their entire existence around their sexuality. Everything about that person screams "Queen!" so boldly and loudly that their other distinctive personality traits fall on deaf ears. Compared to Ouran High School Host Club, which also celebrates Boy's Love but in a more unmistakable and derogatory way (ahem...Hikaru and Kaoru), well, its chalk and cheese!
Celebrating Vs Queerbaiting
The anime industry needs more cultured content that celebrates non-heterosexual love stories. On numerous occasions, any form of LGBTQ+ fondness is introduced for comedic effect while their "alternative" romantic storyline usually gets sidelined or simply fades away completely. This technique is commonly known as "Queerbaiting." Prime examples include Arisa and Anzu (Romantic Killer), Katarina and Maria (My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!), Ayame and Shigure, and so many other sub-plots in Fruits Basket. Inclusivity and diversity are not simply ingredients in the recipe for success; a bit of effort and followthrough needs to be applied, too.
Tomo-Chan Is A Girl! flirts with the border of queerbaiting, as Tomo is the object of many, many girls' affections, yet ultimately ends up with a boyfriend. However, the show certainly advocates for the discontinuation of gender stereotyping and touches on the subject of non-binary (to a degree) which arguably makes them allies. Furthermore, the story is far from complete and has a promising Yuri future on the horizon, for one lucky pair, at least!
Before casting too much shade on creators, consider that their hesitation to openly celebrate LGBTQ+ positive content may be a cultural issue, as Japan sits in a relatively grey area regarding the issue. While Japan's LGBTQ+ legal situation is well above many other unfortunate countries (where non-heterosexual conduct is punishable by death, to this day), their system has a limited protection system in place to prevent discrimination. According to recent reports by the Washington Post, being openly gay in Japan is still considered "taboo." And enjoying LGBTQ+ friendly material holds a similar stigma, as Chainsaw Man's mastermind, Tatsuki Fujimoto knowns full well (after publically supporting his assistant's 18+ BL manga, the tweet of which has since been removed.) However, the more positive attention that Yuri and Yaoi content receives, the more likely creators will defy the accepted "norm" and produce some truly uplifting alternative romance content.