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Yuri is My Job!, Volume 11, Guest Review by Christian LeBlanc

July 26th, 2023

Two girls in old-fashioned Japanese school uniforms in a shady garden. On a bench sits a blonde wearing glasses, one arm up on the back of the bench, turned to talk to a silver-haired girl standing behind her. They smile at each other in an easy and friendly way.To fully appreciate the wretched hive of scum and villainy Miman puts on display in  Yuri is My Job!, Volume 11, I strongly recommend going back and re-reading volume 9 and volume 10, which begin this arc. If earlier volumes could be said to be a parody of Class S, then these volumes are a scathing attack on the concept.

Miman is putting on a masterclass of layers and blurred lines in this volume, and so, with my literary degree in one hand, a copy of Erica’s By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga in the other, and a Blu-ray of Maria Watches Over Us playing in the background, I want to go a little bit in depth on what’s going on in these volumes.

This necessitates spoilers, of course, so let me briefly describe what happens in this book: 

Sumika (the gyaru) and Kanoko (the walking anxiety attack) are going out, but Sumika is ok with the two of them taking their time, not wanting to push Kanoko into anything she’s not ready for (I’d say Sumika is good at reading non-verbal communication, but Kanoko’s body language only knows the phrases ‘flinch’ and ‘look like someone just shot her dog’ whenever Sumika gets too close). 

Nene (the cook) and Sumika used to be schwestern at Café Liebe, but grew apart after a falling out which we are shown in full detail, along with the two of them confronting their past in a particularly raw, honest chapter. 

Meanwhile, we see to what extent former employee Yoko (who LARPs Class S outside of café hours playing, as she accurately says in Volume 10, the role of “Instigator”) is involved in all of the above. 

All the while, rehearsals continue for the play that the characters of Liebe will be performing. That’s right: the characters in Yuri is My Job! are playing the roles of Liebe Academy students at the café, and those characters in turn are rehearsing for a play that they’ll perform for café patrons. The play itself is adapted from A Maiden’s Heart, which is what the Liebe Academy characters are based on, so I believe that performing the play will actually summon a giant Yuri ouroboros (Yuriboros for short) that will alchemically transform the world of Yuri is My Job! into our reality.

Actual queerness is touched on, we get to see Sumika’s fluffy and bubbly side as she’s excited to be Kanoko’s girlfriend, we get a lot of drama and even some resolution, and as an added bonus for some of you, Hime is only in this for 16 pages including splash illustrations and Afterwords. There is something extremely not right about Sumika’s and Kanoko’s relationship, however, and I imagine this will come to a head in the next volume. 

Ratings:

Art – 9Story – 9 Diana Taylor (translation) deserves a commendation for handling all the nuances of the multi-layered conversations and exchanges.Characters – 9Service – 4 A tiny bit of nudity with much implied, nothing shownYuri – 10

Overall – 9

Still here? Ok, grab your einnerung nachtisch with buchwelt, dig in, and remember, we’ll be spoiling plot points the way Yoko spoils joy. Let’s dish!

 

To put it simply, this whole story arc is about the negative repercussions that happen when you apply Class S tropes to real-life relationships. 

We learn in Volume 10 that Yoko was already familiar with A Maiden’s Heart, the in-universe novel series on which Café Liebe is based. “I’ve always wanted to live in those sorts of settings,” she says, even choosing to base her character off of Therese, “who uses her wiles to rile other people up. Should be fun, right?”

True to her word, she soon starts dating Nene, “even if it’s just for fun.” Yoko never takes it very seriously, and in the spirit of Class S, ends things as soon as she ‘graduates’ from the pretend school (ie, quits Liebe after her “main employer found out that she was moonlighting”), leaving Nene feeling betrayed, and Nene’s relationship with Sumika quite damaged. (Yoko suggested going out with Nene in the first place to make Sumika jealous so she would realize her true feelings for Nene, but everything backfired spectacularly because that’s not how any of this works).  

Nene and Sumika do eventually patch things up, but it’s significant that Nene is a cook at this point, no longer playing among the Class S sisterly roles of schwestern. Also significant is how this discussion takes place at the café with no customers or anyone else around; Sumika and Nene are both in plainclothes, not performing, outside of the ‘false’ world of Liebe.

As for the influence of Class S on Sumika and Kanoko’s relationship: 

As Sumika slowly realizes that she’s caught feelings for Kanoko, she remains largely in denial about what her affections mean, telling herself “I do love Kanoko-chan . . . but that’s a sisterly love. I just want to protect my little sister.” She’s partially in denial because she’s always thought of herself as straight, and partially because she’s always viewed any kind of romance as a destructive force: “that stupid thing called romance that’s the real villain.” Sumika even describes the concept of schwestern to new hire Haruko as “if you took the romance out of a romantic relationship.” She’s confusing Class S concepts with real life; fittingly, she’s depicted practicing for the play-within-a-play while alone, taking that Class S lifestyle home with her. (Hime and Yano, for their part, are only ever shown rehearsing in-character and during work hours, suggesting they’ve learned to compartmentalize these concepts).

