Linhua’s Top 10 Yuri Manga of 2025

This article was updated on May 6, 2026.

Japanese version: Read in Japanese

Introduction

Hello, everyone! It’s Linhua 🌸

As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on all the wonderful yuri manga I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. It’s been such a remarkable journey!

I started this blog in September 2025, so my selections are mainly from works I read from September onward. However, I never stopped reading yuri manga throughout the year, so I’ve also included some favorites from earlier months 💕

Today, I’m excited to share my personal top 10 yuri manga picks from 2025—the works that touched my heart the most.

Yuri Manga Trends in 2025

2025 was truly a year of incredible diversity in yuri manga!

The Rise of Anthologies: One of the most notable trends was the abundance of themed anthologies. From historical collections like “Gengo Yuri Anthology” exploring eras from Meiji to Reiwa, to more mature themes in “Oppai Yuri Anthology 2,” “One Night Love Yuri Anthology,” and “Cheating/NTR Yuri Anthology”—there was something for every taste.

Adult Yuri Coming Into Its Own: I noticed a beautiful surge in adult-oriented yuri with emotional depth. Works like “Ichikoe, Nifuri, Tachiaoi” brought us genuine romance, while “She Dances Naked” tackled heavier themes with grace. The spiritual connections between women took center stage in so many works.

Comedy Yuri Flourishing: The comedy scene was absolutely thriving! “Lock the Infirmary Door!” and “Only a Stalker with Overwhelming Feelings Could Save This Burnt-Out Office Worker” had me laughing while still delivering heartfelt yuri moments 💕

Personally, what I loved most about 2025 was this beautiful diversity—being able to choose between pure romance and something spicier depending on my mood 🌸

My Top 10 Picks

Now, let me share the works that left the deepest impression on me this year!

🥇 #1: Ichikoe, Nifuri, Tachiaoi (いちこえ、にふり、タチアオイ)

My number one pick for 2025 is Yodokawa’s “Ichikoe, Nifuri, Tachiaoi”!

First, I have to mention Yodokawa’s absolutely gorgeous artwork. This isn’t just adult yuri—it’s what I’d call true romance 🌸

The story follows Aoi, a prep school lecturer who feels self-conscious about her attractive appearance, and Yamada, a theater actress who sees her own looks as a tool to be utilized. Their meeting sets off a beautifully warm story.

Through Yamada, Aoi begins to overcome her insecurities. Meanwhile, for Yamada, meeting Aoi helps expand her range as an actress. They complement each other perfectly, and watching their relationship develop filled my heart with such warmth.

I love physical intimacy in yuri as much as anyone, but this manga reminded me that perhaps the true essence of yuri lies in emotional and spiritual connections. This work genuinely moved me 📚

Click here for a review of this work.

🥈 #2: Gengo Yuri Anthology (元号百合アンソロジー

This anthology tells one yuri story per Japanese era, spanning from the Meiji period to Reiwa.

Every story follows a pure love trajectory, with endings perfectly suited to their historical context. The Meiji through Showa stories tend toward bittersweet conclusions, while Heisei and Reiwa offer more hopeful endings. It beautifully captures how same-sex love was perceived throughout different periods of Japanese history 🌸

What particularly struck me was learning about “S” (エス)—a term from the Taisho era describing romantic relationships between female students. It made me curious about the history of yuri and GL in Japan.

Viewing yuri through the lens of history was such a fresh and fascinating perspective!

🥉 #3: Lock the Infirmary Door! Vol. 1 (保健室の鍵閉めてっ 1巻)

An erotic yuri comedy in 4-panel format! Despite the moe-style cover, the content inside is wonderfully playful with adorable artwork 💕

The story centers on Nadeshiko Notogawa, supposedly a “pure and serious” health committee chair. Her secret hobby? Checking the underwear of students who visit the infirmary! So much for pure and serious, right? 😂

Then there’s the transfer student, Iku Echigawa—and yes, her name literally sounds like “let’s go/ecchi!” The dynamic between the calculating Nadeshiko and the somewhat airheaded Iku is absolutely hilarious.

The cast is extensive and wonderfully quirky, including members of the “Secret Club” dedicated to activities like oil massages, strip games, and hot spring outings. It’s high-energy, fully committed to its ecchi premise, and I absolutely love it 🌸

Click here for a review of this work.

#4: Only a Stalker with Overwhelming Feelings Could Save This Burnt-Out Office Worker Vol. 1（限界社会人さんを救えるのはクソデカ感情ストーカーちゃんだけでした 1巻）

A brilliantly subversive yuri comedy that cleverly flips the stalker concept!

