Author Archive


Yuri Manga: Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, Volume 11 (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり)

October 27th, 2013

With the demise of Tsubomi magazine, Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり) has really stepped up its game. Volume 11 feels awfully like an actual Yuri manga magazine in a way that earlier volumes just had not done. And I cannot help but notice the author line-up is looking mighty strong these days.

Starting off with one of my favorite series in the anthology, “Sunahama to Kase-san” by Takashima Hiromi follows Yamada and Kase-san on their school trip. A minor misunderstanding turns into a chance to become closer and desire becomes more of a factor than has been previously. Yamada still has some major self-worth issues, and Japanese mangaka still think sports bras are a kind of hammerspace. ^_^

In Morishima Akiko’s “Seijun Shoujo Paradigm” Aoi is finding her feelings towards Riri shifting, and is only marginally distracted by the relationship between Reika and Yuki.

“Ohime-sama no Uso” by Morinaga Milk continues with Fujiwara-sempai joining Miu on a “date” but as the day goes on, Miu is more and more aware that they are not a couple, but just pretending to be one. To make matters worse, Kaori specifically tells Miu that her feelings for Fujiwara are real, unlike Miu’s. If Fujiwara is a prince, Miu is now well aware that she is no princess. I am enjoying the slightly atypical art in the story. Morinaga-sensei doesn’t often draw the otokoyaku type of girl.

Kumijou’s “Out of the Blue” is a sweet love story between a transfer student and a troublemaker. This story left me with a big ole grin on my face as I finished it.

Amakure Gido’s “Shuuden ni ha Kaeshimasu” draws to a close as the punk girls gets the girl.

“Soshite Watashitachi ha” is a nice little bit of paranormal in an otherwise typical first love story.

Kita Konno’s “Kirari” is a slice of life as two girls spend a quiet interlude at the sea.

Hakamada Mera’s “Hikari no Niwa” is a pleasant resolution to an “opposites attract” story.

“Under One Roof” by Fujio continues at the snail’s pace it has established, as roommates become more aware of one another with each chapter.

Maybe it’s that I’m in a good mood, maybe it’s something else, but I even liked Auri Hirao’s “anokono -shitekurenakkata – koto” about two roommates dealing with being left behind by a third.

Amame Osawa’s “Houkago no Mahoutsukai” was an absolutely adorable little paranormal bit about wanting to feel needed.

And “Koi suru Poccyari” by Kiyota Tomo is a story about being needed.

There were other stories, most of which I found less compelling, but this volume was  – by far and away – one of the best of Hirari to date.

Ratings:

Overall – 8





Yuri Network News (百合ネットワークニュース) – October 26, 2013

October 26th, 2013

YNN_Lissa

Thinking About Comics Deeply

Ash Brown over at Experiments in Manga put together a look at a lecture on Queer Theory, Japanese Literature and Translation that is worth talking a look at if that kind of thing appeals to you.

Brigid Alverson has written up a nicely comprehensive overview of Carol Tilley’s panel at NYCC about the secret history of comics censorship in the USA over at CBR.

Erin at Gagging on Sexism has written a thoughtful look at Gender Roles in Attack on Titan.

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Yuri Manga

I’ll keep beating this drum until you’ve all bought a copy ^_^ – Aoi Hana Volume 8, (青い花) the final volume of the series, is out. A review will be coming soon.

Mano Moto’s Rainy Song (レイニーソング) has hit the shelves and I can definitely say her work this time has exceeded her debut volume.  I’ve hardly wanted to slap any of her characters recently.

Comic Yuri Hime (コミック百合姫) for November is already out, and the January issue is available for pre-order.

On the Hirari side, Shuuden ni ha Kaeshimasu (終電にはかえします) by Akure Gido will be out next month, along with Kireina Ano Ko (きれいなあのこ) by Yoshidamaru Yuu, and Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, Volume 12 (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり).

XO Comics is joining the Yuri fray with Ashita Mata Kimi no Uchi e (明日また君の家へ). Moe art, who knows what kind of story. Looks like the book is a collection of Kuropa U’s digital comics.

