We’ll be back tomorrow with more Yuri reviews!

Yuri Anime

As we’ve all been endlessly discussing I’m In Love With the Villainess here and on the Okazu Discord (where Patreon Patrons and Ko-fi Supporters now have their own unique roles!)   I thought it would be worth highlighting a few other folks’ perspectives, especially as I have read all of the novels several times over, now and know everything that is to come. What does this series look like for folks who are watching it cold? Read on!

This week on Okazu Lena Tama wrote about the series from a queer Indonesian perspective.

Nicholas Dupree has a pretty insightful review of the first three ILTV episodes so far on ANN.

Alex Henderson discusses Episode 1 on Anime Feminist.

Here is Frog-kun with Why I’m In Love With the Villainess Is Such a Cult LGBTQ+ Hit.
 

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Yuri Manga

Seven Seas has announced the license for Comic Yuri Hime manga Chasing Spica, which is described this way, “Nekozuka Serina is a serious third-year high school student who’s studying hard to qualify for a scholarship. Her cute and stylish looks, however, don’t exactly meet the school dress code—which Tachibana Reiko, a member of the disciplinary committee, is always on her case about. Plus, no matter how much Serina tries, Reiko always bests her in grades and athletics. One day, however, Serina spots Reiko meeting with an unknown woman after school…and going to a love hotel! What will happen between Serina and Reiko now that they share a secret?” Anita Tai has the details on ANN.

Out now in Japan, is Volume 1 of subculture gal Yuri manga, Yinkya Gal Demo Ikigaritai! (陰キャギャルでもイキがりたい！), also running in Comic Yuri Hime.

Volume 1 and 2 of the Japanese language edition of  Teren Mikami’s manga, Watashi ga Koibitio ni nareruwakenaijan, Murimuri!! (*Murijanakaya!?) (わたしが恋人になれるわけないじゃん、ムリムリ！（※ムリじゃなかった!?)) are free to read on Shueisha’s Akima platform through November 1. Volume 1  and Volume 2 of the There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… manga are out now in English from Seven Seas.

Volume 7 of Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou. manga (私の推しは悪役令嬢。) has been released in Japan. Melonbooks is selling a special tapestry for people who purchase the book with them. I included the link to the special edition on the Yuricon Store entry.

To commemorate the anime, the Ikebukuro main Animate store is giving away Wataoshi chocolates today. ^_^ It was a really good week for fans of Rae and Claire.

Volume 1 of  Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou., Maid Kitchen (私の推しは悪役令嬢。 メイドキッチン) thre cooking spin-off of Wataoshi, has also hit shelves this week. Get this from Melonbooks for a special acrylic key holder and illustration card!

Yuri Light Novel

 If you buy the Limited Edition of Yuusha ni Naritai Shoujo To, Yuusha Narubeki Kanojo (勇者になりたい少女と、勇者になるべき彼女) Volume 1 of from Melonbooks, it comes with an acrylic standee of the two protagonists! So if you throw your money at Melonbooks you’ll get a ton of inori.-sensei goods!

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Yuri Event

The Yuriten event wraps up today in Tokyo, then moves on to Osaka. You can get goods through the Yuriten online store with a shipping service.

Yuri Games and VNs
 

Via YNN Correspondent Patricia B, Queer creator Nekobungi Sumire has released English-language editions of her game Neko Can Dream, which is described as “A Dream-Collecting Adventure In An 8-Bit World.”

Studio Élan has released the demo of Twofold on Steam.

Other News

J-Novel Club is expanding into German and French releases! Congrats to them for their success.

As suspected, there are no forwarding links from Right Stuff to Crunchyroll, whee. So please be very patient as the Yuricon Store slooooowly transitions. ^_^

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Yuri Events

The Yuriten Yuri Exhibition has opened today in Tokyo. In a newly refurbished space, they are doing same-day entrance tickets for fans who would like to enjoy the exhibition, which is open until October 22, then moving to Osaka. Check out the Yuriten official Twitter account for pictures!

The Girls Love Fest just finished up last week in Asakusa and is already gearing up for an event in January, Girls Love Festival ShinYuri 2 on January 21, 2024 at the Shinyuri 21 Hall in Kawasaki. I actually like the mobility and flexibility of this event that has kept it alive now through well more than 3 dozen events.

