Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Our Teachers Are Dating!, Volume 4

May 10th, 2022

Hayama Asuka and Terano Saki have been together for a while now. Their students think they are adorable, fellow teachers are on their side. In Our Teachers Are Dating!, Volume 4 they are shepherding the class trip to Okinawa…and a legendary island of Yuri bliss.

The ferry ride is rough and a bought of bad seasickness among students and tourists brings them to the acquaintance of an older woman, who has returned to this island to meet up with the love of her life. Asuka and Saki end up thinking about their lives, as well. In a climactic scene they make a major decision – they’re getting married!

The remainder of the book touches a little on the stress of explaining one’s self to one’s parents. Although Asuka was not rejected for being gay, there’s still baggage she’s got to deal with, while Saki’s family is absolutely darling.

Although it has only been a year since this manga series ended in Japan, it feels like a lifetime has passed already. What this series represents to me is two things: 1) an obtainable fantasy, in which we are surrounded by people who want to see us succeed, and 2) an adult fantasy, where love and sex are combined in a way that shows they are both important and can come from the same relationship without either being lesser.

In her author’s note, Ohi-sensei shows herself evolving from her animal avatar to human form to explain that she now has a girlfriend of her own! That story is continuing in Comic Yuri Hime in her essay, “Pillow Talk ha Fuku wo Kite.” I’m happy for her that Yuri manga brought her a real-life happy relationship. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9
Characters – 10
Story – 9
Yuri – 10
Service – 6

Overall – 10

I feel a little sad that we have made no progress in same-sex marriages in Japan and are regressing in a violently awful way here in the US. This series is perfect for a palette cleanser and some hope and joy in your Yuri. ^_^





Amayo no Tsuki, Volume 2 ( 雨夜の月)

May 5th, 2022

In Volume 1, we met Saki, a high school student who plays piano, and her classmate (and piano teacher’s daughter), Kanon, who is hard of hearing. Kanon is initially uninterested in becoming close to Saki, but as Saki conforms her behavior more to Kanon’s needs, she starts to warm up.

In Amayo no Tsuki, Volume 2 ( 雨夜の月), Kanon’s world grows wider. And I really want to make the point here – that *how* Kanon’s world changes is not because she grows used to the hearing world, but that the people around make sensible accommodation for her, which allows Kanon to interact on her own terms. It’s an important distinction and really makes this story not just another disability/inspiration tale, but a lesson for those of us who are hearing on how we can adapt to help HHD folks without burdening them with our needs. I recently saw an exchange on Twitter that went like this: Q: “What is ASL for helpful asshole?” A: “Hearing.” — this becomes a key point of Volume 2.

Kanon’s teacher, Miura-sensei, sees Kanon sleeping in class and invites her to a club room for her to eat lunch. He seems to really understand that her being in a room with a lot of people talking is stressful. While they chat, he pitches joining the literature club where, he assures her, they just really, honestly, read books. Kanon takes the plunge and finds one of Saki’s friends there, who welcomes her and does her best to make Kanon feel comfortable. When Kanon reports that she’s actually considering joining the club she’s clearly surprised at herself.

There is a little trouble brewing in this volume. Saki meets Kanon’s little sister Rinne. Rinne is carrying a lot of baggage – some of which she admits to, about being the abled sibling in the family, and over-protectiveness of her sister, but there’s also a lot of anger she’s not really honest about. Rinne tries to scare Saki off. Some of what she says was true, but there’s a lot of jealousy there, too.

Kanon tells Saki the story of her former school and the bullying and whisper campaign that went on. She refuses to let Saki return the key to the music room and even invites Saki to a movie…..where they meet their teacher and his daughter. They discuss subtitles and how it would be so much nicer if movies were subtitled. I agree with this so much. It’s one of the main selling points for streaming services for me.

As Kanon is becoming more comfortable with their skinship, Saki is becoming more aware of Rinne’s accusations, and her own feelings. I hoping that Volume 3 sees an honest talk about this.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 8
Service – On principle only
Yuri – 3 Creeping up slowly

Overall – 9

Honestly, this is a fantastic manga. I’m going to write Kodansha and beg them to license it. Kuzushiro-sensei’s work has never been better, great characters, and a story that teaches the right lessons.





Order By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga Today!

May 2nd, 2022

20 years in the making, By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga, is a ground breaking history of the Yuri genre.

Factual, funny and highly entertaining, By Your Side is a series of interlocking essays, articles and lectures from Yuricon founder Erica Friedman’s work on Yuri anime and manga. Meant to be approached as informal discussion in the manner of convivial conversation over multiple dinners, or panels at an anime convention, through these essays, readers will become familiar with the key creators, tropes, concepts, symbols and titles of the first 100 years of the Yuri genre. Walk by our side as we journey through the past, present and future of Yuri!

By Your Side will be released out in time for both Pride Month and the 20th anniversary of Erica’s blog, Okazu! 

Here’s what early readers have had to say about By Your Side:

“By Your Side is the complete Yuri resource I only ever dreamed could exist. Decades in the making, this glorious collection surveys, analyzes, and contextualizes Yuri with unparalleled detail and enthusiasm. Friedman graces readers with illuminating insights as they follow her through a century of the genre’s evolution and revolution. By sharing her extraordinary knowledge, she provides inquirers, scholars, and aficionados alike with a deeper appreciation and understanding of lesbian anime and manga while galvanizing them towards the next era of Yuri.”

