THIS POST IS FOR PEOPLE WHO STILL CLAIM ‘YURI ON ICE’ IS QUEERBAITING OR DIDN’T FACE CENSORSHIP WHEN IN FACT THEY DID!!!
Ready? Go!
– (1/3) this is a psa for people still claiming yoi is “bait” a) Kubo never denied the rings being for marriage but rather said “not just for” だけじゃなく which means for marriage but also other things b) Sayo Yamamoto has adressed censorship problems in the fanbook an in an event.
– (2/3) Manabu Otsuka, ceo of Mappa (studio that animated yoi) has already stated that Sayo had problems getting greenlight for yoi with other studios bcs she wanted a romance 恋愛 between coach an athlete, he also has claimed in other interviews how she persisted despite backlash.
– (3/3) Kubo has stated in the fanbook go yuri go that even if at the beggining she thought ppl would like to have their interpretation, she learned that there always has to be one right answer, hence there is not “up for interpretation” here.
There is more to add including what the staff of funimation was told by YoiP to not downplay the romance in the dub or promotion, I’ll add sources and links below and feel free to ask me any doubt.
-Links and sources: -Otsuka’s statement (there is a video of the panel in facebook too):
– Sayo talking about kiss censorship in the event cosmania in Philippines (hence mentions why they rendered the lips so shiny- to make clear its a kiss):
– Report of a funimation panel where they mention how they were told not to downplay the romance for the english distribution as well as other interesting details:
– Video of the mappa panel where the interpreter (who is the official interpreter for mappa in other events) translates Otsuka’s answer regarding the romance in the show (it has spanish subs) https://www.facebook.com/que.eros/videos/1295075040590275/ …
– I also found an interesting thread explaining the mistranslation drama from last year, read it all from top to bottom:
– Interview with animators Tadashi Hiramatsu and Noriko Ito, they talk about animation work and how they think the racial diversity as well in sexuality/ gender (with mention of Victor and Yuuri’s relationship) contributed to the popularity of the show:
v-niliforov 