Not technically an event, but the I’m In Love With The Villainess pop-up shop is taking place at the Akihabara Gamers store through October 22. AND the Animate HQ in Ikebukuro is holding a chocolate distribution event on October 21.

I’m still hoping that someone, somewhere will open a cool Yuri pop-up while I’m in Japan, but wow is this the week to be there!

We have a new video up for Yuricon 2023! Novelist Laura Weyr hosts a dynamic panel featuring VN team Aikasa Collective co-founder Roxie, web novelist Nara Moore & webtoon creator Ari North to discuss the pros and cons of different media for creators of Yuri in S04 E14 – I Want To Make Yuri, What’s The Right Medium For Me?

Yuricon 2023 continues this month with another terrific conversation coming up next week, and a few more fun things for next month. I’m stoked about the panels and presentations we’re getting from you all. There’s plenty of time to arrange a panel before the end of the year, so if you have a panel or presentation you’d like to do for Yuricon 2023, fill out our Yuricon 2023 Panel & Presentation Application Form!

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Yuri Manga & Queer Comics

Kitao Taki has a new series being serialized on Bookwalker,  Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Kōshaku Reijō-sama Wo Taburakashite Ikite Imasu, (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています).  You can also read free it as each chapter goes live on Yuri Navi. Chapter 3 is up now.

Via YNN Correspondent Patricia B,  The Stranger, by Rosemary V-O, is a short comic that “explores the brief relationship between an old woman who is losing her memory and an android made in the image of her late wife.”

We haven’t had a review of it yet here (although I did read it in Japanese when it came out,) but Rebecca Silverman takes a look at Mikanuji’s I Don’t Need A Happy Ending for ANN.

Via YNN Correspondent & Reviewer, Luce, Seven Seas announced the license for Kabi Nagata’s My Wandering Warrior Eating Disorder, as digital-only release.

The Isaki Uta: Lost And Found Collection from Irodori Comic, has made it’s Kickstarter goal with 18 days to go. There don’t appear to be any stretch goals at this time, but you can be sure you’ll get the collection when it is complete. Congrats to everyone involved!

Yuri Light Novel

Miyazawa Iori, creator of Otherside Picnic has a new edition of an older, pre-OP work out, U ha Uchyuu Yabai no U (ウは宇宙ヤバイのウ) which is a “slapstick science fiction” story about a high school girl at the end of the world – or is she an agent of an interstellar intelligence agency here to save the planet?

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Yuri Visual Novels

Creator Yamino would like to thank the more than 2000 people who have downloaded Act 1 of Phantom of the Black Rose Revue on itch.io, which she describes as “a tale of haunted love, inspired by classic shoujo manga and The Phantom of the Opera!” Act. 1 is currently available at name your own price. ^_^

The postmortem of “survival Yuri horror” VN created for the Spooktober Game Jam, The Final Prize Is Soup, is really interesting! I bet the VN is too, grab that on itch.io.

Other News

Again from Luce, we have news of Lofty Mountains, “an anthology of Sapphic fantasy stories,” reviewed on LGBTQ Reads.

Alicia Haddick is over the moon to report that Takarazuka is doing an engekidan interpretation of Bollywood sensation, RRR. Check out the posters over on her Bluesky feed.

Empty Movement on Twitter noted some interesting commonalities between Anthy and Utena’s residence and the house of notoriously nationalistic, queer playwright/poet Mishima Yukio’s house.

And two personal notes to wrap up. This week should see the launch of me talking with Leigh of the History is Gay podcast about Yoshiya Nobuko…and waiting impatiently for the upcoming book on her life to come out! I’ll be sure to post links when it’s live. In the meantime, you should listen to this podcast, it’s great. ^_^

Also coming this week is a very personal article I wrote about some of the joys I found while watching slice-of-life anime while I was struggling with Long Covid this past spring. Keep an eye out on ANN on the 16th for “The Joy Of The Everyday: Emotional Intimacy Between Women in Slice-of-Life Anime”!  Again, I’ll post a link when it goes live. Thanks to Lindsay for giving me a chance to publish this.

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Yuri VN News

Studio Élan held their Élan Festival last week, so we have a number of news items! From their press release: “Please Be Happy has passed over 5k copies sold! PBH will be celebrating its 1st birthday-anniversary next month and to celebrate we have brand new anniversary merch available for pre-order and a reprint of the PBH art book hic et nunc.”

