Yuri News Network – (百合ネットワークニュース) – March 14, 2026

March 14th, 2026

A blue silhouette of a girl with a white flower in her hair, embracing the earth. Blue block letters read YNN Yuri Network News. Art by Lissa P. For Okazu.Yuri Manga in English 

Kodansha took to the socials to let people know Sal Jiang’s Wicked Spot will be headed our way in May!

I managed to squeak out a few minutes to add some items to the Yuricon Store!

Monster-Colored Island, Volume 2 is headed our way from Yen Press in May. I reviewed Volume 1 here on Okazu* last November.

A Curtain Call For You, Volume 2 is out now from Vertical/Kodansha. I really enjoyed Volume 1, when I reviewed it here on Okazu* last autumn.

Crossed Hearts on X announced a new Yuri license for Time is a Closet, about two time travelers who love fashion.

Battan announced on X that two of their manga have been picked up for EN editions. I’m betting that one of them is Fatale Game (ファタールゲーム), which I just reviewed here on Okazu.*

 

Yuri Manga in Japanese

Galette Illustration Book 05, the next collection of cover and color art from Galette is out in print and digital.

Watashi-tachi no Koi ga Hanahiraku Toki Isekai Renai Yuri Anthology (私たちの恋が花開くとき 異世界恋愛百合アンソロジー) puzzles me. This is a collection  of”Another World” Yuri romances…but the cover characters look like typical attendees at a *this* world school for rich girls. So more of the same…in another world? Of course I’ll have to find out. ^_^

Aruiwa, Watashi no Meitantei, Volume 1 (或いは、私の名探偵) is a Comic Cune series about a girl who dreams of becoming a great detective. I don’t know if it is Yuri, but there’s always a chance with Cune series.

Ibara-hime no Oyasumi (いばら姫とおやすみ) is an adult life novel about an insomniac girl who finds she can sleep… with a career woman next to her.

Prism Garden on X noted that that Melonbooks will carry their acrylic standee for Nekotarou’s The Fed-Up Office Lady Wants to Serve The Villaness (限界OLさんは悪役令嬢さまに仕えたい).  Volume 1 and Volume 2 have been reviewed here on Okazu*.  It is probably a good thing for me that Melonbooks no longer takes US credit cards, or I would have a house stuffed with these standees.

ANN’s Rafael Antonio Pineda has news of a new Shimura Takako series, based on the novel Danchi no Futari, about two women in their 50s.

 

Yuri Manga in Spanish 

Planeta Cómic announces the license of Taguchi Shouichi’s Futari Escape in Spanish as Escápate Conmigo.

 

Yuri Kickstarters

The Vol. 5 Galette Special English Edition Kickstarter will launch tonight for those of us in the US. According to their official Bluesky, they have 370 people waiting for the news. That’s more than double last time, so I expect that all the higher levels will be sold by the time I get there. ^_^ 

BluPetal is also launching with a Yuri Kickstarter. This new venture has some experienced names behind it, including Del Rey and MANGAMO’s Dallas Middaugh. They are Kickstarting Let Me Fix You by Sakura Kurihara. This has already surpassed it’s goal. I have some concerns about the wages they have listed on their website for writing and podcasting. I’m hoping to get in touch with someone there to see what the story is. While it is nice to see another publisher, this has a DMP feel, where KS funds don’t go to paying folks who do the work.

Yorita Miyuki’s Her Kiss, My Libido Twinkles, Volume 3 Kickstarter has surpassed the second stretch goal…with 9 days left on the ticker.

 

 

Support Yuri news and reviews and the writers who bring it to you – 
Become an Okazu Patron today!

Yuri Light Novels

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Vol. 9 is up on the Yuricon Store, sans a Crunchyroll link. When that’s available, I’ll add it. We’re getting this volume this summer! I very much enjoyed Volume 8.5 when I reviewed it this winter here on Okazu*.

