Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Haru Tsuzuru, Sakura Saku Kono Heya de (春綴る、桜咲くこの部屋で)

June 27th, 2022

Haru Tsuzuru, Sakura Saku Kono Heya de (春綴る、桜咲くこの部屋で) is a deeply poignant and touching manga by Tokuwotsumu, an author who does low-key Yuri that I absolutely love.

Haruki is despondent. It’s been 5 years since her lover Sakura died and she has not been able to move on. Looking at the sakura blooming outside their room, she catches a petal and wishes – no, begs –  the universe to give Sakura back.

And…the universe does. There in their apartment stands Sakura. Once again Haruki and Sakura are together, sharing meals and holding one another and being happy together.

What follows is a moving tale of grief and loss and processing that frequently had me near tears. That said, this book is full of love and acceptance and joy, family and friendship and, I feel, hope.

Haruki, with Sakura by her side once again, is at last able to start moving forward. Sakura tells Haruki right away that other people can’t see her. They agree she must be a ghost. When Haruki meets with people who knew Sakura, Sakura’s face is obscured by word balloons and partial views.  But even knowing that her lover is not really there, Haruki begins to finally process the loss she’s been living with. 

A visit to a teacher who cared about Sakura ends with the teacher getting a momentary glimpse of her her former student. Trying to test a theory, leads to the most moving scene. Haruki visits Sakura’s family, who welcome her back as family, despite the years they’ve not been in touch.

Haruki finally begins to clean up Sakura’s things, and ends up learning things about her lover she didn’t know while meeting a coworker of Sakura’s. As the volume comes to a close, Haruki has to face a second fact …this Sakura doesn’t know anything about herself that Haruki herself didn’t know.

The art is not particularly pretty, but the expressions here are outstanding. Tokuwotsumu’s strength is in telling stories of two women sharing their lives. I’ve liked pretty much every version of their work that I’ve read. But this story is so emotionally powerful that it really stands out.  Excellent work all around.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 10
LGBTQ+ – Yes, kind of.

The story is ongoing as I type this, you can read sample chapters at Gangan Online in Japanese….and now I am torn whether to stay current, or just wait for another collected volume. (Although, based on chapters, Volume 2 ought to be announced soon. Maybe I’ll just wait, but…argh!)

I would love to see this licensed. It’s beautiful.





Comic Yuri Hime, July 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年7月号)

June 26th, 2022

For a magazine with a big ending, Comic Yuri Hime July 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年7月号) left me feeling very hopeful.

The cover sets the mood. Instead of nightscapes and urban decay, our two travelers find themselves in a flat plain, accompanied by a horse who is calmly grazing. Colorful prairie flowers and a colorful sunrise greet them, as they search for love and themselves. As an issue that came out after the Summer Solstice in this hemisphere, it’s pretty spot on for mood.

We get a three-page spread on the upcoming anime, followed by a powerful and potentially heartbreaking chapter of “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” by Miman. Having been given character designs for the anime, Sumika is now blonde…and hopelessly in love with Kanako. We know it’s hopeless – or, at least, we know it ought to be hopeless. There’s some rough times ahead for these two. I’m more invested in them than I was in Hime and Mitsuki, too, which means this is a little torturous. ^_^; Sumika’s a dumbass, but I like her. I’m still holding out for a concerted revenge plot against Youko.

Tsuama’s “Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata” is moving in an unexpected direction, as Shizuku is taking her new understanding of Kaori’s situation and actually trying to be a better person.

I’m really enjoying “Natsu to Lemon to Overlay” by Ru, purely for it’s unusual setup, but I’m hoping the story goes somewhere interesting, as well.

And then we come to the final chapter of “Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts” by Usui Shio. On the one hand, I would have been content to just pass time with Hinako and Asahi for longer, but the story had come to a natural conclusion. Hinako had worked out the nature of the weight she was carrying and, in doing so, has shed it. Asahi has determined to try living for herself for a change.  Usui-sensei nails the ending. That’s all I’m going to say for now. When the final volume comes out in English, we’ll talk more. ^_^

In “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita” also by Usui-sensei, Kurumi gets to see the stresses inside someone else’s marriage, as her sister-in-law calls for some tea and sympathy.

Keiyang’s “Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru” settles down for a quiet chapter with Haru and Hi-chan settling into their new beachside town life.

