Yuri Anime

The first trailer for Yuri science fiction/horror series Otherside Picnic is up on Youtube! I’ve been really enjoying the light novels by Miyazawa Iori, which are being translated by J-Novel Club. Here are my reviews of Volume 1 and Volume 2. I’m looking forward to the anime and third LN, which will be getting an April release. Check out the trailer now and let us know what you think!

Yuri Manga

Yen Press has announced an omnibus edition of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the original manga by Magica Quartet, which will hit shelves later this summer.

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Yuri Events

The Mechademia conference in Kyoto has been postponed until 2021. I’m still up in the air about going to Anime Boston. It seems like it would be smarter for everyone to stay home for a while, because even one person walking around a large crowded event can infect thousands. I’m holding off canceling everything outright, but I expect that there will be no events for me this year as I am at high risk for respiratory illness.

So, instead of stressing, I’m running a special COVID-19-NO-TRAVEL Patreon campaign! Become an Okazu Patron, between now and April 7th, and you will get a sneak peek at my next article, “Girl Gangs and the Yuri Underground.” ^_^

Yuri Doujinshi

DMP’s doujinshi imprint has a new title – and a new creator to me – kkzt’s The Blank of Describer, as well as an interview with kkzt, on the Lilyka website.

Via Yurimother, we have the news that Shilin’s alt-universe story to her Carciphona series, Amongst Us, is being Kickstarted for a print volume! I am a HUGE fan of Shilin’s work, (I’ve reviewed her artbook here) and unrepentantly adore Blackbird and Veloce in this modern-world version of their life together. Check out the Kickstarter and join us~~~

Yuri Visual Novels

Studio Élan’s Bellhouse imprint has announced a second title, Without a Voice by L³. This “dark fantasy,” is about “Cassidy, a princess exiled to live alone in a forest, stumbles upon another woman living in the woods.” This VN will be available free on Steam on March 20. You can also check out the trailer on the Steam link.

Other News

Via YNN Correspondent David M. we have a really interesting article, The Art of the In-between in Japan’s Taishō Era, about gender fluidity in Taisho period art from a 2017 exhibit at the Yayoi-Yumeji Museum, which is one of my favorite museums in the world.

Lee Mandelo on Tor.com has us Looking Back on Ten Years of Queering SFF, From 2010 to 2020. I know I have mentioned how Tor is killing it right now, but let me reiterate, Tor is genuinely giving me a ton of reading material. I’ve been keeping my library hopping getting new Tor releases. Why the library? Because when I’m done reading it, then loads of other folks can read it, too! Remember, every time you check a queer SFF book out of your library, a butch lesbian angel gets her wings and wallet chains. ^_^

Wash your hands folks!

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 essential part of the team!

Yuri Visual Novels

Breaking News! The visual novel creative team at Studio Élan, announces a new publishing initiative, Bellhouse, by Studio Élan. Bellhouse will be publishing games not developed by Studio Élan, but that they believe deserves attention. Like Studio Élan projects, Bellhouse will focus on positive representations for LGBTQ women. Their first project is First Snow by Salty Salty Studios.

Yuri Manga

Kadokawa has a new “mistress and servant” anthology, Shujuu Yuri Anthology Rhodanthe (主従百合アンソロジー Rhodanthe).

May will bring us Makoto Hagino’s A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Volume 3!

Tamifull’s How Do We Relationship, Volume 1 the English edition of Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana? has an June release date from Viz Media. I’m telling you now…save up all your money for a very, very, very queer June this year.

Jennifer Sherman on AANN reports that Saki Achiga-hen, episode of Side-A manga is restarting after 7 years.

Here’s a bunch of books that aren’t going onto the Yuricon Store, but if they sound interesting to you, here you go!

Comic Natalie reports on Pochi Climb, Volume 1 (ぽちゃクライム！), the collected chapters of the bouldering comic that runs in Comic Yuri Hime and thus sort of awkwardly mashes up awkward torso shots, bouldering details and a vaguely Yuri plotline.

