Yuri Anime

Today sees the streaming simulcast premiere of Whisper Me A Love Song on HIDIVE.  Okazu Correspondent Roxie took a grand tour of Tokyo & Kyoto this week finding marketing campaigns, collabs and goods for us, which we posted yesterday. Today she tells us that there is also a new pop-up shop at Gamers. She notes that the manga was sold out when she got there – and the floor was packed with a nice variety of age groups. Comic Natalie has a still in which Himari and Yori blush at one another – from the anime.

Daryl Harding at Crunchyroll News has the details on Sound! Euphonium‘s creditless opening. I watched Ep. 1 and had to laugh when the first-years said they didn’t want to play clarinet. It is a very complicated instrument, so I get you, kids. ^_^

The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio has added new cast member, according to ANN’s Alex Mateo. That is streaming on Crunchyroll right now.

Jellyfish Can’t Swim In The Night has also added cast members, according to ANN’s Anita Tai. This will be streaming on HIDIVE.

Laid-Back Camp and Love Live! Sunshine!! anime are doing a Shizuoka tourism collaboration, and, gosh, I hope the campsites and tourist centers are ready for the influx of people…. Kara Dennison has the news over at Crunchyroll News.

With so many Yuri, Yuri-adjacent and cute girls doing cute things cutely anime this season, Anime News Network has a Spring 2024 Season Preview to help you decide what to watch.

Wrapping up the winter season, Steve Jones completely captures my feelings about Metallic Rouge: “A wholly realized version of Naomi and Rouge’s arc would have been wonderful, with this desperate act of soul-binding providing the tart yet tantalizing cherry on top (Gideon the Ninth fans know what I’m talking about). The half-baked version the anime gives us just feels like a tease.” Read his whole review on ANN.

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Yuri Events

Here is a preliminary list of events I will be participating in this year, bring Yuri and queer manga with me, everywhere I go. ^_^

Queer and Feminist Perspectives on Japanese Popular Cultures – April 15-17 online. (Sold out)

Rainbow Book Fair – April 20, in person at the LGBTQ Center in NYC, from 12-6Pm. Rica Takashima and I will be signing books together. Grab a signed copy of By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga!

Blyme Yaoi – August 17-18, online –  This will be pre-recorded so it can be subtitled in Portugese, but I’ll be there to take questions, as well. ^_^

Citrus Con – August 23-25 online – I’m going to be trying out a new presentation this year for the lovely folks at at this con.

Anime NYC – August 23-25 in person in NYC – I’ll be at an Artist Alley table, on panels and generally guesting around!^_^

Live Action News

Award-winning manga Ikoku Nikki, by Yamashita Tomoko, is getting a live-action film. Anita Tai has the details and the trailer on ANN.

GAP The Series spin-off, Blank The Series is up on Youtube. YNN Correspondent Frank H notes that this age-gap series, featuring Sam’s older sister from GAP, has been the center of some controversy over the…well, age gap.

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Yuri Manga

Via Comic Natalie, Danshi Koukōsei, Otome Game no Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei Suru. (男子高校生、乙女ゲームの悪役令嬢に転生する。) is an Isekai about a young man who is reincarnated in a game world as the Villainess, but decides to pursue a “Yuri route” with the heroine. This manga will start in the May issue of Dragon Age magazine, from Kadokawa.

Via Yuri Navi, Watashi to Kanojo no Kawaii Koi no Hajime-kata (私と彼女のかわいい恋のはじめ方) is a Shakaijin Yuri about two adult women. You can read the first chapter in Japanese for free on web comic app Palcy.

Other News

Via YNN Correspondent Cryssoberyl, Mechasmile is putting out a figurine of Souma’s mecha from Kannazuki no Miko. The promo image for it is…well, it is a choice, let me tell you. I won’t spoil, just go look. ^_^

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Yuri Manga

I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day Kimi ga Shinu made Koi wo Shitai) licensed by Kodansha, via Alex Mateo.

