Men Men Musubi ( 麺面むすび)

December 28th, 2022

I am very much enjoying Maitsuki Niwatsuki Ooyatsuki – Monthly With Ooya, which is a relatively new series from Yodogawa-sensei, so when I saw Men Men Musubi ( 麺面むすび), a collected volume of short stories, I knew I was going to picky up a copy.  ^_^

This collection has six stories, that provide a variety of scenarios, which include that first flush of love, the fractures in a relationship that if left unaddressed can break it, long-term relationships and how they can still offer surprises, how one’s past doesn’t have to be left behind, and other relatively gentle scenarios of adult life. While there wasn’t anything ground-breaking here, I really enjoyed each one of these stories for itself.

Yododgawa’s art is clean and , again, gentle. Everyone feels like someone you might know, in a situation you might be expect to be familiar with. Well, okay, maybe we all haven’t been kabedoned by the office hottie, but you know what I mean. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Stories – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 9

Overall – 8

For a relaxing, easy read Yuri – perfect for practicing one’s Japanese – Men-Men Musubi is a great choice.

Posted in Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »


Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, Volume 9 ( 付き合ってあげてもいいかな)

December 27th, 2022

Pictured: Two women stand over a pan, while one with longish blonde hair, wearing a brown sweater, squeezes something into fried rice. She looks like she is concentrating, while the other woman in a high-necked white knit sweater exclaims. When we first met Miwa, she was unsure of herself. And when we met Saeko she seemed very confident.

As we’ve got to know them, we’ve come to understand that Miwa had not had time to process her own needs and desires fully. Now, on the far side of her first serious relationship, she’s coming in to her own. On the other hand, Saeko has met someone who encourages her to express her vulnerabilities. As they both move into their second relationships, they’ve stayed good friends and are growing into fully realized humans.

In Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, Volume 9 ( 付き合ってあげてもいいかな) it’s time for both of them to deal with some lingering issues that they’ve carried with them. Miwa’s dealing a pretty major issue, but luckily for her, Tamaki’s willing to figure it out with her. Most importantly, Saeko is finally dealing with whatever happened to her in middle and high school….a legacy that has made her reluctant to talk with her family. It’s a pretty profound volume for Saeko. Once again we see these two take steps forward in a way that is unique to them. We’re just watching over them like aunts and uncles.

No spoilers, but this was a very good volume and very worth reading.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 8
Service – 4 There are some adult scenes, nothing explicit.

Overall – 9

I keep wondering how far we’re going to follow these two, but I’m not bored yet. Chalk that up to Tamifull’s skillful story telling.

Posted in Yuri Manga | No Comments »


The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 3

December 26th, 2022

Where do I even begin with The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 3? It…was good! seems like the best place to start.

This novel took a trope I strongly dislike and gave it a genuine reason to exist, then resolved it beautifully. In almost every series where the plot hinges upon the fact that the main characters can’t, don’t or won’t have a conversation, my teeth begin to grind. Not so here, in a set-up that set Anis and Euphie at odds with one another in a way that could not be compromised, in order to protect the other. They really could not have it out in the usual way. So when they do, in a reasonably epic manner…it made actual sense!

Then, in the fallout of the epic scene, they do address the Yuri in the room and that, too, makes sense.

Then there is a ridiculous handwave, which was 1000% acceptable because this is an Isekai LN and even I am not so philistine as to require everything be practical. ^_^

When I reviewed Volume 1 of this series, I gave it a 7 and said that it “had a lot of room to grow.” I don’t appear to have reviewed Volume 2 of the manga, which wrapped up the first arc. I understand why I did not. It does resolve the plot, but to do so focuses more on Anisphia’s relationship to her brother and father, than to Euphyllia.

Here in Volume 3, Euphie and Anis are front and center, the entire plot wrapped around their feelings about their life goals versus life roles and about each other, in an immensely satisfying way. The story gets emotionally heavy in the most honest and useful way possible, that sets the stage for the next novel. The next two novels, in fact, notes Sr. YNN Correspondent Sean G, who pointed out that Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei (転生王女と天才令嬢の魔法革命) Volume 4 and Volume 5 are out in Japan. Volume 4 in English is slated for a June release from Yen Press…and, I find myself looking forward to it. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 5 As usual, rather irrelevant to the story
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – 1 Hardly any this time
Yuri – 8 Euphyllia and Anisphia are now a great couple

Overall – 8 Satisfying conclusion and a great opening gambit for the rest of the series to continue

I want to know what Anis and Euphie will do with themselves now that all of …/flailing hands/ this…is out of the way. ^_^

Posted in Light Novel | 2 Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – December 24, 2022

December 24th, 2022

Yuri Anime

Sugoi Lite has once again given us hope, this time with the news that a domain has been registered for Whisper Me a Love Song, based on the manga by Takeshima Eku. If this indeed is a 2023 anime, that would make 4 explicitly Yuri anime for next year so far.

 

I’m In Love With the Villainess News

I’m in Love With The Villainess: She’s So Cheeky For A Commoner, Volume 1 is up for pre-order! And, for those of you reading along with the Japanese edition, Heimin no Kuse ni Namaikina!, Volume 2 (平民のくせに生意気な) is up on the Yuricon Store for JP and US Kindle. Once again, I will promise you that this is worth reading and isn’t just “another P.O.V” version of the same events.

Also in Japanese is Volume 3 of Watashi no Osho ha Akuyaku Reijou -Revolution- (私の推しは悪役令嬢。-Revolution-), the print edition of the original light novel series. Volume 5 of the manga is also out now in Japan.  I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 4 manga is up on the Yuricon Store as well, from Seven Seas

While we’re celebrating, Aonoshimo-sensei offered up an adorable Christmas card from Claire, Rae and Relaire on Twitter.  

