The Yuri Panel at Otakon will be held on *Sunday* at 1PM in Panel Room 1.

I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget to mention that. I hope we’ll see you there!

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Now, for a short Otakon Day 1 report.

Big fun all around as you can imagine. You can never quite understand the enjoyment of running around to three locations for badges, unloading boxes, unpacking boxes, storing boxes, assembling and hanging banners, arranging books, etc, in an un-airconditioned in 90-degree+ heat, until you’ve done it too. But that was the day before Day 1.

On Day 1, inexplicably, Baltimore weather was beautiful and bright with a light wind and not excessive heat and people arrived and it becomes a acid-trip of color and fun and noise and other stuff that simultaneously delights and annoys. :-)

Hello to everyone who came by the table to chat – especially those of you who said that you read Okazu all the time. As I always say, it’s great to know that someone other than me and the wife enjoy it. ;-)

I have to say, we were pretty busy yesterday, which makes the day go much faster, so be sure to drop by and make our day go faster! LOL We’re at Table 410 in the DR (Ignore the other, empty booth that have Yuricon signs. I have no clue what went on there….)

Last night we did something we’ve never done before – almost all of the Yuricon senior staff was gathered in one place, so we went out for dinner, actually got some business done(!) and had a great meal together. It was really pretty cool. After 7 years. it finally felt like a “real” con. That willl change as I will undoubtedly do something completely different next time. :-)

I expect some fun today – if it all pans out, I will have a great story to tell you tomorrow – check back!!

Submission guidelines for our 2007 Yuricon Fanfic Contest are up!

Our theme this year is fairs and festivals of all kinds – Yuriko and Midori want to celebrate, and we want you to tell us all about it! “>Read the rules and get those stories in!

Don’t forget the AMV and the Cosplay and the exclusive “Simoun” Cosplay contests, either – all the rules are up on the 2007 “Yurisai” Event Page.

Join us at Otakon for the largest Yuri panel of the year. We’ll be in Panel Room 3 at 1-2PM on Sunday, July 22. And don’t forget to drop by our table in the Dealer’s Room for massive discounts on 100% Yuri!

Check back soon for more Contests, more Yuriko fanart and more excitement as the 2007 “Yurisai” event draws near! Join us for the only 100% Yuri day of 2007! Register at http://yc07.eventbrite.com

Yuricon – “For real women who like their women…animated.”

Looking for a Yuri Panel at a con near you? Check out the Yuri Events Page on Yuricon first! If you know of a Yuri panel or event happening, email it to us so we can add it to the list!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure, once again, of participating at AnimeNEXT, my local general con. I’ve been involved with them since their first year and I consider it a privilege and a pleasure to have been there as staff, as a board member and like yesterday, as a panelist. So, many, many thanks to the folks at ANEXT for their kindness and for the table in “con row.” :-) I go as much for the hugs as anything else. lol

Because of something I can’t yet tell you about, I wasn’t able to do the whole con, but we had a great day yesterday. :-) Books went well, the Yuri Panel looked to have about 40 people and the Fanfic Writing Workshop I always do there had about 20 people, most of whom were really into it. So, overall, a good day.

But that wasn’t what I wanted to tell you about. The thing that made my day, above all things, were three girls who walked by dressed like Yumi, Shimako and Yoshino. I almost died they looked so cute. I am not a fan of cosplay, and I am not a fan of cute, but oh, my GOD were these kids adorable. The girl who was Yoshino, Leeann, (and I hope she reads this and corrects me if I spelled her name wrong!) was a spitfire. She was funny and smart and cute as a button. She was also obviously the ringleader, which was perfect. LOL She assured me that her hair, when she had the wig off, looked like Sei’s and when she came by later, it did indeed! I took a picture of the three of the together as first-years (Shimako was wearing her rosary on the correct wrist! swoon) and then Leeann as Sei, hugging Yumi. Sadly, my pictures were with my phone and the lighting was bad, so they didn’t come out well, so I can’t share. But oh, my goodness, were they CUTE!

I changed the Yuri Panel age rating, so that anyone could come in, and my friend Leeann showed up, with good questions. There was a Shizuma in the front row and Sei there in the middle. How happy was I as a Yuri panelist. LOL

Anyway – Leeann and your two friends, thank you. You win as the best cosplay *ever* in my experience. Even better than the Japanese girls who cosplay them because you looked JUST like the characters. So that pretty much made my day. LOL

(A belated note to the woman who asked for some good not-schoolgirl Yuri manga. I’m sorry my brain was so friend when you asked. Here are a few top contenders: Iono-sama Fanatics, Shoujo Sect 2 which, although it starts off as a schoolgirl story wraps up as an adult story. Kotonoha no Miko to Kotodama no Majyo to and Moonlight Flowers. All have been reviewed here – you can find them on the right-hand Categories.

Next up, I and a large chunk of the Yuricon senior staff will be at Otakon. Yuri Panel is Sunday 1-2PM, all ages. Don’t miss it!