Today we’re doing that thing where a series is on Yuri lists for so long and so consistently even though it’s really obvious that there isn’t any Yuri,  that we can only avoid it so long. And we’ve done a pretty good job of avoiding it, I have to say. Three years of pretending it just doesn’t exist, in fact. ^_^  

Over the years I have developed a little mnemonic device for myself when in Tokyo – Look for it in Book-Off first. (“Duh~~~~~” is understood.) This come from years of buying a book in Toranoana or wherever, then finding it used at Book-Off or K-Books for a few bucks. Took me like a decade to really grok this, but eventually it sunk in and now our first shopping day in Tokyo is confined to used book stores, then after a couple more shopping days, I now know what I want, then I go back to Book-Off and really look for stuff. Which is how I found this volume for 400￥. Which, I guessed is pretty much what it would be worth to me.

Well, I was right about the Yuri, but I was totally wrong about it’s worth. Because Shinmai Shimai no Futari Gohan, Volume 1 (新米姉妹のふたりごはん) is really a lot of fun. I’m definitely going to be looking for the next volume and I really hope it never actually becomes a Yuri manga, to be honest. 

Sachi and Ayari are sisters by marriage and while their parents are off on an extended honeymoon, move in together. Sachi’s a little afraid of her somewhat unfriendly new little sister. But, when a Jamón Serrano arrives, as a present from Dad, it turns out that Ayari’s one real passion is cooking. Sachi’s one real passion is eating, and so the  sisters begin to bond. 

Each chapter is centered around a not-at-all-simple recipe, often with relatively exotic ingredients and Sachi and Ayari getting to know a bit about one another. Sachi, having been thrust into a position of being an “older sister” is a little overwrought about being a good older sister. The absolute saving grace of this manga is that as Ayari is good at cooking, which is exactly what Sachi needs, Sachi turns out to be good at math and helps Ayari out on her problem subject at school. Once Sachi settles in to the role, she makes a good older sister, taking her lonely sister out for a movie and shopping, introducing her to her friends and just being really appreciative of Ayari. You can see that having Sachi in her life  is good for Ayari. By the end of Volume 1 they are lightening up a lot around each other.

As I read this volume, I’m obviously comparing and contrasting it with another sisters by marriage manga, Saburouta’s citrus. Hands down, this story wins. Yes, the premise is stupid and so are the absurdly complicated recipes (Oh, sure, I just nip out for a wheel of raclette,) but it’s 100x more fun to read.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story  – 6 Ridiculous, but fun
Characters – 8 Both Sachi and Ayari would be welcome over for lunch (especially if Ayari cooked)
Service – 1 if you think like that
Yuri – 0

Overall – 8 

So where’s the Yuri? There is none in Volume 1 and  my guess is that it is primarily in the heads of fans who cannot imagine a non-romantic show of affection between female two human beings. Doesn’t matter, I’ll definitely look for Volume 2.