Creator Arai Sumiko has announced that her award-winning Yuri manga, The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All has been licensed for an English release. As of typing no date or publisher has been announced. Check out Arai-sensei’s Twitter for the full list of languages it is being or will be translated into.

If you like your Yuri manipulative and raunchy, then you’ll like My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today, Volume 1, by Kyoko Iwami. The official copy describes this book as “salacious” and so it is. Seven Seas calls this 17+, interestingly.

Via Yuri Navi, a new Shonen Jump Webcomic Tomodachi 100nin Dekirukana tells the story of an elementary girl from a small town who moves to the big city. Now free to make as many friends as she wants, she also finds herself sitting next to her friend from that same small town. Read chapter 1 for free in Japanese on Shonen Jump Plus!

Alex Mateo over at ANN has the news that the manga adaptation of The Executioner And Her Way Of Life will be ending.

DPM has some new digital Baihe doujinshi on their eManga platform, Immoral, Volume 1 and Volume 2, by Lin Yi is described this way: n order to save her sick older brother, Nian was sold to a wealthy family by her parents. For 9 years, Nian survived in the austere household until she suddenly met a mysterious white-haired girl who has the same surname as her. Is she a curse or a blessing?

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Anime News

Via YNN Correspondent Roxie, we have a few pictures from Anime HQ in Ikebukuro, where they are really pushing the upcoming Whisper Me A Love Song, which is premiering next week in Japan, and as a simulcast on HIDIVE.

Along the stairs there were images from the manga and a full backsplash ad for the anime.

  The cafe is doing a special event.

And on the first floor with the promotional items, there are themed cookies! I’ve always wanted to bring this kind of thing home when I visit, but with the amount of stuff I cram into my suitcase, they’d arrive as crumbs. ^_^ But how cute! Hopefully Roxie will give us an overview of everything she saw next week.

Train To The End of The World premiered on Crunchyroll this week and – this is my opinion – I think it’s some solid science fiction. Also deep emotional connection between girls, friendship, and Ikebukuro. I’m in for the ride.

Girls Band Cry 2nd Trailer is up and Alex Mateo has details on ANN.

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Yuri Light Novels

I know I keep banging on about these but I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner, Volume 2 and The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 6 are both on the Yuricon Store, have been read and will get reviews as soon as I have a free moment!

Via Sr. YNN Correspondent Sean G, J-Novel announced From Two-Bit Baddie to Total Heartthrob: This Villainess Will Cross-Dress to Impress! Sean notes that the author’s page says that this story has “yuri elements.”

Queer Comics

zOMG, happy 10th Anniversary to The Lumberjanes! This awesome YA series is turning 10 years old and Boom! has announced a 10th Anniversary collection Kickstarter. Sign up to be notified when you are ready to go back to camp.

Yuri Visual Novel

Studio Élan has launched their kickstarter for Without A Voice: Blooming Edition, a physical release of their ” dark fantasy yuri” VN.

Other News

Natsuo Mutsumi-sensei drew  up a poignant little comic essay It’ll Happen Someday after the latest Japanese High Court decision declaring the lack of same-sex marriage unconstitutional. As we have seen, the LDP has no intention of lifting a finger to change that.

This Week In Anime takes a look at Anime Adaptations That Aren’t As Good As They Should Be and rightfully include Otherside Picnic and I’m In Love With The Villainess. Steve and Nick always come to these discussions from a place of love, which makes it really easy to agree with them, when we also wanted these to just be better anime. ^_^

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Anime News

We have a lot of Yuri-adjacent, Yuri-wishful-thinking and a bit of Yuri anime coming our way this spring.

The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess Anime English Dub Cast and Premiere have been announced by HIDIVE. Alex Mateo on ANN has the details.

Alex also has more new cast announcements for Laid-Back Camp,season 3.

This Week In Anime over at ANN asks Did Birdie Wing Start A Golf Anime Renaissance? Yes, and it’s really weird that they thought we cared about the golf. ^_^ Probably the suits at the studios are all just excited about the golf part.

