Yuri Live-Action

Huge news this week as Netflix announced a live-action adaptation of Nakamura Ching’s GUNJO (羣青). This dark, but magnificent, Yuri manga follows two women – one, abused and desperate, the other a lesbian who loved her, after they conspire to kill the abusive husband. To be called Kanojo (彼女) in Japan, the series is getting simultaneous global release and has a site named Ride or Die on US Netflix. The synopsis on the US page reads, “Her abusive husband is dead, killed by her lesbian friend who’d do anything for her. Now they’re running for their lives.”

Check out Komatsu-san’s report on Crunchyroll News of the initial announcement!

GUNJO has long been one of my favorite series. Volume 1 of GUNJO is available in English on Nakamura-sensei’s website as a chapter-by-chapter purchase. Erin Subramanian did the translation and I was editing, until the pandemic put the project to a halt.

The Queer Japan documentary is alive! and will be available on demand through Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Google Play on December 11.

Yuri Manga

We’re doing a massive cleanup here and as a result, you have a chance to get some Yuri history for amazing prices. Our friends at cheapmanga.com are doing a sale on the remaining ALC Publishing manga, including WORKS, which was the second Yuri manga ever published in English and our global anthology Yuri Monogatari.

You can get all of the remaining ALC Manga, Yuri Monogatari 3,4 &6  and WORKS for $25 on Cheapmanga.com – and they are offering free shipping for $25 or more with the code ALC2020! While you’re there, look around. The folks there are good friends and have lost a lot of business to the pandemic. If you have the money, fill in a few holes in that collection, try a new series, give them a hand. ^_^

I get a lot of questions about Yuri Monogatari Volumes 1 and 2. They were both extremely limited runs. Only 200 copies of YM1 were ever published. I don’t even have a final copy, only a proof. So, no, we don’t have more of those, sorry. We didn’t have Volume 3 until a little while ago when I found another box. ^_^ There only the one box left, so get ’em while you can!

Seven Seas has announced a January release for Takako Shimura’s new series Even Though We’re Adults, her adult-life Yuri drama manga.

We’re only a few patrons away from hitting our 2020 goal. We’ll Guest Reviewers a raise,
do more videos, and support more queer creators directly. Become an Okazu Patron today!

Yuri Doujinshi

YuriMother has taken a look at a new Yuri doujinshi over at Lilyka, As You Wish by Aosaki Rusou. She’s noticed some improvements in their offerings. Lilyka are doing another signed art event, this time for Ruri Kumashika’s work.

 Irodori Sakura has a new title, Yuriyon which is a collection of shorts by Why Does Love Do This To Me? creator Ayano Ayano.

 The University of Tokyo’s Yuri Enthusiast Research Group has announced on Twitter the 4th volume of their doujinshi collection, Lilliest, Vol. 4 available through Booth.pm. Check out the free sample pages (in Japanese).

Yuri Light Novel

Yuri LN ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! is now out in print from Seven Seas.

Bloom Into You, Regarding Saeki Sayaka, Volume 3 is slated for the end of December. ^_^ Don’t forget to add it to your holiday wish list.

Yuri Visual Novel

Meru on Twitter notes that Kudan Folklore from Sukera Sparo is now available in Chinese, English and Japanese. That’s pretty awesome.

Other News

Via YNN Correspondent Sandy F., Shinsokan is planning a  2021 Kase-san series calendar. This is exactly the kind of thing we have Tenso and Buyee accounts for. ^_^ It appears that you can customize the calendar by putting the images in the order you want. I’m fascinated by this and may have to try it out.

The Murderbot series by Martha Wells stars an agender cyborg protagonist in a humorous and action-filled science fiction series. mar has created a 5-book synopsis animatic (spoilers!) on Youtube that I found to be superb. Check out I’m Not Your Hero – The Murderbot Diaries Animatic, using Tegan and Sara’s song of the same name.

BBC Bitesize interviews creator Cienan Muir on superhero diversity, touching on Indigenous and LGBTQ representation and even a bit about anime.

This week was the 110th Birth Anniversary of Kenkoy’s creator, Mr. Antonio “Tony” Velasquez, who is regarded as the Godfather of Taglog Komiks!

Via YNN Correspondent Kat C, check out this handmade lily-themed Japanese school uniform in early 20th century style. The Haruka Kimie shop is worth a look if Meiji-Taisho period cosplay is your schtick.

