Rakuen Le Paradis 29 (楽園 Le Paradis) officially launches Nakamura Asumiko’s “Mejirobana no Saku” as a regular series. Having made a name for herself fund raising for a festive  Christmas tree, formerly almost-outcast Ruby now finds herself in the confusing position of being popular. 

What is far worse is that any intimacy she and Steph shared over the winter break is gone and Steph appears to be comfortable with deflecting Ruby’s attempts at friendship. In a fit of pique after Steph is publicly unkind to her, Ruby tell the older girl to never come near her again. 

Until Ruby learns that she is being removed from this school, where she has finally carved out a place for herself. Her mother admits she simply doesn’t have the money to keep her there, now that she’s divorced Ruby’s wealthy father. The headmistress makes an offer – if Ruby can hit a certain mark on the entrance exam, she will be eligible for a scholarship. Ruby, whose grades are middling takes up the challenge and heads to Steph’s room. “Teach me Latin,” she tells the other girl, when the door opens.

So that was a chunky 32 pages of this fraught and emotional girl’s love at a private school story.

The only other Yuri in this issue is in, somewhat surprisingly, “14-sai no Koi” in which we once again turn to look at like from Kanata’s classmate Shiki Aoi’s persepctive and her unrequited love for Kanata. Aoi is able to confide in the school doctor and have a brief moment of satisfaction as Kanata cries in her arms. That Kanata is cryng about being in love with her boyfriend is beside the point.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

I’m pleased that there are still Yuri stories in this magazine, because I might never read it otherwise. And it’s always interesting. Nakamura Asumiko’s Maiden Railways is now available in English from Denpa Books, and it too, contains a Yuri story.

Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 28 (楽園 Le Paradis) does not have a lot of Yuri. In fact, this issue has one chapter of one story that can be in any way considered “Yuri.” But this one chapter is worth taking a look at.

Over the years, Rakuen Le Paradis magazine has shown itself open to including Yuri as part of it’s eclectic jousei lineup. Several artists have drawn Yuri stories for the magazine, including some of my favorite Yuri artists, Hayashiya Shizuru and Nishi UKO. Additionally, artists who don’t usually create Yuri have had a Yuri story or two. In recent issues, Nakamura Asumiko, who is best known for BL (and whose Maiden Railways which is a bag of treasures will be released in English in 2019 by Denpa Books,) has turned her pen to a Yuri story, “Mejirobana no Saku.”

Another artist who does not traditionally create Yuri, Unita Yumi (probably west known her in the west for Bunny Drop,) is trying her hand at it. “Moco” is a “girl likes girl at school” story. But what Unita-sensei brings to the page is always a deft touch with the small things – body language, interpersonal relationships – that make their characters pop. “Moco” is the only Yuri in Volume 28, but it was very interesting for several reasons. 

Back in the meh-old-days of Yuri, these kinds of “jousei artist-does a Yuri short” weren’t at all uncommon. My historical collection is full of books exactly like this. A great many of them fall into the “Death or Marriage” trope, in which a character leaves an otherwise happy lesbian relationship to be married for reasons of family obligation – or to “free” her lover to marry – or one character dies, leaving the other “free.” Such a delight to read, as you can imagine. ^_^; Rakuen Le Paradis artists are not immune to this, At least two collections I had mostly forgotten by contributors to this magazine fall into this always dire trope. 

Nakamura-sensei is taking the melodramatic private girls’ school trope as her approach, but Unita-sensei is going for what appears to be a straight up, public school story. 

Kumiko, an average girl, is half-obsessed with Yuki, an unconventional  girl in her school. Kumiko is friends with Nataa-kun, who is Yuki’s friend. 

In this month’s chapter, Kumiko admits to Nakata that she like Yuki; as she does, Yuki walks into the room. Mortified, Kumi runs out, and then spends the next few days avoiding Yuki. Finally Yuki catches up with her and makes Kumi talk with her.