Ojamajo Doremi Cast Reunite for 25th Anniversary Special Show at AnimeJapan and Ken iikura-Gross has the story at ANN.

In cute girls doing things, including angst, cutely, Girls Band Cry has a new trailer for the upcoming anime. This is a CGI production and I’m going to be very interested to see what we all think of it, because the trailer is….eh.

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Yuri Manga

Yen has licensed When the Villainess Seduces the Main Heroine (Akuyaku Reijou ga Sei Heroine wo Kudoki Otosu Hanashi.), which I reviewed about a year ago. There are two volumes, I have read one. ^_^ ANN’s Alex Mateo has details.

Ahead of the anime, Whisper Me A Love Song, Volume 8 heads into the Battle of the Bands…and the story behind Aki and Shiho’s uncomfortable relationship.

Via Joana Cayanan on ANN, Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles Manga Moves to Monthly Shonen Champion Magazine in October. Staff Writer Christian LeBlanc wrote about the anime here on Okazu in 2018. Let me remind you that nothing good comes of a manga in a Champion magazine, so if you like this manga, maybe proceed with caution.

Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikite Imasu (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きていま)  is a digital-only manga about a commoner who makes a living seducing the villainess, by our old friend here, Kitao Taki-sensei.

I’m going back and adding in the remaining volumes (and updating older volume listings) of Kuzushiro’s Kimi no Tamaenara Shineru (姫のためなら死ねる). Volume 8 and Volume 9 are now once again live on the Yuricon Store. This is a comedy about  famous Heian authors Sei Shonagon, and Murasaki Shikibu at Heian court, but with a modern perspective. I’ll work forward and back until the series is complete. ^_^ This manga was originally translated by my publishing company, ALC Publishing for JManga back in the day. Just a historical fact about historical manga.

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Yuri Games and VN News

Egan Loo wants you to know that Laid-Back Camp Anime will be getting a smartphone puzzle game in 2024. When I think of camping, I immediately imagine doing puzzles on my phone. (-_-)

Studio Élan has some updates:  Love in Bottle  will be delayed, Locke & Key still being worked on, and they are doing a Without a Voice Kickstarter. Details are available on their Patreon for anyone to read.

Blue Reflection Sun Game to End Service on May 30, notes Crystalyn Hodgkins on ANN. Christian LeBlanc wrote a detailed review for Blue Reflection Second Light for Okazu a few years ago.

Via Yuri Navi,  Iwakura Aria is a suspense VN following a young woman in 1933 who comes to work as a maid for a wealthy family – secrets are revealed. There are 9 possible story endings and along with animation, the story is told through hand drawn art, as well. It certainly looks interesting! Check out the trailer on YouTube.

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Yuri Manga

Tokyopop has licensed a new Yuri manga! Via Yuri Anime News, we’re getting Yomogimochi’s  Yuri ni Hasmaru Otoko ha Shinubaii!? (百合にはさまる男は死ねばいい!?) as Boys Who Interfere With Yuri Are Better Off Dead?! . It is a weird title, but rest assured that this is actually about band and rivalry and uncomfortable feelings. Oddly, I *just* finished the tester doujinshi volume for this, which was titled Brass Band Yuri Manga, so clearly the publisher had a thought.  This is the story of rivals for 1st chair Trumpet. This series will be headed our way in autumn.

Shilin Huang is running a Kickstarter for Amongst Us, Volume 2, the continuing tale of the our-world AU versions of Blackbird and Veloce, the key players in her epic fantasy webcomic Carciphona. Seven Seas picked up Volume 1 last year,and I reviewed it here last October. The kickstarter is already fully funded, so you might as well jump on now! ^_^

Kase-san and Yamada, Volume 3 is hitting shelves in English next month. The cute goofiness and unwarranted jealousy continue when the Flowerbed Prince arrives on scene.

