Archive for the Yuri Network News Category


Yuri Network News – January 30, 2010

January 30th, 2010

This week was the last week of having 4 jobs; as of next week, I’ll be back to my usual 3 at a time. Thank you all for your patience with gaps in reviews. I’m *still* open to guest reviews, so if you have something you’d really like to review here, email me and we can talk!

Before we start, I have a Mystery to Solve. Someone sent me an absolutely *beautiful* doujinshi from Romania. There was no name, no note, no nothing. Can someone claim credit and let me know who to thank?

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Yuri Manga

The pre-order for the first volume of Gunjo is up on Amazon JP. It’s got a February 25 release date.

Ordering from Amazon JP isn’t as hard as it appears, since all the buttons are the same size, color and shape on every Amazon, and the check-out can be displayed in English. However, I know that not everyone is comfortable with the idea of ordering from there. So, to make things easier, I’ll be coordinating a bulk order. I’ll let you know when it’s all set up, but here’s the plan: I’ll set up a link to take orders through Paypal. You’ll have to pay shipping from Japan, the cost of the book, the fees on Paypal and shipping to you. However, you’ll be paying a smaller shipping cost than if you placed the order on your own. You don’t *have* to order this way, I just want to make it easier for you if you want it. :-)

YNN correspondent Sean G. did some great investigative reporting this week, when he contacted Digital Manga Publishing and asked whether they had abandoned the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS manga. Their response was ‘We still have it. Lyrical Nanoha Strikers will come out this year. Vol. 1 is in September.’ As Sean said, “there you go.”

Octave Voume 4 is up for preorder, and the latest Comic Yuri Hime magazine has already hit the shelves.

The big news is that Morinaga Milk will be doing a color illustration for Yuri Hime. This has excited some hope that she – and therefore Nana and Hitomi’s story – will be returning to the magazine. File that under conjecture and rumor. All it really means is that she’s doing a color illustration.

CANAAN Volume 1 is now available. So far, it pretty closely mirrors the anime, which is both good, and bad.

It’s the Year of Nanoha! The movie is out, with a Number #1 song for Mizuki Nana, and the first volume of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha ViVid has hit the stands. The story is excellent, the execution gives me nightmares.

For those of us who prefer the adult characters, the first volume of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Force is also available.

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Yuri Artist Interview

Speaking of Yuri manga artist Morinaga Milk (Girl Friends), she answers 10 questions on the Comic High website. These cover important issues like her unusual pen name and what items she keeps around when she’s writing, etc.

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Other News

It’s my pleasure to announce the winner of “Get this thing out of my house! Contest” from last week – Satoshi Miwa. Miwa, can you DM me on Twitter or email me with your address and I’ll get this fine example of unrestrained crap out to you as fast as I can manage? :-)

It’s all the rage to give away manga these days among the manga bloggers – I may make this a regular feature!

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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 – January 23, 2010

January 23rd, 2010

Of course, since I took a week off big news hit. Isn’t that always the way? Here we go!

Yuri Anime

Top story of the week is something that I alluded to some time ago – ANN reports that Yuri Hime series Yuri Yuri has been greenlighted for an anime series. I’m happy that we’re finally getting a Yuri anime from one of the Yuri Hime magazines, I personally wish it were a series I liked. Yuru Yuri will appeal to the Lucky Star-type fandom and, so, it’s a wise choice in that way. I suppose I should feel lucky that they didn’t choose Love Cubic, but I admit to being a tad disappointed in the choice when there are other, so much better IMHO, series to have chosen from.

Clarification: Japanese YNN correspondent Y_Y points out that the ANN article is not entirely correct – the obi says that it would be nice *if* Yuru Yuri has an anime – and the Yuri Hime editorial staff blog also said they think it would make a nice anime…but there is no anime greenlit as of yet.

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Yuri Manga

Top story here is still Gunjo, which will be re-serialized in Ikki magazine in Japan – starting in the April issue which, for reasons known only to some publisher in the depths of time, will go on sale February 25.

The first 13 chapters (the ones that ran in Morning 2 magazine) will be re-serialized and the first volume will come out this spring. Once the series is caught up, it will continue in Ikki with, Nakamura-sensei tells me, volumes 2 and 3 slated for 2011 and 2012.

Now, before you you go running around screaming, wondering when you might see it in Viz’s SigIkki online magazine, and start a letter campaign to Viz to ask them to license it…let me ask you to take a deep breath – and wait. Just wait. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can but, for the moment, just hold off on blasting Viz with emails. I promise to let you know if that’s going to be necessary. ^_^ If you do want the latest on the situation, and don’t mind getting it in Japanese, I strongly recommend reading Nakamura-sensei’s blog directly. She’s very open and upfront with her information.

Today, as a special manga feature we have a mini-review from YNN correspondent Mara on another Viz title, Jormungand:

I grabbed the first volume of Jormungand off the shelf because it stood out from the others as it was published by the Viz subsidiary Sig, the same publisher Dogs, Bullets and Carnage has. I quickly read the back and discovered that it was about Koko Hekmatyar: a highly active weapons dealer who is into making a lot of money off appropriately vague wars over the world. She shares the spotlight in this with Jonah, a child soldier, who is recruited by Koko to join the other mercenaries she has as part of her entourage.

