Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


How Do We Relationship, Volume 7, Guest Review by Matt Marcus

November 23rd, 2022

Welcome once again to a Guest Review Wednesday on Okazu! Today we once again are pleased to host Matt Marcus, with his continuing coverage of one of our favorite messy couples. ^_^

Matt Marcus is a cohost of various projects on the Pitch Drop Podcast Network, such as the JRPG games club podcast Lightning Strikes Thrice, which is currently covering Final Fantasy VIII.

We’re back on campus for How Do We Relationship, Volume 7. In the previous volume, we left off with Saeko growing into a more emotionally mindful partner with Yuria while Miwa has taken interest in Tamaki, a gruff freshman who resembles Shiho.

We are fully into the new normal established midway through Volume 6. It’s odd to say it this far in, but this volume is the easiest, least angsty stretch in the series so far. Not that there isn’t some tension to keep things interesting, but any conflict feels extremely low-stakes compared to the dizzying anxiety of the first six volumes. What we get instead is payoff in the form of emotional growth.

To start with Miwa, she has taken a mentor’s role to Tamaki (despite her growing crush on her). She calmly listens to Tamaki’s break-up story and is forgiving when she is hit with redirected frustration. She bears a bit of her wounds giving honest advice to Tsuruta, who is Too Nice™ to ask out a freshman girl who is clearly into him. Despite her nerves, she pursues and has a good time on a date with a woman she connected with on an app. At last, we are seeing real growth in her character, and it’s fantastic.

In contrast to Miwa, what struck me in this volume is how well Tamifull depicted Tamaki as immature. After hearing a little about Miwa’s messy relationship she suddenly becomes very vested in knowing things about Miwa that no one else does. Why? Because it makes her feel superior. She wants to dominate access to Miwa’s secrets, and not specifically out of jealousy or antagonism towards Saeko. It’s recognizable teenage behavior which puts Miwa off balance. Still, she has added an interesting wrinkle to the tapestry of characters. To be honest, I can’t help shake the feeling that we are meant to see her in a less alluring light than Miwa does and I find that fascinating.

Not to be outdone, Saeko also gets to demonstrate growth. For one, she helps out Miwa by scouting out her date. She’s been reading signals from Yuria that she interprets as lack of comfort with sex, but instead of letting things fester, Saeko decides to–gasp!–talk it out with Yuria. It turns out that she was wrong! You can really feel her relief…until the rug gets pulled under her with a familiar request. I hope the next volume finally addresses the Elephant In the Room that is Saeko’s past. I think Yuria (who continues to be a delight) might be able to break through Saeko’s emotional defenses.

I do want to take a moment to praise the art. Over the past couple of volumes, I’ve noticed more use of large panels, often filled with tons of lived-in detail. Tamifull specifically called out his excitement in drawing Saeko’s and Miwa’s rooms in the author’s comic and it’s noticeable. Also, I want to give kudos about the new students actually looking younger than the second years. Tamifull has managed to capture that sense of looking back a grade or two and realizing just how young they were only a year ago–and also how small they must have looked to their senpais. That level of verisimilitude feels rare in my (admittedly narrow) experience reading manga.

One thing I have not mentioned recently is the localization done by Kelleth Jackson, who took over for Abby Lehrke starting with Volume 6. This particular volume doesn’t have as many colorful language choices as we’ve seen before, but it remains generally strong in my opinion. That said, there is always one blatant typo or missing word in each volume.

So, something that I have been avoiding is talking about the “commentary track” comics that sit at the end of each volume. They depict Miwa and Saeko lounging around together, looking back on scenes from the chapters, heavily implying that they have gotten back together. I still think it’s an open question whether or not these scenes are diegetic, but it’s becoming more and more distracting.

To sum things up, this volume is a quiet reward for readers who stuck through all of the toxic relationship dynamics and heartbreak. What I lament is the feeling that this is one of the best currently running yuri manga that many may start, but few will finish. This volume is the first step towards justifying the drama.

Art – 9 The art has become more confident as the series progresses
Story – 9 Most of the work is character-forward and it’s great.
Characters – 9 Finally, some serious growth for Saeko and some forward momentum for Miwa
Service – 2 There’s some light canoodling
Yuri – 8 / LGBTQ – 8 Miwa uses a lesbian dating app, so up we go

Overall – 9

I do want to find out who gave Kan that shiner. He probably deserved it.

Erica here: Absolutely all of this. This is easily one of the most realistic manga I have ever ready, which can make it massively frustrating, but also incredibly rewarding as our protagonist are definitely maturing.  Thanks once again for a terrific review.

Oh, and let me assure everyone – typos happen. ^_^ No matter how many eyes go over a book, typos happen. ^_^;





Maou to Yuri, Volume 1 (魔王と百合)

November 22nd, 2022

In my years of randomly picking up manga to read, and discovering an entire world of entertaining weirdness, I would like to shout out to MFC comics, which, while frequently very full of tits and ass, also has been the purveyor of delightfully strange manga. Today’s book, Maou to Yuri, Volume 1 (魔王と百合) is one of those.