Phew, that was a lot.

 

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Yuri Manga

Not sure I remembered to post this, so don’t forget that Hello, Melancholic, Volume 3 is out now from Seven Seas!

Thanks to Sr. YNN Correspondent Ashley, we learn that Hayashiya Shizuru has done a piece of MURCIÉLAGO fanart that is included in Volume 20! Also from Hayashiya-sensei is a 3rd installment of Yan-koi Shokudo (ヤン恋食堂　C定食) doujinshi series, available at Melonbooks.

Via Comic Natalie, I have a passel of Yuri manga announcements that I’ve been meaning to get up here:

Sachi to Yuka, Volume 1 (サチとユーカ) is out now in Japan. This Yuri love comedy about two adult women who have been friends, roommates and lovers runs in Young Bull magazine. It sounds slice-of-life-y and kinda sweet?

Sakuma-junsa to Hanaoka-junsa ha Tsukiai Hajimete, Volume 1 (佐久間巡査と花岡巡査は付き合いはじめた) is another Yuri comedy, about two policewomen dating.

Zenbu Kimi no Sei da (全部君のせいだ) is a cosplay Yuri comedy by merrihachi. I know I’ve read at least some of this, maybe it was in an anthology?

Sukina Onna no Ko ga Watashi dake Nazeka Kibishii (好きな女の子が私にだけなぜか厳しい) is a “bitter love comedy” about Hina who falls in love with perfect Honda-san. Honda is known to be kind to everyone…except, for some reason, Hina. This is running in web magazine Manga Cross.

This year in Comic Yuri Hime, we’re getting a Yuri+food+camping manga called Osoto Gohan to Issho ni (おそとごはんをご一緒に) by Hazuki. Insert “thinking face emoji” here. Not derivative at all. I want desperately to say

Yume de Furarete Hajimaru Yuri (夢でフラれてはじまる百合) is a relationship that begins with a dream. By Hijiki, this will be serialized on Takeshobo’s web magazine Gamma Plus. Warning, the “Plus” in that name seems to be indicative of breast size. Not this story, but an awful lot of them.

 

 
Yuri Light Novel

Sean Gaffney has reviewed Qualia the Purple over at his own blog, A Case Suitable For Treatment. I remember many people suggesting this to me when it first came out in Japanese more than a decade ago. I never did read it then, so I’m glad he has now. He does recommend it, with some reservations. Read his review and decide for yourself!

Via YNN Correspondent Milli, Tsubomi Éditions on Twitter have announced that the first chapter of The Lost Lamb, a Taiwanese Yuri novel about a young pianist, is available on their French-language Tsubomi App.

 

 

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Other News

Awards season us upon us and I am asking you for a favor. If you’ve read and enjoyed By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga, please consider writing it in for the Non-Fiction category of the Rainbow Awards.

Via YNN Correspondent and Okazu Patron, Ivan V., here is a fun little article about the importance of the Internet Archive, and a hefty dollop of Sailor Moon fandom, in Preserving Memory by Moonlight, Ensuring Access by Daylight by Christina Humphreys. Also a bunch of those Senshi attack game gifs we all loved in the early 00’s, of which one lives permanently on my “Worldshaking” Fanfic site. ^_^

 

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Posted in Yuri Network News | 2 Comments »


Ayaka-chan ha Hiroko-sempai ni Koi Shiteru, Volume 2 (彩香ちゃんは弘子先輩に恋してる)

December 22nd, 2022

In Volume 1, we met the popular and charming work sempai, Hiroko, who is the object of Ayaka’s ardor. Ayaka tries very hard to gain Hiroko’s attention, but Hiroko remains a bit stand-offish. What can Ayaka, a woman who loves women, do to gain the woman of her dream’s attention? Unbeknownst to Ayaka, she is making an impression. The only problem is that Hiroko, also a woman who loves women, thinks Ayaka is a clueless straight girl sent to torture her.

In Ayaka-chan ha Hiroko-sempai ni Koi Shiteru, Volume 2 (彩香ちゃんは弘子先輩に恋してる), the heat ramps up as Ayaka drowns her misery at a local lesbian bar, only to learn, that Hiroko-sempai is a regular!

In the meantime, Hiroko is trying to resist the irresistable Ayaka, not realizing that she’s also queer as the day is long. But, even if she was, would a workplace romance be a good idea? The chaos levels rise, until Ayaka can stand it no longer.

She bursts into the office and demands everyone listen to her publicly and clearly state her feelings for Hiroko-sempai.

This is very much a “wackiness ensues” farce of a Shakaijin Yuri manga. You can just about hear Khaturian’s Sabre Dance playing in the background, while doors slam and people run to and fro. The resolution of this manga will also be anticlimactic. It’s the tension between ladies’ woman Hiroko unable to give in to her desires and Ayaka wearing another tantalizing – yet professional – outfit and trying to get sempai’s attention that is the plot.

Those readers who find the Black & White series by Sal Jiang a bit too much to swallow, might enjoy the playful goofiness and cuter art of this series. I’m here for the ridiculousness of the scenarios that surely could not exist in a real office for even a second. The more ridiculous this story gets, the more I enjoy it.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 10
Service – 6 When Ayaka stops dressing for attention, it’s actually pretty funny
Yuri – 7
Lesbian – 9

Overall – 8

Posted in Sal Jiang, Yuri Manga | 4 Comments »