Welcome to the future! Thank you to Mari Kurisato for the lovely new logo, which we will add to the mix of our lovely YNN logos! Mari is a long-time friend and fan and talented artist who is responsible for several of of our logos here. She is running into a brutal reality of American life. She’s on disability, so if she starts to make enough money to live, they cut her disability off (yes, this is a thing we do in the USA) – and the outgoing administration is particularly brutal, clawing back funds they paid to her because she made a little bit more. If you have a few dollars to spare, please visit her GoFundMe to help her out and to thank her for the art we enjoy every week!

Now we’re on to our first news report of 2021!

Yuri Cartoon & Anime News

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Eric P.,The Legend of Korra: The Complete Series Blu-ray Limited Edition Steelbook Collection looks damn fine. The series is also available in a slimmed down Complete Series on Blu-Ray.

We sincerely loved Zombie Land Saga for 10 out of 11 episodes here at Okazu Central, and it was plenty queer enough, so we’re delighted that it will be getting another season, Zombie Land Saga Revenge. Egan Loo at ANN has the details and the trailer is perfect. ^_^

Otherside Picnic anime is imminent! ANN’s Alex Mateo has all the details…except for why the fuck Toriko is in a skirt. Check out the trailer to boggle at the lack of sensible clothing for no reason. /eyeroll/

Vlad Love finally has a date for streaming in Japan. Oshii Mamoru’s vampire girl-meets-girl story will be hitting JP streaming platforms like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Bandai Channel in February. Komatsu-san has the report over on Crunchyroll News!

And whether or not its Yuri, Kageki Shojo!! looks like it’s going to be as wonderful as an anime as it is a manga. ^_^ Crunchyroll’s Kara Dennison has the scoop on initial impressions from Japan.

I missed this news back in September when it posted and I’ve seen no updates, but it appears that Diskotek has has licensed the Rose of Versailles anime, with a projected 2021 release! That means this year will see the very first time both anime and manga for this classic series will be available in English! That’s pretty fabulous.

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Yuri Science Fiction

The second special Yuri issue of SF Magazine is out in Japan, and it is #2 in the Art, Fiction and Literature category on Amazon JP. Now that’s pretty amazing.  We’ve got SF Magazine February 2021, Special Issue (SFマガジン 2021年 02 月号 特別増大号) on the Yuricon Store for you. I am about 40 pages away from the end of the scifi prose anthology based on the 2019 issue and hope to have that reviewed for you shortly.

Yuri Manga

The very silly Yuri romantic comedy Yuri-Ota ni Yuri ha Gohatto desu!, Volume 1 /(百合オタに百合はご法度です!) about a Yuri Otaku at an all-girls school, ready to live the dream, is up on the Yuricon Store.

The doujinshi anthology “Yurico”n has a new volume out, this one is 18+: Otona Yuricon 2020 (大人のユリコン2020) is now available on Melonbooks.

Other News

Kara Dennison wrote an interesting overview of streaming in 2020 and beyond over at OtakuUSA Magazine in Streaming Anime, Lessons, and Life Post-Lockdown: What Needs to Stay.

Our friends at Autostraddle have rounded up 69 Queer and Feminist Books Coming Your Way in Winter 2020 and 2021, so that’ll keep us busy!

NPR’s Marketplace has a fantastic article about anime featuring ANN’s Exec. Editor Lynzee Loveridge. Well worth a listen to. It turns out 2020 may have been a good year for the anime industry. And it’s so nice to have a piece about about anime that includes people who know something about anime!

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Yuri Manga

While Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, Volume 1 is on the way in English, Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts, Volume 2 hit shelves last month in Japan!

Heading our way in spring is Chasing After Aoi Koshiba, Volume1, by Hazuki Takeoka with art by Fly. (I have a fondness for this series I cannot explain. ^_^ I guess I really like Fly’s art.)

Alex Mateo over at ANN reports the news that Makoto Hagino’s A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow will end with Volume 9. Reviews here are up to Volume 5 in Japanese and  in English. ^_^

Via Comic Natalie, Akarui Kioku Soushitsu (明るい記憶喪失) is completing it’s run in Japanese manga magazine Comic Cune and the final volume will be released there at the end of January. It has not been licensed for the American market as of yet.

I am super excited for Volume 1 of Watashi no Oshi ha Akujyaku Reijou., the manga for the popular light novel, I’m in Love with the Villainess ( 私の推しは悪役令嬢。) I think the art in the manga suits the story much better than that in the LN.

Yuri Light Novels

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Sean G., want you to know that Volume 2 of I’m in Love with the Villainess LN will be getting an early digital release on January 7th, with a print release on February 23rd, from Seven Seas.

