Archive for the Yuri Network News Category


Yuri Network News – October 23, 2010

October 23rd, 2010

 Quick note, there will be no report next weekend (MangaNEXT) or the weekend after (I’ll be standing in line to see the Marimite movie.) All other things being equal, I’ll probably be tweeting my experiences, rather than blogging. You can find me at Yuricon on Twitter and here’s to me figuring out how to do that on a Japanese cell-phone. No news report possibly even the weekend after that, as I’ll be massively jet-lagged. Just FYI. If any major news breaks, I’ll be sure to report it.

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Yuri Manga

YNN Correspondent Sean Gaffney shares with us the news that Girls High creator Oshima Towa has a new series coming up. It’s got the clever title Joshikou Girls Love and is running in Comic Sumomo magazine from Futabasha. (Sorry it took me so long to post this, Sean.)

YNN Correspondent Rachel gleefully announces that France is reissuing the Rose of Versailles manga in three volumes, starting in January 2011. I’ve linked to the entry on Amazon.FR for our French-speaking fans. Thanks Rachel for news and link!

Out this week from Ichijinsha, of note was the bittersweet but compelling Sore ga Kimi ni Naru by Hakamada Mera and Sukoyaka Paradigm Shift (I’m way too lazy to lift a finger to research this right now, but the art looks very Gokujou Seitokai) by Sukoyaka.

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Other News

YNN Correspondent Jenna M has written in to inform us of a Yuri-focused academic paper she found on the Internet. “The Sexual and Textual Politics of Japanese Lesbian Comics: Reading Romantic and Erotic Yuri Narratives” by Kazumi Nagaike of Oita University. I haven’t had a chance to read it, but you can be sure I will. :-)

YNN Correspondent Socchan think you might be interested in Steam-Powered: Lesbian Steampunk Stories. Information on pre-ordering and a preview can be found at the link provided.

Kakera: A Piece of Our Lives, the live-action movie based on Erica Sakurazawa’s Love Vibes manga is out on DVD.

A Japanese lesbian ponders my comments at the Gay For You? Yaoi and Yuri for GLBTQ Readers panel at NYCC/NYAF.. She has some great thoughts about her experience with lesbian identity (or lack thereof) in Yuri manga. Well worth reading.

Sasamekikoto, Volume 7 is shipping even as we speak. As is Tsubomi, Volume 8, with Volume 9 hitting shelves in December. Guess that’s gone from quarterly to bi-monthly too.

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Yuri Anime

ANN reports that Section 23 has picked up licenses for the series Koi Hime Musou and Kampfer.

And a second anime season for Mariaholic has been announced.

Media Blasters announced that Magic Knight Rayearth Season 2; Ikki Tosen Volume 3 and Re-orders of Queen’s Blade, Volume 1 are shipping now. You may have noticed that Media Blasters is now on Twitter. Can you guess why?

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Maria-sama ga Miteru News

Once more in honor of the upcoming movie, Cobalt Shueisha is putting out a new set of the Maria-sama ga Miteru Novels, this time an 8-pack set that comprise Yumi’s first year at Lillian Girls’ High School.

Volume 9 of the now-continued manga series will be out this week. Guess I’m going to have to make room on that shelf for Cherry Blossom, huh?

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Snatches of Yuri 

From one of Ichijinsha’s “other” magazines, Kings Kings, Sakura Link is presumed to have Yuri. Volume 2 is out this week.

And from Managtime Kirara come two manga I know nothing about but have been on every Japanese Yuri blog: Mikazuki no Mitsu and  Senobishite de Jounetsu.

We’ll end up on an “really?” note with the announcement of Hitohira Encore. Yes, the dramatic tale of people who cannot talk and have nothing to say in any case is continued. Unless it has Nono, I don’t care. ^_^

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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 Network News – October 16, 2010

October 16th, 2010

Yuri Manga

From YNN Correspondent Komatsu-san, French Yuri imprint Taifu Comics plans to release Morinaga Milk’s GIRL FRIENDS in 2011 (in French, obviously). France continues to be a very girl-friendly space for manga. The final volume of GIRL FRIENDS hits Japanese store shelves in November…just after I leave the country….

