A few weeks ago, I reviewed Daisuki: Hikaru and Sakura, by Tsukiishi, one of the two books I discovered in the Yuri section at Mandarake in Shibuya. Today, we’re looking at the second of these, Koigokoro (こいごころ), also by Tsukiishi.

Initially I remembered this book as a less-good Yuri romp than the other, and upon re-reading I see why. The first story, told in glossy color pages is practically Erica repellent. ^_^ However, the subsequent stories – which are all tales of love/lust between two girls with the ever-so-sexy addition of bodily fluids – were not quite as bad than I remembered.

I did strongly object to the one story where non-conconsensual sex leads to a realization of love…that was too BL trope-y for me, and the story that hinged on the color and length of a long-lost love’s hair was very ugh. (I can’t love you! Your hair is not the same color as I remember from 7 years ago! Um..what? Whatever.) On the good side, there’s the story about the star runner and her girlfriend…and had a nice little side story about the power of names; one quick manipulative piece about a semi-stable relationship and; a sweet tale of an otaku and her maid robot. (That last bit is meant to be read with only a hint of sarcasm.)

Surprisingly, I have one of the stories included in this collection in the form of a doujinshi. I presume it was given to me by Horai-san, as it was a very sweet confrontation between two girls and admission that their feelings are, in fact the same.

This “plot, what plot?” collection is rife with sex, but always (with the one exception) accompanied by love and an emphasis on sweet/cute rather than skanky. Unless you find sweet/cute feels skanky, as I do.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story -In every case the story is girl has sex with girl – 4
Characters – 4
Yuri – 9
Service – 10

Overall – 5

The art is far too moe for my taste, and I have a small pile here of things I keep meaning to give away, so this weekend, we’re doing a give-away. Let me think about what hoops I have to make you jump through to win some manga. ^_^

Hatsukoi Love Tectonics (初恋テクトニクス) by Camotang, is another Yuri manga collection of one- or two-shot stories that ran in Comic Yuri Hime.

The second story was the most interesting to me: Shion is a good student, a bit tactiturn, but when her classmates ask her to join them on a group date, she flat out says she’s not interested in meeting someone if they aren’t a woman. No surprise, this causes tons of gossip in the classroom. She’s basically ostracized until one day a rambunctious schoolmate walks in, shakes her hand and introduces herself as Maria – and, she confides, she is also gay. Come on out to the roof, Maria suggests, where we can eat lunch and talk. Shion hesitates, but eventually does join her. They become friends and, kind of unsurprisingly, Shion starts to have feelings for Maria. Perhaps a bit pat, but the happily-ever-after is not unwelcome.

The third story also skirts serious territory, when a girl is engaged to a guy by her father and given no choice in the matter. Luckily, she meets and falls for a girl in the park and although they say they are going to kill themselves, they really don’t. Once again a happily ever after is presumed.

Camotang’s art style is very heavy on the thick black lines, which occasionally gives it the feel of a woodcutting, but is otherwise simple and pleasant.

No stories here really get into deep territory, although a few skirt some serious topics. The girls get the girls and the biggest handwave is that everything is always perfectly fine in the end.

Ratings:

Art – 8, once you get used to it
Story – Variable, 7
Characters – The weakest thing in the book, characters aren’t all that strongly defined – 6
Yuri – 8
Service – 1

Overall – 7

As Story A” collections go, this one made for some entertaining reading and pleasing visuals.

Otome no Teikoku (オトメの帝国) is based on the premise that all women are bisexual and, if left alone in an all-female world will naturally, uncontrollably, start playing with each other sexually. It’s drawn with the idea that women look at other women with the same kind of “gaze” as men do. So walking around the school, girls are looking up each other’s skirts, and down their shirts…and noticing, commenting on and having (mostly lascivious) conversations and thoughts about each other’s secondary sexual characteristics.

Since this is not true and the assumption is tiresome in the extreme, this manga pretty much left me feeling utterly vexed at the creator and anyone who might enjoy it.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 3
Characters – 3
Yuri – 2
Service – 4 million

Overall – 3

Folks waiting for a great Yuri manga from creator of MAKA-MAKA, Torajiro Kishi, you’re still waiting.

Once again, thanks to Okazu superhero Dan P. who sponsored today’s review from my Amazon JP Yuri wishlist – I would never get my Loser Fan levels up if it weren’t for you!

Tsubomi has never been popular. In fact, she’s always been alone, slightly set apart from others. She really doesn’t know why, but no one seems to ever want to be her friend. Except for handsome Kurozawa, one of the class stars. He and Tsubomi are childhood friends and he doesn’t care that the girls who cling to him see Tsubomi as a nuisance.

Then one day, silver-haired aristocrat Yuuji transfers into class, kisses Tsubomi and pronounced her her servant.

And Tsubomi’s life changes forever.

How many times have we seen this story, huh? But here in Otome Ranbu (乙女×乱舞), by Imamura Youko, there’s a few sticks in the spokes.

Tsubomi, it turns out, is the head of a family that did indeed serve Yuuji’s family, and together they fought and sealed Shikigami, beings that possess things and people. Now that Tsubomi has had her power unsealed, she begins to remember her childhood, and why she feels such a closeness with Yuuji.

Kurozawa turns out to be a magical creature and a servant of Tsubomi’s. He lives in her garden in his beast form, and takes care of her, cooking and cleaning for her (until she insists he live in the house like a human.)

Now that her memory is unsealed, Tsubomi suddenly finds herself being treated more normally by the other kids in the class, but still, she has genuine feelings for Yuuji, which she wants to communicate.This is complicated by Chitose, Yuuji’s older brother – the rightful heir of the line and, presumably, Tsubomi’s real master. As he points out, when he kisses her to release the seal.

But, despite the fact that Tsubomi now remembers it was Chitose she met as a child, it’s Yuuji she loves, and she makes the point plainly and clearly.

At the end of the volume, the four, Chitose, Yuuji, Tsubomi and Kurozawa all are able to be happy and comfortable with each other…and the girl gets the girl.

The narrative here was a tad messy, but the art was very appealing. I had to read the volume through very carefully to follow the story, but in the end, I thought it was worth it. The art was somewhat typical, with flowing magical scenes that countered the semi-realistic line art of the everday well. The entire time I read this book, I kept thinking it would make a terrific anime – lots of action scenes, supernatural fights, girls transforming…ish, two pretty boys, a solid love quadrangle. All they’d have to do is imply a potential romance between Chitose and Kurozawa, and it has all the bells and whistles needed to make this a raging success.

Ratings:

Art- 8
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 6
Service – 3

Overall – 8

If you like the supernatural/exorcist type tale, and would like it better with some Yuri, Otome Ranbu is definitely worth a read.

My sincere thanks to Okazu superhero Dan P. who sponsored today’s review from my Amazon JP Yuri wishlist!

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