Girl’s Kingdom, Volume 1 is out now in English for J-Novel Club and it is highly amusing. I’ll have some thoughts on it soon enough. ^_^

I’m also extremely pleased that, after the Sayaka novels, Nakatani Nio and Iruma Hitoma have teamed up again to bring us another Yuri light novel. End Blue (エンドブルー), about a woman who meets another woman, then a year later, their paths cross again….

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Giving guest writers a raise, helping us support queer creators and making Yuri Studio a reality!

Yuri Webtoons

Very exciting – Mieri Hiranashi’s semi-autobiographical comic The Girl That Can’t Get A Girlfriend  is up on Webtoons! These are heart-warming and funny self-owns by the creator- who is one of the many queer creators we support on Patreon here at Okazu! ^_^

YouTube News

Carpfish on Twitter has linked to the Youtube version of their Rekijo panel from Fujocon: Romancing the Past, about women who are fujoshi for Japanese history. ^_^ This video has subtitles/cc.

Speaking of that, we’ve got the English subtitles/closed captions up and edited on our final Yuri Studio video of the season, Are There Queer Creators Creating Yuri? I hope you’ll give that a watch. Feel free to share it around and please don’t forget to like it, and subscribe to my channel…YouTube Watches Over Us. ^_^

I don’t know if I shared  this with you yet, so if I did, I apologize. Calorie Mate, a nutritional supplement/diet bar, (depending on the audience they are targeting), made an advert that included some of the staff of the movie Your Name, about a Karolina Styczyńska, the first foreign female to become professional Shogi player in Japan. It’s…lovely. Give The History of Karolina a watch!

Sailor Moon News

Komatsu-san at Crunchyroll News, shares a link to a “behind-the-scenes” look at Momoiro Clover Z recording the Sailor Moon Eternal theme.

Komatsu-san also has some fun visuals on Sailor Moon Eternal shows at Konica Minolta planetariums in Tokyo. ^_^

If you are a Sailor Moon fan, don’t miss the fourth trailer for the Eternal movie which features the Inners thinking about what they want to achieve. If the movie looks like this, I may forgive Toei for decades of cheaping out.

Via my own Okazu First Lady, there is a new Sailor Moon Cafe, Eternal Memories in 6 cities in Japan, but as a complete aside I want you to take a look at the top image of all the Senshi and note that both Haruka and Michiru have definitely gotten a grow-up along with everyone’s glow-ups. ^_^

Other News

Via YNN Correspondent Megan, Wonder Egg Priority anime will feature a character who is a boyish girl, who the other girls find attractive. Rafael Antonio Pineda has details on ANN including the Utena-esque premise.

Yagate Kimi ni Naru Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite novels got a live read through and the cast has provided some audio commentary! Check out their conversation (in Japanese, obviously) on Youtube.

The Advocate covers Queer Japan, the crowdfunded movie by Graham Kolbiens and a host of others, documenting the lives of queer folks in Japan.  Hopefully after it runs through the film festival circuit we’ll get to see it for real!

Become a YNN Correspondent by reporting any Yuri-related news with your name and an email I can reply to – thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network. ^_^

Thank you to all our Okazu readers and commenters, our YNN Correspondents, Patrons and friends.

Happy New Year from the entire Okazu family to all of you!

Yuri Manga

The first volume of the manga Watashi no Oshi ha Akujyaku Reijou. (私の推しは悪役令嬢。) is out now from Yuri Hime Comics! If you enjoyed the light novel, I’m in Love With the Villainess, you’ll enjoy the manga where we get the entire story illustrated ^_^ The manga has really been fun so far and, I honestly think the art suits the story better than the art in the LN.

Yuri Light Novel

If you haven’t yet gotten a chance to read I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 1, definitely do. The first volume is out in print now. I’ve just finished re-reading it and am impressed all over again.

Bloom Into You Regarding Saeki Sayaka, Volume 3 is imminent – it’s hitting some retailers early, in fact. Don’t miss this fabulous conclusion to the Bloom Into You franchise!

Manga Planet has added super light novel Yuri Will Not Blossom at Work! by Mai Yanagawa and Ruri Hazuki.

Yuri Studio

For our final episode of the 2020 “season,” on Yuri Studio, I take on one of the most complicated topics I am ever asked about: Are There Queer Creators Creating Yuri?

This year was an amazing year to address this, as while I was working on the video manga by queer creators were being licensed and a couple of folks spoke publicly about being queer to their Japanese fans. 2020 has been surreal, but it has also been amazing for queer manga.