Fans of questions never answered and running around and angsting alot are sure to want to pick up the first volume of Zettai Shoujo Astoria by the artist that did First Love Sisters, Shinonome Mizuo.

FINALLY, the first volume of Nobara no Mori no Otome-tachi will be out in early November – unlike everything else I want, which comes out after I leave Japan. I really think you ought to buy this one and read it. Really. Just do it.

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Maria-sama ga Miteru News

YNN Correspondent Soul Assassin was kind enough to point us towards this Cobalt Shueisha special with photos from the filming of the Maria-sama ga Miteru movie. It made me all kvell-y and happy. ^_^

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Other News

A new Hayate x Blade Drama CD – the first since the shift to Ultra Jump – is listed on Amazon. It’s cleverly titled, Hayate x Blade Ultra Drama CD! Ichiban Hoshi! Zekkyoutsumeawase!.

Not Yuri, but classic sistercest, here’s a a Graphic Novel of Christina Rosetti’s juicy poem Goblin Market.

Also not quite Yuri, but very Yuri-friendly, I took a long, lingering look at women’s manga magazine Feel Young at Mangacast.

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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 News: Strawberry Panic Light Novel Omnibus

October 7th, 2010

Press release from our friends at Seven Seas:

Strawberry Panic: The Complete Novel Collection
Story by Sakurako Kimino
Illustrations by Namuchi Takumi

This omnibus collection contains all three novels from the hit Yuri series Strawberry Panic at one low price. Included in this edition is the third and final Strawberry Panic novel, which has never before been published in North America.

For new transfer student Aoi Nagisa, St. Miator Girls’ Academy offers her the chance at a fresh start and a way to redefine herself. But these noble intentions go out the window when she catches her first glimpse of honor student Hanazono Shizuma, whose porcelain white skin and goddess-like beauty leave Nagisa speechless. It’s puppy love at first sight, but naive Nagisa is unaware that Shizuma is a serial heartbreaker who has set her sights on Nagisa herself. Will Nagisa end up as another notch on Shizuma’s belt, or does fate have other plans in store for the new couple?

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Finally! You too will be able to revel in the not one, but *two* unlikely helicopters in the third Strawberry Panic Light Novel.

The info they sent me didn’t have a release date, but man that would make a great holiday gift idea. “Here’s a book full of lesbian crack. Enjoy.”

Updated: Release is scheduled for June 2011, thanks everyone who wrote in!





Yuri Network News – October 2, 2010

October 2nd, 2010


 Headline Teaser

Expect some good news from Seven Seas next week! They will be making an announcement that will make Yuri Fans happy. Well, it made me happy…I can’t speak for you. (^_^)

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Yuri Anime

Bubblegum Crisis, the original 80’s edition is on Hulu. I haven’t watched it in years. I might actually be tempted to watch something on Hulu for the very first time. And, if you’ve never seen BGC (which is probably most of you) you really should watch it. Thanks to YNN correspondent Komatsu-san for the tip!

Episode 4 of Maria Watches Over Us is up on RightStuf’s YouTube channel. Episode 1 and 2 will remain there indefinitely, but the rest of the season is screening for a limited time, so watch ’em while you can get ’em!

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Random Yuri News

News tip from YNN correspondent y_yoshihide on Twitter, some fetching K-ON! and Hidamari Sketch computer wallpapers from Mangatime Kirara magazine.

I was very pleased to have been allowed to join this week’s ANNCast with host Zac Bertschy. The podcast also includes insight into a military man’s opinion of “military” manga, Daniella Orihuela-Gruber’s discussion of editing for Tokyopop and an overview of the upcoming anime season. Daniella and I are taping another podcast with Ed Sizemore today, I’ll keep you posted on that. ^_^

Speaking of Podcasts, be sure to listen to Fanfic Revolution members, Yuri fanfic authors and two men I consider very dear friends, Sean Gaffney and Alan Harnum on this week’s Femmeslash4Fans BlogTalkRadio show with host Allaine. They talk at length about writing Shoujo Kakumei Utena fanfic and about writing, in general. It was a great podcast and I hope you’ll all give it a listen.

