WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of Blue Period, "PREP SCHOOL DEBUT OF THE DEAD," now streaming on Netflix.
In its depiction of passion versus practicality and pushing to grasp seemingly impossible dreams, Blue Period has stood out from among the Fall 2021 anime roster for its cast of complex characters as well as its detailed plunge into the world of art. Blue Period also showcases themes of self-expression -- not only through an exploration of the arts, but through gender identity and sexuality as well, particularly in regard to the character of Yuka Ayukawa.
Yuka can sometimes be depicted as somewhat snarky, but they're also often upbeat and supportive, with a passion for art that has existed for years -- a fun counterpart to Yatora's personality. While surrounded by other characters who likewise express themselves through art, Yuka also expresses themself in terms of how they portray their gender and personality. The character adopts traditionally male and female traits as it suits them; something that's particularly pronounced through their choice of clothing. While on some days, Yuka wears the female school uniform skirt and male blazer with high socks, on other days, they wear the male uniform trousers with a female blouse.
The fact that Yuka is referred to as 'Yuka-chan' by their close friends, using the honorific usually reserved for young girls, may suggest that they're most comfortable identifying as female, yet Yuka doesn't disagree when referred to by other characters as male. Their hair is quite long, indicating that this comfort with feminine traits has likely existed for at least a couple of years.
These are all characteristics that hint that Yuka may be genderfluid -- an extremely rare gender identity to be seen in mainstream anime. Genderfluid people do not have a fixed gender identity, often gravitating toward different identities over periods of time. Yuka's usage of clothing suggests that they might have a different preference from day to day, just as Ruka from Steins;Gate does not identify as a crossdresser despite wearing a girl's uniform.
How does this make Yuka important? The genderfluid identity is not well-known and is largely misunderstood even within the LGBTQ+ community. Representation leads to normalization, and the more viewers who can come to understand being genderfluid through fictional characters like Yuka, the more understanding this can lead to in everyday life. By existing as an important character in both the manga and the anime, Yuka is an example of how even more obscure gender identities can not only exist but enrich a narrative.
Yuka's experiences in Episode 3 of Blue Period are a particular example of the difficulties these characters can face. In the episode, Yuka asks out a boy, but once on the date, the boy discovers that Yuka identifies as male, pities Yuka, and leaves the date. When Yatora points out that Yuka's pretty face would make them more popular as a man, Yuka replies, "But if I have to be what the world tells me to be, I'd rather die."
Yuka goes further into the difficulties they face attempting to fit in while not identifying as wholly male or female. Girls like them because they assume Yuka to be a crossdressing straight man who understands feminine struggles but won't ever pursue them romantically. To them, Yuka is essentially the gay best friend. However, as Yuka's conversation with Yatora reveals, Yuka doesn't have any better luck with men. The guy Yuka attempted to go on a date with simply pitied them, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, Yatora once hated Yuka for being a 'popular crossdresser.'
Yuka is trapped in a world that doesn't understand what they want and that they don't understand either. "What's so weird about wanting to be cute and pretty?" they ask. "About a man loving another man?" Yuka struggles to understand why the world can't accept them as they are, and they can't seem to find a place within any LGBTQ+ communities either. Whether Yuka will be able to express themselves through art remains to be seen, but as of now, Yuka is struggling much more with their expression of gender identity and how to find companionship in a world that wants them to be one thing or the other.
So far, Blue Period has focused mostly on Yatora, but Yuka's search for self-expression will hopefully also see fruition. The possibility of a genderfluid character is a wonderful example of representation, and Yuka is an important milestone. Their journey from here on will no doubt be interesting to watch play out as the season continues.