Okazu News

Only a few days left to participate in the Okazu 20th Anniversary Yuri Treasure Hunt! Get your answers in!

Yuri Manga

Otherside Picnic Manga, Volume 2 has hit English-language shelves (and hell yes, I read it right away, thank you…. ^_^)  I think the manga version is doing an outstanding job on the Otherside creatures, making them both creepy and inexplicable without being gross. Highly recommended.

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This, Volume 2 is up on the Yuricon Store and will be here in November (which is no longer that far away….!) I loved this manga in Japanese and am thrilled we’re getting it in English! I reviewed Volume 1 in July.

Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり) is now on the Yuricon Store. This tale of a widow finding a new way to live with the help of makeup, scents and an attractive older woman to be friends with (or more), is so charming and sweet.

Canno’s new series, Koudou Ryou no Seizana Hibi (黄道寮の星座な日々,) Volume 1 is now out in Japanese!

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Via Comic Natalie, Watashitachi no Owari to (わたしたちの終わりと) is a post-apocalyptic collection with two stories. The first about two women who are the last people in the world and the second about two women in a world that has collapsed when news that a meteorite will hit is received. These were originally published as doujinshi and have been collected by Comic Beam.

Via Comic Natalie, we learn about Keiyaku Shimai (ケイヤクシマイ), a Yuri romance-comedy about an office worker who makes a “sister contract” with a high school girl. And also, there is a foodie component, because why not, it has everything else. Check it out on Comic Walker!

It’s all Comic Natalie today. ^_^ In Hogushite, Yui-san,  (ほぐして、癒衣さん。) an office worker helps her co-worker unwind during late nights with hugs and massage. Volume 1 is available or you can read a sample at Sega Nico Video!

Yuri Drama Recording

SukeraSparo has released Futari Photograph Club ~Mainichi Issho Ni Kore Kara Mo~ (ふたりフォトグラフ 〜毎日を一緒に、これからも〜) on DLSite. DLSite has a special gift for folks who review this! Now that Drama CDs have become rarer, it’s pretty fun for me to see a new original Yuri drama recording! If you’d like a taste, there’s a free trial download.

Yuri Doujinshi

Via YNN Correspondent Patricia B, we have news of Datura Magazine. “Edited by Sunmi, the magazine will contain four stories by Pa-Luis, Emma Jayne, Mar Julia, and Cathy G. Johnson. This is the initial issue with plans to publish more if they are successful.” According to the official site, Datura is a “queer josei-inspired anthology series featuring a range of speculative and realist stories for an adult audience that, like the poisonous datura flower, might have an edge to them. We look to expand on ideas of “Girl’s Love,” along the lines of how its counterpart BL can be a gender-expansive space for exploring alternative sexuality.” Sounds fun!

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Other News

Don’t miss YuriMother’s incredible 2022 Yuri Pride Guide! It’s a deep-dive into “anime, manga, light novels, games, and webcomics that showcase love and passion for Yuri.” Speaking of YuriMother, check out the interview with her on Lilyka.

Via Comic Natalie, an interview with the creator of Yuri fantasy Oyasumi Sheherezade, Chiyoda Shuhei.

The JP Yuri accounts are a-twitter (pun intended) over new series IDOL x IDOL by New Game creator Tokunou Shoutarou. Probably it’ll just be cute girls being cute, but ya never know. Check out ANN for details reported by Rafael Antonio Pineda!

Manga Mogura reported on Twitter, “Roses of Versailles by Ryoko Ikeda is on the cover of the latest Geijutsu Shinchou (芸術新潮) issue 9/2022 for a special feature. Interview with Ikeda too.” Looks like the big news is that we’re getting a new anime! Can anything beat the Dezaki version? There was a trailer for a new anime some years ago at the Tokyo Anime Contents Fair when I attended…I wonder if that’s being resurrected. Not surprisingly, this issue is very sold out. I’ll see about getting a copy, but I’m betting I missed my chance. ^_^

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Yuri Events

I will be presenting on the First 100 Years of Lesbian-themed Japanese Animation and Comics at Flamecon, today, August 20, 12:45 – 1:45 PM in New York City. I’ll be joining Rica Takashima at Table U180 where we’ll be dual-signing copies of By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga! Drop by for my panel and a copy of the book.

Help us celebrate Okazu’s 20th anniversary! Join us for our Yuri Treasure Hunt event! Find Yuri treasures, for Yuri prizes.