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Yuri Light Novels

For those of you who are looking for reading material to pass the time in public places, if Adachi to Shimamura, Volume 2 (安達としまむら) doesn’t appeal to you, you can try Yuri Gra-doru Yui: Forbidden Girls Love (百合グラドル・優衣 禁断ガールズラブ) A “Gra-doru” is a gravure idol, one of those bikini-clad girls on the cover of men’s manga magazines one sees in convenience stores in Japan.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!





Yuri Manga: Namae ha Mada nai (名前はまだない）

October 25th, 2013

Kazuma Kowo’s Namae ha Mada nai (名前はまだない）is the latest collection of her work from Comic Yuri Hime. And all I can say about that is…ahhhh. There’s something, I don’t know, relaxing I guess, about her work even when the strength of it lies with her prickliest characters.

The first half of the volume are short stories that follow fairly typical school love tropes, but I love how her characters are never in elite schools, or have unrealistic uniforms. They wear sweaters with sleeves that are too long, or sweatpants under their skirts. They watch each other artlessly, and forget they’ve used their outside voice. We never for a moment doubt that we’re watching a real life.

With the title story, we delve slightly deeper into her typical teaser/teased strategy. Amemori is annoyed (i.e., wowed) by the new transfer student who, for some reason, appears obsessed with Amemori. There’s a distinct feeling of “poking the wild animal with a stick” about the new student’s behavior, but it’s pretty clear to both of them at some point that they like each other. Amemori is very very aware that she has not yet called the other girl by name. The title, is translated by the author as “The Name is Not Yet”, and I have been puzzling over how I might translate it myself. Maybe “No Name Yet”? I don’t know. The point is, Amemori knows her name, but isn’t using it. Until the end, of course, when she jumps to calling Hinata by her given name.

The final chapter is a short prologue for the relationship from Junsui Adolscence, Kazuma-sensei’s last Comic Yuri Hime volume.

I really enjoy Kazuma-sensei’s tsundere protagonist formula. I couldn’t tell you why, but it works for me. I’m glad to see her back in Comic Yuri Hime and look forward to more from her. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 8
Service – 1, on principle. There was nothing really “service” about it.

Overall – 8





Yuri Manga: Tsuki to Sekai to Etoile (月と世界とエトワール)

October 23rd, 2013

Takagami Yuriko’s Tsuki to Sekai to Etoile (月と世界とエトワール) follows Maisaka Yozora as she enters an elite girls’ school that specializes in musical achievement. Following the steps of her idol Umiyuri-sama and the advice of her grandmother, she decides to attend Gekkoukan Gakuin and become a singer.

What Yozora learns, when she enters, is that the elitest of the elite pair off into Chevalier – Etoile pairs in a relationship that is called an “engagement.” Umiyuri-sama’s chevalier is the appropriately knightly Towa-sama. Umiyuri seems to have favorited Yozora’s rival, Kagami, while Towa favors Yozora.

Almost immediately, Yozora is dragged into Towa and Umiyuri’s affairs, of course, and she finds herself engaged to the straight-talking, somewhat brusque Kishinabe Sekai. Sekai and Yozora decide to compete for the Etoile position, despite their newness at the school, only to have suspicious circumstances keep them apart on the competition night. Undaunted, Yozora competes alone, singing Sekai’s music unaccompanied.

Towa and Umiyuri are forced to acknowledge Yozora and Sekai will be formidable rivals in days to come. And, if I’m not mistaken, the series is on-going, so more shenanigans and secrets and ancient history will come to light.

For all that it was a lot of the same thing over again, I have a hell of a time following this story in Comic Yuri Hime. Probably because I wasn’t really motivated to do so. Important rings, “engagements,” singing battles instead of swords, a beautiful couple, Etoile, lot of high-falutin’ names: Eternity, the World, Night Sky, Stars, etc. It all seems so derivative. But I sat down and really read the story this time…it’s not going to be a go-to story for me, but it’s not all that bad.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Yuri – 5 (by implication, and one kiss so far)
Service – 1

Overall – 7

The elements are second-hand, but the story and art are attractive and would probably play well in a shoujo manga magazine.