So upon reading that blurb I immediately bought it, read it and found it to be most entertaining. Koko for one is a fun, kooky yet incredibly sharp protagonist who makes the sale and then gets out of doge before anyone can aim a gun at her.

Should anyone manage to get Koko in trouble aside from Jonah there is Valmet to help as well and here is where the possible Yuri comes in. Valmet is shown to find Koko cute to the point of ‘comical’ nosebleeds and an extra at the end of the volume shows that Valmet is indeed very focused on Koko and even likes her bad points, like how she complains a lot.

I feel the Yuri is set more to what we connote from what we are shown rather than stated at the moment. There needs to be more character development for Valmet before I can say anything for certain and considering this genre of manga it is highly likely the kinds of scenes that I read in the manga could never happen again or it could be explained in a different manner.

While there is very little to go on in the first volume I wished to highlight this series to you as even if the Yuri does turn out to be false this is still a fine series in the style of Black Lagoon or Dogs. Great fun and has a female protagonist who is for once given the appropriate ‘rights of the protagonist’ for this kind of series.

Thanks, Mara! Sound really interesting – I’ll be sure to add it to my cart. :-)

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Other News

I don’t know if you all saw this a few weeks back, but Brazilian artist, Mauricio de Sousa had planned a joint venture with Osamu Tezuka, but Tezuka died before their dream could be realized. Now, de Sousa’s work, which will include character-of-interest Safire from Ribon no Kishi is going forward. There’s been a lot of renewed interest in this series, from the not-great remake recently in Nakayosi magazine to the constant requests directed (by me and others) at Vertical. It will be a great day when this first Princess-Prince series finally manages to make it over here.

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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 – January 9, 2010

January 9th, 2010

The even-year effect is in place and Yuri is pretty thin for the new anime season, but don’t fear, there’s plenty of stuff for us to read!

Yuri Manga

Number one most “Yahoo!” news of the day has to be that the first volume of Gunjo is slated to be out in February! I don’t have a link to order it yet, but when I do get one, you can be sure I will be flogging you all to do so. If you have never before ordered a Japanese comic and are not sure why you would ever order one, I implore you to buy this manga. Nakamura-sensei has taken so many risks to make it, and it is so extraordinary in every way. please, please save up your pennies and buy Gunjo!

My copy of Rakuen Le Paradis arrived and, at first glance, it appears to be competing with F Erotics, the magazine that runs Aoi Hana. I say this because there’s an odd variety of stories that don’t quite seem to target men or women, but simply “adults who like reading romantic manga.” Rakuen doesn’t have the off-beat feel of F, but it looks and feels nice – and adult. While Kowo Kazuma’s (Junsui Adolescence) first story is boy/girl, both Takemiya Jin and Nishi UKO have Yuri entries. Can I just say how excited I am to see two of my absolutely favorite doujinshi artists doing work in a magazine for adult readers? I’m so happy for them.

YNN Correspondent Katherine H. is excited to let us know that not only is the first volume of the Canaan manga out at the end of this month, a Light Novel is already out. Her reaction is, “Hmm, most light novels are pretty embarrassing to read,” and “Hehe, Canaan and Alphard are on the cover. Together.” Mine is that Canaan will make a better LN series than a comic and I’d look forward to an extension past the anime storyline if they get there.

Second license request for 2010 – Canaan anime, please. Funimation, this time I’m looking at you.

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Yuri Drama CD

Katherine also points out that a To Aru no Kagaku no Railgun Original recording is up for preorder, as is a new Canaan DJCD.

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Snatches of Yuri

Samurai Age – Koiseyo tatakau otome-tachi! looks like another light novel that will eventually cross my desk here. High school girl samurai fighting and some Yuri-ishness. Gosh who could possibly want to miss that? (This would make a great off-year Yuri anime if anyone cared to bother.)

Yuri H-game fans can throw their money at R18 and R18!, Volume 2!

I admit that the title, Hyakku Ryouran Sengoku Otome appeals to me. Something about girls fighting and Yuri. Sheesh, I’m predictable. :-)

On the other hand, Hyakuen! does not hold any appeal for me, so those of you who mostly disagree with me, probably should take a look at it. lol What does interest me is that this book is a collection of a GanGan Comics series that ran online.

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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 Network – January 2, 2010

January 2nd, 2010

Woah….2010. Wow, does *that* feel weird. It’s been almost 10 years since I decided that world needed a community specifically for fans of Yuri that celebrated lesbian love and life, as opposed to lesbian porn. What a crazy, unbelievable decade it’s been, let me tell you!

I don’t know what 2010 will bring us, of course; whether we’ll be scraping the bottom of the barrel for our Yuri, or climbing to new heights. I do know that I *hope* to be able to hold a 2010 Yuricon event – but don’t expect a “con” as you know it. You must know by know that I encourage thoughtful discussion and critical thinking, but not running around the halls screaming. :-) Think Yuri-conference, rather than Yuri-convention.