The new stand-alone Batwoman series from DC is coming soon, and Afterellen has a squee-worthy look at some of the art and some words from J.H. Williams.

I probably should warn you all that this coming week is likely to be *very* thin on reviews. I have some personal stuff early in the week and New York Anime Festival/New York Comic Con the end of the week through the weekend. I will be working at the Media Blasters tables, so drop by and say hi! I’ll also be participating in a panel at 7:30 on Saturday night about Yaoi, Yuri and LGBT manga. I’ll look forward to seeing you there. Check the Yuricon Twitter account for updates. There’s a better chance I’ll be able to post there than here.

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Yuri Manga

Flower Festa is a new anthology featuring, among others, the work of half of Circle UKOZ, Houjo KOZ.

And Volume 3 of Yuri anthology Yuri Shoujo is on the way, as well!

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Snatches of Yuri
Banana no Nana (バナナのナナ) is a 4-panel strip beginning in Comic Blade about an ogre and a 8-headed creature. And it’s Yuri. Somehow.

Kono Kustu Shirimasenka? (この靴しりませんか?) is a new collection by Mizutani Fuka that has been popping up on all the Japanese Yuri lists.

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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 Network News – September 25, 2010

September 25th, 2010

Maria-sama ga Miteru News

The live-action Maria-sama ga Miteru movie will be premiering in teeny little theaters scattered around Japan on November 6th. Tickets purchased in advance at certain convenience stores will allow holders certain goodies, including a “secret episode” book penned by Konno Oyuki herself.

In one of the lines, in front of one of the teeny theaters, will be myself, accompanied by longtime Yuricon lackey Bruce and Okazu Superhero Komatsu-san!

It’s going to be a whirlwind trip and I expect it to be so crazy I won’t remember much, so I’ll be keeping track of stuff on Okazu. Tune in Nov. 3-10 to live vicariously as I queue in lines for *hours* and wait in hopes I can see the movie after flying all the way there. ^_^

For those not able to go, but obsessive, the November volume of Cobalt Shueisha contains a “Making of” the move DVD.

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Yuri Anime

There is a possibility I might also have the opportunity to see the Heartcatch PreCure movie as well. If you’ve been following the series, you know Cure Moonlight returns this weekend. If you haven’t been following this series, shame on you. It’s loads of fun and has lots of Yuri subtext for fans of all ages. Cure Blossom and Cure Marine are for the children – but Cure Moonlight was made for the adult fans. Hisakawa Aya voices her. By day she is a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-stricken girl named Yuri, and she will become an elegant and powerful Cure Moonlight. I’ve watched the preview for this week’s episode like 4 times. :-) And let us not forget that Cure Sunshine, Itsuki, is still the Takarazuka top star of the series. Loads of fun, seriously.

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Yuri Manga

The final volume of Yuri Hime S is on sale! Volume 14 will wrap up some things and some things will continue in print or online.

Hibike Reine has illustrated a story called Ibara Hime, a fantasy story about onna-doushi…how could we NOT want it?

The September Manga Movable Feast will be of some interest to Yuri Fans, as the title being reviewed this month is Afterschool Nightmare. Sean Gaffney is hosting this month’s MMF, so drop by the link above as the week progresses to read reviews of this gender-bendy horror romance from many different perspectives.

The Manga Movable Feast is, as Sean says, a book club. Born on Twitter and the creation of Manga Curmudgeon’s David Welsh, named by Rocketbomber’s Matt Blind, the MMF is a traveling book club, in which manga bloggers agree upon and review a single series each month. Participation is voluntary and you don’t even have to have a blog to participate – the host of that month’s MMF will provide space to those who don’t have somewhere to write about it. The first MMF was on Sexy Voice and Robo, following months have covered Mushishi, To Terra, Paradise Kiss The Color Of… Trilogy and Yotsuba.

If you’d like to be part of the MMF process (which is messy and involves lots of cheerful bitchiness among the several dozen bloggers on the group!) feel free to join the MMF Google Group.

Back to the point – I’ll try to get my review up tomorrow. ^_^

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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!