Yuri Anime

The Subaru-sponsored short animation, Houkago no Pleiades, will be coming to movie theaters across Japan…as a series of “Mind your manners” shorts, before the movie plays.

YNN Correspondent George R submits this report on Yuri in the novel Moshidora, on which the anime is based:

Following up on an item from the April 9 YNN, I found the Yuri in Moshidora. It’s not quite as imagined as I thought. It happens in chapter 3, page 77 (which is animated in episode 2). Yuki, the baseball manager who’s currently sick in the hospital asks Ayano, the shy manager, why she joined the baseball team. Ayano’s response is to tearfully admit that she wants to make friends with everyone and be useful to them, then adds “Watashi, Yuki-san ga suki datta’n desu!” [I do like you, Yuki-san], explaining that she’s always looked up to Yuki, wanted to be like her, be useful to everyone like she is, make friends with everyone like she does.

 So, with Yuri goggles on, I can interpret that as Ayano having a romantic crush on Yuki. On the other hand, when I read the novel, I left off my goggles and interpreted this as Ayano wanting to break out of her shell and not be the “expressionless android of a model student” that she was accused of in junior high. Sure, Yuki was someone she admired and wanted to emulate, but I didn’t see it as romantic or Yuri. Given that interpretation, and a bit of fuzzy memory explains why I was shocked other folks saw Yuri in Moshidora. Welcome to the wonderful world of “the ambiguities of ‘suki’.” However I think this qualifies as Yuri just as much as a lot of MariMite does. Goggles-yay!

Yeah, it’s about as Yuri as K-ON! Yuri Goggles help. ^_^

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Yuri Ero-game

There is nothing about the new Yuri ero-game that I could say that is not already captured by the title. The new game is called – and no, I am not kidding – Yukkuri Panic! Escalation. Yes, this is the story of Cream Escalation, with a new title. Yay.

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Yuri Snack News

Convenience store chain Lawson is promoting a series of K-ON! inspired snacks and goods through the end of May. I want that stapler.

But hands down, the best snack-related item on today’s report is the Tohato Caramel Corn with eyes drawn by Ryoko Ikeda. ^_^

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Other News

Manga translator Dan Kanemitsu has worked with artist Nogami Takeshi to develop a bi-lingual Strike Witches doujinshi, Witches of Africa. Nogami also worked on the Bill 156 doujinshi, which Dan translated and Nogami-sensei’s a friend of another translator I know, so he’s kind of immersed in the idea of cross-cultural expression. I am very excited about the idea of bi-lingual doujinshi, as it seems like a natural progression. You can get this collection from Amazon JP, among other sales outlets in Japan. (And, if you run a sales outlet here, Dan and Nogami-sensei are looking for sellers here in the west, too.)

Also in bilingual news, Japanese art site Pixiv is creating an English-language encyclopedia.

Last up for today, YNN correspondent Jenna M. reports that Japanese seiyuu Ogata Megumi, who many Yuri fans remember fondly as Tenoh Haruka/Sailor Uranus from Sailor Moon, is on Twitter for a limited time, to promote a charity event and birthday concert.

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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 Anime

From CRNews and YNN correspondent Komatsu-san ,  Morita-san ha Mukuchi is getting  a TV anime. I really want them to cast some ridiculously famous actress as Morita-san who, of course, has no lines. (*_*)

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Yuri Events

Also from Komatsu-san, Shimura Takako original art from Aoi Hana is being exhibited in Chiba and Tokyo to commemorate the release of the  6th volume of Aoi Hana manga. The exhibition will be held at  Shibuya Tsutaya on May 5 to May 29 and the Sanseido Culture Station Chiba branch from May 13 to June 26.

If you’re in NYC today (May 7, 2011,) drop by the Bronx Museum of Art for Bronx Heroes Comic-con. Rica Takashima will be there selling her new doujinshi and participating in a panel. You’ll get a sneek peek at her story Heroine of Art ~ Cutey Beret!

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Yuri Manga

In what I consider to be big news, Ribon magazine is continuing Blue Friend (ブルーフレンド~2nd Season). The new story will pick up with the characters in high school and will begin in the 7th volume of Ribon (available in June.) Blue Friend got a continuation, so did Nobara no Mori no Otome-tachi. Maybe the world really is ready for a Yuri revolution, finally. ^_^

Tsubomi, Volume 12 will be hitting shelves on June 13.