So You’d Like Me to Speak at Your Event

October 22nd, 2013

As a person “invited” several times a year to events that then are confused as to what the word “Guest” entails, I wanted to explain a few things about inviting people to your event:

 

Before you invite someone to speak at your event, know something about what they do.

If you are inviting a funny, but controversial, comedian, you would attend a show first so you know what you are getting into.

If you invite me to speak, please do not assure me that the Yuri panel is all ages, until I get there and find that it has been listed as 18+ only. I do not do 18+ panels. They skeeve me. They are always the opposite of mature. Yuri is not about sex. It’s a genre with a literary history, about which I will gladly educate and engage in discussion.

I do not show videos. I guess some folks are no longer capable of enjoying a panel at an event if images are not beamed into their eyes. If you are asking me to host your zOMG sex! Yuri hentai hour, I respectfully decline. If you’re asking me for a suggestion of a decent Yuri anime to show at your event, just ask. You don’t need me there – the answer is Aoi Hana, contact rightstuf.com for permissions.

If you’ve attended a Yuri Panel or lecture by me, you have seen what I provide. I do not do something else.

 

When you “invite” someone to speak at your event, they become your responsibility.

If they are flying in they, need to know where they will be met and taken care of. If they are driving in they need to know where to park, where they will be met and taken care of.

Someone needs to be there at the airport, train station, car park, to help them through the minutiae of a strange city.

You are the host, they are the guest. Do not leave a guest to make their own arrangements for such things. Of course if you are local to me, I’m glad to handle my own arrangements, but as soon as an event outside my hour or so in the car ride radius, I’ll need you to step up.

You need to lay out what you will do to make their attendance at your event as friction-free as possible. Let them know what you are willing to do for them and what you cannot possibly do. In a sense, you are applying to them to get them as a guest.

 

Don’t assume your event is worth making an effort to get to. 

This is the #1 disconnect I encounter on a regular basis. Events ask me to speak all the time, but provide no transportation, accommodation or food options. (Or, possibly they offer me hot dogs and bagels in their staff room.) I am not a college student. I do not wish to spend my time and money attending your event, only to be given the option of sharing a room with staff, and eating warm yogurt in your green room. Thank you, but no. Unless your town is otherwise on my bucket list, I probably won’t come without at least a token effort on your part. Free admission to your event may not be a draw for me, if your event isn’t otherwise a must-go for me.

 

Before you “invite” someone to your event, make sure your Con Chair and the entire organizing committee is backing you.

I cannot tell you how often I am invited by Programming or the Guest Person, only to agree, clear my schedule then learn that, oh wait, the Con Chair already spent that money on some other guest. To be very honest. this has happened so many times that at this point I no longer say yes to small events unless they can confirm upfront that they are not wasting my time. “Informal” invites, are not invitations – you’re asking me to pay my own way to your event for your own entertainment.

 

Talk to your Organizing Committee, come up with a formal procedure for inviting guests.

To make your event process as smooth as possible, develop a Chain of Command on guest invites. For instance: Anyone can suggest  potential guest. Org Com. votes on it. If suggestion is approved, Guest Chair writes out proposal – Programming and Con Chair have to approve it, so they know what they will be on the hook for. Then you ask potential Guest.  Have your offers and answers ready – We’ll provide XYZ, you provide ABC.  No, we can’t fly you First class, but we can offer a plus one, etc, etc.

 

If it doesn’t work out, there are no hard feelings.

Please do not be annoyed if I reject your offer. I’m not annoyed at you, I promise. This is business. It just isn’t going to work for me to fly myself out to your event, pay for my own hotel room, so I can sell a few books and do a panel for you. Thanks anyway.

 

I know you’re doing your best to run your event. Consider this advice from someone who has been there before you and wants you to not have to reinvent the wheel. ^_^