Yuri Manga

Yen Press has announced that I Don’t Know Which Is Love, by Tamamushi Oku, Volume 1 will be hitting bookstores this month! This comedy about a girl looking for a girlfriend seems like perfect beach reading. ^_^

Monogatari Novels has announced the license for an English edition of Chinese manhua Soulmate written by Keranbing and illustrated by Wenzhilizi. We’ve had reviews of all three French-language volumes here and I’m sure plenty of folks are looking forward to getting more baihe in English. Monogatari Novels also has a Spanish-language edition, so don’t miss out!

ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! Manga Volume 4 is headed our way in September.

The second print volume of Ari North’s Always Human webcomic series, Love and Gravity: A Graphic Novel (link is only to Amazon, right now. I’ll get it up on the Store later today with more options) has been released! I just want to show you this cover, because it is gorgeous:

I’ve been a fan of Ari’s story since it was a webcomic. The first volume of the book was adapted from the vertical scroll to a readable format, for a stunning book, which I reviewed in 2020. I’m so happy for Ari and you can be sure that I’m getting a copy as soon as I can!

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We’ve added a few things to the Yuricon Store:

Kohaku no Kijo (琥珀の貴女) is a collection of stories about relationships between senior women and younger adult women. I’ve got this on my Bookwalker waiting to be read.

In Vampeerz, Volume  6 (ヴァンピアーズ) Aria’s servant joins the menagerie.

The Battle of the Bands is here and there’s one last confrontation needed — between Shiho and Aki. Sasayakuyou no Koi wo Utau, Volume  8 (ささやくように恋を唄う) hit JP shelves last month and it is full of drama.

Via Comic Natalie, we have news of Volume 1 of Naisho no Ofutariasma, (ないしょのおふたりさま。) a food and Yuri manga about a  delinquent girl  and  a rich girl who is only interested in food.

Yuri Visual Novel

Via Yuri Daily on FB, Lachesis or Atropos is a new Yuri VN that debuted on Steam. This VN by Quill Games is described:  “This world is woven of strings, of fate and of hate. What do you see, detective? A horror-mystery yuri visual novel peering into the maddening darkness of love and death. “

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Other News

Yuri has had more than our fair share of controversies in the past couple of weeks!  Bandai Namco and Kadokawa made no new friends when a reference to G-Witch‘s Suletta and Miorine being married that appeared in Gundam Ace magazine was removed from the online version – and an apology was issued, saying that it was “open to interpretation.” My question is this: To whom were they apologizing? Nanananshi on Twitter* encourages us all to contact Bandai and ask explain politely that we do not accept them denying what was made visible in their own series. I will ask for an apology to *us* for erasing the relationship.

*Yes, I am deadnaming Twitter. Abusive step-daddy can’t make me use his stupid name.

Also in the news, we have a much more serious issue. Last week, one of the stars of Thai GL series GAP The Series, Freen, was stalked. Photos of her and her boyfriend were taken and there was an attempt at blackmail. Management company Idol Factory has said they are pursuing charges against the stalker. But the harassment picked up speed when it hit the Internet, with some folks claiming that she “betrayed” them. Largely her fans have been very supportive, as am I. She owes us nothing. There was no “betrayal.” She is an actress, she acted – and did it very well. This is exactly why I am ambivalent about real person shipping, honestly.

As an aside, we have a terrific discussion of Thai GL coming up for Yuricon 2023, in which we discuss this story among other things. It will be posted in a few weeks. ^_^ We also have a guest review on some other Thai GL series for next week. Stay on the lookout for those!

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips. Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with our readers.

Yuri Manga
 
Watashi no Oshi ha Akyaku Reijou. Maid Kitchen（私の推しは悪役令嬢。メイドキッチン), the food-centric spin-off of the Watashi no Oshi ha Akyaku Reijou. first chapter is up on Ichijin Plus in Japanese for free for you to check out. Tsuke is doing the art for this light-hearted tale of Rei and Lene catering to Claire’s bore tastebuds.

Via Yuri Navi, the manga version of Twister Cyclone Runway first chapter is online at Comic Bushi Web. My distress at the costume design was accompanied by many expletives. I hope the rest of the “comicalization” of the story is better.