The Library of America shares this fun snippet: “When Clare Winger Harris’s byline appeared in Weird Tales in 1926, she became the first woman to publish a story under her own name in any of the American science fiction magazines.” The name of the story? The Miracle of the Lily. ^_^ It’s not at all Yuri, but the title made me smile.

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 being an important part of the Okazu family. I couldn’t do it without you!

Yuri Games

The 2020 Yuri Game Jam is happening right now. Make the games you want to play! EVN Chronicles has a terrific write up of the Visual Novels from last year. 

shino on Twitter shared their previous game (while working on their new submission!) tender feelings like water.

Yuri Manga

We’ve got some new items up on the Yuricon Store!

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 5, Makoto Hagino’s soft and slow seaside romance continues.

The Rose of Versailles, Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 and Volume 4 are now listed on the Store! I can’t wait for you to read them all.

And we finally have a pre-order for Asumiko Nakamura’s A White Rose in Bloom, Vol. 1. I’m so looking forward to this!

New from Ichijinsha is Volume 1 of Majyou ga Koi Suru 5 Byou Mae (魔女が恋する5秒前) about a solitary witch and a witch-hunter in a sort of relationship.

Another slow, gentle school romance, Hana ni Arashi, Volume 6, ( はなにあらし)and it looks like an actual thing might happen! ^_^

We’re only a few patrons away from hitting our 2020 goal. We’ll Guest Reviewers a raise,
do more videos, and support more queer creators directly. Become an Okazu Patron today!

Kodansha Comics has announced the license of Whispering You a Love Song, by Takeshima Eku. I very much enjoy this series in Comic Yuri Hime.

Seven Seas has released all of Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl on digital. If you missed your chance to read this super-problematic, but also not all that terrible Yuri series, grab it it on digital now!  This series has its own category here on Okazu, as it was a biggish thing back in the day, with manga and  an anime. Check out the Kashimashi Category for all my reviews from 2005 – 2008. My opinions and reading of this series will undoubtedly have evolved significantly in the last 15 years (so be warned.)

Comic Natalie reports on a “Manga Music Video” for Shimura Takako’s Donikanaru Hibi, Happy Go Lucky Days.

Yuri Anime

Added to the Yuricon Store is the new Diskotek release of Devilman Lady – The Complete Series.

YNN Correspondent Megan notes that the VLADLOVE team had a press-only event where director Oshii Mamoru spoke. You can find it on YouTube with English subtitles!

Get a look at Ecchan and Aya-san, the lesbian couple from the anime Happy Go Lucky Days on Comic Natalie!

Yuri Navi talks about Yuri fandom’s interest in the up-coming anime of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level due to the various relationships among the women in the story.

ANN’s Alex Mateo reports on Viz’s removal of all free Hulu videos on their site. Now you’ll have to subscribe to Hulu to watch classic Sailor Moon anime.

Other news

You can stream the music from Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah ze Musikal, based on Carlo Vergara’s brilliant transsexual superheroine on Spotify. ^_^ I still find myself humming “Babae Na Ako,” years after watching the movie. ^_^

MSN finally gets me. This week I opened up a browser and found Latonya Pennington’s article, A Beginner’s Guide to Modern LGBTQ+ Manga. ^_^

Lauren Orsini interviews Waka Hirako, creator of the powerful, award-winning My Broken Mariko. This manga is getting a lot of buzz and looks like it’s well worth your time. Lauren asks if here could be a queer reading of it.  ‘My Broken Mariko’ Manga Is An Emotional Journey Of Love And Loss

And speaking of possible queer reading, J-Novel club announced on Twitter, that Volume 4 of My Next Life as a Villainess is being released as a paperback next week.

One last item, Vertical Comics has shared the acceptance speak by Macoto Tezuka on behalf of her father Osamu, as he is inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.

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 being an important part of the Okazu family. I couldn’t do it without you!

Yuri Manga

We have some new items on the Yuricon Store!

December is going to see loads of Yuri riches, beginning with Tamifull’s How Do We Relationship, Volume 2 from Viz.  Volume 5 of the same series is just out in Japan, with Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, Volume 5 (付き合ってあげてもいいかな ), but if you’re reading the EN edition, do not read the summary of V5! Huge spoilers. ^_^;

Inui Ayu’s office romance Teiji ni Ageretara, Volume 4 ( 定時にあがれたら) continues as Kaori and Kayoko celebrate their 1st anniversary together.

Hero-san to Moto Onna Kanbu-san, Volume 3 (ヒーローさんと元女幹部さん) continues the tale of hero Rapid Rabbit’s love affair with a former middle manager for the bad guys.