One way or another I intend to be at AnimeNYC, November 18-2022 in NYC. I’ll be making the rounds and will definitely be selling signed copies of my book. If you’d like me to be a guest there, write and let them know. I’d like a table of my own. ^_^

Yuri Manga

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Omnibus, Volume 1 is out in English! I’m so excited to have the quiet, slow end of humanity come to our shores at at last. Meet Alpha, a humanoid android who runs a coffee shop at the end of the world and her friends.This is a beautiful manga that may leave you with more questions than it answers. 

I’m in Love with the Villainess, Volume 3 has hit digital devices and will be out in print at the end of September! Get it from a variety of vendors on the Yuricon Store.

If you are a fan of ILTV, do check out this lovely art Fanbook collection by the ILTV Project created for Inori-sensei’s birthday. Merci is a free download. It was very sweet. A new fanfic collection is being worked on now, as well.

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games, Volume 3 is hitting shelves in September.

Very much looking forward to Volume 2 of the Otherside Picnic manga from Square Enix, which will hit shelves this month.

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ULTIMATE-MAMA, Volume 1, Hayashiya Shizuru’s ribald violence/action Yuri is up on the Yuricon Store!

Via Yurimother, the final volume of Himawari-san (ひまわりさん), Volume 13 will be released in Japanese this month.. I have reviewed it through volume 7, then forgot to keep reading. Maybe this is a good chance to get it on Bookwalker and play catch-up. ^_^

You can pick up the digital version of Galette magazine’s next cover art book, Galette Illustration Book, No. 2 on Amazon, or Amazon JP.

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Yuri Anime

Just reviewed this week by Matt Marcus, Project A-ko Perfect Edition, the definitive release of this classic Yuri anime series, is now on the Yuricon Store!

Alex Mateo has the news that Revue Starlight, The Movie will air on HIDIVE on August 24. I’m actually looking forward to this. Thinking I might do a watch party on the Okazu Discord.

Yuri Visual Novel

From Studio Élan, Who is the Red Queen is now released on Steam! Who is the Red Queen? is a horror fantasy lesbian visual novel developed by 4noki & co. that follows Alice falling into a strange and familiar Wonderland in search for the Red Queen’s missing pieces from Bellhouse.

Other News

My Clueless First Friend Vol. 1 from Square Enix. This heartwarming slice-of-life comedy series follows the unusual budding friendship between gloomy Nishimura and cheerful Takada as they experience a fun and memorable summer together is scheduled for release on March 7, 2023. Not Yuri per se, but strong friendship is always a good read.

Thanks to our Okazu Patrons who make the YNN weekly report possible! Support us on Patreon or Ko-fi to help us give Guest Reviewers a raise and to help us support Yuri creators!

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Yuri Event

In an unusual turn of events, both Rica Takashima and I will be at Flame Con, a fantastic LGBTQ+ comic event in New York City on Saturday, August 20.  This means if you come by to pick up a copy of By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga, you will get it signed by the author and cover artist!

Rica also will have a lot of prints and comics for sale all weekend. I am not sure if I’ll be there on Sunday, but I’m doing a panel on Saturday on the History of Yuri and will be there to sell and sign after! My panel is at 12:45, I’ll see you there. ^_^

Thanks everyone who has picked up the book so far! If you haven’t yet gotten your copy, By Your Side is now available on iBooks as well.  Get your copy on pretty much every online platform possible and at bookstores near you. I hope you’ll all consider recommending it, dropping a review on Amazon or Goodreads, your local library and letting folks know about it. ^_^

Yuri Manga

We have Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games, Volume 3 up on the Yuricon Store.

Whisper Me a Love Song, Volume 5 (which I reviewed this week) has also hit shelves in English.

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Yuri Anime

Rafael Antonio Pineda has the news that the Yuri Light Novel series The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess will be getting an anime in 2023! Check the ANN article for details.

Crunchyroll has added dubs for Lycoris Recoil. Rafael has news on that on ANN, as well.

My Master Has no Tail is slated for a September 30 debut in Japan. ANN’s Alex Mateo has the details on this fun period fantasy about a tanuki who wants to learn rakugo.

From YNN Correspondent Ashley, we have news that the Birdie Wing Box Set Limited Edition in Japan will come with a short story by series writer Kuroda Yousuke. Called “Blaze Rose,” it follow Rose Aleon.

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Yuri Doujinshi

Lilyka has released a new work by Hoshizoranoshita, Like An Early Blue Flower 1, for fans of the classic private school Yuri. ^_^

Also out now on Lilyka is the Oshima’s After School, Volumes 1- 3.