Byougestu, (病月) by Mochi au Lait, is a “villain’s pure love story” about a girl who stalks another girl. The creator of Happy Sugar Life recommends it, if that gives you a better idea of the audience. (-_-)

Ichido dake demo, Koukaishiteimasu (一度だけでも、後悔してます。) is Miyahara Miyako’s story of a lolicon-looking female landlord who is willing to take sex from an older female tenant as payment for overdue rent.

Unicorn to Sabishigariya Shoujo (ユニコーンと寂しがりや少女) follows a lonely girl who conjures up a unicorn(-girl) in her attempt to transport her dog magically to her dorm. Attracted by her virginity, the unicorn won’t leave her alone. This looked cute, but if the word “virgin” is in the editorial copy, I know it’s unlikely to be for me. ^_^

girls x garden has two new Yuri anthologies plumbing the depths of unpleasant emotion. Qualia – Envy and Qualia – Jealousy.

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Yuri Anime

The first Princess Principal sequel film has some announcements according to ANN‘s Rafael Antonio Pineda.

Yuri Light Novel

We’re getting Otherside Picnic, Volume 3, in April. This is available on Kindle and multiple formats directly from J-Novel Club.

Other News

Highly recommended reading, is Caitlin Moore’s Power, Oppression, and Victimhood in The Twelve Kingdoms versus The Rising of the Shield Hero on AnimeFeminist. An excellent bit of compare and contrast.

Anne Reid, a Narrative Director for Ubisoft has written an excellent article on Ethical World Building in Games that is also very worth your time.

Nintendo Switch in Japan is promoting Animal Crossing with a video that seems pretty gay to me. ^_^ H/t to Rachel Thorn for that.

Let’s wrap on this book which has immediately gone onto my to-read pile, Sarah Galley’s Upright Women Wanted, the queer Librarian Wild West adventure we have been longing for! If you’re not already getting the Tor newsletter, I’m going to tell you to do that for yourself. I’ve been getting amazing reading recs from them. Also, yes, there were librarians on horseback in the American Wild West and yes, I will put money down than some of them were queer. Fight me. ^_^

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 essential part of the team!

Yuri Events

Top News this week: Yuriten is back! This traveling Yuri art exhibit and store will be going on the road for a Japan-wide tour beginning in March. So far, that’s all the info we have, no cities, or dates have been announced, yet. Stay tuned for details. And pray to the Yuri gods that the tour manages to hang around ’til June so I can squeak it in. ^_^

I am pleased to announce that I am a Featured Guest Panelist at Anime Boston 2020! I will be doing 5 panels and presentations and a game, over three days, so definitely join me! As always I’ll be bring boxes of stuff to giveaway as prizes for good participation. ^_^  I haven’t been back to Anime Boston since 2005 – I’m looking forward to returning.

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Yuri Anime

Alex Mateo over at ANN has reported that Funimation has added Revolutionary Girl Utena and the Utena movie, Adolescence of Utena, to its streaming catalog, along with Princess Knight and other Tezuka classics. Brush up on early anime (and Yuri) history on Funimation.com.

Yuri Manga

While we’re talking Utena, Kara Dennison at Crunchyroll has the news that Viz Media announced the license of Revolutionary Girl Utena: After the Revolution, the 20th anniversary manga. I reviewed that back in July 2018.

Next up, we’ve got some new titles on the Yuricon Store:

In Akegawa Yuu’s adult life manga, Tsuki to Suppon, Volume 1 ( 月とすっぴん), opposites attract!

Scarlet, Volume 1,by Yuino Chiri, out from Seven Seas this month in English, is a horror story about drugs and werewolves and blood.

Akashi’s Still Sick, Volume 2 from Tokyopop heats up the weirdness between Makoto and Akane, in this office romance (probably?). I reviewed the Japanese edition of V2 last October and am kind of on pins and needles about V3. ^_^ I reviewed Volume 1 in English in November 2019.

