Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – June 27, 2026

June 27th, 2026

In black block letters, YNN Yuri Network News. On the left, in black silhouette, a woman with a broad brim hat and dress stands, a woman in a tight outfit sits against the Y. Art by Mari Kurisato for Okazu

Yuri Day Week

To celebrate Yuri Day, we’ve collaborated with Bookwalker Global to offer up a Yuri Trivia Contest on their Instagram. Answer the questions, comment on their page, and be in running for coins to spend on their Yuri Day Sale! The context runs through June 29, the sale goes through July 8!

The Toronto Japan Foundation is doing a Hybrid Yuri Manga Book Club! To start off, they are celebrating Battan’s recent visit to Toronto for TCAF with her Run Away With Me, Girl.

The Yuri Hime Editorial Desk is participating in Hoshi ni Onegai wo Day 1 [星に願いを 2026 -day 1-] for portfolio review.

For folks at Anime Expo, Yen Press is celebrating Yuri cosplay with exclusive pins!

 

Yuri Manga

Via Comic Natalie, from Yoshitomi Akihito, creator of Blue Drop,  Volume 1 of Nazo no Eureka (謎のユリイカ) is out now from the orSIS imprint. Two girls, one a writer, one an artist find each other’s fantasies, are the same.

Henai Shijou Shugi Iwami Kiyoko Sakuhin-shuu (偏愛至上主義 岩見樹代子作品集) is a collection of short stories by the creator of My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today.

Ikuta Hana’s Comic Yuri Hime series has been collected into a volume, Hone ni Negai o, Hoshi ni Noroi o, Volume 1, (骨に願いを、星に呪いを). Twin sisters with different personalities. One day, one of them goes missing….

Schwinn posted a few panels of her new senior Yuri series on X, with a link to more on her Patreon.

Via YNN Correspondent akatsukinoluna,  we have news of the Tsumi ni Oboreru Crime Yuri Anthology (罪に溺れるクライム百合アンソロジー) from Takeshobo, who traditionally did not market things as Yuri. This anthology looks at dirty deeds done in the name of Yuri. Obviously, I’m going to have to read this.

Yuri Anime

The Kimi wo Tsumugu (君を紡ぐ) short anime trailer is up on Youtube ahead of the manga Let Me Fix You from Blu Petal.

The new Ghost In The Shell trailer on Youtube looks pretty darn good. It will be interesting to get a look at the manga, animated at last and Science Saru has shown themselves to be the right team for the project.

Amazon is selling an exclusive Strawberry Panic: The Complete Series Blu-Ray set, says YNN Sr. Correspondent Sean Gaffney. Get all 26 episodes of this influential, yet also derivative in a million ways, fanfic of an anime. ^_^

And speaking of old and beloved Yuri anime, on This Week in Anime, Christopher and Sylvia say Happy 20th Birthday, Simoun! Apparently, it is streaming on Darkroom.

Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline is getting an HBO Exclusive. Check out this promo on Instagram, because squee!

Friends in the UK,  a Sailor Moon Season 1 Steelbook is headed your way from Disc-connected.

Via green body realness on X, an Ur-text for fans of Utena, Pastoral to Die, directed by Terayama Shuuji. Check out the post for  aha! moments.

Another news item for fans of the the Utena movie, vas YNN Correspondent Thomasina Pointer – GKIDS has released the graphic for the movie poster so you can download and print one for yourself!

 

Thai GL Novels

Via YNN Correspondent Patricia B, The Beguiling in Toronto has begun carrying Thai GL Novels in English! Sr. Thai GL Correspondent Frank Hecker notes that the translations for these can be uneven, so just be forewarned.

 

Yuri Light Novels

To celebrate Yuri Day, German publisher Dokico announced a new work from inori.-sensei, Dem Mond das Gift, der Nacht die Medizin. This is Dokico’s first  of their “original novel” line.

Yen Press debuted the cover for Buying a Classmate Once a Week, Vol. 1.

 

LGBTQ+ Comics

Respected comics researcher Paul Gravett has written up a look at the Queer As Comics Exhibition in London on  Graphic Memoir Blog.

 

Yuri Merch and Pop-ups

Angless.ig posted this video retrospective of The Green Yuri Market in LA on instagram.