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Yuri Manga

Yen Press announces the license for Fuzoroi Renri by Mikanuji-sensei (the first 5 volumes of which I have reviewed here on Okazu) as Assorted Entanglements.

We’ve got some new titles up on the Yuricon Store!

Battan’s story Run Away With Me Girl, Volume 1 will be hitting shelves in English from Kodansha Comics at the end of the year! Some folks had asked me why I hadn’t reviewed this in Japanese and the answer is that it just flew under my radar as being not-for-me. I’ll probably be looking for a guest reviewer for this as a result, so if you love it and plan on reading it, consider applying to Guest Review!

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 1 manga actually hit shelves in May. I reviewed it here in Japanese and again in English. 

Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり) is the delightful story of two older women who find each other. Hanayo, a widow, meets Yoshiko and is turned on to the world of makeup and perfumes. This story is just so lovely and sweet. 

Kitta Izumi and Momono Moto’s melodramatic story about a emotionally fragile singer and her manager has now been given a second collected volume, in Liberty, Volume 2 ( リバティ). This is one of my faves from Galette Magazine.

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Imagine me flailing my arms here, a la Kermit the Frog. Yaaaahh! ULTIMATE-MAMA, Volume 1 by Hayashiya Shizuru hits shelves on August 31 in Japan! This utterly trashy action manga was clearly written for me. Hard-bodied women and comedic, yet extreme, violence and stupid lesbian sex. Hayashiya-sensei gets me at a level no one else ever has. ^_^

Iberis no Hanayome (イベリスの花嫁) by Akiyama Haru is about a wedding planner who falls for one of her bridezillas. Looks…intense. ^_^

 
Yuri Light Novel

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 2 light novel is hitting shelves in English this month. I’m looking forward to seeing what Euphie and Annis will be up to. ^_^

Yuri Event

I hope you will join me at Flamecon, August 20, 12:45 – 1:45 PM in New York City for the First 100 Years of Lesbian-themed Japanese Animation and Comics!

Yuri Studio

This week on Yuri Studio we have a new short video – My Life As A Manga Character! It’s about some times I’ve appeared in manga….as me. ^_^

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Yuri VNs and Games

Studio Élan has another upcoming release, Who is the Red Queen hitting Steam this month. In this horror Yuri fantasy, Alice must find the pieces of the dismembered Red Queen. From the press release, “The game features over 30,000 words and has 3 major endings… with plenty of dead ends, of course. If you’ve already played the game jam version from itch.io, don’t worry- this is an updated version with new art, music, an updated script, and a Spanish translation!”

Via YNN Correspondent Cryssoberyl we have news of the announcement and trailer for Samurai Maiden on PS4 & PS5. “D3PUBLISHER’s brand-new Girls Sword-fighting Action game “SAMURAI MAIDEN” is scheduled for release in this winter on PS5™/PS4®! Experience the unique “Sword and Ninjutsu Action” where a young woman from the 21st century splits the enemies in half while the beautiful Ninja girls use their Ninjutsu to wipe out the enemies. Kissing other girls will supercharge her, according to Cryssoberyl. ^_^ This will also get a simultaneous Steam release.

Yuri Doujinshi

Adriana Hazra over at ANN has the news thay Irodori Sakura has licensed two new Yuri doujinshi! Haijima’s My Crush is My Roommate (Doukyonin ni Kataomoishiteru Yuri) manga and Pikachi Ohi’s Romance for Teachers (which is a story of a side character from Our Teachers Are Dating!). These will be released in August and September, respectively. Check out the link for more details.

Thanks to our Okazu Patrons who make the YNN weekly report possible! Support us on Patreon or Ko-fi to help us give Guest Reviewers a raise and to help us support Yuri creators!

Become a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share and be part of the Yuri Network!

Yuri Events

I will be presenting on the First 100 Years of Lesbian-themed Japanese Animation and Comics at Flamecon, August 20, 12:45 – 1:45 PM in New York City!

Via James Welker, check out the COMITIA official image for the September event! It’s not the first time they’ve gone in on a Yuri image, but this one is classic.

The next Girls Love Festival in Japan will be in November in Asakusa, Tokyo Metropolitan Industry and Trade Center Taitokan.The July one just wrapped up.

