Almost every year, I do the 12 days of Anime thing every year. With that, we will focus on more yuri pairings of course. As expected, they are in no order.
Howan and Himeko – Show by Rock Mashumairesh
While there are several yuri pairings in Show by Rock, Howan and Himeko is the kind of relationship upgrade Retoree yearns for with Cyan. Of course, Howan wasn’t close with Himeko initially given her tsundere personality.
Eventually, Himeko eventually allows Howan to stay at her place. Sure, she got a bit upset when Howan worked with Rararin with her unit for a while, but ultimately chooses Himeko. Yes, Howan eventually confesses to her on the beach. Either way, it’s quite surprising that Howan defrosted Himeko quite easily. This of course leads to a lot of cute moments with them together such as them sleeping together.
Delmin and Ruhuyu – Show by Rock Mashumairesh
Delmin and Ruhuyu is a cute pairing for the fact that Ruhuyu seems to have a thing for her. Sure, there are a few moments that Ruhuyu obsesses over Delmin, but the development was minor in the third season.
It’s not until Superstars that they had a few really defining moments. This happened when Ruhuyu wondered off to find the café that Delmin wants to go to. Meanwhile, Delmin finds the music store that Ruhuyu wanted to go to. When she found it, she finds that Ruhuyu has disappeared. Of course, this causes Delmin to become upset at Ruhuyu, Thankfully, they made up after hearing a special song.
What I find funny is that Ruhuyu wants to learn the beam attack for Delmin’s father. Yes, it’s obvious that she wants to learn Delmin’s amazing beam attack that she used against the dark speaker monster, but instead destroys the city. Not to mention, Ruhuyu is what allowed Delmin to patch up her relationship with her father. Still, I feel that the fourth season finally done some justice for this pairing as it appears that Delmin and Ruhuyu are now closer than before.
Toukai Teio and Meijiro McQueen – Uma Musume
Sure, some shippers who wanted Gold Ship and McQueen to happen. Sadly, they were disappointed when the second season came around. Instead, we got an interesting pairing with Teio and McQueen as it starts off as a friendly rivalry. Sure, Teio faced some setbacks due to her tendency of injuring herself. While Teio doesn’t win the race aginst McQueen, which she is confident that she would win, she struggled since then. Of course, she never gave up thanks to McQueen giving Teio some motivation not to give up.
Of course, in the 11th episode, yes there is Teio’s struggle to thank McQueen without sounding like a confession. The funny thing is that she eventually asks her out on a Halloween date. As expected, it plays out what you expect, and it kind of plays like Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond.
Moreover, when McQueen faces a potentially incurable injury that puts her in the same situation Teio faced, she returns the favor. Yes, to win the upcoming race. I guess they became soulmates, but not too surprising given that Kitasan and Diamond look up to Teio and McQueen respectively. Still, I must admit this pairing was interesting, more than Special Week and Silence Suzuka.
Rin and Nadeshiko – Yuru Camp
It’s not too surprising to see this pairing on this list as this pairing is precious. When Rin was camping by the lakeside, she finds a lost Nadeshiko sleeping near the bathroom. Of course, Rin shared some cup ramen with Nadeshiko. After her older sister picked her up, Nadeshiko became interested in camping. Eventually, she gained an interest to do solo camping. That is after she eventually defrosts Rin as she grows closer with her that she accepted the idea of group camping during Christmas.
I felt the second season is where Rin and Nadeshiko finally receives a relationship upgrade. Yes, you can’t forget the time where Nadeshiko brought Rin to an eel restaurant and stay at Rin’s grandmother’s house. Not only that, I find it cute how Rin becomes worried during Nadeshiko’s solo camping trip that she secretly checked on her. Yes, this shows how close Rin became with Nadeshiko, especially with that moment in the last episode of the second season. Not to mention, they camp together in the Yuru Camp VR game that is on mobile and PC.
Toriko and Sorawo – Urasekai Picnic
It’s expected that this pairing will make it to the list since they are certainly a power couple. Sure, Sorawo, who find herself in the madness called the Urasekai, a world filled with internet folklore and creppypastas. Thankfully, Toriko saves Sorawo after she came too close to lose her mind from the Wiggles. They gained new powers, which is beneficial to explore the madness of the Urasekai.
Of course, Toriko drags Sorawo around the other world and of course, slowly falling for Toriko. Not too surprising given Toriko’s pretty looks and skilled at using weapons. At one point, Sorawo thought about growing her hair out when Toriko ask about it. Eventually, she decided against it since she got creeped out by almost looking like Satsuki, whom Toriko is looking for. Regardless, I think that Toriko and Sorawo is still an interesting and slow developing relationship.
Reiko and Koguma – Super Cub
As expected, Reiko is Koguma’s first friend she made in a while thanks to buying a Super Cub. Yes, they are close and spend time with each other and eventually get closer. They also have some nice moments with them riding on the Super Cub together. Of course, there is also that moment where Reiko walks out of the bath naked to get Koguma’s reaction. Either way, it’s easy to see why this pairing is on the list given how much significance Reiko has on Koguma’s life.
