Archive for the Staff Writer Category


There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless…, Light Novel Volumes 5 & 6

July 13th, 2026

by Eleanor Walker, Okazu Staff Writer

The harem is assembled, Renako is officially dating both Mai and Ajisai, and Satsuki has also thrown her hat into the ring under the guise of “well if you’re already dating 2 people, why not add a third?” and Kaho is just sort of… there?
So begins Season 2 of the novel series “There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless…” the previous 4 volumes of which I’ve also reviewed here on Okazu. Like so many stories which continue after the main couple (or throuple in this case) gets together, these two volumes definitely suffer from the “what now?” problem. As cute as it is to read about happy people in love, stories without any conflict don’t tend to be very interesting.

2 girls, one with long blonde hair, the other with not quite as long light brown hair in school uniforms of white blouse and grey plaid, hugging each other and a small plushie of another girl.Volume 5 introduces a brand new rivalry with a group of 5 girls from Class B, who as far as I can remember have never even been mentioned in the previous 4 volumes. They stylise themselves as the 5-ddesses as opposed to our main characters the Quintet in Class A (for those who don’t speak Japanese, 5 is “go” so it should be read “go-ddesses”. I kept reading it as five-ddesses even after it was explained, but puns are hard to translate so…) Their leader is Takada Himiko and for reasons unbeknownst to the reader at this point, she’s declared a rivalry with the Quintet and challenges them in the upcoming inter class athletics competition. Most of the rest of this volume is dedicated to the training and competition, and I honestly found it so boring I don’t really have much to say about it.

It should hopefully be obvious at this point that I found volume 5 rather a slog to get through. It’s much thicker than any of the previous 4, and even the author in the afterword says it probably should have been split into two smaller volumes. I would agree, either that or cut a lot of it out, which they say was also an option but they couldn’t get rid of any of it. I personally disagree, and am of the opinion that there was a lot which could have been cut out. The whole book read to me like the author wasn’t expecting the series to continue past volume 4, and now suddenly had to come up with a new external complication to try and advance the plot and relationships. If we’d been introduced to this other group or at least Himiko right from the beginning, them challenging the Quintet wouldn’t now seem so sudden and out of place, especially as we later learn that Himiko was a model when she was a child and had lost out to Mai. It just seems odd that we are now several months into the school year and they’ve just appeared out of nowhere.

2 pink haired girls, one in the foreground one in the background, making a V with her fingers against her forehead, the one in the back looks put out.Volume 6 however was more enjoyable because unlike the 5-ddesses, we have encountered Renako’s younger sister Haruna since the beginning of the story. She’s always been the opposite of Renako; sporty, extroverted, popular and fashionable. She’s the one who helps Renako change her image for starting high school, and often seems more mature, despite being the younger sister. In volume 5 she does agree to help Renako practise basketball for the inter class competition, but in volume 6 she takes a larger role. She, much like Renako did in the past, decides to stop going to school one day and it’s up to Renako and the Quintet to try and figure out what’s going on between Haruna and her friends Minato and Seira. Because she’s actually been a part of the story right from the beginning, this arc is actually interesting enough that I do want to know why the sudden change in her behaviour and how this will force Renako to grow as an older sister and support her for a change. Another mystery character called Lucie randomly appears too, and it’s not until the very end of the volume that we are told she’s claiming to be Mai’s fiancee, which just feels like it was added in as a cliffhanger to end the volume on, rather than actually being an important part of the story. This volume is the first part of the Haruna story, which will conclude in volume 7, and Season 2 itself will conclude at the end of volume 8 according to the afterword of volume 7. Volume 9 doesn’t currently exist in Japan, there are 2 side story volumes which will be released in English later this year and summer next year according to Seven Seas’ website.

Overall, if you’re really desperate to see what happens beyond the anime, give this a go but I’m of the opinion you could comfortably skip volume 5 especially and not really miss much. I hope if this arc does get animated they cut out a lot of the padding, as there’s definitely some potential under the bloat. Either that or the editor does a better job for the next volumes.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 4
Characters – 4
Service – 8 The obligatory colour page bath illustration at the beginning of both volumes is a tradition at this point.
Yuri – 7

Overall – 5





Rica Takashima × Akiko Morishima Talk Event Report

July 9th, 2026

Last month, folks in Japan had the chance to attend a historical discussion of Yuri in the 1990s and the birth of Yuri in America, with creators Akiko Morishima and Rica Takashima. Our Japan Correspondent Sasori is here with a report on the proceedings!