Melonbooks is doing a standee of Koharu and Minato for Volume 4(!) of Koharu to Minato – Watashi no Partner ha Onna no ko (小春と湊 わたしのパートナーは女の子). Here’s a link to the series on Bookwalker JP. No standee, but still a nice series.

Atelier Lilium teased two original mascot characters on X for the cafe. Panels for photos will be up at the cafe (and I bet there will be goods for sale.)

Gamers is holding a Sakura Trick (桜Trick) Fair where special goods for the series will be available. Everything old is new again, now that Yuri is so much more popular!

MangaOh is doing a Kimi ga Hoeru Tame no Uta wo  (キミが吠えるための歌を) Volume 4 showcase with acrylic standee.

Atre Akihabara is doing a collaboration with Kimi ga Shinu Made Koi wo Shitai (きみが死ぬまで恋をしたい) ahead of the series’ anime debut.

 

Yuri Live Action News

Via YNN Sr. Correspondent Matt Marcus, there are calls for extras for an upcoming Japanese live-action GL series, that takes place at a college. The production team gave us Ayaka Loves Hiroko…and the vibes very much sound like a How Do We Relationship drama is on the horizon.

Sailor Moon Super Live is heading out on a new tour of North America and London! This was a lot of fun. Go see it, if you can.

 

Other News

Yuri couple VTuber HanaLiLial will begin streaming shortly. Follow their channel on Youtube.

Via 90’sanimefashion on Instagram, a look at Worldbuilding in Revolutionary Girl Utena.

The New York Public Library put together a IG slider with queer comics for adults that includes some Yuri manga!

Fun news via YNN Correspondent wall on X, a retrospective of Taiwanese lesbian literature is being published. You can get Dào Huǒ Jí: Yī Bù Cóng Jìyì Chūfā De Táiwān Nǚ Tóngzhì Wénxué Shǐ (盜火集: 一部從記憶出發的臺灣女同志文學史) on any site that sells Taiwanese books, but I have linked to the same site wall used.

 

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.

Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


Celebrating Yuri Day with Bookwalker and Yuricon!

June 26th, 2026

Yesterday was Yuri Day and finally this year I remembered to do something! (And then I forgot what day it was and took off to go on an adventure. Woops)

Bookwalker Global posted an Instagram-based Yuri Trivia contest, I wrote the questions. Answer the questions and comment for a chance to win extra coins, so you can buy some more Yuri from their Yuri Day sale! You’ll get 25% coin back on Yuri titles. 

The contest and the sale are good through June 29th. So go grab yourself some Yuri manga and doujinshi today with Bookwalker Global and happy Yuri Day to us all. ^_^

Posted in Yuricon | No Comments »


Koushaku Reijou No Rouraku Misshon ~ Maou To No Seiryaku Kekkon Ga , Jinrui Saigo No Kirifuda Desu ! … ~Tsu Te , Maou Ga Onnanoko No Baai Wa Dousureba Ii No Desu Ka ! ?, Volume 1 (公爵令嬢の籠絡ミッション～魔王との政略結婚が、人類最後の切り札です！…って、魔王が女の子の場合はどうすればいいのですか！？～)

June 25th, 2026

A black-haired, black tentacled Demon girl with a black crown stands back to back with blonde girl in white in front of an elaborate frame.Koushaku Reijou No Rouraku Misshon ~ Maou To No Seiryaku Kekkon Ga , Jinrui Saigo No Kirifuda Desu ! … ~Tsu Te , Maou Ga Onnanoko No Baai Wa Dousureba Ii No Desu Ka ! ?, Volume 1 (公爵令嬢の籠絡ミッション～魔王との政略結婚が、人類最後の切り札です！…って、魔王が女の子の場合はどうすればいいのですか！？～) is a deeply weird little manga I found on Bookwalker JP. With art by Akio Kawada, written by Ringo-ame Third, this is the Young Champion-est thing I have read all year.

