Last night at the American Manga Awards, hosted by Anime NYC and the Japan Society, Sumiko Arai’s contemporary Yuri romance manga The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t Guy At All won the Best New Manga Series award.

This series has been a game changer, from breaking the walls on merchandise and marketing to significant sales. Of course Arai-sensei’s art and story are phenomenal, with likable characters and a romance we are all invested in, plus a great built in soundtrack. ^_^ But there’s more going on here – Yen and Kinokuniya have mad massive investment in promoting this title, and that’s paid off in a way that has let Yen know that Yuri is worth promoting. 

I have a lot of thoughts about this of course, but let me just say, congratulations to Arai-sensei, to the team and Yen Press and to all of us here at Okazu!