The Demon King (Maou is a title, not a name, but I will use it going forward as her name for convenience) is a young woman. Her grandfather was known across the land as a formidable and terrifying demon lord who was at war with the humans. Her father, however, brokered a peace. Now she has become the demon ruler and, frankly has zero interest in war. Asking her staff what she can do to cement peace between the demons and the humans, one idea is that she marry a human wife. Maou is not really the marrying type, but for peace and prosperity, she’ll do it. After her staff vets the applicants, Maou is left with five choices: A busty Princess Knight, a righteous and energetic (and always hungry) Hero, a Wizard, who is still behind on the peace thing and is trying to marry and/or kill Maou, a sexy Witch, and a Maid in the castle who is kind to Maou and whom she obviously likes. 

What follows is a stupid sitcom of fantasy elements, dorks trying to date and random silliness. Maou’s advisor suggests a day on the town during which Maou would choose a gift that suits each one, that devolves into chaos when the food the Hero picks fights back.

As a comedy, this was goofy from beginning to end. The maid is the only one with a serious backstory and you’re gonna root for her and Maou to get together for obvious reasons. But my favorite character was a wolf-headed demon soldier, whose role is come in shouting things like “Demon Lord, a Wizard is at the gate to marry you and demanding your death in revenge for her grandfather!” I loved that guy.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 6 They serve a function and it isn’t to further the plot
Service – 4
Yuri – 3

Overall – 7





The Summer You Were There, Volume 1, Guest Review by Eleanor W

November 16th, 2022

It’s Guest Review Wednesday here on Okazu and I am so delighted to welcome back Eleanor once again. Today she’s going to take a look at Yuama’s dramatic school life series. Take it away, Eleanor, and I’ll be back at the end. 
It’s nice to be back again. This is my 3rd review for Okazu, and I’m finally reviewing a manga volume this time. I’ve reviewed the British Museum’s manga exhibition and a yuri visual novel called Perfect Gold. You can find me on Twitter (for now) @st_owly and the same on Instagram.

Having loved the author’s previous work The Girl I Want Is So Handsome, I was excited to check out their new series, The Summer You Were There, Volume 1. First thing to note is that Seven Seas have done a lovely job on the cover of the English release. I really like the water bubbles and the falling paper in the background of the illustration, and the title itself is embossed which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, the contents don’t really hold up so well in comparison. I’m not the biggest fan of “let’s pretend to date each other, teehee” stories at the best of times, and this one hasn’t exactly converted me.

The story starts like this: your typical bookworm (Shizuku) encounters a popular girl (Kaori) who for some unknown reason, wants to date her. Kaori finds Shizuku’s super secret discarded novel manuscript which no one is ever supposed to read (why would you throw it in the bin at school then??) so of course the two of them start “dating” because Kaori strong arms Shizuku into it, and the excuse is “I want to help you research material for your next story.”

“If you want to make your ‘dying of high school manga disease’ plotline land emotionally, maybe don’t telegraph it with the subtlety of a boot to the head.” I couldn’t have put this better myself, thank you Toukochan on the Okazu Discord server for letting me use this magnificent line. I didn’t find either of them particularly endearing individually, and by the end of the book I still didn’t particularly care for them as a couple either.

Having said that, chapter 3 was by far my favourite of the book. The girls end up going to the library together and actually start genuinely bonding over favourite books and authors. I wish more of the book had been like this, and I hope there’s more of this going forward. The obligatory yuri aquarium date in the next 2 chapters just didn’t land the same way. 

I would like to know more about Kaori’s motivations and why she wants to date Shizuku. At the end of the book Shizuku confesses something big to her, and she says she already knows everything. I suspect I know exactly where this is heading, I’ll see if I’m right in the next volume. 

I hope the characters and their relationship will improve going forward, and the revelation at the end does mean I will pick up the next volume but based on this volume alone, if I wanted a popular x shy girl romance I’d just go and read Girl Friends again. 

Ratings:

Art – 7. Perfectly pleasant, and you can clearly see the improvement from The Girl I Want Is So Handsome, although I don’t like Shizuku’s hairstyle. Something about it just bothers me. The cover illustration is lovely. 

Story – 5. It’s been done better before. 

Characters – 6. Kaori has definite potential. Shizuku does too. I really hope they both fulfill it.  

Yuri – 2.  It’s 2 girls “dating”, but I wouldn’t call this a lesbian romance. 

Service – Non existent, thankfully.

Boot to the head – 10. All the emotional subtlety of. 

Overall – 6. Stick to writing comedy, sensei.

 

Erica here: Well…yes. I mean, ouch, but yes. I’ve been reading this chapter after chapter in Comic Yuri Hime, and it is…all right. I will say that when it stops being overdramatic about small things there are good moments, but tbh, this series is a generic live-action drama, with hysterics for no reason and the serious things glossed over. The relationship does get better, but the story will not get out of it’s own way, even volumes later.

