Archive for the LGBTQ Category


Sex Education 120%, Volume 2

November 28th, 2021

Last summer, I reviewed Sex Ed. 120%, Volume 1 by Kikiki Tataki. I summed it up as “The characters were likable, the lesbian couple is cute and Tsuji’s enthusiasm is just exactly ridiculous enough to keep you rooting for her and this was an incredibly fast and fun read.” Today I wanted to talk about Sex Education 120%, Volume 2, and again, not for the sex ed itself. ^_^

I actually do recommend this series if you have a tween or teen who is into manga and you want to have a lead-in to the various “your body is changing” talks. The information on sexual education is pretty solid, if unevenly presented. More importantly, this series discusses things that would be really cool to have discussed in sex ed, that weren’t in my day, like sexual harassment and the toxicity of pick-up artist culture. Safe sex is always the message and so is understanding your body. This volume has a chapter on menstruation with a focus on menstrual cups.

But why I wanted to review his today was not just the lesbian couple’s origin story, (which we also get – with different perspectives,)  but the end of the book, where one of the lesbian couple is freaked out by her lover’s interest in BL. In the years I have been reading and viewing Yuri, of course I have met many lesbians who like BL. I was very interested in how the book was going to discuss this issue, as the character most interested in BL is largely incoherent about why. Not everyone can explain things. But as with every discussion in this book, it took a turn into a pretty brilliant scene. The lesbian couple and the BL fan visit a BL comic event. The BL doujinshi creator whose booth they are arguing in front of. turns out to be in a relationship with a woman, and she ends up going out with the students to talk with them openly about what does and does not work for them in regards to BL. I found the whole scene really impressive. I know that BL will never be for me, because I’m simply more interested in women than I am in men, but I really liked how the conversation made some interesting points.

Yen does a fine job with the content in this book. The characters have their own voices and stories throughout. I can completely recommend Volume 2, not just for the sex ed, but for the stories of the teachers and students as well.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 10
Service – Almost never except to make a point
Queer – 10

Overall – 9

Volume 2 is available now on Amazon, Bookwalker Global and RightStuf. Volume 3 will ship in February (RightStuf  and Amazon.)





I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 1…again!

October 29th, 2021

It’s not unheard of that we sometimes review the same book more than once here on Okazu. Books that were published by one company, then again by another are the most common culprits – like Azumanga Daioh by ADV Manga and again by Yen Press or Aria by ADV, then again by Tokyopop. We’ve definitely had more than one reviewer taking a look at the same material such as various perspectives on the Citrus anime. Today marks  – as far as I can remember – the very first time I am reviewing the same book that I have previously reviewed. And let me tell you, I’m really happy to be doing it!

In March, I took a look at the first volume of the manga for I’m in Love With The Villainess, which I had previously read in Japanese, but not reviewed because of delayed shipping.  This was followed by a review of Volume 2 in Japanese.

In the end, there were some problems with the first volume in English that I felt were impossible to ignore. I wrote a polite, detailed email to Seven Seas. I, like you, love this series, and wanted – needed – it to be perfect.  Imagine my surprise and delight to hear back from them recently, with an offer of a new edition!

So, today, for the first time ever on Okazu, I am reviewing the exact same book for the second time. Today I am looking at I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 1, written by inori, art by Aonishimo, character design by hanagata.

The story follows a Japanese office worker, Oohashi Rei, as she finds herself transported to the world of her favorite otome game, Revolution. Freed(?) from her previous life as a wage slave and given the chance to be the game’s protagonist, Rae Taylor as she is now known, pursues her favorite character – the game’s villain, Claire François.

The beginning of the story is goofy, as Rae plays the fool to Claire’s stereotypical high school rich girl villainess. But, as the story goes along, Rae’s behavior seems to have a different meaning and Claire begins to wonder what makes this odd and annoying commoner tick. We are also introduced to the rest of the players from the first novel of the series.

My sincere concerns about the word choices have been wholly alleviated. Claire remains high-handed and imperious, but now lacks any signs of vulgarity or uncouthness. She is the high-born noble daughter that Rae, and we, fell for. ^_^  I thank everyone on the Seven Seas team for going back over this translation and smoothing the rough patches out of the book. My especial thanks to translator Joshua Hardy, and editors Dawn Davis and Peter Adrian Behravesh, Also, some recognition to Courtney Williams who was given time to letter and retouch, which gives the story a smoother feel than just jotting in translated sound effects. (I know how hard that is and why it’s not possible for the artiest of s/fx, but I always appreciate the effort.) And once again, Nicky Lim’s cover design is lovely, with the embossed title.

As an added bonus, I genuinely think the illustrations by Aonoshimo-sensei actually enhance the story. This volume is of course, early days on this collaboration, but I know from later chapters, the art is good and will become fantastic.

This is the edition we wanted. Now I can recommend the manga as highly as I do the light novels. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Characters – 9
Story – 8 It will improve over time. ^_^
Service – 5 Nudity and bathing
Yuri – 9

Overall – 8

Volume 2 is heading our way in English in winter 2022 and I look forward to it with as much enthusiasm as I do Volume 3 in Japanese. Thank you Seven Seas for this review copy, and for taking our concerns and desires so seriously. It is very much appreciated.





How Do We Relationship?, Volume 3

October 22nd, 2021

How Do We Relationship?, Volume 3 by Tamifull takes a sharp turn away from our expectations. It makes for a harder read, but an infinitely more satisfying one.

Miwa and Saeko are not “out” to the general public but, in this volume, Miwa admits to someone else that she is only interested in women. Miwa’s taken a couple of huge steps forward into understanding and accepting herself…and we spend some time understanding where she came from in that regard and what that journey has been to her.