I Married my Female Friend, Volume 2 is also on it’s way in April. After she comes home from the hospital, Ruriko and Kurumi’s relationship is starting to change. Can their rules handle the pressure?

I’m particularly looking forward to I Can’t Say No To The Lonely Girl, Volume 1 also coming in April. The premise is a bit suspect, but this story gets better and better as it goes along.

This manga it had the single-best review on Amazon that I have ever read. Chou to Teikoku Manga, Volume 1 ( 蝶と帝国) is the manga version of the light novel of the same name, written by the creator of the manga  Kita no Onna ni Tamesaretai which was reviewed here in 2021. The idea of the novel is that it is a historical, science fiction, Yuri story set in Imperial Russia. The manga swaps out the science fiction for a revenge narrative. It sounds intense and fascinating.

FLOWERCHILD’s Utsushicha Damena Kao, Volume 1 ( 映しちゃダメな顔) is a story of young woman’s awakening to kink.

Hitori Hanasu no de Seiippai (ひとりと話すので精一杯) by Sanke, is a story about two girls in school who just want to spend more time together.

Watashi dake ga Miyaji Miyuki o Aishiteru (私だけが宮地美雪を愛している) is a new webcomic about a young woman who made promises to multiple girls to marry them when they were young, but then moved away. Now she’s back in town and all the girls want Miyuki. The description says this is a poly story, but I’d approach with caution.

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I’m In Love With the Villainess News

I’m In Love With The Villainess, Volume 6 hits shelves in May in English.

This is not yet up on the Yuricon Store, due to a lack of cover art on the entries, but Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou., Volume 8 goes on sale in Japan in late April. This brings us to the conclusion of Yu’s arc, which was pretty great, honestly. If you get the manga on melonbooks, there is also a cute new acrylic standee of Claire and Rei available for purchase.

The 5th and final I’m In Love With The Villainess light novel audiobook is out! I’ll be picking this up for myself and listening to it as soon as possible.

The second Claire p.o.v spin-off, I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner, Volume 2 hits shelves in April as well.

Anime News

Via Tsumi on Twitter There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… will be getting an anime adaptation. They say the leak is confirmed. We’ll have to trust them.

New second trailer for Whispering You A Love Song anime, which is headed our way in April! That makes two Yuri anime with Takeshima Eku’s art if the No Freaking Way news is true. ^_^

Alex Mateo has the news of Sound! Euphonium Season 3’s second trailer and news. The premise that there can only be one euphonus in the concert band enrages me. Crunchyroll will be streaming the third season, according to Crystalynn Hodgkins on ANN.

Filed under “cute girls doing cute things cutely,” Laid-Back Camp manga creator, Afro, has a manga about a “cinephoto” club, called mono, that is getting an anime adaptation. Alex Mateo has the details on ANN. The third season of Laid-back Camp will be streaming on Crunchyroll, according to Daryl Harding at Crunchyroll News.

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Yuri Light Novels

I know I mentioned this last week, but… The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Vol. 6 is out!  Don’t miss the next steps in this surprisingly, pleasantly gay series!

Yuri Live Action

Thai GL series Blank The Series, based on a work by GAP The Series, creator ChaPlanoy, is up on Youtube. Check out this age-gap series about two women struggling with their pasts, who find a chance at a new future in each other.

ANN’s Anita Tai notes that Stardust Telepath is getting a live-action stage play, featuring idols from AKB48.

Other News

Okazu Staff Writer Matt Marcus’ other project, Radio Manga podcast takes a deep dive into the series Radio Manga 04: Superwomen in Love! Rabid Rabbit and Honey Trap.

On Youtube, Kameno-o looks at Asexual Manga and their powerful visibility. We had a discussion on the Okazu Discord, some of the arguments here seem to be intentionally ignoring how  the queer community itself changes over time and how language and therefore messaging changes, too, but it was an interesting watch. Feel free to drop into our Discord and chat about it.