Cecilia, the daughter of the Duke, is told that she will wed the Demon Ruler, in order to bring peace between the humans and the demons. Cecilia has one magic skill – the “Evil Eye,” that allows her to see magical power in movement. Unsure what she can do, she is sent to the Demon Ruler’s castle, where she is almost instantly attacked by one of the Ruler’s four lieutenants. With her “skill” Cecilia is able to survive to meet the Demon Ruler… a cute, if en-tentacled – girl named Milfina. Cecilia is thrown for a loop. Yes, demons don’t really get “marriage” (or cease-fires, or humans) but Milfina seems nice, and more importantly, sincere about making this work. Cecilia is speaking with Milfina, when a black mist envelops the Demon Ruler…and she thrusts her hand into Cecilia’s heart.

Cecilia wakes up, the day before, once again ready to be sent to the Demon Realm, when a fairy tells her that not only is her marriage supposed to save humanity, which she knew – she only has 5 more times to try and save the entire world!

Cecelia is determined to save Milifina from whichever lieutenant is controlling her, but as volume 1 ends, she is down yet another life.

Deaths here are graphic and pretty brutal. I don’t doubt Cecilia is going to marry Milfina and be a damn good Queen of the demons, but as of volume 1, I have seen more of her internal organs than I am comfortable with.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 6
Characters – 7 No one has had time to develop
Service – Violence is a form of service, 10
Yuri – Set-up only

Overall – 7

Will I keep reading? I don’t know. I kind of want to find out…I kind of don’t. I’m reading this on Bookwalker JP, so it’ll probably remind me until I give in. ^_^

Posted in Yuri Manga | No Comments »


Atelier Lilium Cafe Report

June 24th, 2026

A signboard for Yuri Cafe Atelier Lililium, showing art by Hirao Auri for the inaugural art exhibit.Hello, this is an overachieving potato from the Okazu Discord, and I’m here to talk about my recent visit to Atelier Lilium, a book cafe in Ikebukuro.

First off, I have a fun anecdote regarding the place. I had a hard time finding the venue at first, but a person wearing a Japan football jersey directed me to the place.

It was nice of them to help out, considering I was entering random open buildings based on the pin in Google Maps. Turns out, it was underground at a hole in the wall.

I went down the steps to the first basement to find the cafe. Inside, the space is surprisingly big and very chill, featuring plenty of open seating with cafe tables and cozy chairs, plus much-needed air conditioning.

I suspect, though, that I caught the cafe at a lull, given it was 2:00 pm when I arrived.

 

In any case, I had an idea on what to expect beforehand. A reddit thread had explained A hallway wall, with a poster for the Hirao Auri exhibit and a business sign in a cadet blue with white letters that read Atelier Lilium, and a shield with a lily in white.the process, namely that you have to register on their website prior to visiting. This is to generate a QR Code to be scanned upon entry. This generates a QR code that gets scanned upon entry. They do accept walk-ins, but it’s best to keep the registration in mind. Also, it’s worth noting that they are completely cashless.

As for the cafe itself, getting in and understanding the rules were much easier than actually finding the place. There were instructions in English at the front desk, and the staff guided me through the whole process. Their guide neatly details how browsing works: you pick up a bag at the front counter, fill it with the books you want to read, and simply return the bag with the books inside when it’s time to check out.

The cafe featured a small exhibit showcasing the art of Auri Hirao, creator of If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It To The Budokan, I Would Die. The display featured her colored illustrations, alongside some sketches and black-and-white images set up right by the counter seats. The main draw of the cafe, though, is the sheer number of books inside. They have selections from all sorts of publishers, including Ichijinsha, Kodansha, Kadokawa, and more. They even have older books, light novels, and copies of Galette!

As for what I did, I spent about an hour at the cafe relaxing and reading muromaki’s JK-chan and Tomodachi no Okan (JKとともだちのオカン), about a high school girl who falls for her male classmate’s mother, cola float in hand. I took advantage of their amenities, such as the free WiFi and charging stations. If I had to describe the atmosphere, it was incredibly quiet and peaceful. I was able to fully relax before I had to leave for my next stop. I would have loved to stay longer, but I had other things on my itinerary.

A view of the cafe and book space for Atelier Lililum. In the front is a table with a pink cloth featuring work and goods by Hirao Auri. Wooden tables on the left, feature gray and white chairs. Bookshelves along the wall are filled with books, in a well-lit white-walled and ceilinged space.