Naoko Kodama’s Days of Love at Seagull Villa, Volume 1 has a November release in English, while the series has wrapped up in Japan with Umineko Bessou days, (海猫荘 days) Volume 3.

Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts creator, Usui Shio, will be starting up a new series in monthly Yuri magazine Comic Yuri Hime, Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita, according to ANN’s Crystalynn Hodgkins. This should not be confused Tanaka Yuuki’s Shonen Jump Plus one-shot webcomic, Tomodachi Kekkon. Usui’s series Donuts Under a Crescent Moon,is slated for a 2021 release from Seven Seas.

We’re only a few patrons away from hitting our 2020 goal. We’ll Guest Reviewers a raise,
do more videos, and support more queer creators directly. Become an Okazu Patron today!

Anime News

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Eric P., Diskotek’s new releases for Devilman Lady and Battle Athletes (TV series *and* OVA on Blu-Ray!) are up for pre-order. Justin Sevakis has been tweeting about these and it’s interesting to read about the process from the inside. I’m really looking forward to seeing Devilman Lady. These will be getting December releases as well.

Kim Morrisey at ANN lets us know that Shiraishi Jougi, creator of Wandering Witch: The Journeys of Elaina has asked the animation staff to not upskirt the character. I hope more creators request this, because as an industry, animation is far too comfortable with what is – at absolute minimum – a pervasive form of sexual harassment. I’d really like to see it shamed out of existence because it is fucking creepy to upskirt. The anime is streaming on Hulu. Yen Press publishes the Light Novels, Square Enix is publishing the manga.

ANN’s Alex Mateo want us to know that a new extended trailer for Sailor Moon Eternal is now out. This is the first of two movies that will cover the “Dream” arc. of the manga. It’s not my favorite arc, but there’s still some good stuff to look forward to. For one thing, it looks honestly really well animated. This will also be the first time the Inners’ power up includes the spirits of their planetary castles, which I’m actually really excited about. (Nerd!) Naomi Watanabe as Zirconia is a great choice, but I feel like we’re all owed a redo of the first two seasons of Crystal with Kon Chikai in the director’s seat, because she is absolutely killing it.

Can we declare a “curse” on the first two seasons, since they’ve kind of been screwed over twice now? ^_^;

RetroCrushTV is streaming – free and legally – Dear Brother (Oniisama e) based on the manga by Riyoko Ikeda, directed by Osamu Dezaki. I’m going to keep reminding you of this until you have all watched it. This should be assigned homework for any Yuri 101 course. In fact, one could do an entire class on it. Monique Thomas and Steve Jones cover some of this vast territory in their review on ANN, Does Dear Brother Still Hold Up?

Yuri Light Novels

Via Senior YNN Correspondent, Sean G. J-Novel Club has announced the license – and new translation – of GL Bunko’s Girls Kingdom 1 written by Nayo with art by Shio Sakura. Part 1 is available on the J-Novel website as a preview. I reviewed this novel back in 2018, when GL Bunko did their own translation. I’m really liking Shio-san’s revised art on this current crop of webnovels-turned-LNs.

J-Novel Club has also announced a December release date for Otherside Picnic, Volume 4. This link leads to the Kindle edition. It will also be available on Global Bookwalker.

Yuri Games

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Louise P, we have Thirsty Sword Lesbians Tabletop RPG by April Kit Walsh. This Kickstarter has one of the most compelling video pitches I’ve ever seen and if I played games, they’d definitely have my money! With 26 days to go in their campaign, they blown past their initial goal almost 4x over.

Other News

My brain got five times bigger, listening to Third Impact Anime Podcast’s Interview with Anime Scholar Helen McCarthy. Helen is my idol and anytime I have a chance to learn from her, I take it. I hope you will, too.

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 being an important part of the Okazu family. I couldn’t do it without you!

Yuri Anime

There’s a bunch of Yuri-ish anime hitting streaming services right now.

Assault Lily Bouquet is streaming on Funimation. I’ve watched the first episode. We will be getting a guest review to cover it. ^_^;

Adachi and Shimamura is definitely not cutting out the alien character, heavens knows why.

Devilman Lady and Battle Athletes will be released in on New Year’s Eve by Discotek. Alex Mateo has the scoop on ANN. These were anime when service involved women who didn’t look like blobs, but they still have plenty of service.

The Hollywood Reporter says that a Lumberjanes cartoon is in the works at HBO Max. Woot!