Also being released in June are Tsubomi collections,  Candy (キャンディ ) by Suzuki Yuuko and Renai Manga ( レンアイマンガ ) by Kodama Naoko.

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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 Anime

Nozomi/RightStuf has announced a release date for the 2nd box set of the newly remastered Revolutionary Girl Utena series. The Black Rose Arc will hit the streets on August 2, 2011. The box is freaking gorgeous.

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Yuri Manga

Here we go! Aoi Hana, Volume 6, out in June.

The June issue of Comic Yuri Hime is set to be released on the 18th of May. An The next Yuri Hime comic collections will be Takasaki Yuuki’s Mugen no Minamo ni, Volume 2, Kirakira by Takemiya Jin, Zaou Taishi and Eiki Eiki’s  Renai DNA XX, and Namori’s Yuru Yuri, Volume 6. For fans of Yuri Yuri, looks like Volume 7 is going to have a special edition with, one presumes, some anime-related something.

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Yuricon News

The Yuricon custom toolbar has been updated and is now available for IE, Firefox and Chrome.

We’ve also updated the Submission Guidelines for ALC Publishing. From the updated rules, “These guidelines are a test of your ability to follow simple directions, so if you do not follow them, your work will not be considered.” I hope that clears things up for people. ^_^

Just in time for the first new Yuricon contest, (which was decided by poll and will be a Fan Art contest,) we’ve given a brand new look to the Yuriko and Friends Gallery!

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Snatches of Yuri

Usakame Combo (うさかめコンボ！) looks like loads of loli wacky 4-koma fun for people who like Aisha and Rin-Rin clones.

Tenzen Aluminium, Volume 3 (天然あるみにゅーむ) is more 4-koma with some mild Yuri, just like, um, every other 4-koma. Here are some sample pages.

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Other News

Our good friend Komatsu Mikikazu-san has gotten a great new gig with Crunchyroll News, and will be bringing you some of the most fun news straight from Japan. I hope you’ll drop by and “like” and share his news items!

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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

Deb Aoki of Manga.about.com brings good news with a short, but very targeted, interview with Kodansha USA about the localization of the new Sailor Moon and Codename: Sailor V editions.

My wife is going to laugh when I read this to her, because she’s been saying all along that this would happen: Kakifly has announced that the K-ON! manga will continue, in two magazines. One magazine will contain the college life adventures of Yui and the gang, while the other manga will follow Azusa, Jun and Ui’s remaining high school years.

If you’re following the adventures of two college-age women living a cheerful life of poverty in Flat and Flow, Volume 3 is out. (ふらふろ)

The May issue of Mangatime Lovely will include a Yuri story by Uso Kurata called  “Itsuka Ouji-sama ga.” (いつか王子様が)

Save your yen for June when Volume 14 of Hayate x Blade hits the shelves! I promise you will not be disappointed. Based on a tweet by Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei, it looks like a special edition with booklet will be available.

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Yuri Anime

Section 23 has added the third season of Hidamari Sketch, Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu, to their summer release schedule.

YNN Correspondent George R. has written in to say that in Episode 3, some Yuri has been unnaturally and artificially injected into Hanasaku Iroha: “Jiroumaru, the author staying at Kissuisou, provides more complications as well as the first Yuri in the series. How many series offer you lame slash fiction about the girls in the series. In this case, it’s just a glimpse at an ero-novel featuring the girls together in the bath. Jiromaru is writing it to try to pay his bills. Some folks will find this a jarring turn-off, I just had to laugh at this way of showing his inadequacies. His personality is an interesting mix of arrogance and insecurity.”

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Snatches of Yuri

Young Gangan magazine has a collected volume that Yuri Japanese lists call Yuri. I have no idea what to expect, except that Young Gangan kinda never makes me happy. The collection is Oshieshirabusu (オシエシラバス) If you get it, let me know how it is. ^_^

Fans of Manga no Tsukurikata will be excited to hear that in late June an original Manga no Tsukurikata doujinshi will be published by the author, according to a tweet by a Comic Ryuu editor.