There are a lot of things going on behind the curtains at Yuricon & ALC Publishing. Sometimes things we’re working on never make it to the light of day and so it looks like we’re going nowhere, but I promise you that that is not true. Right now we’re working on a long-overdue update for the Yuricon site. Because so many things have changed since we last redesigned it and because we’re trying to make the new site sustainable for some time to come, it’s not an overnight process. We just finished one contest (2009 AMVs) and will shortly be announcing a new one – one that will quite literally change the image of Yuricon. :-) And there are some other things I just can’t tell you about, although I wish I could. If, when, these projects come to fruition, you’ll know.

I do want to share this – today, to my shock, I learned that the founding of Yuricon made Afterellen’s Best. Lesbian. Decade. Ever. list. Of course I started to bawl immediately. I’ve received way more kicks than kudos in this past decade, so that, along with a number of other things recently, made me feel really good about starting off on another decade of trying my damndest to bring Yuri to America in a sustainable, intelligent and empowering way.

As I said, I don’t know what the next decade will bring – but if it’s as rewarding, frustrating, amazing and challenging as this last decade, it’s going to absolutely kick ass.

So Happy New Year my friends, my Yuri Network. Welcome to a whole new decade, just waiting to be filled with good thoughts, creative work, original ideas and Yuri love. :-)

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Yuri Manga

The new year gets off to a thoroughly average start with announcement of a new franchise extender, Mai HiMe EXA. The manga has shifted out of Champion Red to Dengeki Daioh, so I might start picking it up again. Of course I’ll let you know what I think.

For those of you who like pink-cheeked women who bathe a lot, Cassiopeia Dolce, Volume 2 is just around the corner, and will hit the shelves on the 18th.

Also on the 18th, Ichinjinsha will release Yuru Yuri, Volume 2 and Konohanatei Kitan.

Comics212 reports that “The dude who does the fun and porny colour manga series MAKA MAKA and animation studio Madhouse have teamed up to do a full colour miniseries exclusive to America. That’s…pretty awesome. Apparently it involves a new take on vampires, wicked looking guns, and disaffected badasses. For people who like this sort of thing, this is the single best thing of the year.” Well put, Comics212, well put.

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Yuri Anime

Not content with announcing a new TV series, Shin Koihime Musou also announces a new OVA which, like the previous OVA, is an alt-fic of this alternate universe.

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Quiet week this week, but you have to expect that.

I’ll spend the next few days be catching up on some of the new anime that’s come out recently – reviews to come.

Thank you all for your support, your help and here’s wishing us all a great decade of Great Yuri!





Yuri Network News – December 26, 2009

December 26th, 2009

Last News post of the Year – freaky, huh? In Japan, everyone is gearing up for Winter Comiket and New Year’s. Here’s the news….

Yuri Anime

One of the oft-noted things about the Japanese anime market right now is that it is focusing more and more on small fetishes and off-center stuff, because the audiences there who like that kind of thing (like, say, giant breasts) are more likely to pay for anime when it’s targeted to them.

Hence, Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke o for which a brand new adult anime is being launched in 2010, based on the popular Yuri sex game. (And I find myself amused to note that even the Japanese fans on 2chan don’t want the same people who did Shoujo Sect to work on this. lol They are all very happy that the folks who made Strawberry Panic! the classic it is, are on the team.)

The economics of fetishism don’t hold for the western audience, though. High school and college age men who are the most likely to watch these anime are the statistically least likely to pay for them. So although Media Blasters has licensed Queen’s Blade here, I really wouldn’t expect them to do well with it. Perhaps it’s time for them to develop a streaming model too. Of course, I *hope* I’m wrong and that all of the fans of QB shell out enough money to make it a success, because I always hope that every licensed series is a success. :-)

Also coming up in 2010 is yet another fetishy series, the third series of Shin Koihime†Musou: Otome Tairan. If the first two seasons have done well on Crunchyroll, expect to see it there.

Will the non-fetishy Yuri audience get a new anime to enjoy? No news as of yet, but remember, we are heading into an even-numbered year and the likelihood seems low. Even the Yuri Hime editors are pulling for an anime of their most moe, least interesting series.

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Yuri Manga

Speaking on Yuri Hime comics, Apple Daydream Volume 2 is available, as is Yuri Wildrose, Volume 4.

Yuri Anthology Comic Lily Volume 2 is slated to hit the virtual shelves some time this month.

Looking forward a little bit, Tsubomi Volume 5 will be out in February.

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Snatches of Yuri

Otome Kakumei Ayame no! Light Novel Series takes place at a private girl’s school! It involves the school idol and memory loss! And it has Yuri!

And Harenochi Cinderella manga takes place private girl’s school! Involves the school idol and an average girl! And has Yuri!

Konohana is about a girl and her robot and has egregious ass and breast usage, from Champion Red, beloved by women-haters everywhere.

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Other Yuri News

It’s my great pleasure to welcome the Lirica Cafe into our Yuri Network. Lirica is a Japanese doujinshi circle that emailed me recently and I have to tell you – I’m already impressed with their art! I look forward to learning more about them. Visit their site and let us know what you think. ^_^

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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!