Our Home, My Keeper is a new collaboration with Ebi-hime. This follows an author whose new home comes with a friendly fairy. ^_^

They are overhauling the art for Lock & Key: A Magical Girl Mystery, and they are planning a Kickstarter next year for this VN, but a demo is available now on Steam.

They’ve also announced Love in a Bottle, “a point-and-click yuri romance game about a love demon trying to make it on her own in the world- but there’s too many hot women for her to meet! We’re happy to share that jaxcheese will be composing the game’s OST with hazel contributing to the character themes.” This is slated for a February 14, 2024 release. They ask you to Wishlist it on Steam.

The demo for Bellhouse’s Twofold, a tale of campus club rivalry, is now live on Steam & itch.io. The release for this should be the end of this month. This takes place about a month after their VN First Snow.

Coming up next is Summer at the Edge of the Universe, a sci-fi road trip, the demo for which is available now to Patrons of Élan. ^_^

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Yuri Manga

Adrian Hazra on ANN has the news on Isaki Uta’s newest manga, Leaper. Irodori comics is running a Kickstarter for a collection of Isaki-sensei’s work, Isaki Uta – The Lost & Found Collection. This collection will include four manga centered around queer life.

Kita no Onna ni Tamesaretai（北の女に試されたい）is getting a sequel manga. Read my review of the series on Okazu in 2021 dnd check out the first chapter of the sequel, Kita no Onna ni Tamesaretai – 2nd Trip –（北の女に試されたい – 2nd Trip -) on Yuri Navi!

Nagata Kabi-sensei has announced a new My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness Special Edition in hardcover, with metalic highlights on the cover.

Yuri Anime

Crunchyroll is streaming Power of Hope ~ Precure Full Bloom starting today.  We’ll get to see what happens to PreCure when they grow up a bit. Crystalyn Hodgkins has the details on ANN. I have been assured many times that Gogo Precure has a Yuri couple and the trailer for this seems to at least imply feelings may still exist there. I’ll remain hopeful.

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Yuri Events

The Yuriten Event has put together a nice little promotional video for Twitter. Right now they have locations in Tokyo and Osaka. Their store is online and with a shipping service, you can already place pre-orders for goods! There are drop-downs to browse by series, creator or kinds of goods, which I think is fantastic.

The Shortbox Comics Fair is up and has categories for Sapphic, LGBTQ and Queer comics. This is a terrific way to celebrate and support independent comics creators. Go pick a few new comics!

Other News

The official Wataoshi Twitter account has been sharing illustrations by other manga artists celebrating the I’m In Love With The Villainess anime. Check them out for some lovely art by artists you know and new ones to follow!

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Yuri Anime

Set your  alarms! Crunchyroll will begin streaming I‘m In Love With The Villainess  on Oct. 2 and Stardust Telepath on October 9. Thanks to YNN Correspondent Patricia B for the link.

Speaking of ILTV, Rafael Antonio Pineda has the news on ANN that the cast will include Nana Mizuki as Manaria, so I guess a bit of a spoiler as to how far the anime will get. Personally, I’m guessing it will go through the end of the Revolution arc. ^_^ Maybe we can wangle a second season to cover the Nur and DQ arcs. 

Not yet announced for streaming, but I’m betting on it, Kibou no Chikara – Otona Precure (キボウノチカラ～オトナプリキュア‘23～) premieres on NHK in Japan on October 7. Whether this gives us a taste of the Yuri everyone saw in the original series is anyone guess, but there is a hint in the trailer. Click the link and see if you see what I see. ^_^

The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess will be streaming on HIDIVE in (checks…) 170 hours. Look for this on October 7th, as well. Fanservice Yuri hijinks undoubtedly.

Yuri Manga

The Crunchyroll store still has no category for manga, only anime ,and I’m waiting to hear back about an affiliate account, so for the moment RightStuf links are staying put, but may soon become unusable. I apologize for any inconvenience while we wait to see how this shakes out. 

This weekend Global Bookwalker is doing a huge Manga Haul Sale for National Comic Book Day with discounts and coin back on many selected titles!  This sale is good through Oct 1. 

Via YNN Correspondent Patricia B, Kodansha is offering a Yuri, BL, and LGBT Manga Sampler on Global Bookwalker for Free!