Unsung Epics of the Hero’s Journey,Volume 1 follows a woman chosen by the divine blade on her journey with a mercenary adventurer. This is headed our way from J-Novel Club in May. I was eying it in Japanese, I’ll wait. ^_^

 

Yuri Visual Novels 

Parupuro Studio on X says that they are looking for 2D artists to help them with an upcoming “wlw visual novel game”  that they say is the first in Vietnam.

Studio Élan’s Witch You Want is available on Steam or itch,io and listed on the Yuricon Store.

ebihime is working with Studio Élan on Our Home, My Keeper, according to their Bluesky account.

Via Sr. YNN Correspondent Matt Marcus, The Moon Looks Beautiful Tonight: Definitive Edition is releasing for FREE March 18th, 2026 from Team CETACITY. Check out their post on X for details and a trailer.

 

Support Yuri News and Reviews on Ko-fi Today and Double Your Impact!

Other News

Via lexie on X,Yuri Zine 3 is taking applications from creators who want to share their work in this multi-media ‘zine.

The Northern Ballet is premiering Gentleman Jack, a ballet based on the Diaries of Anne Lister! If you get to see this, do let us know how it is. It is running in Lister’s own home area of Northeast England, and London.

We’ve just stopped reeling from the The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All x Sanrio collaboration (of which I managed to nab some goodies for upcoming Lucky Boxes!) and now we are floored again at Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau x Sanrio collab!  Look at Sanrio in their Yuri era. So cute.

March 7 marked the 34th anniversary of the premiere of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon on Japanese televisions. Toei celebrated on X.

Of interest to readers here. Yen is releasing Girls’ Last Tour Collector’s Edition: 1st Ration Pack in August.

I reviewed Baki The Grappler, Volumes 7-8 on ANN,  which were *so* violent that even someone inside the manga barfed.

The Spring Manga/LN/K-Comics/18+ Guides are about to begin on ANN and I am reading and writing my heart out. Keep your eyes peeled for my name all over those. ^_^ I just did an interview that was ridiculously fun for them, as well. 

 

Your support for Yuri journalism and research has never been more important than right now. Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal 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.

*Did you ever wonder why reviews are always stated as “here on Okazu”? This is because scraper sites still exist that redirect links to themselves. I want readers wondering why “GenericAnimeNews.com” or whatever keeps mention Okazu. It’s spitting into an ocean, but it’s a thing we can do to reclaim our ownership.

Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


Not So Shoujo Love Story, Volume 3

March 13th, 2026

In front of a page made from panels, showing valentine chocolates piled high on a desk, with an extremely pointy-chinned boy holding a rose, with a hold in his head where the background is ripped and an SD character of a blonde, making a silly face breaking through, a girl with short hair wearing a red knit scarf falls through the air, dropping boxes of chocolates and flowers, as that same background rips while she tries to grab it for support. Once again we are given a brilliantly fourth-wall breaking cover for Not So Shoujo Love Story, Volume 3 by Curryuku. Hanna literally rips through an image of alien, but inexplicably charismatic, Hansum, while Rei trips as the stereotypical background of a shoujo manga Valentine’s Day rips beneath her hands. The fact that such a gag-filled manga takes time to layer in symbolism in the cover is 10 out of 10

In Volume 2, Rei and Hanna both began to understand a very little bit about each other’s lives. Here in Volume 3 the powder keg of Valentine’s Day in high school sets them both on an inexorable path towards one another. 

As with previous volumes, there are endless riff on the tropes of shoujo manga, and homages to other media. Hansum’s Tuxedo Kamen moment is on point. Within this, there is a touching story about two lonely girls and all the absolute weirdos around them.  I’d say for every eye-rolling gag, there is at least one that made me chuckle.

By the end of this volume Rei has softened up a bit and is trying to not only understand Hanna more, but has begun to make other friends, something she is still unused to. The fact that she and Susan now speak of something other than Hanna is a huge step forward. Hanna, still trying hard to communicate her feelings to Rei, is starting to get through Rei’s walls. 