Inui Ayu takes a look at her and Kon-san’s different comfort levels with public displays of affection in “Kyou mo Hitotsu Yane no Shita.”

As always there are many other manga in the magazine, some of which I read and some of which I did not.  There are two 18+ manga, Citrus+ is still running (and characters are still smiling) and many other new and continuing series.

Ratings:

Overall – 9, for Usui-sensei sticking the landing.

The August issue is already on Japanese shelves, and hopefully will be on mine shortly, because “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” is moving into my favorite arc – “Love Scales.” ^_^





Even Though We’re Adults, Volume 4

June 24th, 2022

Probably the most remarkable plot of Shimura Takako’s Even Though We’re Adults, Volume 4 is the poignant story about the three elementary school girls. It’s so stark and awful when set at the end of a bunch of adults flailing. It reminded me why it was by 9 years old that I was deeply cynical about adults having a grip on anything.  I have yet to be proved wrong.

And here, in Volume 4, we see that the adults really don’t have much of a grip. Who, then, is Ayano to give advice to children, when she herself has no idea what she wants?… we may be tempted to say. But I’m not sure that she doesn’t know what she wants. Reading back and forth on this series is opening my eyes a bit. I think Ayano knows perfectly well what she wants. I think she also knows that she can’t just have it without work, because society punishes all women who are not compliant. That includes, Akari and Eri as well.

And you know what? I’m sick of it. As I expect you all are.

So here’s Ayano flailing because she can finally see something she actually wants and knows she’s not “supposed” to have – or even want.  Akari is flailing because she also knows what she wants and can’t have, maybe, kind of. Eri is flailing because she does not fit into the narrow boxes available to her. Wataru is flailing because, having lived life on the easy setting, his reward has some ideas of her own – a little unfair to him, but not really. He just assumed a lot and no one told him different.

And so here we have several very decent, likable people, all flailing. I, at least, want better for them on both individual and societal levels. Jocelyne Allen’s translation is outstanding, in providing the nuance and “adultness” this series needs, lettering and retouch by Rina Mapa lets’ me feel in the story in exactly the same way as I do when I’m reading the Japanese. Thanks to the entire localization team at Seven Seas and congratulations on having their union recognized!

I have to keep reading, for sure. This is Shimura-sensei’s best work so far and I need to know what will happen. ^_^;

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri / Queer – As I said in my review of V4 in Japanese, it’s impossible to tell at this point. Ayano may be bi, Akari is lesbian, Eri might be ace, but we can’t be sure about any one of them but Akari.

Overall – 9

Even as this series makes me more uncomfortable, my hope that everyone ends happily, is renewed. We’ll have to wait to November  for Volume 5. ^_^

 





Monologue Woven For You Volume 2, Guest Review by Matt Marcus

June 22nd, 2022

Welcome to Guest Review Wednesday here on Okazu – we’re thrilled to have Matt Marcus back with terrific critique. Please give Matt your attention and offer him some kind words in the comments!

The role of Reviewer will be played tonight by Matt Marcus. He is a cohost of various projects on the Pitch Drop Podcast Network, such as the anime watchalong podcast Boku No Stop, which is currently covering the yuri anime Flip Flappers.

Ah, the theater: a sanctuary where we can escape our everyday life in order to live many others, filled with mirthful joys or aching tragedies. In Monologue Woven For You, Volume 1, two star-crossed lovers, Haruka and Nao, connected over their love for the stage. But, while they have had a very smooth Act 1 of their courtship, each carries a secret that they fear would break them apart should they let it out.

Monologue Woven For You, Volume 2 pushes towards rising action, albeit in fits and starts. The story only has a single source of conflict with both Haruka and Nao going through similar arcs in separate chapters: they brood about whether they should admit their secret, the other partner notices their down mood, and instead of talking about it they just brush it under the rug and snuggle for a bit. Sure, there are lower-stakes obstacles, such as Haruka’s insecurity about taking the initiative in physical affection, or Nao’s worry about Haruka’s unawareness of others’ attraction to her. But all of that is fluffy filler akin to cotton candy: sweet, but unsubstantial (however please still visit our concession stands during the intermission).