Newly added to the Yuricon Store: 

I’m playing catch-up on Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata, Volume 3 (君と綴るうたかた). This series will be ending shortly and I want to get it all up. The Summer You Were There, Volume 3, is up on the store, Volume 4 in English will hit early in the new year.

Cheerful Amnesia, Volume 1  is hitting English-language shelves in October.

With the addition of Vampeerz, Volume 9 (ヴァンピアーズ), I am finally and fully caught up on that series, which ends with this volume. 

Ichijinsha on Twitter has offered us cover reveals on Watashi no Oshi  ha Akuyaku Reijou., Volume 7 (私の推しは悪役令嬢。) and Watashi no Oshi  ha Akuyaku Reijou. Maid Kitchen, Volume 1 (私の推しは悪役令嬢。メイドキッチン) I’ll get these up on the Yuricon Store asap.

Via Comic Natalie, Sekai Ichiban Oppai ga Suki!  (世界で一番おっぱいが好き！) is ending with a final volume 8. Volume 7 of Breasts Are My Favorite Thing In The World  will be out in October from Yen Press. I’ve never read any of that series, so if you are enjoying it and would like to review it for Okazu, drop me a line!

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Yuri Audiobook

The first pre-order links for the I’m In Love With The Villainess Audiobook are live and up on the Yuricon Store. I’ve added it to the newly renamed Voice Drama & Audiobooks category on the Store, and I’ll start weeding through the old Drama CDs and adding new voice dramas….and audiobooks… as we get them! 

Yuri Light Novel

There was a first look at the cover design for Yuusha ni Naritai Shoujo To, Yuusha Narubeki Kanojo (勇者になりたい少女と、勇者になるべき彼女), inori.-sensei’s newest LN. Amazon JP and Melonbooks have pre-order links up for it, so I went ahead and put it on the Yuricon Store. ^_^  Here is the synopsis as given on Amazon JP: After the end of the war between humans and demons, humans established a school of heroes using the magic tool “gear” to train successors. Ruchika, a demon girl who admires being a hero, meets Leonie, the daughter of the hero who defeated the demon king, when she visits the capital to enroll. Ruchika likes her and asks her to marry her even though she is in the middle of her exams. Although she is flatly rejected, Ruchika continues to attend school with the aim of becoming her hero, and approaches Leonie to become even closer.

The girl-meets-girl school fantasy of girls with different motivations begins with a bang!

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Yuri Visual Novel

Popular fan artist Yamino announced a new Visual Novel The Phantom of the Black Rose free demo will be released as part of the itch.io Spooktober Game Jam. The art is pure 70s shoujo, like a Takarazuka Phantom of the Opera, shoujo style. I may have to give in and get this one. ^_^

Studio Élan’s Élan Festival begins tomorrow night on their Youtube Channel. Check in for news updates and more!

Other News

Via Sr. YNN Correspondent Cryssoberyl: CW: VERY DARK, Guro, Body Horror, Cannibalism, yet beautifully animated, The Lovers,  is “An animated thriller about the romantic tension between a seafood chef and a siren, set in a dark fantasy Philippines.” If horror this is your thing, there is a Kickstarter for the animated film, the debut work from Studio Heartbreak. If you are squeamish, maybe skip this trailer.

Ayashi no Ceres is now on the Viz App. I mention this because, much like Fushigi Yugi, creator Watase Yuu was clearly working through some stuff about gender and sexuality (and sexual violence) in days before they came out as X-gender. It was an interesting read but – in my very personal opinion – ultimately disappointing for exactly the same reason FY was, including, but not limited to, the use of rape as a casual plot point more than a few times. The resolutions for what we now can see as non-binary or trans characters did not work for me, either.

While working on adding the ILTV Audiobook links, I noticed that one of the sites also had a book I had been wanting to listen to. Andrew J. Robinson, who is probably best know for his role as Elim Garak on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has written a DS9 Novel  – A Stitch in Time, which he narrates as Garak. It is both an excellently well-written novel, which makes me want to read the other books he’s written AND it is a stellar voice performance. Garak is written as bisexual although, like the TV series, it so far hasn’t committed to more than being interested in other men. What the novel does do though, is really deeply develop Cardassian society, politics and mindset in ways that fully explain everything, except Dukat somehow becoming the leader of Cardsassia without being knifed immediately. I recommend this very highly as an audiobook.

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.