Lastly – next month is Okazu’s 20th anniversary! I am planning an anniversary treasure hunt event! Okazu Patrons will be getting a heads up on August 1 and I’ll be making it public after. Find Yuri treasures, for Yuri prizes. ^_^

Yuri Manga

Kodansha has some cool news, they’ve licensed Kanojo to Camera to Kanojo no Kisetsu by Tsukiko (all 5 volumes of which I reviewed back in 2012-14) as as She, Her Camera and the Seasons. This is a story about three young people in a complex relationship triangle. I thought the story was compelling and the ending well handled. I described it as “seriously intense, Dear Brother-levels of emotion.” I look forward to Kodansha’s English edition.

An absolutely wonderful story about a widow who finds life and, maybe, love with another woman – Hana Monogatari (はなものがたり), by schwinn, will be getting a collected Volume 1 in August. I adore this story, and read it regularly on Comic Walker.

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Yuri Anime

Birdie Wing‘s second Blu-Ray box set is going on sale in Japan. To celebrate, they asked Koga Ryoichi, creator of Ninin ga Shinobuden / Ninja Nonsense to do a crossover promotional comic. This is a crossover none of us could have predicted.

Liam Dempsey has given us all a sense of relief as he reports that “Yuri no Aida ni Hasamareru. Aru Asa Dummy Head ni Natteita Ore-kun no Jinsei (“Caught Between Lesbian Relationships. My Life After Waking Up as a Dummy Head Microphone”) is officially changing its title to just Aru Asa Dummy Head ni Natteita Ore-kun no Jinsei (“My Life After Waking Up as a Dummy Head Microphone”)” for Crunchyroll News. Phew. I did not wanna watch that.

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Yuri Live Action

Bloom Into You is getting a new stage play in Japan, Bloom Into You encore. Komatsu-san has the news over at Crunchyroll, where he writes, “according to the play’s official Twitter, the remake version “encore” tells the story up to the last volume of the original manga while being based on the first play. All of the main cast members, including Misato Kawauchi as Yu Koito and Moeka Koizumi as Touko Nanami, will return.”

Yuri Visual Novel

From burgeroise, we have news of their new Yuri VN, Coquette Dragoon, which they describe this way: “Girls love + alternative mecha VN series Coquette Dragoon is now out in early access! ~50k words. Contains full first two chapters and preview of chapter three! Coquette is for adults only and contains dark/suggestive themes, read at your own discretion.“

I’d love to have a review of this if anyone wants to read it for me! ^_^

Via Yuri Navi, comes news of a promotional video for a new Yuri VN, Watashi-tachi no Marriage. The PV opening is cute, but after watching the commercial…I couldn’t tell you what the VN is about, which maybe is not great for a promotional video. ^_^;. BUT the story of the two girls will play out in the remaining videos, according to Yuri Navi’s interview with the game creator, Noame Takii. The game will be released with English and Chinese subs in August on Steam.

Other News

By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga is now available through Kinokuniya USA online. Additionally, folks who buy it it at their store locations in Edgewater New Jersey, Katy Texas, Portland Oregon or Seattle Washington, will be able to get signed bookplates! If there’s a Kino near you and you’d like a signed bookplate, have them contact my publisher. They’d be delighted to get you one. ^_^

It’s exhibition season in Japan, and The Rose of Versailles is getting a 50th anniversary exhibition at Roppongi Hills. Richard Eisenbels has the details at ANN. There will be four rooms and, among the many items on exhibit will be the edition of the RoV manga I edited for Udon Entertainment! So there’s a benchmark for my mental photo album. ^_^ Check out the Room 4 lineup on the Roppongi Hills official site.

Did I say “exhibition”? Then I must have news of a new Sailor Moon Exhibition! Also in Roppongi, the Sailor Moon Museum has a new set of visuals and goods. Daryl Harding has the news over at Crunchyroll.

Not quite an exhibition, but Hana no Asuka-gumi creator Takaguchi Satosumi has opened an online store and is selling original designs with her characters. No Yohko, boo.

The first part of Gideon the Ninth (ギデオン　第九王家の騎士 上) is out in Japanese! You can take a look at the 41-page sample on Bookwalker.

My review of Summertime Rendering, Volume 3  from Udon Entertainment is up on ANN. This is a truly fantastic series full of eldritch horror and action and paranormal events. It’s a great read, honestly.

Thanks to our Okazu Patrons who make the YNN weekly report possible! Support us on Patreon or Ko-fi to help us give Guest Reviewers a raise and to help us support Yuri creators!

Become a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share and be part of the Yuri Network. ^_^