-Nicki Bauman, Yurimother

 

“The first in-depth study of Yuri in English.”

-James Welker, Professor of Cross-Cultural and Japanese Studies, Kanagawa University

Order your copy of By Your Side today!





Comic Yuri Hime May 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年5月号)

April 28th, 2022

Comic Yuri Hime May 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年5月号) had a few great zOMG moments, so let’s dig right in!

“Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” by Takeshima Eku relaxes into festival mode, with yukata, and fireworks and kisses.  This series is just so darn sweet, it hurts my teeth, but I’m hooked. ^_^

“Watashi no Oshi h Akuyaku Reijou.” is hard this (and next) month, as we face Lene’s banishment. The next chapter is gonna be really rough. At last, we meet Salas Lilium….and, okay, he’s pretty. We’re going to see a lot more of him as the story progresses. da-da-dummmmmm~~~

OMFG, Miman’s “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” has done something I could never have expected. Holy shizzballs. The whole cafe is currently dancing to Youko’s tune and has no idea. I can’t see the climax here, but I’m on the edge of my seat for it. Poor Sumika. Poor Nene. Poor Kanako. I hope they gang up and defeat the evil that threatens to tear them apart.

Both of Usui Shio’s stories take leaps forward…

As “Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts” heads towards it’s climax, Hinako has the first real conversation with her mother that she’s probably ever had. It’s a key moment, and they both come through it just fine. It’s the “look Mom, I like someone and that someone is a woman…” talk, which isn’t quite coming out, but is darn close. Now all we need is Asahi to be honest with herself…and the two of them to share some realtalk.

In “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita” Kurumi and Ruriko spend the day together deepening their bonds and you know what? It was really nice. I could use more of this…a lot more of this.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

As always there are stories I don’t read and stories I read that I haven’t mentioned, but all of the ones mentioned are doing some pretty interesting things and had a couple of yowza moments!

The June issue is already available and I am so looking forward to it. ^_^





My Idol Sits the Next Desk Over, Volume 3 Guest Review by Luce

April 20th, 2022

Once again, it is my great pleasure to welcome guest reviewer Luce back to Okazu!

In volume 1 and volume 2, we met and got to know Sakiko, a shy girl who is a big fan of an idol group Spring Sunshine, and Chihiro, her favourite member, who sits next to her in school. Alongside is Maaya, an obsessive fan who is very focused on Chihiro as well, and their school lives together.

Volume 3 of My Idol Sits the Next Desk Over begins with the fallout of the confession – Chihiro thanks him but doesn’t accept, and is not impressed by Sakiko and Maaya’s interference, unsurprisingly, seeing it as unfair to her and Tanaka. Sakiko has a photography club competition with the theme of friends – but she can’t put a photo of Chihiro in as it goes on the website. They change into summer clothes and Sakiko notices. They have swimming lessons and her and Maaya both notice. They have finals at the same time as an album release, and Chihiro has some doubts about her idol life…? Finally, Spring Sunshine are announced for a big summer rock festival! Whilst this means Chihiro isn’t free much, Sakiko and Maaya are still thrilled. Upon getting there, though, they meet up with the girl in their class who was somewhat disparaging of Spring Shine…?

I’ve noticed that this series has a lot happen, because things wrap themselves up quite fast – not too fast, but they’re not endlessly dwelled upon. There aren’t many ‘wasted’ panels, not so many lingering looks or agonising thought monologues. It does what it needs to do – it helps that Chihiro, by nature of her being away from school so often, has to make the most of it when she is there, and Maaya is always driven to get closer and interact more with Chihiro, so we have two driving forces who are not shy about what they want. Sakiko is almost a different person from who she was in the first volume, which as I said last time, is great to see. Being able to be up front about her interests and becoming friends with Chihiro has done her a world of good.

This volume brings them into summer – which means summer uniforms with shorter sleeves, a heat wave, and swimming lessons. As such, the yuri quotient has gone up – not in a service kind of way, but Sakiko outright thinks herself a pervert for noticing Chihiro in a way she hasn’t really before. It’s pretty innocent, really, things like her pale upper arms and her neck, but it definitely makes it onto the yuri front. The swimming chapter is pretty funny, as Maaya distinctly can not deal, although Sakiko only does a bit better. When Sakiko promises to cheer for any prospective crushes Chihiro might have in future, Maaya… can’t. Possession? Love? I’m still not sure.

We get a bit of backstory for Chihiro in this volume, and some focus on her doubts about the reality of being an idol. One of the things that I actually really like about this manga is that it doesn’t idolise Chihiro – Sakiko and Maaya do, but the manga itself portrays her as a real person, who happens to be an idol. It actually does the same with the rest of Spring Shine. But she works through her doubts and fears about missing things and, with the help of the other two, comes out more sure of her direction. It was nice to see.

Story: 8
Art: 9 (I’ve noticed that everyone’s face is subtly different, something I like in manga)
Yuri: 6
Service: 3? Swimsuits and short sleeves. It’s the tamest service I’ve ever seen
Overall: 9

I’m a little sad this isn’t coming out as a physical book, honestly, I’m enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. In Volume 4, Sakiko meets the girl who made fun of Spring Shine at the festival, and the summer concert!