Himeno and Naoko – Yakunara Mug Cup
It’s obvious that Naoko and Himeno are more than best friends. Not too surprising since they spend time with each other during their childhood. Not to mention, it seems that Himeno is the only one that understood Naoko’s creation after her classmates made fun of it.
Of course, while Naoko obviously have an attraction too Himeno, the second season is where it really becomes more apparent. After all, she records videos of Himeno and obsesses over photos of her. Still, she is the one that encourages Himeno to make a mug, something that her mother usually made in that special moment. Sure, Touko and Mika is a fun pairing, I feel that Himeno and Naoko is the best pairing for the fact that Himeno finally made something she is proud of thanks to her.
Fuuka and Kukuru – Shiroi Suna no Aquatope
As expected, it’s obvious that Fuuka and Kukuru pairing will make it to this list. After all, they both met each other at an aquarium after a faithful encounter. That is after Fuuka went to Okinawa as her idol dream ended. Of course, Kukuru is faced with a task trying to save her grandfather’s aquarium. After all, the place was special to her as she had many memories there with her parents, who passed away.
While Fuuka helped Kukuru to save her dream, she ultimately fails. After hearing about Kukuru’s lost sister and her desire to have an older sister, Fuuka feels that she can’t leave Kukuru behind. She decides to not take the idol gig offer so she can be with her and give her moral support when she needs it. Of course, they also develop special bonds with each other. Not to mention, they live next door to each other.
Jahy and Kokoro – Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai
Sure, Jahy seems to have an ever-growing harem consisting of Druj, Owner, and later, Kyoko whom Jahy confessed her love to. Of course, the pairing that stands out the most is with her and Kokoro. Yes, this innocent grade schoolgirl who decides to help Jahy to find mana crystals.
While she hasn’t found any, she contributed in defrosting Jahy. Yes, she will do anything to protect her reputation and protect her from harm. Yes, Jahy went so far to show how powerful she is compared to the magical girl, who is trying to steal Kokoro’s heart. Still, I find it ironic that Jahy decides to become friends with a human despite having a lot of pride. Then again, it’s not too surprising since Kokoro is kind and innocent.
Kanon and Chisato – Love Live Superstar
It’s obvious that Kanon and Chisato are childhood friends. She protects her when a bunch of bullies treated her badly. She even helps Kanon and Keke out when they first started their school idol club.
While Chisato want to do something on her own and prove her dancing skills, Kanon came to support her. Of course, Chisato returns the favor by helping Kanon to get over crippling anxiety. Still, it’s nice to see their relationship become more than just best friends. Hopefully we will see more development of this pairing in another season.
Suzune and Rena – Selection Project
As expected, Rena was cold towards Suzune for the fact she got a second chance. As Suzune gets closer with Rena, especially after revealing her heart transplant. Sure, there are ups and downs with their pairings, it’s nice to see Rena become even closer to Suzune after finding out where her older sister’s heart ended up. Not to mention, Suzune and Rena is what allowed all the girls develop strong and inseparable bonds with each other. Not to mention, their unit name, SuzuRena makes the pairing so obvious.
Riko and Naomi – Puraore! Pride of Orange
Not too surprising to see Riko and Naomi on their list given how close they are. Sure, they are childhood friends, but they do stuff together. They played ice hockey together during their childhood, but Naomi didn’t enjoy it and decides to take up figure skating. They ended up quitting these activities as they can’t do it together. Not only that, Riko protected Naomi during their childhood as well.
Still, it’s nice to see Riko help train Naomi so that she won’t end up colliding with someone. Of course, she returned the favor to win the match so they can continue to play ice hockey together. From this, it’s obvious that they are more than just best friends and I can see why they are the OTP in the show.
As always, I hope you enjoyed my list of best Yuri pairings of 2020. If you want more, I did the same kind of post in 2018 and 2020. Also, feel free to share what you think about my choices or any pairings that you would include on the list.
Some good pairings in that list! Show By Rock was one of my early favourites. Hard to say which pairing is better of the two but perhaps the Howan one edged it. It is close though so I can’t say it with confidence.
I like those race horses and the thing that is brill about that series is all the horse girls love each other. But yes, that rivalry/love affair was sweet. Teio is adorable too! I really felt sorry with all the times she broke her leg. Why did they play with our heart strings with both girls getting hurt all the time?
Speaking of adorable loli Jahy and Kokoro are perhaps the cutest pair of the whole bunch. You just want to hug either girl and the way they are just so innocent makes you want to kiss them. Jahy also cracks me up with the ease in which she can be manipulated.
Fuuka and Kukuru was an awesome pair that you almost wished they make a second season but unfortunately, I have big doubts that will ever happen. I have not seen the other animes so can’t comment on those but all in all that is a solid bunch you picked.
Not too surprising since Cygames wants to make references to how the horses raced in real life, but it led to a good story, more so than the first episode did with Special Week and Suzuka.
Not too surprising since Jahy and Kokoro make a cute pairing, especially when Jahy is in her child form.
Yes, it was really close, but it’s good that they didn’t cop out and force Kai and Kukuru to become canon.