Again, Viz Media Originals is doing a fantastic, full-color, job with this manga. Cutuku’s art and writing is great and of course, we’re all rooting for Rei and Hanna.

Ratings: 

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – Nope
Yuri – 8

Overall – 8

As a paean to the stupidity of high school, the tropes of shoujo manga and the joy of Yuri romance, Not So Shoujo Love Story continues to be a very fun read.

 
 

 

 

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | No Comments »


One Night Yuri Love Yuri Anthology (ワンナイトラブ百合アンソロジー)

March 12th, 2026

A woman in business wear leans over and into another woman at a bar, as they clasp hands.This is the third similarly “one night stand” themed anthology I have read. Ichijinsha has done one which I found depressing, rather than entertaining, and I believe Kadokawa has done one as well. The fact that I have not reviewed these and can barely remember them indicates to me that I did not, particularly, enjoy them.

Now, Takeshobo’s Bamboo Comics has published One Night Yuri Love Yuri Anthology (ワンナイトラブ百合アンソロジー) and, generally, it was entertaining.

For the most part, the stories favored people who liked each other, did not have massive, uncomfortable power differentials and, except in one notable story, they end up happily, forming a deeper relationship.

The collection includes works by Yodogawa, Ikuta Hana, Ajiichi, Yukiko and other names we recognize.

Yodogawa’s story looks at two office rivals, Tsuzu Ran’s was about a woman who sleeps with the proprietor of the Izakaya she favors. Ikuta Hana offers up a fun and concerning office one night stand between an aggressive junior and her hapless superior (of course, or it would be power harassment.)

Ajiichi does something that I did think was notable, as it changes the end of a story I never like. Two childhood friends, one who is in love with the other, who is straight and constantly complaining about the men she dates. This is a very, tiresomely common plot for these anthologies. The straight girl gets drunk and says something that I would consider a friendship killer. As she kisses her long-suffering friend she says a line that is one of my least favorite lines in any media, “I wish men were like you.” At this point, the lesbian knows this is the wrong choice, but she sleeps with her friend…knowing this is the end of their friendship. Usually in stories like this, the lesbian is left and either ghosted or the straight friend pretends nothing happens.

Here, for the first time I have ever seen, the lesbian blocks her friend on her phone. Screaming at the unfairness, crying, but she yeets the woman who has kept her from moving on in her life, I cheered. It’s not easy to cut off a relationship of any kind, but to see a woman take back her life from someone who has been squandering it, felt like freedom.

Ratings:

Art – variable, but averaging 8
Stories – same
Service – shockingly little for the situation, some nudity and sexual situations
Yuri – 9

Overall – 8

So of the several one night stand anthologies I have read, this was the least unpleasant, and most empowering one. That it was from Takeshobo is really odd, as their Yuri tends to be Yuri-as-a-gag, or could-be-Yuri-could-be-something-else type stories. I hope they take the leap into genuine stories about Yuri (or even, gasp! lesbian!) life and love.

Posted in Yuri Anthology, Yuri Manga | No Comments »


I Wanna Be Your Girl, Volume 3

March 11th, 2026

Two people in Japanese style school uniforms, one in boy's uniform, one in girl's uniform, their head on their knees, sit on a school stairway.by Eleanor Walker, Okazu Staff Writer

We have now reached the penultimate volume of Umi Takase’s I Wanna Be Your Girl, and having also reviewed volumes 1 and 2 here on Okazu, this one is definitely the weakest of the three. One thing this series continues to excel at though, is portraying teenagers realistically. Hime is still headstrong in her convictions and her determination to protect Akira. Akira, meanwhile, just wants to be treated like one of the girls and be noticed by the senpai she has a crush on. At the end of volume 2, we start to delve into another character’s back story. Hamuro is another student who has a secret of his own. He cross dresses as a maid while working at a cafe near the school, and it’s revealed that he’s not trans like Akira but cross dresses to support his younger sister Momo who was bullied for being too cute.