What is ultimately frustrating is that even at the end of this volume, we still have no further insight into the incident that drove Haruka to quit acting. When Haruka reaffirms her love of the theater in Volume 1 and changes her dream to supporting Nao’s acting career, it seems we are meant to feel the same relief that Haruka does. However, without knowing any more detail on what caused her to quit, we cannot say whether this turn is a wizened healing of an old emotional wound or simply casting aside a denial of self that was given undue import by the intensity of teenage emotions. When Haruka turns down an opportunity to return to acting, I believe we are supposed to trust her judgment, but I don’t feel it. When it comes to rising out of the ashes of a dashed dream, Aquatope on White Sand this is not.

The weakest part of this volume is the introduction of a new character, Rei–a sullen 2nd-year high school student who, in an incredulous twist, is intimately familiar with Haruka’s acting past despite the four year age gap between them (this city must really love their high school theater). She’s also the love interest of Nao’s friend Yuki, which is troubling to say the least.

Now, the first thing that made this series stand out is that it is in full color. It’s refreshing to see, however I would rather that more attention had been paid to the page layouts. There is a visual density to each page in both panel and word balloon count, yet often there is a poor sense of motion from one panel to the next. On the fashion side, the outfit designs are very plain, such as a hoodie and jeans or a dress over a t-shirt. Practical? Yep. Realistic for college students? Sure. Boring to look at? Absolutely. One of the benefits of a college setting over high school is having more opportunities to use fashion as a means of characterization or storytelling, and the designs here pale in comparison to other works in similar settings (see: How Do We Relationship). The real rub with the art is that if this manga were in black and white, there would be very little to visually latch on to.

So, should you line up to buy tickets to this show? As long as you don’t expect Shakespeare, there is some entertainment to be had. Maybe don’t spring for the box seats.

Ratings:

Art – 7 The full color is nice, but the panel compositions and sense of motion leave a bit to be desired
Story – 6 Domestic fluff aside, the only point of conflict in the story is starting to wear thin
Characters – 5 Cute, but one-note
Service – 2 Sex happens off panel, though there is a little canoodling
Yuri – 9 / LGBTQ – 1 The girls are clearly dating but that’s about it

Overall – 7 At best would be cast as an understudy

Erica here: Well said. Thanks so much for offering us your perspective of this series.

 
 




Otona ni Nattemo, (おとなになっても) Volume 6

June 21st, 2022

In Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 6, Shimura Takako has done something I’ve not seen before in a manga and I think I like it. ^_^

The main plot revolves around three people, all of whom seem to be very average. They aren’t perfect, but they are basically decent, flawed human beings. At this point in the story, they are also mostly, but not completely, disentangled from one another. A family discussion about the whole situation at a family restaurant includes Eri, merely because she knows what’s going on. Ayano is living with her parents. Akari is living with her family, having decided to not contact Ayano any more and Wataru has begun to think about life as a bachelor. As with all their decisions in this series, these choices are only partially successful.

The ongoing drama of Ayano’s students continues to make Ayano question her own choices. Akari wakes up in the bed of a woman she met the night before, Yukako. Yukako mischievously encourages Akari to wait for Ayano outside school, forcing them to still think about what they feel about each other. And Wataru considers dating someone new…which throws him back into accepting how his life has changed.

Each scene in this volume comes with a specific visual style. Conversation with another person forces one of our main characters to think about who and what they are and what they want. This internal monologue becomes page after page of sparse white text on black panels as they become lost in their own thoughts. As visual indicator of internal monologue I found it appealing. It does not feel as if Shimura-sensei is wasting that space at all.

Narratively, Ayano and Akari continue to fail to not meet up and finally give up and have a real conversation. Ayano re-introduces herself with her unmarried name. Will they have a new beginning? My bet is on “maybe.”

This series fascinates me, because I actually do want everyone in it to be happy. No one is a terrible person, not even when they make choices that may seem morally, or socially, questionable. It also feels like a real story, with real people who might actually exist in the world in a way that no other manga I’ve read has been. Lastly, I found the visual language of internal monologue so minimalist that it just…worked.

I’m still of the belief that this is Shimura-sensei’s best work to date and I just hope she has a clear ending in mind – whether it’s the ending I want, or not. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri / Queer – 8

Overall – 8

Frankly, Yukako seems like a great girlfriend for Akari, but I’m fairly sure we’re not heading there.

Drop back in on Friday when I take a look at the English-language edition of Even Though We’re Adults, Volume 4!