<P> Yuri on Ice has raised discussion concerning its depiction of a same - sex relationship between its protagonists, with some critics praising it for covering homosexuality in a way that differs from most anime and manga such as the yaoi genre, and for dealing with homosexuality in a country and sport that has present - day issues with homophobia; others criticised its depiction for being unrealistic and ambiguous . The series has also been praised for its depiction of anxiety, and also raised a brief controversy concerning a similar figure skating - based title to be released in the United States in 2017 . </P> <P> After a crushing defeat in the Grand Prix Final and other competition losses, 23 - year - old Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki develops mixed feelings about skating and puts his career on hold; returning to his hometown of Hasetsu in Kyushu . Yuri visits his childhood friend, Yuko, at an ice rink (Ice Castle Hasetsu) and perfectly mimics an advanced skating routine performed by his idol: Russian figure skating champion Victor Nikiforov . When secretly recorded footage of Yuri's performance is uploaded to the internet, it catches Victor's attention, and he travels to Kyushu with an offer to coach Yuri and revive his figure - skating career . Later, it is revealed that Victor was already familiar with Yuri, having met him before at a banquet where Yuri got drunk and asked Victor to be his coach . </P> <P> After learning when about Victor's career decision, Yuri Plisetsky, a rising 15 - year - old Russian prodigy skater, travels to Hasetsu to make Victor keep a promise made prior to the beginning of the series . Victor had promised he would choreograph a routine specifically for Yuri P. if he won the Junior World Championships, which Yuri P. presumably did . Victor, having forgotten about his promise to Yuri P., makes the two Yuris compete against each other to decide who he will coach . He chooses two songs for the skaters, both with the same melody but with different meaning . One, in regards to love "Agape", was a song about unconditional love, is given to Yuri P . The second song, in regards to love "Eros", was about sexual love, is given to Yuri K. Yuri K. ends up winning, and thus Victor becomes Yuri K.'s coach . Yuri P. returns to Russia, and both Yuris vow to win the Grand Prix championship . </P> <P> Both Yuri K. and Yuri P. qualify to represent their countries in the Grand Prix series, and then later qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona . Over the course of the Grand Prix, Yuri K. and Victor become increasingly close, with the two of them seemingly kissing in public (although all on screen footage of them kissing is obscured and thus ambiguous), and with Yuri K. buying them both gold rings in Barcelona, which leads to remarks by Victor about them being "engaged ." On the eve the final, Yuri K. plans to quit skating so that Victor can return to the sport and tells Victor, but Victor tearfully rejects the idea, and they agree to choose their paths after the tournament has finished . The tournament ends with Yuri P. winning the gold medal and Yuri K. winning silver . As a result, Yuri K. decides to continue skating and moves to St. Petersburg so that he can continue to stay together with Victor, and training alongside Yuri P. and Victor . </P>

Who are the yuri on ice characters based off of