Signboard for lonliness books in Higashinakano, with a poster that read "Yuri Story" and features Rica and Miho from the cover of "Rica 'tte Kanji!> by Rica Takashima.

 

I’m headed to loneliness books in Higashi-Nakano, to meet two Yuri icons, Rica Takashima and Akiko Morishima.

Rica Takashima is best known for her series Rica ‘tte Kanji!?, one of the first English translated yuri manga. Her later sequel in 2025 being New York Love: Rica ‘tte Kanji!? I remember when I first read her works in the US anthology Yuri Monogatari!

Akiko Morishima is the creator of Hanjuku Joshi, Rakuen no Jouken (The Conditions of Paradise), Yurikuma Arashi, as well as many other yuri manga. She also did cover illustrations for Hajimete no Yuri Studies: Queer/Feminist no Shiten kara (Introduction to Yuri Studies: From Queer and Feminist Perspectives). She is now serializing Hitorimi Desu (Living Single) (KADOKAWA/CandleA), about the life of a single lesbian in her sixties.

(Sources from the description of the event)

Walking into the bookstore was like walking into a manga gallery, the entire wall was lined with Takashima-san’s works! Under her original manga pages, were magazine publications as well as By My Side and all the Yuri Monogatari anthologies. I’ve never seen all of them lined up before, it felt like a yuri time capsule. 

A wall with original art pages by Rica Takashima displayed in plastic sleeves.

Seeing close up manuscripts of the manga is always a treat because you can see all the typography glues in the speech bubbles and hand done screen tones. I also liked seeing the English translated manga surrounded by their respected JP publications.

Table with Japanese and English language Yuri art and books, and pins with art by Rica Takashima.

My only wish was that I had infinite money to buy more books! There was so much on sale.

A shelf with multiple editions of Rica 'tte Kanji!?, and Yuri Monogatari, By Your Side

Original art by Ric Takashima displyed on the wall.. Color images of Rica and Miho, as well as original pages of Rica 'tte Kanji!?

Lined next to the manuscripts were small shikishi and original prints, sifting through the prints in the binder was so satisfying.

Original pages of Rica 'tte Kanji!?

 

Close up on art and books for sale, original work by Rica Takashima and By Your Side.

A print image of Rica and Miho in the snow with a grocery bag.

 

The talk started at 20:00 ( 8:00) in the middle of the bookstore. There were a total of about 15-20 people, so a really comfortable turnout. Takashima sensei began by passing around a bowl of American candy, and she knew her stuff, there were Twizzlers and airheads in there! Both Takashima and Morishima sensei were very upbeat and could back and fourth really well about honestly any topic as well as their respected works .

Takashima sensei talked about what it was like living in New York and brought up the history of Yuri, often referencing By Your Side and even Fun Home. I also liked Morishima sensei’s response to some questions about gender equality, and she also talked about being a fan of Sailor Moon and Cutie Honey.

Other topics covered were the current lesbian fashion of the past and present (Butch military styles, overalls, and more feminine attire), the lesbian bar scene, and a shared love of mini skirts.

It was kind of like listening to two friends reminiscing about the past, which was very comforting.

A photo of a small, cute bookstore crammed with books, and a talk event space in the middle.

The talk went a little past it’s allotted time, but I was able to buy some cute stickers and a copy of Tokyo Love, that Takashima sensei signed with an adorable sketch of me, complete with heart eyes. I was hoping I could stay a bit longer to see if Morishima sensei had any books, as I am also a huge fan of hers, but sadly I had to catch the late train home.

A close-up up Toyo Love - Rica 'tte Kanji!? cover and two Rica/x Miho pins.

I’ll be sure to revisit the loneliness bookstore, not only for the awesome LGBTQ+ rep, but also because it’s rare to see so many English publications outside of Kinokuniya.

If you ever find yourself in Higashi-Nakano, be sure to take a peak, maybe you can buy some issues of Yuri Monogatari! 

 





Yoshiya Nobuko 130th Anniversary Exhibit at the Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature

June 28th, 2026

Poster of Yoshiya Nobuko exhibit at the Kanagawa Museum of Literature. Seated Yoshiya in a dressy blouse and fashionable short hair, looks at the camera with a slight smile. Today we have a special report! At my request, our Japanese Correspondent, Sasori took her and us to the Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature for a special exhibit celebrating the 130th anniversary of Yoshiya Nobuko, a foundational writer for the Yuri genre.  Her book Yaneura no Nishojo established many of the most common tropes of Yuri. Yoshiya-sensei also built a house in Kamakura (in Kanagawa) with her partner, Monma Chiyo, where they lived their lives out.  That house is now a museum, which I visited.