If you are a sucker for tearful live-action “someone is dying but we can’t tell, because reasons” story, you’ll probably love this. If it is your thing, Volume 2 will be out in December, 2022! Thanks Eleanor for a great review. ^_^

 





Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり)

November 13th, 2022

Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり) by shwinn, is one of my new favorite series ever.

Hanayo’s husband has been dead for 49 days, so her mourning period is over…but she has no idea where to begin, really. She’s elderly and her husband was clingy when he was well, and then needed so much of her time and energy when he became sick…. She starts by taking a walk through town, where she discovers a small cosmetics store with a saleslady who is of an age with her and extremely stylish and attractive. When she gets home, she find that her own makeup collection is old, so she steels herself to go to this store and talk to the sales lady, Yoshiko.

Yoshiko brings with her a renewed interest in life not just for Hanayo, but to all the women who come in to her store. She *wants* people to feel and look good and be happy and do creative things. She breathes life into the older women of town, and gleefully centers herself in a circle of creative, independent women.

Yoshiko encourages Hanayo to build a new life… and she’s not at all shy about pointing out that Hanayo has a lot more to mourn for than just the passing of a husband: shes been largely robbed of her own life. Hanayo starts thinking about herself in a way that could not have happened when the resources of her family went to her younger brother and then her time and energy were spent on her husband and children. With the help of her granddaughter – who is the first one to say out loud that Hanayo seems to be crushing on Yoshiko – she takes tentative steps to a whole new life.

When Yoshiko and Hanayo go out on a date, Hanayo is introduced to a lesbian couple and suddenly, she’s rethinking everything she ever knew about …everything.

I cannot express how wonderful this book is.

Schwinn’s art is stylish and cute in turn, with the occasional missed proportions that lets you know this person is still growing as an artist.  The story is outstanding. As we learn about Hanayo’s husband, it was pretty hard for me to not be kind of annoyed at him, and when Yoshiko was like oh fuck this guy, it felt pretty cathartic. ^_^ We, the reader, can see that Yoshiko is gay, and has had a long-term relationship, but Hanayo has not quite gotten it…and let me tell you Yoshiko isn’t hiding all that hard, either.

Also perfect is Riko-chan, Hanayo’s daughter who begins the story by saying it’s been 49 days, time to do something…maybe look for a new love.  When Hanayo and she meet while Hanayo is shopping for a new dress, Riko volunteers to help and nails it. She also is wonderfully encouraging when Hanayo tells her the whole story.

I should also mention that the name of this series isn’t just meant as a nod to Yoshiya Nobuko’s influential series…the book itself appears in the story, beginning with the story ‘Sweet Pea,’ which was a pretty Yuri-ish triangle story about three girls. Yoshiko lends Hanayo the book and says that that one is her favorite. I have some thoughts about this, but I want to see if other stories have a place in this series, as well.

Ratings:

Art – 7 Nice, with some great moments.
Story – 10 I cannot wait for each chapter to come out on Comic Walker
Characters – 10 Fully formed, decent, and likeable
Service – 0 salaciousness, 10 empowerment
LGBTQ+- 9
Yuri – 6  Hanayo is seriously crushing on Yoshiko and it looks like the feeling is mutual

Overall – 10

A lovely Yuri romance about senior women that focuses on them finding their realest selves, surrounding themselves with people of creative skill and drive. Lesbians with a social circle of other lesbians that isn’t just “a bar scene.” This is everything. What a great manga.  I would love to see it licensed. I’ll start writing to Yen Press now. ^_^





Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru, Volume 2 (踊り場にスカートが鳴る)

November 9th, 2022

In Volume 1, we met Kiki, a young woman who dreams of being the following partner in ballroom dance, but due to her height, is always assumed to be lead, and Michiru, a diminutive, but forceful young lady who wants to be Kiki’s lead.

In Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru, Volume 2 (踊り場にスカートが鳴る) the two are still working out exactly what their partnership will look like. But in the meantime, they have their first test competition to get through – which does not go all that smoothly. Michiru passes out after they clear their test.

While they try to build something more stable between them at the dance club’s training camp, we turn our eyes towards Kiki’s former partner, Shion. She and Kiki are able to repair their fractured friendship and Kiki is finally able to step up and take Michiru’s hand fully as a dance partner. But she’s taken by surprise when Michiru asks if they couldn’t form a deeper relationship to make their partnership work. What if they pretend to be a couple…?

In a magnificent climax for the volume, the two open their hearts and begin to dance. They count the waltz steps and come together in a beautiful sequence.

This series is a surprisingly realistic look at the interior lives of young women. The drama is small and personal. No hysterics, no dramatics, but there is deep passion for ballroom dance (and what it means to be part of the Quadrille) and a wholly relatable struggle with being an adolescent girl.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Yuri – Bumping it up to 2
Service – Nope

Overall – 9

This is, IMHO, a sleeper hit of the year. It won’t take over Times Square, but I have a warm place for it in my heart and really hope to see it in English!