Sumika also rehearses the play with Kanoko at her place, which again reflects how Class S informs the way each of them views their relationship. Sumika is ok with dating Kanoko even knowing that Hime will always be Kanoko’s number one (which horrifies Nene when she finds out), similar to how Kanoko is ok with always being with Hime, even knowing that Hime will never have romantic feelings for her (which horrifies Sumika in turn). Both of these are ‘false,’ or at least ‘unmutual’ relationships based on the type of unrequited yearning that Class S would glamourize, but are, in reality, quite unhealthy and unfulfilling.

For her part, Kanoko only views her relationship with Sumika as yet another performance, just like her job at Liebe; she only went out with her at the suggestion of Yoko, who practically feeds her a script of what to do: go out with Sumika so she can have someone to talk to about Hime again (Sumika had cut her off at one point, you see). Kanoko even goes so far as to ask Nene how you’re supposed to behave in a relationship, but as Nene says, “no matter how ‘romantic’ an act seems . . . if your intent doesn’t align with theirs, then it’s not ‘romantic.’” Nene’s assurance that everything will work out as long as she and her girlfriend both love each other isn’t what Kanoko wants to hear, since she doesn’t actually love Sumika and is only looking for ways to help sell her performance. 

In summary, the underlying message seems to be that Class S stories are well and good for entertainment, but the “S” may as well stand for “Septic” when applied to real life, especially when someone wants more than a Platonic love. The way this message is conveyed is entertaining, complex, and well thought out – Miman is employing a play-within-a-play-within-a-manga on a metatextual level that would make Hamlet’s head spin! I am very much looking forward to Volume 12 coming out in December to see if any of my theories about what happens next hold any water (including the summoning of the Yuriboros).





Suizou Ga Kowaretara, Sukoshi Ikiyasuku Narimashita. (膵臓がこわれたら、少し生きやすくなりました。)

June 4th, 2023

Presented in an orange and white palette, a woman sits on a bed crying, while a doctor listens. In her last book about her physical health, My Alcoholic Escape From Reality, Nagata Kabi-sensei explained the circumstances that landed her in the hospital with alcoholic pancreatitis.

We have followed Nagata-sensei through any number of trials. Like many of you, I find myself invested in her well-being. And that reader’s need to see her “get better” has become visible in the style of her comic essay work. The story is told from a crisis point, then we back into causes and effects, then she show us what she has done to move forward, leaving us feeling positive about the future. But Nagata-sensei’s life is vastly more complex than any one manga might cover. And it’s a sobering thought (no pun intended) to realize that Nagata-sensei is balancing a number of serious illnesses that are not likely to “get better.”

In Suizou Ga Kowaretara, Sukoshi Ikiyasuku Narimashita. (膵臓がこわれたら、少し生きやすくなりました。) we learn that Nagata-sensei had developed an addition to alcohol. Her look at the emotional and developmental origins of this addiction are a also look into her current state of mental health. I’m fascinated by her use of those pages as a kind of journal of self-awareness. But this book has a much more leavened perspective than previous books, ending with a recognition that the things that make up Kabi Nagata aren’t going to disappear and magically make her a new person. It’s not so much sad or resigned as it is mature. “One more thing to reckon with in this life” she’s saying and those of use who have had similar lives are just nodding. “One more thing to deal with.”

In her previous book, Meisou Senshi – Kabi Nagata, I wondered how her parents took what was in that book. In this volume, she focuses on the positive influence her parents were for her, especially her father. She comments again that she’s sorry her first book hurt her mother, so clearly that is a really sensitive wound between them.

I appreciate Nagata-sensei’s candor. I know that this isn’t necessarily what she wanted from herself, but there is tremendous value in people being honest about what it takes to survive.

No ratings, except to say her art style is, again exuberantly destructive. It’s incredibly powerful.

 

I note that this book is published by East Press, not Futabasha. I have no insight to what that might mean, I just found it interesting. Seven Seas has licensed the book as My Pancreas Broke, But My Life Got Better, which is slated for a November 2023 release. Thanks waffle for the correction!





Assorted Entanglements, Volume 1

May 29th, 2023

A businesswoman and a young woman with tattoos hold hands as they lay next to one another, their shoes to the side, smiling gently at one another. In 2019, I first encountered Mikanuji’s Fuzoroi Renri. I followed the series, and have reviewed Volumes 1-5 here on Okazu. Now I’m pleased to take another look at this manga series now that it is out from Yen Press in English.

In Assorted Entanglements, Volume 1, Iori is a 28 year old career-woman in an unfulfilling job. She takes her frustrations out by drinking at a local izakaya, and talking to one of the servers, a cute girl with facial piercings and tattoos, Minami. When Iori wakes up naked next to Minami, both of their lives are about to change.

When I first read this volume, I was deeply gratified at Minami’s character. Pierced and tattooed, she was not a criminal or a gang member. She was still on the wrong side of the tracks in Japanese society, but she was a good person who had gone through some rough spots. 