I really enjoyed my time at Atelier Lilium. If I were to make any suggestions for them, it would be to include an even larger selection of yuri, perhaps even incorporating yuri from other countries. I remember remarking when I saw their selection that if this wasn’t All The Yuri, it certainly was a massive chunk of it. I highly recommend visiting, even for a short while, just to experience reading yuri while enjoying the other features, like the art exhibits. For anyone planning a visit, it’s worth noting that Atelier Lilium is incredibly close to Otome Road. It makes for a perfect rest stop if you are spending the day shopping at the nearby animate Ikebukuro, azone Ikebukuro, and other surrounding hobby shops. Like ANCHOR rainbow port tokyo in Shinjuku, this is a permanent fixture.

I’m still not used to rating cafes, but here we go:

  • Atmosphere: 9 – Very quiet, peaceful, and perfectly air-conditioned. The ideal reading environment.

  • Library/Selection: 8 – A massive chunk of yuri from major publishers and even some older titles and Galette.

  • Amenities: 9 – Free WiFi, charging stations, and a seamless cashless system. Plus, a lovely Auri Hirao exhibit.

  • Service: 9 – English instructions at the front desk and incredibly helpful staff who guided me through the entry process.

  • Yuri: 9 – It might not be “All The Yuri,” but it’s pretty darn close.

  • Overall: 8.5 – A highly recommended permanent fixture for anyone looking to relax and read a good manga with a cola float.

Posted in Guest Review, Hirao Auri, Tokyo Journal | No Comments »


Revolutionary Girl Utena Movie: The Adolescence of Utena Report

June 22nd, 2026

Title image for Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena, a brown-skinned woman with flowing dark hair in a flowing white dress floats diagonally upwards, a pale-skinned woman with flowing pink hair in a white school uniform jacket and shirts floats diagonally downward from the same center.

Yesterday was the big day!  Revolutionary Girl Utena Movie: The Adolescence of Utena was in North American theaters. Yes, the movie had gotten screenings at Film Festivals (sometimes accompanied by me doing an intro) and the Japan Society, and other orgs, but this was  a first – North America-wide screenings. 

So my wife and I and a friend, headed over to the mall at which I spent a lot of my youth and I went into the megaplex that the theater has become.  Our friend was going to be  a great test of what this movie looks like from the outside. She’s smart and well-read, curious and interested in ideas, so I expected her to be able to follow. 

We were disappointed that there wasn’t a movie poster for the movie. I was told that old movies don’t get posters, so boo. I would have loved to have one of those. 

Our theater never got the aspect ratio right, which meant that subtitles were cutoff on the bottom. It was just like  the old days, when they fucked up regularly. ^_^;

Yeah this image came out bad, oh well. But props for “Girls Like Girls” on the same screen. 

I have decided to take a page from K-pop fandom and show up to events with stuff to give away. In this case, I brought some of the By Your Side (still on sale thorugh June 30!) bookplates, with original art by Rica Takashima that are meant to be understood as Anthy and Utena’s hands reaching for one another. I also brought some Yuri Heart stickers and Okazu heart stickers based on the t-shirts designs. 

Giving folks stuff is a great way to make new friends. ^_^

Earlier that day, I had been chatting with RKasa on Bluesky, and learned about an amazing database of otaku goods and figures, and when we started to chat with the person sitting next to us, I was amazed to meet RKasa in person. ^_^ What a hoot, huh? We took a paired selfie of our Duelist rings. ^_^ 

Then I got to meet Mutti, who allowed me to take pictures of their awesome custom Anthy Funko and pins.

Muti holding a custom Funko to look like the Rose Bride from Revolutionary Girl Utena, with red dress and crown.Olive green canvas bag with pins and toy of Anthy and Akio from Revolutionary Girl Utena.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone in the theater was lovely. Thank you all for taking a moment to chat!

The movie is so great on a big screen. The school is vertiginous and surreal. The scenes that are always impactful are that much more so on a large scree. The dance on the dueling ground, the castle car…

As Utena says to Anthy, “Let’s go…to the outside world..” I turned to my friend and said, “Now it’s gonna get weird” and she laughed, “NOW?” Afterward, we listened to her ideas about what it all meant.

We had a great time seeing it in a theater. I hope you’ve all gotten your tickets and will tell us about your experience in the comments.

Posted in English Anime, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Yuri Anime | 2 Comments »