Staring in the April issue of Comic Yuri Hime is, Uchi no Shishou ha Shippo ga nai (うちの師匠はしっぽがない) a Yuri manga about rakugo, traditional Japanese comedic storytelling, with a teacher who is an animal girl? So…that’s a bunch of things smushed together. Translator Jocelyn Allen posted on Twitter that it’s cute.  Fingers crossed. (Although, realistically I do not particularly want it to be “cute.” I want my Yuri to be adult and stylish and sexy and about competence and achievement and triumph. Thank you.)

Yuri Light Novel

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Sean G, Seven Seas announced ROLL OVER AND DIE: I WILL FIGHT FOR AN ORDINARY LIFE WITH MY LOVE AND CURSED SWORD!, described as a “bloody” Yuri action LN. “…a brush with death finally awakens something in Flamme–rather than ending, her story might just be getting started. And this time, instead of a traitorous party, she has a woman she loves by her side.” This is a first volume. Sean notes that it looks to be good value for your money.

Via Molly Lee, Kaeruda Ameco, creator of the Sexiled series, has a new novel out in Japanese at the end of February, Issekai ni Saku ha Yuri no Hana (異世界に咲くは百合の花) – “A Lily Flower Blooms in Another World.” This is available on JP Kindle only from GL Bunko right now, but as soon as we can access it outside Japan, I’ll be sure to let you know!

Yuri Visual Novel

You can pre-order the next installation of Innocent Grey’s Yuri VN series Flowers -Le volume sur automne- at J-List.

Other News

Via Grace Ting, we have news of OVER magazine, a new Japanese LGBTQ magazine.

Via The Nerds of Color, we have the most awesome news that John Jennings is curating Megascope, a new line of diverse graphic novels from Abrams ComicArts. I’m so happy for John – whose work can also be seen in the currently kickstarting Rosarium Publishing’s horror GN Box of Bones, looks breathtaking. I met John at TCAF a few years ago, when he told me about Box. and I’ve been looking forward to it, ever since.

Last up this week, here’s a link to a 2017 interview with Hirao Auri-sensei on the manga Oshi ga Budokan Ittekuretara Shinu. which is now an anime (that I am woefully behind on…catching up on that is next on my to-do. ^_^)

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 essential part of the team!

Yuri Light Novel

The first of the Sayaka Light Novels from Seven Seas has arrived. ^_^ Bloom Into You : Regarding Saeki Sayaka Volume 1 is exactly as good as I remember it to be. For a really insightful exploration of a character who really resonates (with me, for oh-so-many reasons,) this is a truly excellent English edition and well worth your time and money! Review to follow this week.

Yuri Manga

Big news! Seven Seas has added two manga from Akiko Morishima to their catalog! Along with Rakuen no Jouken, which is now named Conditions of Paradise: Our First Time, they have added the short story collection Ruri-iro no Yume, which will be released as Conditions of Paradise: Azure Dream! I’m very excited for you all to have her work in English…and hope we’ll get the Joshikka series next. For an overview of her works, Ariel ‘Solowi’ Nakandakare has a great article up on AnimeFeminist, Beyond the Bear Storm: Morishima Akiko, yuri mangaka.

We’ve got a pile of new stuff up on the Yuricon Store:

Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Volume 1, which fittingly will see a spring release from Seven Seas, is Dr. Pepperco’s Victorian fantasy about an English girl and her Japanese maid.

Global Bookwalker has all of Akiyama Haru’s Octave, (オクターヴ) available in Japanese digitally. I’m just glad to see this available outside Japan again. It was really quite excellent.

MURCIÉLAGO, Volume 16 (ムルシエラゴ ) hit shelves in Japan last month. I’m so behind~~~.

I’m ever further behind on MURCIÉLAGO BYPRODUCT Arania, Volume 2 (ムルシエラゴ- BYPRODUCT -アラーニァ). More Reiko please. ^_^

Ari North’s beautiful ALWAYS HUMAN is indeed modified from Webtoon format for a print run and is available in hardcover and soft. Amaryllis wants you to know that Little Bee, the publisher always does a pre-order special, so there will be extras, if you buy it and submit proof of pre-order! I’m going to get this in hardcover because it’s so beautiful.