I don’t really feel Hamuro adds very much to the story, and the whole starting cross dressing because your sister was bullied just seems a little too out there, especially for a seemingly cishet teenage boy. Fortunately, it’s not a big part of this volume. What we get after Hamuro though is something I’ve hoped would happen since volume 1, and that is Sasaki-sensei’s backstory. I mentioned in my review of that volume that “It seems though, that there is more to the teacher than first meets the eye. He sits Hime down for a talk one day, and it’s strongly suggested that he’s gone through something similar regarding identity in the past” He now reveals in a conversation with Akira that he is aromantic, and how he has suffered from not meeting society’s expectations too. I’m glad we got this segment, especially since in the afterword the author mentions that he was only supposed to appear briefly in chapter 2.

The rest of the volume is just more of what we’ve already seen before, Hime and Akira continue to misunderstand each other, side characters are used as sounding boards for the main characters to talk about their feelings and we’re not really any further forward with their relationship either.

I Wanna Be Your Girl is still an enjoyable series and I’m very glad it exists, but nothing new really happens in this volume, especially when compared to the previous two. I’m optimistic though that everyone will get their happy endings in the next and last volume, and I’ll be reading it to find out.

Ratings: 

Story – 6. This would be a point lower if we didn’t get Sasaki-sensei’s backstory.
Art – 6.
Characters – 7 Hamuro and his sister are unnecessary.
Service – n/a
LGBTQ — 10

Overall – 7 but again, probably an 8 if you’re a confused/closeted queer teenager looking for something to relate to.

Posted in Eleanor W, English Manga, I Wanna Be Your Girl, LGBTQ, Takase Umi | No Comments »


Just Between Us

March 9th, 2026

A woman in a black and gold skating costume twirls on the ice, mirrored by a women in white in the ice.Lydia Chen is driven. She’s driven to be the absolute best female skater in the world, and she doesn’t really care who gets hurt in the process. When Elaine Yee begins to seriously be a rival for the top spot, it throws Lydia into a downward spiral that will call into question everything she believes…by making her realize she doesn’t really believe in anything at all, not even herself. Elaine just wants to be friends, Lydia just wants to be left alone to skate. Their rivalry will push them both past a breaking point where they will have to find something to hold on to.

Just Between Us, Adeline Kon’s sapphic ice skating story landed on my feed just as Alyssa Liu was completing her own redemption arc at the Olympics in what is the finest women’s free skate performance I have ever seen in my life. It seemed kismet, as I’m always hoping for a good Yuri rivals-to-lovers sports story. Just Between Us is not exactly what I am looking for, but it is very good.

To begin with Lydia and Elaine are both in theirs 20s but Lydia, especially, comes off as extremely immature. After a decade of competing, her inability to grow from loss felt very childish. This works well, if the story you want is athletes struggling with inner demons. Lydia’s inner demons have been winning for a very long time when we meet her. Elaine is a bit more sympathetic, as her struggles have not served to twist her. She holds her hand out over and over to Lydia. It isn’t until a common enemy appears that Lydia suddenly realizes that she’s the problem here.

If you are looking for a rivals to lovers story driven by deep emotions, delving into family obligations, scandal and expectations, you will love this book.

The art is really expressive. I especially loved the different-colored patterns of skating and the stop motion graphs of the jumps. It felt very much like a book with its hands thrust right into the foundations of woman’s competitive ice skating. The font size is occasionally small, but the art is worth it.

While I was hoping for a story in which the competition itself took the place of the tension between them, I do genuinely believe this is a solid book about athletes, competitive pressure and finding both ones’ self and love in that world.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 10
LGBTQ – 9

Overall – 8

The cover is the best example of this, but there is a very Odile/Odette vibe between these two skaters, in the sense of a story I wrote a long time ago. I thought the costuming choice was a good one.

Posted in Western Comic/Comix | No Comments »