As I re-read, I am less moved by Iori. Having just finished Sempai, Oishii desuka? Volume 2 (先輩、美味しいですか?) by Mikanuji-sensei, I’m done with sloppy drunks. But, since almost all of the volumes of this series will pair unlikely couples, I’ll roll with it. ^_^

After Minami and Iori are settled, we introduce their foils. First, we meet Minami’s foster sister, Natsuki who greets her with a beatdown. Then we get Saori, Iori’s creepily obsessed little sister. When they meet each other, sparks fly and quickly burn everything around them down. They are a terrible couple that kind of works anyway. ^_^

There will be no resolution with this series – as couples begin to  function with something approaching normality, a new differently dysfunctional couple will be introduced. Once again the team at Yen Press did a fine job for a goofy manga that requires no deep emotional investment.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 3 Some light nudity, nothing salacious
Yuri – 10

Overall – 8

This series of short gags about odd people forming odd couples is a fun read.





Sempai, Oishii desuka? Volume 2 (先輩、美味しいですか?)

May 17th, 2023

A woman with long black hair, wearing a tan blouse and red skirt hugs a woman, wearing gray slack and a white blouse, with her brown hair in a bun, from behind. Huh. It was almost exactly a year ago I reviewed Volume 1 of Mikanuji’s Yuri + food manga. At the time I said, “I can definitely recommend it with some significant reservations.” Today I am looking at Sempai, Oishii Desuka? Volume 2 (先輩、美味しいですか?) and I find that the reservations are mostly the same, and the story is not what I wanted it to be.

To begin with Miho spends the majority of the book wallowing in significant low self-esteem churning over whether Sempai reeaaalllllllllly likes being with her or not because of things other people tell her. When sempai kisses her we are treated to chapters of her worrying what sempai meant by it. Miho gets blasted drunk on non-alcoholic something, which is impossible for me accept and made the final pages of the manga unpalatable. Mori is not free of criticism, but her issue is in a post-COVID world not entirely impossible to understand.

The failure here is simply trying to insert conflict where it just didn’t need to be. It would have been lovely to just have Miho make food with Mori and them enjoy it. Turning up Miho’s “there MUST be a crisis” meter to 1000 – while relatable for those of us who overthink everything – really just drained the enjoyment of two women and food and possible romance.

Which brings me to the Yuri. I noted in Volume 1 that Mori regularly violated Miho’s boundaries. In Volume 2, she still does, and Miho has to be “drunk” to just tell Mori she’d like to kiss, in a creepy and boundary violating way. This is just so unnecessary! They are both adults with an interest in each other, they could just get together. That they don’t is fine, but the way they are portrayed is so…weird…and not healthy. Just have a conversation, ladies.

The end result is, as much as I like Mikanuji’s work, I don’t find this manga all that enjoyable and will stop reading. That said, if you like awkward boundary-pushing, but not really adult behavior in your Yuri, you might find this manga fun. And you’ll learn how to cook as a bonus.

Ratings: 

Art – 8
Characters – Miho drops to a 5 here, Mori is a 6
Story – 7
Service – One too many “funny” boundary violations
Yuri – 5, but I’m not convinced they’ll be good for each other

Overall – 7  





Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon, Volume 4

May 15th, 2023

Two women face us , holding hands. One with long brown hair wearing a brown skirt and white blouse, smiling brightly, shorter woman with short black hair, where pants and a white blouse, smiling gently. "Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon" is written in orange letters, with a chocolate glazed doughnut for the letter O, and a crescent moon just above and to the left of the O. Number 4 in the upper left hand of the page, a squiggle line, the Art & Story by Shio Usui.When Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts, Volume 4 (欠けた月とドーナッツ) landed in summer 2022, I said this about it, “…this was the perfect, most exactly correct ending to this series that we could have hoped for.” Now, in 2023, as I read Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon, Volume 4, I would not change a word of that. This was the perfect ending for this series. We could not have asked for better.

Hinako is every person who has been measuring themselves against a set of criteria that do not fit at all. Asahi is everyone who is spending their energy on someone else so they don’t have to think about themselves. When they meet each other, their ill-fitting facades begin to crack. Neither of them have ever had the leisure to develop any adult relationships. Asahi, because of her parents death, has kept her one old friend, but been unable (unwilling?) to make others. Hinako’s friendships are – she believes – based upon the construct she had created to pass in society, while she blames her failures to build romantic connections on herself.

This is a lovely, gentle story of lonely people breaking out of the habit of loneliness that they built up as the cornerstones of their lives.

This manga checks off so many of the things that makes  a good manga for me – adult women building different kinds of relationships with the women around them, emotional intimacy of differing kinds with those women and adult women breaking free of the constraints put upon them by society, family and themselves. Joyfully, this manga is also full of adult friends who continue to be friends when their friend basically stops pretending to be someone they cannot be.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 10
Character – 10
Service – 0
Yuri – 10

Overall – 10

Asexuals are getting their time in the manga limelight right now, as well – if you were looking for a book about adults understanding themselves better, this should definitely be on your list.

I was *sure* that Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon was a shoo-in for a best Yuri manga of the year when Volume 4 hit, but it has to compete with Birdie Wing and She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat, both of which are so outstanding. That said, this is an excellent manga and you should not miss it!