I know, I know, you were just dying for the day when Mikarun X, Volume 7 is out. Well, here you go.

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Other News

As I mentioned Thursday, I was honored to be invited to participate in a post-mortem on Tokyopop on ANN’s ANNCast.  I’m pretty certain that Zac, Lissa and I ripped open every seam of poor Tokyopop’s shroud and well-critiqued the dead company’s thread count and stitching of the bed curtains, “rings and all.” It was a great conversation, many thanks to Zac and Lissa for the opportunity!

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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!

Other News

Top News this week is the shuttering of the US publishing division of Tokyopop. This seems rather inevitable after the recent layoffs there. A few years ago, this may have been cause for alarm, but Viz’s Shoujo line and Yen Press remain pretty strong. Dark Horse has been putting out some classic manga and Kodansha USA will soon know whether the US market is robust enough to support manga sales. So, while this is a sad day for those of us reading The Secret Diary of Lady Kanako, it’s not yet the end of the world here. Tokyopop is keeping the German office open, so Europeans will still have access to those licenses.

Discussion of Tokyopop on Twitter led to a side discussion with someone whose comment was “what about digital manga?” I pointed out that Viz, Yen, Square Enix, DMP and other publishers had come up with digital options, and had been announcing them. Since this person didn’t follow any of the many news sites out there, they were unaware of the state of digital manga. I said this to them and I will repeat it to all of you – there is no way that companies can beam their news directly to your frontal lobe. You do have to make at least a little attempt to read news sites to find out what is going on. (Realistically, if companies *could* beam news directly to your brain, it would be very annoying, I have no doubt. ^_^) I reminded this person that, just because they didn’t pay attention, doesn’t mean a company is doing nothing. ^_^

Of course, what is not yet in existence is a portable, scalable, non-proprietary solution so a reader can read any manga they want from any publisher in the format that works best for them and on the device they choose. But I still believe that that will happen. Which brings me to….

Negima and Love Hina creator Akamatsu Ken is taking a fantastic, out-of-box approach to the idea of legitimizing downloaded scanlations. I love this idea and hope that this can be eventually expanded to include the global market.

Now, for something completely different!

‘Strawberry Marshmallow manga characters give Shizuoka taxis a soft touch.’ A Shizuoka taxi company is offering “special tours” (I read that as meaning “outrageously expensive tours for obsessive moe fans”) with a commemorative card by Barasui. Amusingly, the title for the Japanese article is significantly different and mentions “moe-taku,” so I think my reading of “special” was right. ^_^

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Yuri Manga 

New YNN Correspondent Jeffrey T. did some investigative journalism and contacted DMP to find out the status of the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS manga and was told that the manga had been canceled. No real surprise, I’m sorry to say. Western Nanoha fandom had already proven that it was only “fans” of the series when they could get it for free. This series is a perfect example of the ongoing problem with western fandom; lots of “fans” – not so many people who actually buy the books and DVDs. Which once again leads to me to thank all of you Okazu readers, because I know you do pay for what you watch and read. The industry appreciates it…and so do I. ^_^

Not necessarily Yuri, but of interest, Aoi Hana‘s Shimura Takako is launching a new manga about girls in an opera school. Hints have been dropped that some of the Aoi Hana characters will make cameos. My wife suggests that this would be a perfect venue for yet *another* manga version of Der Rosenkavalier, which, if you care, has already been covered in Pride, Volume 11, by Ichijou Yukari.

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Yuri Anime

Sentai Filmworks has licensed and Anime Network is streaming Maria+Holic Alive.

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Yuricon Site Update

I keep saying this, so feel free to roll your eyes…

Now that we have the new Yuricon website /rolleyeshere/, we can get back to doing some interesting stuff. First up – Contests!

I’ve opened two polls, where you can tell me which kind of contest you are more likely to enter:

On the Yuricon Mailing List and on the Yuricon & ALC Facebook group.

Now, here’s the thing, the new Yuricon is going to be more interactive, less passive. My goal is getting as many of you to *participate,* rather than waiting for others to entertain you.

So, don’t pick what you want to see as a Yuricon contest – pick what you want to participate in!

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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!