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Yuri Anime

Okay, I give. ^_^  VLADLOVE debuted on Youtube this week and 1) I did not loathe it, something I was fully prepared to do (^_^) and 2) it’s Yuri.  We’ll have Megan reviewing it in the future, since she’s been the series advocate since it was announced.

Otherside Picnic anime will be debuting on Funimation on January 4th, don’t forget!

Senior YNN Correspondent Eric P. points out ANN’s Rafael Antonio Pineda’s article on Battle Athletes Daiundoukai ReSTART!  a new chapter for the Battle Athletes series.

Yuri Podcasts

Manga Mavericks has Sarah and Kit from Tomochoco Podcast and myself on to talk about the Kase-san series on Kase-san and a Podcast!

Other News

In 2019, SF Magazine did a blowout issue focused on Yuri, which was followed up by a Yuri science fiction 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, which I am about 3/4 through . The Yuri issue sold out and went into a second printing, which I reviewed on Okazu in February 2019.

Now Hayakawa Publishing is doing a second Special Issue focusing on Yuri, with a cover featuring the upcoming Otherside Picnic anime. The issue comes out on the 25th of December…and it’s already sold out on Amazon, and not available on Global Bookwalker as of yet. So, hold on to the link for SF Magazine, February 2021 Special Issue (SFマガジン 2021年 02 月号 特別増大号) and we’ll wait for it to be available!

Cartoon Network did this terrific PSA about pronouns featuring Stevonnie and I am going to say, having finally gotten over their fear of queer, they are really doing it right. Thank you Rebecca Sugar, you changed the world.

Cartoon Network also did this PSA about systemic racism in education in which Steven Universe‘s Pearl says what has to be said out loud.

Speaking of Rebecca Sugar, Via YNN Correspondent David M. we have a podcast that focuses on Studio Ghibli’s work, interviewing Ms. Sugar about her influences! Ghibliotheque – A Podcast About Studio Ghibli: Rebecca Sugar | Whispers From The Heart #4.

Also of interest was Andrew Tejada’s exploration of the de-humaning of characters of color for Tor.com in Representation Without Transformation: Can Hollywood Stop Changing Cartoon Characters of Color?

Captain Marvel 2 had a huge announcement with release date and cast – this movie will also feature Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau and I’m trying to not be too excited because I refuse to get Disney Plus. ^_^;

Friends in the Philippines can now get the ZsaZsa Zaturnnah comic collected in a hardbound edition. I’m jealous. ^_^

Become a YNN Correspondent by reporting any Yuri-related news with your name and an email I can reply to – thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network! Special thanks to Okazu Patrons for helping us reach our 2020 goal of giving guest writers a raise and helping us support queer creators!

Yuri Manga

We’ve added the upcoming and much-looked forward to Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon, Volume 1 by Shio Usui to the Yuricon Store. It didn’t make the Okazu Gift Guide this year because it won’t be out until 2021, but I’m just saying if you’re a betting person, you’ve got a sure bet on this making my Top 10 Yuri Manga of the Year. ^_^ And, if you’re looking for last minute holidays gifts for yourself or the Yuri fan in your life take a look at the Okazu 2020 Gift Guide! This gives you some current faves to enjoy and share!

Our Teachers Are Dating, Volume 2 is also heading our way in the New Year. Volume 1 is already available. This series by Pikachi Ohi, is an adorably sweet and sexy story about two adults who find love for the first time.

ANN’s Rafael Antonio Pineda has news that Sukeban Deka is getting not one, but two new manga series. They kind of sound fun and are at least not reboots of the original, which would probably piss off Wada Shinji’s spirit.

Yuri Web Comics

Opium is an 18+ historical Korean Yuri webcomic on Tapas.io that I am finding very intriguing.

Yuri Navi reports on Oshi ga Tonari de Jugyou ni Shuuchuu Dekinai!; a three-way love story about a girls’ beloved idol going to school  in her class.  You can read a sample chapter or two on Comic Days, in Japanese.

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Interviews

Lilyka has an interview with Yuri creator mintaro!

For those of you interested in Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!, Mikan-sensei and Mikami Teren-sensei, creator of Moshi, Koi ga Mietenara,  chat a bit on Yuri Navi! (In Japanese, but what a great way to practice your Japanese, or failing that, you have Google translate and that ought to give you the main sense of it.)

Yuri Light Novels

J-Novel Club has gathered Volume 1 and Volume 2 for the Otherside Picnic Omnibus, Volume 1. I really like this series, and am certainly considering getting this in print.

Yuri Anime News

Crystalynn Hodkins has the details of the new Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight movie, which has a spring 2021 release date.