So please give your attention to Sasori as we spend some time with Yoshiya-sensei’s life!

by Sasori, Okazu Staff Writer

It was time to take a trip to Kanagawa, Yokohama, to learn about origins of yuri and the “founder of the “S”(slang for sister/deep female friendship) relationship novel”, Yoshiya Nobuko. The exhibit. “Yoshiya Nobuko: The Origins of Sisterhood” was held from, 4/4-5/31, at the Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature, the museum specializes in historical works from Japanese authors. This exhibit was a focus on her life’s work in novels and her history from (1896-1973). I did know a bit about Yoshiya’s yuri influences, thanks to sister/Catholic school yuri themes from series Marimite, Strawberry Panic, as well as Dear Brother and her being a pioneer of shoujo manga.

Hand drawn art and words in a notebook, image and at by Sasori.No pictures were allowed in the exhibit, but I was enchanted by all the preserved books and novels from the 1920’s and 30’s. There were also newspaper and activism articles, my favorites being about female political movements. I tried to scribble out a few memorable ones in my notebook!

The close friendship of women longing for other women, being the theme of many covers, as well as flowers, really reminded me of how modern yuri came to be today.

I also enjoyed spotting parts of Yoshiya’s Hana Monogatari, flower stories, lined up together. Her novel “Yellow Rose”, is one of the few from that series translated into English, and something I plan on reading to broaden my historical yuri knowledge.

As for the museum goers, it was quite busy for a weekday, and many patrons were older and some seemed to be historical scholars.

After the exhibit, there was a display of many Japanese novels influenced by her writings.

Image of exhibit space, featuring many of the novels and story collections influenced by Yoshiya Nobuko's work.
The museum is very Japanese text heavy, it is a literature museum after all, but if you are up for the challenge, be sure to stroll through their rose garden and stop by the museum!

 

Erica here: Thank you Sasori! One of the reasons I was particularly interested in this exhibit was,  for the first time, a retrospective of Yoshiya-sensei’s work was acknowledging Monma Chiyo as her life partner. One of the items on display is a letter sent to Monma-san. 

If, as you read this, you are interested in the items on exhibit – a few of which are shown on the Museum page linked above  – you can purchase the exhibit catalog on Amazon JP. None of us love Amazon, but it was a lot easier than trying to get the museum a bank transfer (which is what they suggest… ^_^;)

Some of the items, like Yoshiya-sensei’s desk accouterments really make her feel like she just got up and took a walk, but will be back in a sec. If you’d like a glimpse into the life of the woman who is in large part responsible for so much of what we think of as “Yuri,” the catalog will be just that.

 





Atelier Lilium Cafe Report

June 24th, 2026

A signboard for Yuri Cafe Atelier Lililium, showing art by Hirao Auri for the inaugural art exhibit.Hello, this is an overachieving potato from the Okazu Discord, and I’m here to talk about my recent visit to Atelier Lilium, a book cafe in Ikebukuro.

First off, I have a fun anecdote regarding the place. I had a hard time finding the venue at first, but a person wearing a Japan football jersey directed me to the place.

It was nice of them to help out, considering I was entering random open buildings based on the pin in Google Maps. Turns out, it was underground at a hole in the wall.

I went down the steps to the first basement to find the cafe. Inside, the space is surprisingly big and very chill, featuring plenty of open seating with cafe tables and cozy chairs, plus much-needed air conditioning.

I suspect, though, that I caught the cafe at a lull, given it was 2:00 pm when I arrived.

 

In any case, I had an idea on what to expect beforehand. A reddit thread had explained A hallway wall, with a poster for the Hirao Auri exhibit and a business sign in a cadet blue with white letters that read Atelier Lilium, and a shield with a lily in white.the process, namely that you have to register on their website prior to visiting. This is to generate a QR Code to be scanned upon entry. This generates a QR code that gets scanned upon entry. They do accept walk-ins, but it’s best to keep the registration in mind. Also, it’s worth noting that they are completely cashless.

As for the cafe itself, getting in and understanding the rules were much easier than actually finding the place. There were instructions in English at the front desk, and the staff guided me through the whole process. Their guide neatly details how browsing works: you pick up a bag at the front counter, fill it with the books you want to read, and simply return the bag with the books inside when it’s time to check out.