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Via Yuri Daily, the Polish Yuri news source on Facebook, Comic Bushi Web’ Latte Comics also has a new Yuri anthology,  Joshikou no Ouji-ama ha Watashi ka Ganchuu ni Nairashii   Yuri Anthology Comic (女子校の王子様は私しか眼中にないらしい 百合アンソロジーコミック) Check out a sample chapter in Japanese online. This and their other Yuri Anthology can be purchased digitally through CMOA.

Ichijinsha is releasing a new comic anthology, Tonari no Seki ga Sukina Hito Datta  Gakusei Yuri Anthology (隣の席が好きな人だった　学生百合アンソロジー) at the end of this month. This of you who liked Goodbye My Rose Garden, will be pleased to know that Dr Pepperco is among the contributors.

The Toyama Ema Yuri Collection  Sensei to Jikan  (センセイとの時間。) will appeal to people who like student/teacher stories.

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Other News

Vi Sr. YNN Correspondent Sean G. Anime Feminist has weighed in with their 2023 Spring Anime Recommendations. Both Birdie Wing and Mobile Suit Gundam – The Witch From Mercury topping the list.

Webcomic Mage & Demon Queen is back for a season 4! So get over there and start catching up. ^_^

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

Yuri Anime

Don’t miss Volicia of Pluto, streaming now on Youtube with English subtitles.  Crystalyn Hogkins has the details over at ANN.

Yuri Manga

New on the Yuricon Store, from Yen Press, we’re getting another collection by Mikanuji, this one a bit more adult than previous ones. I Don’t Need a Happy Ending: A collection of short stories” is a tantalizing mix of seet and spicy” according to the publisher.

Seven Seas has licensed Keyang’s Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru, a story I have very high hopes for. It had a strong beginning, but is flaging a little here in the middle. I really hope it sticks the ending. I have reviewed Volume 1 here on Okazu. Rafael Antonio Pineda has details on ANN.

Twin Star Cyclone Runaway by Ogawa Issui (based on a short story of the same name that ran in Yuri short story collection, Asterism ni Hanataba o Yuri SF Anthology (アステリズムに花束を 百合 SFアンソロジー), is getting a manga. Joanna Cayanan and Rafael Antonio Pineda have the story on ANN.I am concerned about the key image, as the costuming designs seem bizarre for the content of the story, but maids, whatever, I really don’t get the obsession. The story was pretty good, though and I’m very interested to see this comicalization!

Sasayakuyou no Koi wo Utau,Volume 8 (ささやくように恋を唄う) is hitting Japanese bookshelves this week. It’s everything I hoped for from this series. I wish this volume was going to be animated. In English Whisper Me A Love Song, Volume 6 is available and we’re looking forward to Volume 7 when it hits in December from Kodansha!

Via Comic Natalie,  OL VTuber to Oshi JKchan (OL Vtuberと推しJKちゃん) Volume 1 is now available. It is, as the title implies about an office worker and a high schooler who both are Vtubers.

Via Yuri Navi, Tomoru Me Ni Nagareru (灯る目に流れる) is a short Yuri story about two people who fall in love by staring at one another, available on Shounen Jump+.

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Yuri Light Novel

Yuri Tama: From Third Wheel to Trifecta The Third is out and it’s even softened up Sean Gaffney who says of it, “When Yotsuba turns off her self-doubt and constant second guessing brain and just goes with the flow, she manages to be a fantastic romantic partner.”

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Yuri VN

Via Yuri Navi, the trailer for the upcoming Yuri Visual Novel Uso Kara Hajmaru no Natsu (嘘から始まる恋の夏) can be seen on Youtube.

Other News

YNN Correspondent Patricia B suggests some summer reading with Firebird, by Sunmi, from Harper Collins, “following the lives of Caroline and Kim, two queer, Asian American teenagers growing up in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area, as they forge an unexpected connection.”

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips. Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with

Yuri Manga

Kodansha announced the license for I Can’t Say No To The Lonely Girl by Kashikaze at Anime Expo. I haven’t reviewed volumes of that, but I really did enjoy it when it was running in Comic Yuri Hime. It’s a very sweet story about acceptance, friendship and love. I’m glad they picked it up.

Yuri Is My Job!, Volume 11 was released as Expo was underway. Make sure you have a chaser for that one. Phew.

NHK has a special episode on The Rose of Versailles online. English subtitles are available.

YNN Correspondent Patricia B caught that Nekobungi Sumire has a new doujinshi in English up on Amazon. Silhouette of the Sea Breeze appears to be a Juliet and Juliet story about a sky person and a sea person.