Saeko, though. She’s got a lot of stuff yet to deal with. Stuff she’s not telling Miwa…and stuff she’s not telling herself.

In my review of Volume 3 in Japanese, I commented “This is much less a Yuri romance at this point than a referendum on relationship communication issues, featuring a same-sex couple.” What I did not tell you at the time was I fought myself about four times about just giving up. Also I said, “Oh fuck you, Saeko,” more than once.

At this point, you may wonder if this manga is worth your time. I assure you, this manga is totally worth your time. But it is going to make you work a bit. And for that, I completely credit creator Tamifull, whose work is excellent. We, like the characters, are going on a long journey. It will take us through their and our pasts and present and future. We and they will not be the people we know right now, but I am convinced we’ll all be better for it, in the end.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8 Getting harder, not easier to read, but also becoming queerer and more real
Characters – 7 I’m rooting for everyone, but not liking everyone at this point
Yuri – 8 / LGBTQ – 6 still room for more
Service – 4

Overall – 8

This is not a “girl meets girl, they like each other, then end” story. And thank goodness for that.

How Do We Relationship, Volume 3 and Volume 4 are available now from Viz Media in print and digital.

Before I wrap up, I want to shout out translator Abby Lehrke, with whom I have had super fun conversations on Twitter where we basically screamed at each other incoherently about this series, and whose work is excellent. And mad props to Joanna Estep whose work in retouching will likely never be noticed by you, but the fact that she’s done the work of replacing Japanese S/fx with English, rather than setting them side by side or merely lettering the meaning, stands out to me. Well done and much appreciated Joanna! Fine work from Viz Media on this completely, not at all in any way simple series.





Even Though We’re Adults, Volume 3

October 12th, 2021

Akari and Ayano met in Volume 1, but their relationship was instantly complicated by the fact that Ayano…is married. In Volume 2, Akari moves to give herself a fresh start only to find herself literally face to face with Ayano, as her new home is across the street.

In Even Though We’re Adults, Volume 3, Akari can’t get a break…she’s walking to the train in the morning with Ayano, and home with Ayano’s husband Wataru. As they chat, Akari is sucked deeper and deeper into the quicksand of their family life and her own past. Akari returns to her previous job, which means she’s meeting her ex, as well. It’s a complicated set of circumstances in which no one is wrong, and everyone is trying, but the mortification just keeps piling up. Poor Akari.

I’m absolutely convinced that this is the best work Shimura-sensei has ever created, as the people are all relatable; from the two girls in Ayano’s class who may be targeted because they like each other, to Eri, Wataru’s shut-in sister.

Every single character here is doing their best; every single character is trying to figure out how to be, how to navigate the complicated waters of society and relationships. And nearly everyone is struggling. I love this story. There’s no good guys or bad guys, there’s no one who is more than slightly, very normally awful. Everyone is smiling, but also hurting, and trying to figure out how to make it through the rapids of life safely.

In and among all of this, I am particularly on tenterhooks about the two girls in Ayano’s class. They don’t know, yet (or ever) that they have an ally, but I hope that they end up okay.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 7 I’m liking most of them, even if they annoy me sometimes ^_^
Service – 0
Yuri – Yes. Also Queer.

Overall – 8

Thanks very much to Seven Seas for the review copy! Volume 3 is hitting shelves today, so grab yourself a copy of this queer and complicated story about adult life. Excellent lettering by Rina Mapa, as well as outstanding translation by Jocelyne Allen.

I especially loved this panel of a phone argument. ^_^





Manga de Wakaru LGBQ+ (マンガでわかるLGBTQ+）

September 19th, 2021

I follow a number of Japanese sexual and gender minority groups on Twitter. I’ve even created a Twitter list with all the JP groups I follow, knowing that new groups aspring up all the time. One of these groups, Palettalk, recently announced a new book on LGBTQ+ issues. I was interested in the book and marked it down for future purchase. Here’s where this story gets a tad weird. ^_^ I visit Kinokuniya monthly to get Comic Yuri Hime and random other manga purchases and, that next visit, as I walked around the store, on a shelf of cat manga that I never look at, facing out, like someone just dropped it there…was this very book.  The chances of it being in my local Kjnokuniya seemed infinitesimal, and yet, there it was.

Which is how I came to have Palettalk’s Manga de Wakaru LGBQ+ (マンガでわかるLGBTQ+), instead of just ordering it like usual. ^_^ It’s a great little volume that I highly recommend to folks who want the allies among their friends and relatives to understand them better and be just that much more sensitive to their concerns. In essence, it’s a workbook for allyship.

The book is broken up into short manga of case scenarios, discussions designed to look like online chats, workbook pages, Q&A and informational essays and definitions. The case scenarios are mostly focused on adult life, but many of them hearken back to school situations, as well. As a result, it moves quickly through scenarios, like dealing with insensitive things a bisexual might have people around them say to them, how it makes them feel. Then it goes into what we, as allies, need to understand about bisexuality so we don’t unintentionally hurt our bisexual friends  – or allow other people to intentionally hurt them.

Discussions range from how it feels when straight folks make erroneous assumptions about gay folks, to the unintended consequences of coming out or not. The Palettalk staff weighs in with their own experiences, and there are worksheets for us to think about the scenarios for ourselves.

Because all of this is done in an easy-to-read manga form, with scenario comics interspersed with short essays, informational pages and the rest, it’s informative and approachable.

Ratings aren’t really relevant for this book, but I hope folks in Japan will pick it up and share it with friends and family.

I’m really glad I picked this up and my sincere thanks to the folks at Palettalk for putting this book together.