Yuri Manga Titles Available Outside Japan

February 14th, 2012

This feature is going to be updated irregularly as new titles become available, or the lists becomes untenably large as “The List” on Yuricon became after a few years. (And let’s hope that that happens very quickly!) Humans being what they are, whenever a new title is licensed, there’s an outraged cry of dismay, as the genre we love is actually made available legitimately. We’ve talked about the reasons for that many times and I don’t plan on beating that to death here. The other outraged cry often is “why did they get it and not us?!?”

What I’d like to do is give you an idea of what books are available where and in what format. Of course this list will never be complete, so if you know of another title, format, anything, let me know. The point is to show you that Yuri is growing – and that with your help, it can grow more.

Guidelines for entries:  I’m not including “manga with Yuri,” as opposed to Yuri manga. That is – no Morita-san ha Mukuchi, or Ichiro!. These have some Yuri, true, but they aren’t primarily about two females with feelings for one another. This also leaves out things like Sailor Moon, or Mai HiME and other manga “with Yuri”.  If we went there, the list would start off obscenely large. So, for sanity’s sake we’re keeping to stories in which the romance between the women is the main driver of the plot and not just a fetish in a list of fetishes. (You’ll notice I include one volume of Utena – the movie manga. Anthy and Utena’s relationship was a major driver in that story.) ‘Kay? Good.

I’ve also focused on volumes of manga that are either currently available (at least according to Amazon) or are coming soon.

Please make suggestions in the comments!

Title
Country
Format/Publisher
Aoi Hana: Sweet Blue Flowers France Print/Asuka
Between the Sheets Germany Print/Tokyopop Germany
Blue Germany Print/Casterman
Free Soul Italy Print/Kappa Edizioni
GIRL FRIENDS USA, France, Germany Print/Seven Seas,Digital/JManga, Print/Taifu, Print/Carlsen
Hanjuku Joshi France Print/Taifu
Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Germany Print/Egmont
Indigo Blue Italy Print/Kappa Edizioni
Iono-sama Fanatics, Vol. 1 USA Print/Infinity Studios
Kashimashi ~ Girl Meets Girl USA Print/Seven Seas
Love My Life USA, Italy Digital/JManga, Print/Kappa Edizioni
MAKA MAKA Germany, France Print/Panini, Print/Delcourt
POOR POOR LIPS USA Digital/JManga
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence of Utena USA Print/Viz
Rica ‘tte Kanji!? Italy, USA Print/Renbooks, Print/Digital/ALC (Coming in 2012)
Sasamekikoto France, Taiwan Print/Claire de Lune, Print/Sharp Point Press
Shoujo Bigaku Germany Print/Egmont
Strawberry Panic!  (Manga and Novels) USA Print/Seven Seas
WORKS USA Print/ALC
Yuri Monogatari (V3, V4, V5, V6) USA Print/ALC

Many, many thanks to folks that have helped me add to the list!

35 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    Suggestion for improvement. Make the titles into links to your reviews of said books and, maybe, add a column of your score.

  2. JRB says:

    If the idea is to increase knowledge of what’s legally available, perhaps it would also be useful to list out-of-print titles, as they may still be available used (e.g., the Tokyopop version of Between the Sheets, yours for $0.01 plus shipping)?

  3. @JRB- The list is not “everything that can be legally obtained.” This list is “currently in print and available from publisher or general distributor.”

    As I say, for sanity’s sake.

  4. Niki S says:

    A few tweaks:
    Indigo Blue and Free Soul are actually Italian.

    And Maka Maka is out in French from Delcourt:
    http://www.amazon.fr/Maka-maka-1-Kishi-Torajiro/dp/2756010472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329255951&sr=8-1

    I second the out-of-print list usefulness, though it’s probably an extra hassle. It certainly can’t hurt to know I can still buy a print copy of X or Y title if I do a little hunting.

    Also, I don’t know if you want to list “global/”OEL” manga, but since you listed Yuri Monogatari I figured I’d ask. 12 Days is still available through Tokyopop.de’s site.

  5. @Niki I’m sure the OOP list would be useful, but I do not want to spend day and night working on this list. If one of you folks would volunteer to work on it and keep it current, I’m fine with that. I simply don’t have time or inclination to spend my days running down every book ever, everywhere.

    Read this again – “for sanity’s sake.”

    I’m sorry, but no.

  6. @Niki – I included YM, mostly because it has Japanese manga in it, but I take your point.

  7. Niki S says:

    Yup, sorry, your reply to JRB came through while I submitted mine. Point taken.

    Chi-Ran’s Shojo Bigaku is in German from Egmont:
    http://www.amazon.de/Shojo-bigaku-Girls-love-Chi-Ran/dp/377046981X/

  8. @Anonymous – No, sorry, for the same reason I will not track down every book that has ever been printed. I just don’t have that kind of time. This list, as short as it is has taken me 4 hours.