The cafe featured a small exhibit showcasing the art of Auri Hirao, creator of If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It To The Budokan, I Would Die. The display featured her colored illustrations, alongside some sketches and black-and-white images set up right by the counter seats. The main draw of the cafe, though, is the sheer number of books inside. They have selections from all sorts of publishers, including Ichijinsha, Kodansha, Kadokawa, and more. They even have older books, light novels, and copies of Galette!

As for what I did, I spent about an hour at the cafe relaxing and reading muromaki’s JK-chan and Tomodachi no Okan (JKとともだちのオカン), about a high school girl who falls for her male classmate’s mother, cola float in hand. I took advantage of their amenities, such as the free WiFi and charging stations. If I had to describe the atmosphere, it was incredibly quiet and peaceful. I was able to fully relax before I had to leave for my next stop. I would have loved to stay longer, but I had other things on my itinerary.

A view of the cafe and book space for Atelier Lililum. In the front is a table with a pink cloth featuring work and goods by Hirao Auri. Wooden tables on the left, feature gray and white chairs. Bookshelves along the wall are filled with books, in a well-lit white-walled and ceilinged space.

I really enjoyed my time at Atelier Lilium. If I were to make any suggestions for them, it would be to include an even larger selection of yuri, perhaps even incorporating yuri from other countries. I remember remarking when I saw their selection that if this wasn’t All The Yuri, it certainly was a massive chunk of it. I highly recommend visiting, even for a short while, just to experience reading yuri while enjoying the other features, like the art exhibits. For anyone planning a visit, it’s worth noting that Atelier Lilium is incredibly close to Otome Road. It makes for a perfect rest stop if you are spending the day shopping at the nearby animate Ikebukuro, azone Ikebukuro, and other surrounding hobby shops. Like ANCHOR rainbow port tokyo in Shinjuku, this is a permanent fixture.

I’m still not used to rating cafes, but here we go:

  • Atmosphere: 9 – Very quiet, peaceful, and perfectly air-conditioned. The ideal reading environment.

  • Library/Selection: 8 – A massive chunk of yuri from major publishers and even some older titles and Galette.

  • Amenities: 9 – Free WiFi, charging stations, and a seamless cashless system. Plus, a lovely Auri Hirao exhibit.

  • Service: 9 – English instructions at the front desk and incredibly helpful staff who guided me through the entry process.

  • Yuri: 9 – It might not be “All The Yuri,” but it’s pretty darn close.

  • Overall: 8.5 – A highly recommended permanent fixture for anyone looking to relax and read a good manga with a cola float.





Bad Girl!, Volume 1

June 19th, 2026

A dark haired girl wearing a blazer and tie with her mouth open and a shocked expressionby Eleanor Walker, Okazu Staff Writer

Your enjoyment of Nikumaru’s Bad Girl, Volume 1 will depend entirely on your tolerance of the combination of 4-koma manga and misunderstandings so obvious that they must be deliberate. Even now, Azumanga Daioh is still the master of the genre in my humble opinion, as well as being one of the first yuri-adjacent series I ever encountered, back in the early 2000s.

Bad Girl is the source material of the titular anime adaption, reviewed here on Okazu and available streaming on Hidive. Our protagonist Yuu Yuutani has a crush on the head of the school disciplinary committee, Atori Mizutori, who’s so popular she has her own fan club. Yuu therefore decides to become the titular “bad girl” to try and attract Atori’s attention. Unfortunately for her, she has good grades, perfect attendance and has never been in trouble ever and her idea of being bad is to write in the condensation on a window. Hijinks ensue.

This series is basically “Notice Me, Sempai” the manga. Yuu’s attempts to be bad are kind of adorable, like a little kid acting out to try and get the adults around them to pay attention to them. Like all 4-koma/gag series this is like popcorn, best consumed a few pages at a time, otherwise it gets tooth rottingly sweet and outstays its welcome very quickly. Don’t think too hard about it, otherwise it all falls apart. Just enjoy the silliness.

Ratings:

Art – It’s definitely cute. The colour pages at the beginning are nicely done.
Story – What story? It doesn’t need one though.
Characters – A lot of silliness
Service – n/a
Yuri – Mostly just an unrequited crush at this stage.

If you like your cute girls doing cute things with a yuri flavour you’ll probably enjoy this series. Volume 2 is scheduled to release in English later this summer, and the series is up to 5 volumes in Japan. I am curious as to how much story we’ll actually get out of this premise, so I will at least stick around for volume 2.