This scene was…lovely. Out on a playground, Kumi pours out her heart, while Yuki, always on the move, is swinging around a pull up bar, finally standing on top of it. When she jumps down, Yuki leaps forward to embrace Kumiko, and accepts her confession. 

Yuki admits she has no idea how she feels, but figures they’ll go out a bit and see what happens. When Nakata catches up to them, he asks if they are going out, and when told yes, says, “Thank heavens,” then looks adorably embarrassed about his relief.

I don’t know where this might go, but this may well be the very first of it’s kind, mainstream jousei-artist-takes-on-Yuri and doesn’t punt. That is worth noting. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9 Unita’s style is very specific; simple, but not simplistic. I really like it.
Story – 7 Typicalish, but not on the bad-trope side
Characters – 8 Yuki is charming. One can easily imagine that a number of girls and guys have crushes on her. Kumiko is sweet, and thank heavens for Tanaka-kun.
Service – 0
Yuri – 6 Goodbye “Death or Marriage,” we won’t miss you.

Overall – 8

We have a bunch more amazing stuff to review before end of year list time, but I think I am ready and willing to face all the Yuri 2019 is going to throw at us! ^_^

I am pleased as punch to note that not only is Hakusensha’s Rakuen Le Paradis (楽園 Le Paradis) magazine is including Yuri again (still), they seem to have recommitted to it.

In Volume 26 of Rakuen Le Paradis we have a new comic called “Praparat” by Shigasawa Kaya about a class outsider who has a chance to become more popular, but who comes to a unexpected conclusion about herself.

“Junsui Adolescence” by Kazuma Kowo lets us revisit a series from the early 2000s which originally ran in what was then Yuri Hime magazine.

And, best of all, this month’s chapter of “14-sai no Koi” by Mizutani Fuuka, follows Shiki Aoi, one of Tanaka Kanata’s classmates who has a painful one-sided crush on her. Aoi finally breaks down to the school doctor, only to glimpse a vision of her own life in 7 years if she doesn’t find a way to grow. She comes back to the doctor and ends up comforting her. This chapter was incredibly touching and sad.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Next issue, Volume 27, will see a return of Nakamura Aasumiko’s “Mejirobana no Saku.” Guess I’m getting this magazine again, regularly. ^_^;

It’s been a while since we’ve had a review of the quarterly Rakuen Le Paradis manga magazine. When Nishi UKO-sensei’s brilliant Yuri series Collectors wrapped up, a few issues passed before there was any new Yuri content.

In Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 25 (楽園 Le Paradis 第25号),  we have a surprising entry by Nakamura Asumiko-sensei, “Meijirobana no Saku.” Set in a private school for girls, a morose girl finds herself abandoned by paren s who are desperately attempting to save their failed marriage. Rubi faces the prospect of staying at her boarding school alone over the holidays. Only it turns out that she won’t be alone, at all. A strict upperclassman by the name of Steph will also be in the school. 

Steph has no interest in Rubi, and proceeds to freeze her out unless she’s scolding or insulting. Alone together in this big school, Rubi doesn’t have anyone to talk to. Until one day, she breaks down over her parents’ neglect and their ongoing battles with each other and finds herself begging Steph to please just…be there. Rubi finds herself worshipping at Steph’s feet. While they never become friends, Rubi’s anger has gone, and when the other girls return, she’s able to be more open and friendly and despite Steph’s uncaring, greet her cheerfully. 

This story is primarily interesting to see a prolific BL artist, known more for character insight than her art, take a look at typical Yuri tropes. This story is labeled “Chapter 1” so I’m hoping we get more vignettes from Nakamura-sensei. 

The rest of the magazine has shifted to strongly heterosexual, away from earlier days when it frequently had Yuri and BL stories, although Kashmir’s “paranorma” got as close to Yuri as their work ever gets, really. Well two girl hold hands, anyway.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Starting with Volume 26, Kowo Kazuma-sensei is returning to her Yuri series Junsui Adolescence, so that ought to be worth taking a look at!