    I can’t spend all day working on this list. You’ll simply have to do a little work on your own.

  9. @Niki – No worries. I very much appreciate all your help!

    And if someone wants to put together that list of OOP books, I’m glad to post it.

  10. Anonymous says:

    @Erica: Re: Links to reviews. Ok, ok! I just thought you’d like a way to increase page views is all. Thanks for putting this together.

  11. Thank you for compiling this! :-) It’s useful to have a comprehensive list.

  12. @Anonymous – If increasing page views was a high priority of mine, I definitely might have. It’s honestly not, though. My highest priority for Okazu is getting information about Yuri to people who might buy it. ^_^ Ideally, this list will make it easier for folks to find Yuri in a language they can read.

  13. @Katherine Hanson – It’s not comprehensive, by any stretch, but it gives people a good place to start.

  14. ZepysGirl says:

    Does “Stray Little Devil” count? I haven’t read it in a while, but I remember that the main girl and her rival got together in the end. Though I suppose it’s still primarily a fantasy, not a romance. -_-;

  15. @ZepysGirl – It’s not that it’s a fantasy that doesn’t make it count, it’s that the romance is sort of a side point, until the very, very end. It was just there as a fetish, (like the ass fetish throughout) not really the story.

  16. BruceMcF says:

    Thanks for the list, and I rescind the comments I was going to make about table formatting.

    Yeah, I know that I never got them written up and posted, but I rescind them anyway.

  17. @Bruce McF – Good. ^_^

  18. Toni D says:

    I thought I saw Maka Maka in English on Amazon not too long ago. Was that an error?

  19. @Toni D – It’s Out of Print. Still sold by third-party sellers.

  20. Felix says:

    Is Infinity Studios still in business? I thought they closed down, and that was part of why Iono-sama Fanatics vol02 never came out.

    Anyway, thanks for taking time to make this list.

  21. @Felix- You’re welcome. I really don’t know what’s up with Infinity. They were moving to a CD publishing model, then sort of faded away. However, Amazon still has Iono-sama in stock, so either they are still selling out of their basements, or they’re distributor still has some books left.

  22. David P says:

    Do you know yet what channels the digital edition of Rica ‘tte Kanji!? will be offered through?

  23. @DavidP – We know what channels we’re looking into right now, but will not make any announcements until we’re ready. ^_^

  24. Anonymous says:

    Super-useful!

    Also, good onya for including stuff out in other European-language translations. Many more English speakers study those as second languages than study Japanese.

    No doubt even some manga fans study those instead of Japanese, while in schools that have courses in French/German/Italian but not Japanese and not offering independent-study course credit.

    BTW, do these count?
    http://www.ponentmon.com/comics-castellano/del-este/index.html
    http://www.ponentmon.com/comic-books-english/east/blue/index.html

  25. @Anonymous – They would count if they were still available, but they don’t seem to be.

  26. ZeroSD says:

    Titles to add are Seven Seas’ Yuri books.

    Voiceful and Hayate X Blade both look to be in print on Amazon (First Love Sisters and The Last Uniform are unfortunately not, though they’re still easy to snag used).

  27. @ZeroSD- I considered both, but they don’t really fit the rules I set. They are both books “with some Yuri,” and so, are not on the list.

  28. eli-la says:

    Blue is available in French from Casterman:
    http://bd.casterman.com/albums_detail.cfm?id=33707&categID=1753
    http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2203017449/ref=nosim?tag=editionscaste-21

    Also, in the table it says the German edition of Blue is published by Casterman, is this a typo? As far as I can tell, it’s published by Schreiber & Leser:
    http://www.schreiberundleser.de/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=cPath=3_34#tag62
    http://www.amazon.de/Blue-Kiriko-Nananan/dp/3937102426/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330201767&sr=8-2

    Also, I could have sworn I saw this on the table when I looked in the past, but Blue Friend is available in German from their branch of Tokyopop:
    http://www.tokyopop.de/buecher/manga/blue_friend/index.php
    http://www.amazon.de/Blue-Friend-01-Fumi-Eban/dp/384200303X/ref=pd_sim_b_5

    Otherwise, awesome list – now I just need to brush up on my Italian and German skills ^^;; (The lack of Spanish stuff disappoints me, since I actually speak a bit of it :/)

  29. Anonymous says:

    I’m guessing the material available in Germany, Italy, etc. refers to work in published in German, Italian, etc. You might break the “English language” and “foreign language” up into two different but linked lists.

  30. Jojo says:

    How about 12 Days? I’m not sure if you’d count it though. That’s at least available in the US =)

  31. @Jojo – I don’t consider that “Yuri”. Otherwise I’d have to list ever single lesbian comic available in English, too. It was great and yes, it’s available (although Tokyopop is gone), but it’s really not Yuri.

  32. Karin says:

    I don’t know if you’d consider all of them Yuri, but maybe some are valuable for you.