Nicki “YuriMother” Bauman, wrote up a terrific analysis of the Yuri audience  in answer to the often-stated, and rarely true assumption that Yuri is “for men” in Yuri is for Everyone: An analysis of yuri demographics and readership over on Anime Feminist.

The Yuri Network News report is made possible by Okazu Patrons. Your support funds reviews, interviews, news and helps pay writers. As little as $5/month can make a huge difference!

Yuri Doujinshi

Lilyka is running a time-sale on translated Yuri doujinshi. Grab the coupon code on their Twitter feed and head over to their store.

Briana Lawrence is the creator of a magical girl comic she describes as “a queer as hell book featuring a team of black queer girls.” Check out Magnifiquenoir!

Yuri(?) Anime

The Tamayomi baseball anime trailer is out and Alex Mateo over on ANN has the details. It’s going to be Yuri-ish, as it’s a MangaTime Kirara baby. Some of you will caution me pointlessly to not consider it Yuri, others of you will gush about how awesome it is. Few to none of you understand will why this is still not the sports Yuri series I seek. ^_^

Yuri Game

Brianna Lei’s Butterfly Soup, a Visual Novel about Asian queer girls and baseball has been added to the Store! (And is probably more interesting than Tamayomi, tbh.

Studio Élan has revealed what looks to be an absolutely breathtakingly beautiful new “solarpunk lesbian” Visual Novel, Summer at the Edge of the Universe. From the Press release, this voiced VN “features three routes, each centered around one of Summer’s friends. Every route contains both romantic and platonic endings. More fantasy than sci-fi, Summer aims to be a positive and uplifting experience, with one of the core tenets for the game being ‘good vibes only.'” The game will be coming to PC, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4 and is expected to be released in 2021. 

Yuri Goods

I know, I know, it’s $300, but I added the Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune wicca x collaboration watch to the Store, too. ^_^ Because I can.

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 essential part of the team!

Yuri Manga

Via YNN Senior Correspondent Eric P. we have news of Love Me For Who I Am, Volume 1, a “An LGBT+ manga about finding friendship and common ground at an untraditional maid café.” This story, which is very moe in art style, will be hitting shelves in June.

Watashi no Kobushi wo Uketomete, Volume 3 (私の拳をうけとめて) continues the relationship between two former gang girls as they try and figure out who they are in the adult world.

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Volume 4 joins its siblings on the Yuricon Store.

Via Yuri Mother, we have the encouraging report that Mieri Hiranishi will release English print editions of her online lesbian life comics. Hiranishi became popular for her bilingual essay The Moment I Realized I Wasn’t Straight. The artist also noted this week that a Thai edition of her comic is up on Pixiv.

Very interesting news via Comic Natalie. Creator of Kiss & White LIly For My Dearest Girl, Canno has a new series  in Dengeki Daioh magazine! The series, titled, “Goukaku no Tameni! Yasashi Sankaku Kankei Nyuumon” (合格のための！やさしい三角関係入門) is a story about three-way relationship. Since, IMHO, her three-person story was among the strongest of the arcs in Kiss & White Lily, I’m looking forward to this new series.

Via YNN Correspondent Dash on Twitter – Seven Seas has 6 Yuri/BL/LGBTQ manga out this week, including Kase-san and Yamada!

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Other News

Via ANN’s Kim Morrisy, a retrospective of French art in Kyuushu will also be selling Rose of Versailles goods. How fun!

Huge news for LGBTQ marriage equality in Japan, Osaka City began recognizing same-sex partnerships at the end of last month and via Melon on Twitter, Hamamatsu City announced that on April 1st, it will begin registering same-sex partners. Melon also reports that Hiroshima is hoping to add partnerships for the new fiscal year. If this is of interest to you, definitely follow Melon, who does great work on the topic in Japanese and English.

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 essential part of the team!