Via YNN Correspondent NaraMoore, Otherside Picnic anime is being streamed by Funimation in January 2021!

You’ve probably all heard the news that Funimation has bought Crunchyroll. I am not and never have been a fan of Funimation’s efforts in streaming and I hope to high heaven they use CR’s platform, rather than shutting it down, and forcing us to use theirs.

Live-Action News

Hirao Auri’s Oshi ga Budokan Ittekuretara Shinu is getting a live-action adaptation, reports Rafael Antonio Pineda on ANN. As much as the series (like all of that creator’s series,) makes me feel a little crazy, I think this is a very good candidate for a live-action. And, legitimately, I though Ai Farouz did a stellar job as Eripyo in the anime version.

Sailor Moon News

Every year Sailor Moon fandom is asked who their favorite Senshi is and for the first time ever, Sailor Uranus gets top billing as favorite. Lynzee Loveridge takes a look at this expression of obvious fact (^_^) on ANN. Excuse us while all all of us long-time fans gloat a bit.

Other News

Absolutely worth taking a look at is Lynzee Loveridge & Matthieu Pinon’s article on ANN, A Profile of the Sparkling Life of Shojo Manga Pioneer Eiko Hanamura.

Become a YNN Correspondent by reporting any Yuri-related news with your name and an email I can reply to – thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network! Special thanks to Okazu Patrons for helping us reach our 2020 goal of giving guest writers a raise and helping us support queer creators!

Yuri Manga

Seven Seas has announced the license for the Bloom Into You manga anthologies (both of which have been reviewed here on Okazu: Volume 1 and Volume 2). They were a fun way to spend more time with the characters.

Manga Planet has announced some Jousei Yuri licenses from Shodensha, including several of my favorites! Teiji ni Agaretara by Ayu Inui, Hitogoto Desu Kara! by Yuni and Tsuki to Suppin by Yu Akegata have all been reviewed here on Okazu and I am absolutely delighted that you will be able to read them in English.

Heading our way his month from Yen Press is Strawberry Fields Once Again, which is a three-volume school romance, that has a hell of a twist ending. I reviewed all three JP volumes here, but don’t read the reviews unless you want to be spoiled! Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3

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Yuri Anime

Sentai Filmworks will be releasing Happy-Go-Lucky Days, the anime based on Shimura Takako’s manga. I reviewed this anime very recently and found it to be worth a watch.

While I still am in no way convinced that a slapstick anime about vampires can at all be serious, Mamoru Oshii insists that he wanted VLADLOVE to do “Girl Meets Girl” in a serious way in this interview covered by Komatsu-san on Crunchyroll. I kind of liked the “Mai” version of the opening. I’m always partial to harder rock used in anime and characters animated to be performing the theme. So here I am mentioning it again, despite my insistence that I wouldn’t any more. ^_^
 
Crunchyroll has added Yamibo:  The Darkness, The Hat and the Travelers of the Books to their catalog. Jennifer Sherman has the report on ANN. I’ve reviewed it about a zillion times here and it’s not gotten any less annoying ^_^; The thing is…it had potential, then just squandered it. This is one of the earliest anime based on a Visual Novel I can think of off the top of my head.

Crystalynn Hodgkins has the news for the upcoming Otherside Picnic anime on Anime News Network.

Yuri Light Novel

J-Novel Club is putting out scifi Yuri LN Otherside Picnic in print ahead of the upcoming anime release!

The third volume of Bloom Into You Regarding Saeki Sayaka is headed our way in a few weeks!

Sailor Moon

The trailer for Sailor Moon Eternal is on Youtube and it looks amazing!  I vote Chiaki Kon for handling all things Sailor Moon forever.

Clearly I am not the only one, as Twitter fandom is celebrating with an “All Sailor Moon” hashtag (#全セーラームーン). I’m wearing my Sailor Moon Super S t-shirt today and Sailor Venus socks (which are probably legitimately antique now!) in solidarity. ^_^

Other News

Anime Feminist has this terrific look by Karleen: Art as Discovery, Art as Hope: Kamatani Yuhki, x-gender and asexual mangaka
This is very timely, as I’m pushing to get out a new video on Yuri Studio this month on queer creators who create queer manga.  ^_^

ANN’s Kim Morrissey has a write-up of the demographics among English translators and letterers in manga, from tweets by Phil S. Christie. There’s a small majority of women in the field (but it would be interesting and important to know how income falls along those lines, as well.

Become a YNN Correspondent by reporting any Yuri-related news with your name and an email I can reply to – thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network! Special thanks to Okazu Patrons for helping us reach our 2020 goal of giving guest writers a raise and helping us support queer creators!