    – Aoi Hana | Taiwan, South Korea | Print/Ching Win, Print/JoongAng
    – Blue Friend | Germany | Print/Tokyopop Germany
    – Girl Friends | Taiwan, Russia | Print/Sharp Point Press, Print/Palma Press
    – Gokujou Drops | USA | Digital/JManga
    – Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu | USA, France | Digital/JManga, Print/Taifu
    – Hatsukoi Shimai | Taiwan | Print/Sharp Point Press
    – Himitsu no Recipe | France | Print/Taifu
    – Hoshikawa Ginza Yonchoume | France | Print/Taifu
    – Ibara no Namida | USA | Digital/JManga
    – Kashimashi | Thailand | Print/Siam Inter Comics
    – Kuchibiru ni Suketa Orange | English | Digital/JManga
    – Kuchibiru Tameiki Sakurairo | France | Print/Taifu
    – Magie Parie | Taiwan | Print/Sharp Point Press
    – Na*Na*Ki!! | Thailand | Print/Bongkoch
    – Saigo no Seifuku | Taiwan | Print/Sharp Point Press
    – Shoujo Sect | France | Print/Taifu
    – Sorairo Girlfriend | USA | Digital/JManga
    – Strawberry Panic! | Taiwan | Print/Sharp Point Press

    And for your interest:
    Volume 1 of “Hanjuku Joshi” will be released in Germany by Egmont in December. (http://www.manganet.de/index.php/cat/c1013_highschool_girls.html?view=reihenintro)
    “Love Flag Girls”!! will be released in Germany by Egmont in July 2013. (http://www.manganet.de/index.php/cat/c910_fruehling_-_sommer_2013.html?view=reihenintro)
    “Sweet Little Devil” has been announced by French publisher Taifu Comics. (http://www.taifu-comics.com/index.php/actualites/2012/08/16/Et-nos-medaillees-dor-sont-2)

    Sources:
    – Aoi Hana, Taiwan: http://www.ching-win.com.tw/?sinfo=detail&b_unit=5977&template=comic
    – Blue Friend: http://www.tokyopop.de/buecher/manga/blue_friend/index.php
    – Girl Friends, Taiwan: http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21216026&vch=comic, Russia: http://palmapress.ru/girlfriends.html
    – Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu: http://www.taifu-comics.com/index.php/manga/Elles/vol-1
    – Hatsukoi Shimai: http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21216031&vch=comic
    – Himitsu no Recipe: http://www.taifu-comics.com/index.php/manga/Recette-Secrete/vol-1
    – Hoshikawa Ginza Yonchoume: http://www.taifu-comics.com/index.php/manga/Pas-a-Pas/vol-1
    – Kashimashi: http://www.sic.in.th/cartoons.php?mode=list&author=Satoru%20%20Akahori%20/%20Yakimaru%20%20Katsura
    – Kuchibiru Tameiki Sakurairo: http://www.taifu-comics.com/index.php/manga/Secret-Girlfriends/vol-1
    – Magie Parie: http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21216021&vch=comic
    – Na*Na*Ki!!: http://www.bongkoch.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7628
    – Saigo no Seifuku: http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21216001&vch=comic
    – Shoujo Sect: http://www.taifu-comics.com/index.php/manga/Shojo-Sect/vol-1
    – Strawberry Panic!: http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21216011&vch=comic

    For Aoi Hana in South Korea I don’t have reliable sources, but if you search on the internet you will find Korean covers of the manga. Also I managed to find out the publisher’s name (but have forgotten from where).
    For the Taiwanese and Thai releases I’m not sure if they are still available since I don’t know either Chinese or Thai; at least Sharp Point Press still lists prices for their volumes.

    By the way, I have collected release information on many titles containing Yuri and created a website (linked in my name). Maybe you will find it useful.

  33. Kari says:

    it’s listed as Yuri on wikipedia. though i’m not sure how well posthumous Yuri counts.

    i figured i’d let you know, iono-sama fanatics is out of print now. wikipedia lists infinity studios (the publisher) as “was an American publisher of…”, and the link to their website just redirects to godaddy.com. considering only one of the two volumes made it stateside anyway, it’s safe to say that it’s gonzo.

    also, if you need help on an OOP list, i’ll help out. i’m good at random compilations and research like that. but i wouldn’t expect it to be super-long, considering Yuri is scarce even in its homeland.

    also, i found a couple issues of the Yuri monogatari on amazon, but the furthest it went back was 1 (and even that was faint-worthy in price). is it out of print or something?

  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

  35. @Kari – Iono-sama has been reviewed here:

    Volume 1 in English: http://okazu.blogspot.com/2005/11/Yuri-manga-iono-fanatics-manga-vol-1.html

    Volume 2 was never published in print in English, only on a CD version.

    Yuri Monogatari Volumes 1,2 and 3 are sold out at this time.

Leave a Reply to Kari