Hana Yamada, a completely burnt-out office worker, becomes so exhausted by her hellish life that she resigns herself to death. When she wakes up in an unfamiliar place, she assumes she’s died and gone to some kind of afterlife. Everything is perfect—meals prepared, a comfortable life… until she realizes she’s actually been kidnapped by a stalker!

The mystery surrounding stalker Haruna and her connection to Hana’s past is still unfolding. By the end of this volume, Hana must choose whether to leave or stay in this bizarre situation. She chooses to stay, and I’m so curious to see where their unusual cohabitation goes from here 💕

Click here for a review of this work.

#5: One Night Love Yuri Anthology (ワンナイトラブ百合アンソロジー)

A slightly mature anthology themed around women’s one-night encounters 🌸

It even includes a short story by Yodokawa (the creator of my #1 pick)!

My personal favorites were Shinogi Asa’s story about a female doctor and a married woman—the ending was just my type—and Ajiichi’s story, which was absolutely heartbreaking.

From childhood friends to student-teacher relationships (two stories!) to police colleagues, every story in this anthology was excellent. It’s a tastefully sensual adult yuri collection that I thoroughly enjoyed 💕

Click here for a review of this work.

Read this review in English: English Version

#6: I Can’t Act Cool in Front of Makoto-senpai! Vol. 1 (真先輩の前ではかっこつけられない！)

A refreshingly fun premise: a yuri romantic comedy between a girl who acts like a cool ikemen character and a genuine ikemen girl 🌸

Jun tries hard to maintain her cool, princely persona due to painful past experiences. Meanwhile, Makoto remains mysterious—apparently she shows a very different side of herself around Jun compared to how she usually acts at school.

There seems to be something in their past, perhaps connected to why Makoto transferred schools. What happened when they first met? Where will their relationship go?

It proves that even ikemen-type characters falling for each other can be absolutely precious 💕

Click here for a review of this work.

#7: She Dances Naked Vol. 1 (彼女は裸で踊ってる)

This manga tackles heavier themes, but the art style makes it surprisingly accessible 🌸

Aya goes through life feeling deeply uncomfortable with her womanhood. After experiencing harassment, she’s saved by Kaori, a stripper. This encounter with the unknown world of striptease becomes a catalyst for Aya to confront her body, her sexuality, and the world around her.

Reading this, I felt the author Okafuji’s genuine love for striptease and deep respect for strippers. There’s nothing exploitative about how these elements are portrayed—it’s handled with such care and sincerity. This work actually sparked my own interest in striptease as an art form.

Click here for a review of this work.

#8: 7-Day Limited Girlfriend Vol. 1 (7日間限定彼女 1)

A unique premise where a studious girl and a gyaru decide to date for just seven days 💕

I really love how this creator draws women—they’re so cute 🌸

By the end of volume 1, we’ve reached day five. I’m dying to know what will happen in the remaining two days! Will their relationship really end after seven days? I need to know what happens next!

Click here for a review of this work.

#9: Oppai Yuri Anthology 2 (おっぱい百合アンソロジー 2)

I never expected a second volume of this anthology! It’s exactly what it sounds like—a yuri anthology focused on breasts!

When breasts are the theme, stories naturally gravitate toward either big or small—and this collection leans into that completely 😂 Every story features explicit content and erotic scenes. Each one was wonderful 💕

#10: Cheating/NTR Yuri Anthology (浮気・NTR百合アンソロジー)

A mature yuri anthology themed around cheating and NTR (netorare) between women. The overall tone is dark and unsettling, but each story was compelling.

I’ll admit the aftertaste isn’t always pleasant 😅 But there’s something about the eroticism that emerges from these morally questionable situations that I found fascinating 🌸

Click here for a review of this work.

Read this review in English: English version

Looking Back on Yuri Manga in 2025

2025 was truly a year when yuri manga’s diversity expanded like never before 🌸

The anthology boom was particularly impressive—from historical pieces like “Gengo Yuri Anthology” to mature themes in “Oppai Yuri Anthology 2,” “One Night Love Yuri Anthology,” and “Cheating/NTR Yuri Anthology”—so many different themes to explore!

I was thrilled to see adult yuri come into its own. From spiritually connected works like “Ichikoe, Nifuri, Tachiaoi” to thematically heavy pieces like “She Dances Naked,” we got so many substantial adult yuri works this year 💕

And comedy yuri with works like “Lock the Infirmary Door!” and “Only a Stalker with Overwhelming Feelings Could Save This Burnt-Out Office Worker” kept things fun and light when I needed it 🌸

What touched my heart most was my #1 pick, “Ichikoe, Nifuri, Tachiaoi.” It reminded me that perhaps the true essence of yuri lies in those spiritual, emotional connections between women.

I can’t wait to see what beautiful yuri manga 2026 will bring!

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead 💕