Hi all. I want to start today’s report with some news. Not terribly great news, but I kind of feel like you deserve to hear it from me.

Last week, just before New York Comic Con, I ended up rushed to the hospital. The good news is that was not a stroke, which is what we originally thought. The bad news is that it is Multiple Sclerosis and, for the moment, both my motor coordination and speech are a little messed up. I was sure that after NYCC, my reviewing schedule would go back to normal here, but that seems unlikely now. I apologize in advance if reviews are sporadic for a while again. The very good news is that I’m improving every day, so just send me your kind thoughts (please, no offers of help or advice, or friends to talk to…all that will merely piss me off) and we’ll move on with our lives. ^_^ At this point, I do still plan on going to Japan for Maiden’s Garden and Comitia, but obviously, we’ll see.

For those of you already heard this news on Twitter and Facebook, thank you all for your kind thoughts and support. It means a lot to me.  That having been said, let’s get on to the news!

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Yuri Manga

JManga made a number of big announcements last week at NYCC, not least of which was that they will be that they have added Aoi Hana, Sweet Blue Flowers, by Shimura Takako. They are also leading their new Jmanga7 service with a number of Yuri titles including Gokujyo Drops, Hanjuku Joshi, Kuchibiru ni Saketa Orange and Aoi Hana! I can assure you that JManga’s and ALC’s committment to getting you as much Yuri Manga as possible is as strong as ever. ^_^ (I won’t leak news, but let me assure you some great stuff is on the way!)

Once again, please allow me to flog that Tokyo Love ~ Rica ‘tte Kanji!? is available online for free.

If you decide you like it and want to buy Tokyo Love, all the digital editions are DRM-free and shareable. We’d love for you to use in your classwork, and please let your teachers know that they are welcome to use it, as well.

Rica and I would like nothing better than for every person who needs or wants to read this feel-good lesbian manga to have the chance to do so, so please feel free to share the link around!

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Yuri Anime

Nozomi RightStuf also renewed their commitment to the Yuri audience this week, with their premiere of Rose of Versailles at NYCC. Episode 1 is up online on Nozomi’s Youtube Channel, so do go over and watch  what is arguably the most famous anime in the world. ^_^ (Yes, unfortunately, region-blocking is in effect. Do email RightStu and Viki to and let them know you want to be able to watch it, so they can effectively communicate that to the Japanese rights holder company who insists.)

You also have a chance to ask Rose of Versailles creator Riyoko Ikeda questions about her creation! Check out the official Rose of Versailles site and get your questions in by Nov, 1, 2012.

Yuru Yuri has won a prestigious animation award. Fun, I’ll give you – good animation? Come on.

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Other News

Kodansha has announced a Sailor Moon Artbook. Interestingly, it appears they are putting together an aggregate of some of the original books, rather than just printing them in order. Sean Gaffney clarifies, “From what I gathered at the Kodansha panel, the Japanese are culling the SM artbooks into one new one that way for the anniversary. Kodansha USA is merely releasing it over here soon after, with Naoko’s NA-only content.” Thanks for clearing that up, Sean.

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Yuri Manga

ALC Publishing released the Digital editions of Tokyo Love ~ Rica ‘tte Kanji!? with a first – an option to read it free online. Please share ]the link with any one you know who might be interested – teachers and classes are welcome. The edition online is rated suitable for Older Teen, so if you know LGBTQ teens or young adults looking for media that’s not just Glee, send them our way! The reason we put it up online is for anyone, anywhere, to be able to read it.

In Hana to Hoshi 2 (花と星), the high powered ping-pong rivalry that might be love continues, now as a love triangle.

In Ohana Holo Holo, Volume 4, (オハナホロホロ) Maya learns that her feeling are not as dead as she thought they were.

Rakka Ryuusui (落花流水) has a seventh volume hitting the selves in November.

K-ON! has two collections, K-ON! College, (けいおん! college) which follows the 4 principles of the anime in college and K-ON! Highschool, (けいおん! high school) which follows Azusa, Jun and Ui in their senior year in high school.

Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, Volume 9 (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり) is another November arrival. Along with Hirari, come Hirari comic collections Fuwa Fuwa Kimochi, (ふわふわのきもち) and Kanoujo x Kanoujo (彼女×彼女(カノカノ) .

Also streeting in November is Girl’s Ride, (ガールズライド) a Tsubomi Comic collection.

More Yuri Hime Comics on the way too, starting with Kodama Naoko’s Fujiyuu Sekai (不自由セカイ).

Kawasumi Hiroshi may have finally written the Yuri sports manga we’ve been waiting for. In Kaze Yori Saku (風より疾く) Volume 1 a rivalry blooms, and in Volume 2, it looks awfully like more. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

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Other News

And to finish off this week, from Comic Natalie comes this fun tidbit – Fujieda Miyabi was chosen to do the poster for the Fall Headphone Festival in Tokyo. (High-quality headphones are a boom right now both here in the west and Japan, in case you were wondering “why?”.) Like most male-dominated things, this particular boom is accompanies by art and photos of cute girls wearing headphones. You may have already seen Vocaloids in some of the more popular models. It’s all moe to someone.

New York Comic Con is coming next weekend – I’ll have Rica and my schedule up sometime this week. She’ll be doing signings and I’ll be doing some giveaways!