If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die, Volume 2 is being released in English in August. I reviewed the Japanese edition in 2016.

We have Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games, Volume 5 on the Yuricon Store.

There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover, Unless… manga Volume 2 hit shelves in June.

The English edition of Akiko Morishima’s short story THE SINGLE LIFE vol.1: 60-year-old lesbian who is single and living alone. is up on Kindle She said this will be part of a series.

Iberis no Hanayome, Volume 2 (イベリスの花嫁) is the conclusion of Akiyama Haru’s series about a wedding planner who falls for a bridezilla.

Gal to Nekula to Kyuketsuu Kankei (ギャルとネクラの吸血関係) is a gal x vampire love-ish story.

Still cranking away at Vampeerz, (ヴァンピアーズ ) this time we have Volume  4  of this schoolgirl x vampire love-ish story.

Yuri Events

Yuri/GL Phillipines announced that they will be returning to the Cosplay Mania event in Pasay, Sept 30- October 1.

Girls Love Fest is returning to Asakusa in Tokyo on October 9th for their 39th event!

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Yuri Visual Novels

YNN Correspondent Patricia B wants you to know about The Chrono Jotter by Orca Layout, a Chinese visual novel “receiving an English translation two years after its original release. The game focuses on a young woman trying to uncover the mystery of her girlfriend’s murder by utilizing her newly acquired time traveling powers. The focus is primarily on suspense and horror aspects, but the main character is still very clearly motivated by her relationship.”

Yuri Audiobook

Yen Press announced at Anime Expo an audiobook format for The Executioner and Her Way of Life. ANN’s Alex Mateo has the details.  This intrigues me. I hope they’ll add one for MagiRevo. I’d like that be re-read to me. ^_^

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Yuri Anime

YNN Correspondent meow wants everyone to know about Volicia of Pluto-Vapor Trail Another Age 2006- a crowdfunded ‘feature-length mecha vampire yuri anime released on 3rd of July.” It appears to be premiering on Youtube tomorrow, July 9, 9PM JT. I’ll try to be up to see it. Check out the trailer also on YT.

Alex Mateo at ANN has casting announcements for the upcoming Hoshikuzu Telepath anime.

Sean Gaffney gives his final thoughts on Birdie Wing, Episodes 1-25 and, as always, his thoughts are worth reading.

History Hermann also has a spoiler-filler review of Birdie Wing, Season 2.

I’m having a hard time finding a way to talk about everything  I want to say about Birdie Wing, so I appreciate these reviewers who can.

James Whitbrook at Gizmodo writes about how Witch From Mercury’s Finale Made One of Gundam’s Most Fascinating Ideas Queer as Hell

Other News

Star Fruit Books announced a new English language manga magazine last year, Comic Bright. They confirmed this year that it is still being worked on. I love the folks there and wish them well, but I am skeptical about the future of print magazines in English that aren’t celebrity gossip.

The Nippon Club is holding an exhibition called JAPAN’S ANIME SWEEPING THE WORLD both in-person and online. This exhibition will include friends June Kim, whom you may remember as the creator of 12 Days and Hiroki Otsuka whose most recent manga series, Backstage in New York, was made into a live action show in Japan.

Nimona creator ND Stevenson has travelogue comics about the Nimona on Netflix Press Tour. Nimona was a nice movie and if you have Netflix, it’s definitely worth a watch. Very good queer rep, among other things.

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips. Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with our readers.

Yuri Events At Anime Expo

Anime Expo kicks off today with a surprising number of Yuri events! I’m In Love With The Villianess manga artist Aonoshimo-sensei will be doing signings for the first 50 people who buy $50 of goods at her table today as the con opens!

And, Episodes 1 and 2 of the upcoming I’m In Love With The Villainess anime will be premiering on July 4. Liam Dempsey has key visuals and special AX art on Crunchyroll News.

Then Comic Yuri Hime editorial staff will be joining the Kodansha panel to talk about Kodansha releases Whisper Me A Love Song and Yuri Is My Job! (I’m hoping for some more licenses, but also news about the Whisper Me A Love Song anime…).

So if you’re at AX, we definitely want to hear your Yuri experiences!

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Yuri Anime

While we’re talking anime…

Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch From Mercury is teaming up with the European Space Agency to show support for its Mercury Planetary Orbiter.

We have The Executioner and Her Way of Life Complete Collection up on the Yuricon Store.  Chris Beveridge has a review of the set over at The Fandom Post.

