Would you be interested in an Okazu video blog segment? I could highlight an older series or just chat about stuff. Let me know in the comments if you’d watch it.

In August 2002, I began writing down thoughts I had on running an anime convention. And then my thoughts on Yuri anime and manga in general. I chose a free blogging platform, because that was the thing to do – websites were static, kind of old fashioned, blogs were in. The age of MySpace hadn’t yet dawned, Social Media was a phrase as yet unheard of. Xanga was hot and LiveJournal was cool and Blogger was a small, upcoming product. I chose Blogger.

With many thanks to Lissa Pattillo (who I recommend as a veritable WordPress Master), Okazu has now come home to Yuricon.com. And we’re not done, yet. You’ll notice that this new Okazu maintains its own identity.  Right now, the old site is redirecting to the new site, but if you want to save the new URL it’s https://okazu.yuricon.com

We hope you like the new site and we still welcome your comments and thoughts, guest posts and sponsorship!

Goodbye to the old Okazu and Welcome to the new Okazu! ^_^

Ten years ago I thought about trying out one of those new-fangled “web log” things to record my thoughts about Yuri manga and anime, Yuricon and random related items. Ten years later,  Okazu gets about 2500 visitors a day and  has had more than 3 million unique visitors.

Let me take a moment to think about that.

Wow.

And…thank you!

Thank you to every one of my Okazu Heros and Superheros for making it possible for me to continue to bring you all reviews of good – and bad – Yuri anime and manga.

Thank you to all my Guest Reviewers – you provide variety and a different perspective, save my sanity and make me smile.

Thank you to everyone who has ever commented on Okazu. Thank you to all of your who comment regularly, for stimulating me in thought and keeping me focused. Thank you, too, to all of you who have disagreed with me over the years – it’s important that you keep doing so. And thank you to my insane, ranting, incoherent and/or delusional commenters. We’ve all enjoyed what you’ve had to say. ^_^

And finally, a special thanks to all of you, my dear readers, I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate your support and feedback…your very presence in my life. These last ten years have been absolutely extraordinary, something that can largely be attributed to you.

To thank you all and to celebrate Okazu’s 10th anniversary, I’m holding a contest. Ten lucky winners will receive Yuri manga or doujinshi!

To enter, please answer the following question in the comments. In your entry, provide your age and country and name. (If you go by Anonymous, please choose a nickname I can address you by, thanks)

Here is the question:

What would you like to see from Okazu in the next ten years?

As always, feel free to think completely outside the box. The more innovative and creative you are, the better the prizes. Go nuts. ^_^

I’ll be picking winners arbitrarily, but not randomly. If you’ve won a Yuricon or Okazu contest recently you are welcome to enter.

So, go ahead – help me blow out the candles on the Okazu birthday cake and tell me what you think Okazu should do, or look like, or be, for the next decade!

Happy Birthday Okazu – here’s to ten more amazing years!