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Anime News

The upcoming season will be filled with Yuri-adjacent or Yuri-adjacent-adjacent – i.e., cute girls doing things cutely – to keep us busy.  All (or mostly)-female casts will likely provide great moments of intimacy and friendship.

To begin with – our one truly Yuri anime of the season Whisper Me A Love Song is going to be streaming as a simulcast on HIDIVE starting April 13. ANN’s Anita Tai has the specifics of cast and staff.

HIDIVE has also picked up Jellyfish Can’t Swim In The Night, according to Alex Mateo on ANN.

Crunchyroll’s got Shy, Season 2,  and Laid-Back Camp, Season 3, according Alex, once again.

ANN’s Joanna Cayanan asks us to ask Where Does The Doomsday Train Go? Crystalynn Hodgkins has thetrailer for this series, which definitely gives us a plot driven by deep emotional connection between two girls, so there’s that. ^_^

ANN’s Rafael Antonio Pineda has cast and staff notes for Seiyuu Radio no Ura Omote.

Look Back based on Fujimoto Tatsuki’s manga of the same name (which I reviewed in Japanese and English here on Okazu)  is getting an anime film. Anita Tai has the details on cast and staff for that. This is an amazingly intense portrait of friendship and rivalry and loss.

Sound! Euphonium, Season 3 is headed our way. Adrana Hazra has the details over at ANN.

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Yuri Live Action

Ikoku Nikki, the long-running manga series by Yamashita Tomoko (creator of HER) is getting a live-action film. The manga has a gay best friend character and is a touching look at creating one’s own family. Rafael Antonio Pineda has the news on ANN.

If you are interested in Baihe, and the many Chinese live-action series that are available out there, please follow DouQi on Twitter, to find out how to watch series like the gender bendy Moonlight Fills The Western Tower.

Yuri Light Novel

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Vol. 6 is headed our way this week!

Shuu ni Ichido Classmate wo Kau Hanashi ~ Futari no Jikan, Iiwakeno Gosenen~, Volume 2 (週に一度クラスメイトを買う話 ~ふたりの時間、言い訳の五千円~) continues the tale of two schoolmates whose relationship starts with a financial contact, but becomes something more.

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Yuri Manga

Manga Mogura teased us with the news that Kininatteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta by Arai Sumiko has been licensed, no publisher listed yet. As I reported yesterday in my review of Volume 2, there is also a pop-up shop for the series this month in Japan and an upcoming Drama CD next month from Frontierworks.

Shio Usui’s dramatic I Married My Female Friend, Volume 2 is headed our way in April.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Deluxe Edition, Volume 4 is out now in English from Seven Seas.

I Can’t Say No to the Lonely Girl, Volume 1 by Kashikaze, was low-key a really lovely series. The premise sounds kind of yuck, but it really wasn’t and the story was a lovely, empowering journey. This is hitting shelves next month from Kodansha!

Yukidoke to Agapanthus, Volume 1 (雪解けとアガパンサス)  has been added to the Yuricon Store. I reviewed this “School Prince” story this past winter and found it not to be as stale as the plot implies.

 
Yuri Visual Novels

Kindred Spirits on The Roof is 50% off on Steam. This was one of two VNs I have ever made to the end of, so I can recommend it. ^_^

Studio Élan is celebrating the 5th anniversary of National Park Girls this week with 40% off on Steam and up to 40% on itch.io!

Other News

Thanks to Anime Herald for letting me write up a floor-level view of my favorite doujinshi event – Comitia 146 Event Report!

Melonbooks is doing a big Doujinshi Fair with multiple coupon options, so if you’ve been wanting to pick some doujinshi up from them – now’s the time! They also do digital downloads for some doujinshi, so it’s worth taking a look if there is a circle you like that they have.

Bookwalker has radically reset the way coins work, as they change over to points…and frankly, I don’t think it’s a good deal for users. You can no longer apply points to totals, only purchase things in full with points. Use what coins you have now before you lose them. I understand that they have been eating their hat with the weak yen rate, but ugh. ^_^; 

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.