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Random LGBTQ News

Vietnam’s Justice Minister suggested that the country consider legalizing same-sex relationships. The International Business Times article has a mostly irrelevant title, but the summation nails the issue – a leading minister has mentioned it at all. That’s a step forward.

Vietnam is a hotbed of LGBT activity recently, as Anonymous let us know with this article about 1200 people mobilized in Ho Chih Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang City in flashmobs dancing for LGBT awareness. Watch the videos, they are totally smil- making! The group that organized it, YÊU LÀ YÊU (which means “Love is Love”) is on Facebook.

The Japanese media network NHK has a LGBTQ site, called Heart-Net. It’s all in Japanese, but there is LGBTQ info, profiles and a pile of other info for Japanese LGBTQ folks.

Through Tokyo Wrestling, I ran into Sara Nakano’s Butch Asian Girl Manifesto. I think at least some of you will nod at it. With Sarah’s gracious permission, I’d like to share it here:

And wrapping up this topic, I leave you with my find of the week – NSM48 (Nagoya Sexual Minority 48) is a girl-group that plays clubs and LGBTQ events in the Nagoya area. For some low-res fun videos check out this search on Youtube. ^_^

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Yuri Anime

I appear to have missed reporting this previously, thank you Eric P. for  the reminder. Sentai Filmworks has licensed Mawaru Penguindrum.

In what has got to be the weirdest news I have ever read…Ikkitousen is getting a stage play?

Sentai Filworks has slated Bodacious Space Pirates for a January release.

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Yuri Manga

Thanks YNN Correspodent Kathrine H for pointing out that Seven Seas announced that they have licensed Morinaga Milk’s Kisses, Sigh and Cherry Blossoms Pink manga this week. Exciting news for Morinaga milk fans. ^_^

Kishi Kintarou’s Otome Teikoku (オトメの帝国) has been graced with a volume 3.

Speaking of inexplicably continuing series, Manga no Tsukurikata Volume 6 (まんがの作り方) exists at all.

Tsubomi, Volume 20 (つぼみ) is available for pre-order.

Also up for pre-order is Wagamama Millfeuille, (わがままミルフィーユ) a collection of Chisako’s stories from Comic Yuri Hime.

I have no idea what this is about, but Yuri Tantei Yurianz ( 百合探偵ユリアンズ) sounds diverting. ^_^

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Random Stuff

If my Yuru Yuri review this week gave you a bug to visit a museum, this weekend is Free Museum Weekend in the US! Visit the link, check the map and see what museums near you are free…bring paper and pen to sketch or jot down ideas..and enjoy!

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Random LGBTQ News

Fantagraphics is offering a 3-issue “subscription” for Volumes 4-6 of Wandering Son. This is very sensible for bot us and them.. It guarantees us the next three books and gives them a good idea of how big their market is for this series after the initial drop off.

Prism Comics is once again offering their Queen Press Grant to a comic creator. The application period ends on October 1, 2012.

I’ll be helping Prism out at New York Comic Con, which is right around the corner on October 11-14, 2012. Rica Takashima will be there with Geeks Out, at table 1974. Prism will be at table 1875. Also at NYCC will be the premier of the first episode of Rose of Versailles, followed by a talk with Susan Napier.

Autostraddle has the most lovely gallery of pictures of lesbians from the last 150 years. This just made me smile all afternoon. Take a look and you’ll smile too.

The Yuru Yuri festival in Akihabara was photoed and chronicled by Comic Natalie. In a touching tribute, Scott Green scrapes a bunch of random Yuru Yuri fanart from Pixiv over at Crunchyroll news.

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Yuri Manga

Important reminder – Girl Friends: The Complete Collection 1 in English from Seven Seas is hitting the street on October 2.

The November issue of Comic Yuri Hime is up for pre-order, the cover story is still by namori and looking artistically manga page-like.

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Yuri Anime

The trailer for the second season of the Jormungand anime is now streaming. Looks like a game is in the works, as well.

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Other News

Not LGBTQ related, but very worthy of your time, Vertical will have manga artists Moyoco Anno at New York Comic Con creator of Sakuran, which Vertical just released. It’s…really good. Stop by the panel and show your support! There’ll be a number of anime/manga personalities at NYCC, so check ANN or Crunchyroll to plan your paneling!

A K-ON! GPS. Set it on Yui and tempt fate. ^_^

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Super short version today, link dump to boot – got three too many claims on my time this weekend.

 Random New Items

Top Story this week is the licensing of the classic anime Rose of Versailles by Viki and Nozomi/RightStuf. Still a little boggling even after a few days to digest it. ^_^

Takeshi Nogami, creator of Strike Witches, has launched a new series, Marine Corps Yumi, online. I’m not saying there’ll be Yuri, but you just never know. ^_^

The second trailer for the two Puella Magi Madoka Magica movies is streaming on the Madoka official website.

Kadokawa Publishing asked their manga artists to create characters for each of the Japanese prefectures. Take a look, you’ll probably recognize at least some of the artists.

Aoi Hana‘s creator, Shimura Takako has drawn a one-shot for the November Jump Kai magazine called “Musume no Iede.”

If you love Yuru Yuri and want to throw some money at Ichijinsha, the Good Smile Cafe in Akihabara has been taken over by the Amusement Club until October 14th. Akari’s underwear is, of course, involved.

The first preview of Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb is free-range. I haven’t watched it yet, but bizarrely, I think it will look like all the other Hidamari Sketch series.

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!