Yuri Manga

Viz Media announces the release of Revolutionary Girl Utena: After the Revolution, 20th anniversary manga.

J-Novel Club announced more of Ajiichi’s I Love Yuri and I Got Bodyswapped With a Fujoshi! on their website.

YNN Senior Correspondent Eric P. wants you to know that Kabi Nagata’s My Alcoholic Escape From Reality is available for pre-order. We should be seeing that released this winter.

Via Comic Natalie, Kukkorose no Hime Kishi to nari, Yuri Shoukan de Hataraku koto ni Narimashita (くっ殺せの姫騎士となり、百合娼館で働くことになりました。)  is about to be serialized in Monthly KiSSCA magazine which, when you go to the website do not be surprised is a nude-tone bikini level above a skin mag. You’ll be able to read a sample chapter in Japanese on the site, when it starts. This follows a man who is murdered, who finds himself in the body of a woman in another world who is given the choice to either become a knight or to work in a lesbian brothel, so chooses both. The Comic Natalie write up calls it a “transsexual story,” and you can see some character designs… and I’m sure we’re all expecting it to be high quality after all that. ^_^

Webcomics

Via Yurimother, we have a a couple of new Yuri webcomics to read!

Magical Girl Academe is now Live on Webtoon Canvas. 

Soulmate is being serialized on Tapas.

Yuri Light Novel

Once again, via Eric P., Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress, Volume 2 is now out in print. This LN is by Ameco Kaeruda with art by Shio Sakura.

This week saw the release of the digital version of A Lily Booms in Another World, also by Ameco Kaeruda with art by Shio Sakura. I stayed up late last night to read it, and I can’t wait to review it!

J-Novel Club has also given us a December release date for Otherworld Picnic, Volume 4.

Also via Eric, Roll Over and Die! I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!  print edition is up for pre-order with a late October release.

Yuri Visual Novels

Via YNN Correspondent Michaelangelo H. we have a couple of Yuri VN suggestions with short reviews to boot!

Video Panel News

New York Comic Con’s online Metaverse had guests we all know well, Utena director Kunihiko Ikuhara  accompanied by Utena manga artist, Chiho Saito, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Revolutionary Girl Utena! Check out the panel. It ran 9AM EDT this morning, but you’ll be able to see the replay on Youtube.

The Metaverse also spawned this fab manga chat between Comic Beat‘s Heidi MacDonald, Brigid Alverson, Debe Aoki, Johanna Draper Carlson nd myself this past week. Check that out on Youtube!

I’m about to guest on a special Japanese animation edition of the Journey Show, the Hugo Award winning science fiction blog, that traces, day by day, the scientific and science fiction history of the 20th century! Registration is free and it gives you a chance to watch playback later. I have no idea what it’ll be like, so  check it out. Watch me fumble on a topic I became an expert last weekend. ^_^

If you’re not sick of me yet, I’ve made my most recent video for Yuri Studio public, with captions and notes. Some recommendations from me. ^_^

Other News

Take a few moments and read this amazing compilation, The 100 Most Influential Sequences that Shaped Animation, on Vulture. It was a spectacular effort on the part of the panel such great reading ans watching.

If you’re into My Next Life As a Villainess, check out the squishy pillow choices, for one that is filled with memories of Katarina and the women who admire and desire her on Crunchyroll News.

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 being an important part of the Okazu family. I couldn’t do it without you!

Yuri Manga

We have some new items on the Yuricon Store!

Naoko Kodama’s new series, Days of Love at Seagull Villa, Volume 1. When Mayumi leaves her old life behind, she has no idea what she’ll find. This comes out in print in November!

Éclair Rouge: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart, the fourth volume of the Éclair anthology series, is now available from Yen Press. The English language edition does not have the Itou Hachi story that was included in the Japanese volume. If that’s a hill you’re ready to die on, you’re going it alone without me. I feel no loss. We can argue about slippery slopes, censorship and the difference between a drawing and a person in the comments.

Creator of Sasamekikoto, Ikeda Takashi’s new slice of life drama about two adult women living together, Futari ha Daitai Konna Kanji (ふたりはだいたいこんなかんじ ). At a glance, it appears to be a semi-realistic story about semi-closeted women.

Ajiichi’s Dekisokonai Hime-tachi, Volume 4 (できそこないの姫君たち) continues the story of Kurokawa and Fujishiro, who were complete opposites, but have somehow found themselves attracted to one another. This series is out in English, as well, Failed Princesses. Volume 2 hit shelves last week from Seven Seas.