Steve Jones gives us his final thoughts on Birdie Wing over at ANN. I am working on an end-of season eulogy myself.

Lycoris Recoil and Pizza Hut have teamed up. ^_^

Serial Experiments Lain turns 25 years old this year, and to celebrate, a new alternate reality game 3301: De-cipher has been announced. Crystalyn Hodgkins has the details at ANN.

Korean Yuri animation The Summer (그 여름) gets the full music video treatment from singer JUNGWOO (정우). Check it out in full on Youtube.

Yuri Manga in English

On Publisher’s Weekly, Shaenon Garrity noted that Rose of Versailles Episodes, Volume 1, the 40th anniversary stories, will be released in November. This was an amazing collection. Post the Revolution, there is still more to tell.

Battan’s Run Away With Me Girl, Volume 3, wraps up that messy story with a tidy ending.

Otherside Picnic manga, Volume 6 will be hitting shelves in August.

Seven Seas has released Ratana Satis’ Pulse, Volume 3. Mel has to face her feelings for Lynn.

Seven Seas is also releasing Failed Princesses 6.5 by Ajiichi. This is a collection of shorts that were not published with the volumes, and some extra original content, as a digital-only release.

Tokyopop has launched a new imprint called LoveLove, it will include all shoujo, josei, BL and Yuri titles. It seems like a relaunch of the Love Is Love imprint to me. I’m not thrilled with there being an imprint for “girls'” stuff while stuff for “boys” is just the regular non-imprint. But, hey, no one asks me. ^_^

Yuri Manga in Japanese

Natsuo Mutsumi is launching a kickstarter for a second [Boyish²] collection. This one includes artists from Japan, USA and Canada. [Boyish²] Butch×Butch Yuri Anthology, Volume 2 has already beaten its original goal in mere days, so let’s help them get to a couple of great stretch goals! The book will be available in digital and print and in English and Japanese, as was the previous volume. And do check out those adorable author profiles on the KS page!

Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 9 (おとなになっても) hit shelves this month in Japan! Volume 6 of Even Though We’re Adults hit English bookstores the same day. I just finished that last night, review to come soon.

Komatsu-san has the news that Yuzaki Sakaomi’s She Loves To Cook, She Loves To Eat manga is on hiatus due to the author’s health after the 40th chapter was published. He has details over at Crunchyroll News.

Vampeerz, Volume 3 (ヴァンピアーズ) is up on the Yuricon Store in Japanese and Volume 3 of Vampeerz: My Peer Vampires is headed our way from Denpa Books in August.

Koharu to Minato: Watashi no Partner ha Onna no Ko, Volume 1 (小春と湊 わたしのパートナーは女の子)  is a comic essay in Comic Yuri Hime about a long-distance relationship that began on social media and eventually they moved in together.

100 Nichi-Go Ni Saku Yuri (100日後に咲く百合) is a collection of 100 Yuri “situations” by Muromaki.

Gal to Nekula no Kyuuketsu Kankei (ギャルとネクラの吸血関係) is s story about a girl who “failed to make her gal debut” and the girl at the desk next to her, who is rumored to be a vampire.

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Light Novels in Japanese

 Shuu ni Ichido Classmate wo Kau Hanashi ~ Futari no Jikan, Iiwakeno Gosenen~ (週に一度クラスメイトを買う話 ~ふたりの時間、言い訳の五千円~) is about a girl who hires a classmate as a companion in order to have an excuse to hang with her.

Chou to Teikoku (蝶と帝国) looks fascinating. It’s a science fiction Yuri story about Russia at the end of the Imperial period.

Other News

Via YNN Correspondent Frank H., the cast and crew of live-action Thai Be Mine The Series, held a gender and sexuality seminar with pics on Twitter!

Via Yuri Daily on FB, real-life lovers and Vtubers Momijiri Koyu and Emu were married. They announced the marriage on their Twitter.

Vrai Kaiser wrote What Role Are You Playing? Communication, queerness, and neurodivergence in Yuri is My Job! for Anime Feminist. It’s definitely worth a read.

Bang, Bang, Pop!: Reviewing Girls With Guns Anime by Burkely Herman is a reprint of an older article, but has loads of fun nostalgia – and not just ’cause Okazu is cited a number of times. ^_^

Finishing up a Pride Month series, Brianna Lawrence takes a look at Anime Characters Who Made Us Realize We’re Queer on Crunchyroll News.

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips. Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with our readers.