Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan Drama CD: Pink Princess is the Drama CD that came with the most recent volume of Comic Yuri Hime as a bonus. It’s meant to be a little taste of things to come for the ladies of the Ame-iro Kouchakan and, as a result, I had very reasonable expectations for plot, characters, running time, etc. The CD blew me away on everything but plot. It wasn’t that the plot was bad – it was that there is, in fact, very little plot possible when the entire story is a bunch of people talking about tea. :-)
The Ameiro Kouchakan has been developing a reputation, it seems, and two new customers have wandered in because of mysterious rumors about the place. It turns out that the newcomers are Saotome Manaka-sensei, the author of the St. Lotecia books (first introduced in “Otome-iro Stay Tuned” from Yuri Hime S) and her number one superfan and new editor, Shiko. Mana-chan-sensei wants something to bring excitement and happiness to a girl’s heart, so Sarasa creates a disgusting delicious Strawberry Creme tea that is *exactly* what the author was looking for!
We spend a little time listening to Mana-chan-sensei and Editor Shiko-chan, and it’s not hard to see that Shiko is quite besotted with the youthful author who, in turn, has pegged Sarasa and Seriho as a couple…as soon as they get around to it.
Sarasa asks where Mana-chan-sensei learned of the tea shop and is told in no uncertain terms that Manako’s “Yuri Network” told her it had a great atmosphere. :-)
Everyone parts happily, and the main cast wonders what will happen with Mana and Shiko, which, we are assured will be covered in the full Drama CD that comes with the deluxe version of the first volume of Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan, “White Engage.”
Oh, hey, did I mention that Mana-chan-sensei is voiced by Tamura Yukari? Oh, yes, she is. Mizuki Nana is Sarasa. Playing 6 degrees of Yuri is always fun with them, because it’s like, 1/10th of a degree. :-) Shiko is voiced by Horie Yui, who voiced Yasuna in Kashimashi ~ Girl Meets Girl.
The nicest thing about this DCD? For a insert in the magazine it had a more than 30 minute run-time. Extra super nice, in my book. … Even if strawberry cream tea sound utterly gagariffic to me. ^_^
Ratings:
Characters – 8
Story – 7
Yuri – 5
Service – 1
Overall – 8
The CD is decorated to look like a lace doily. Too cute. ^_^
This drama CD sounds adorable!! XD Now I really, really, really can’t wait to get the latest Yuri Hime in my next Amazon Japan order! ^^
@katherine: the CD really is adorable. I can’t stop listening to it.
The intro works very well as an ad for Ame-iro Kouchakan (at least to me). I wish there was one like that I could frequent, but I have to content myself with Fujieda-sensei’s works.
I don’t get the Strawberry Creme Tea either, but then again I also don’t go for strawberry milk, which is actually popular.
And thank you, Erica, for creating a real-world version of something like Manako’s “Yuri Network.”
Actually, Strawberry Cream Tea exists in real life, and it’s quite nice.
Fujieda is probably the one male Yuri author I like. Wonder why.
Probably because he doesn’t come across as a loser. Even his doujinshi are tame. Does the man have no vices at all?!