I’m really digging Mei Ren’s story about two people unlikely to have ever met, Yuri to Koe to Kaze Matoi ( 百合と声と風纏い). Volume 3 is on shelves and on the Store.

New from GALETTE WORKS, is Hamano Ringo’s Sora-iro Melancholic, Volume 1. (空色メランコリック) This is the story of Bun-chan, who told Mii in Hamano’s Cotton Candy, that she had liked another girl in school. Continuity!

Canno’s new three-way love relationship, Goukaku Tame no! Yasashi Sankaku Kakei Nyuumon, Volume 1 (合格のための！ やさしい三角関係入門) is interesting, and I’m not at all sure where it’s headed. At the moment it looks more like a love triangle, than a poly relationship, but I have hope.

Via YNN Correspondent CW,  online Comic-Action has the newest work by Nagata Kabi, Meisou Senshi ・Nagata Kabi(迷走戦士・永田カビ) which begins with Hitori Kekkonshiki (一人結婚式) in Japanese. In keeping with her previous essay titles, this would be “My Solo Marriage Ceremony.” I’ve only had a chance to read chapter 1, but I’m really interested where this will take her – and us!

Via Yuri Navi, Kenkyuu-tou no Mayonaka Gohan, a story of midnight snacks and Yuri, sounds like it may be my new favorite thing. Natsukawa Moko’s story is described as a “heartwarming Yuri gourmet” manga. I’m in.

Enjoy the Weekly YNN Report? Become an Okazu Patron
and be part of the News team!

Yuri-ish Anime

Funimation is now streaming Assault Lily Bouquet, which looks like 100% tease and playing around with Yuri tropes with no actual Yuri. But it could be fun if you have no expectations.

Not-Yuri, but check out Makoto’s look in this visual of the Inner Senshi in their casual digs from Sailor Moon Eternal. ^_^ Thanks to Crunchyroll’s Komatsu-san for the details!

Carlos Cordoniga from Crunchyoll has a lovely article, Why PreCure’s Good, Colorful Optimism is So Welcome. I’ve been watching Kira Kira Pretty Cure Ala Mode, and I have to say, I’m 100% in on colorful optimism right now. I am done with gritty and dark. (This particular season has a reasonably well-established Yuri couple, as well, so hang tight for a review.)

Events

YNN Correspondent Megan wants everyone to know that there is an Nakamura Asumiko 20th anniversary exhibition at the Ikebukuro Parco (again! While am not there. *again*, argh) until October 12. This will include some work from the upcoming Seven Seas release A White Rose in Bloom. I have reviewed the first volume of Meijirobana no Saku here on Okazu.. Click the link for a 3-D tour of the exhibit. It’s pretty impressive.

Other News

Via YNN Correspondent Verso S, we have this fab article on the top K-pop Girls groups, as voted by Korean queer women. We’ve had some fun checking their music out. I just happened to have wandered on to Monster by Red Velvet, so I was in sympatico with these women’s choices. The wife likes Blackpink (and thumbs up on the Lara Croft vibe on that photo,) but we both think the #6, Cosmic Girls have the best photo of the bunch. ^_^ “We are predictable,” the wife notes.

Not-Yuri, but I really am glad that Seven Seas has licensed Kageki Shoujo The Curtain Rises. Translator Jocelyne Allen and I were kvelling about this tale of a girl who want to be the otokoyaku top star in a Takarazuka-esque troupe, some years ago. I’m delighted you’ll be able to read it. ^_^

The Harvey Awards has induced Tezuka Osamu into their Hall of Fame. Rafael Antonio Pineda has the details on ANN, including a list of manga that have won Harvey Awards!

Crunchyroll’s Daniel Dockey interviews author and speaker Matt Alt about What Makes Anime So Appealing.

On a totally person note, if you follow me on social, you’ll know that in 2018 my website “Worldshaking” Fanfic was lost when my webhost imploded. I had most of the files (a few had to be recovered on Internet Archive, when I was unable to get a final site update.) I transferred the domain, but for various reasons just never got the site back up until now! Finally, after a total rebuild I can welcome you back to “Worldshaking” Fanfic. I’ve also manged to add all my new original work. To celebrate, I’m going to be working on a brand-new not-an-isekai Yuri webnovel. To get chapters early, become an Okazu Patron! I’ll be sharing the cast of characters shortly. ^_^

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 being an important part of the Okazu family. I couldn’t do it without you!