Galette No. 19 (ガレット)

November 14th, 2021

Galette No. 19 (ガレット) magazine is, happily, still chugging along with quality series by popular Yuri manga artists. This issue is probably the smallest we’ve seen so far, which had me worried, but apparently, the team is persisting through the various challenges of crowdfunding a magazine during a pandemic, when the shows that sustained sales have until recently dried up.

One of the main points of success for Galette was the various streams of income it was able to generate, between online and in-person sales. I know all too well how nearly impossible it is to have a major stream of income cut off in publishing. That said, the comic shows are coming back. Winter Comiket is scheduled to be in-person this year. Attendees will have to be vaccinated or prove they have a negative PCR test. (If it were my event, I’d have a vaccination booth outside the event, to encourage folks to get those vaccines.) Comiket is kind of a strange animal, with all the side doors open in Tokyo Big Sight, it’s inside, but also open to the outside, which might make people a little less concerned. However, there are always a *lot* of people at Comiket. But, I digress.

There are 5 continuing stories in this volume, a few of which are now into a second volume and ought to see collected tankoubon soon.

Additionally, this volume includes one of the Galette team’s “Collaboration” projects, with a paired manga and a short story, a concept I quite like. It feels very much a throwback to doujinshi circle works where folks would do a similar collaboration around a theme or a story. In this collaboration, the story comes first and the manga finishes up.

This is followed up by the editors’ notes and an ad for the 5th anniversary issue No. 20, which hits shelves in Japan this coming week. I’ve already seen the cover on the pre-order for crowdfunding backers; honestly Pen’s covers have been consistently one of my favorite parts of the book! ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

I’m really hoping that the return of comic markets will bring in renewed vitality for Galette. It’s still totally worth getting, but I’d still love to see it consistently over 200 pages, and hope to see some of my fave artists return to its roster. ^_^

Posted in Galette, Magazines, Yuri Manga | No Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – November 13, 2021

November 13th, 2021

LGBTQ+ Manga Events

This week is pretty exciting for fans of Yuri, BL and Queer manga! There are two chonky discussions you don’t want to miss.

On November 17th, at 5:00 PM on Zoom check out Manga in Libraries: The LGBTQ+ Community, sponsored by the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable of the ALA.  Registration is free. We had a great conversation and I expect the Q&A to be fabulous.

On November 20, at 5:15 in Panel Room 5 at Anime NYC I’ll be joining GeeksOUT presents: Serving Magical Person Realness panel. We’ll be talking LGBQT+characters and series in manga.  This will be my first in-person appearance since 2019, I am excited and terrified. I have a terrible cough, I apologize in advance. It’s not COVID, and I’ve gotten my booster shot. ^_^;

 

Yuri Manga

I’m going to keep banging this gong for just 2 more days: The Taiwanese Showa Period Yuri manga collection Kitanhana Monogatari (台湾発の百合漫画『綺譚花物語』) has made it’s crowdfunding goal and is now going to have a print publication – and, hopefully, a translated version! I’m really looking forward to this. There’s about 2 more days to back this project.

Tamamushi posted the intro chapter to their new Yuri manga Dore ga Koikaga Wakaranai(どれが恋かがわからない)  on Twitter. Check out the rest in Comic Cune magazine!

Via Comic Natalie, we have Majyo no Kekkon (魔女ノ結婚 ), the story of a “cool beauty” and “pure” witch who “marry” in order to increase their magic. You can take a look at the comic in Japanese on Comic Newtype.

 

Anime News

Aria the Benedizione film has released an extended Promotional Video to promote the end theme. Rafael Antonio Pineda has the whole report on ANN.

Rafael also reports that Netflix announced a second season for Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045, which I quite enjoyed, so I’m happy. ^_^ I’ll follow this up with Adriana Hazra’s ANN news item that the first 8 minutes of the Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 compilation film is available on Youtube.

 

LGBTQ Manga

Via YNN correspondent Ellis K. coming from Viz Media, To Strip the Flesh includes a story about a trans man dealing with his transition. TJ was very excited about this one in our Manga in Libraries discussion.

Via YNN Correspondent Patricia B., Yen Press has licensed I Want to Be A Wall, the story of an asexual woman in a marriage of convenience. Alex Mateo has the details on ANN.

 

Visual Novel and Games News

Highway Blossoms from Studio Élan is getting a OST release on vinyl. That’s retro cool. This a limited pressing, but you can still preorder a copy as of today, from the Very Ok Vinyl website.

From the folks that brought you Thirsty Sword Lesbians, an expansion is now being crowdfunded with Advanced Lovers and Lesbians, which has already blown way past it’s goal on Kickstarter.

 

Thanks to our Okazu Patrons who make the YNN weekly report possible! Support us on Patreon to help us give Guest Reviewers a raise and to help us support Yuri creators!

Become a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share and be part of the Yuri Network. ^_^

Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


Bloom Into You Anthology, Volume One

November 12th, 2021

The Bloom Into You Anthology, Volume One is something we didn’t used to see much in the west – an “official” collection of shorts about the characters by artists other than the creator. It’s a testament to the popularity of Bloom Into You, that this series had two volumes of this official anthology. Today we’re looking at Volume 1.

To begin with, I find I never reviewed this volume in Japanese. Having re-read it now, I know why. It’s a fun read and very enjoyable if you are a fan of the series or, more specifically, of Yuu and Touko. Most of the stories focus on them and their dynamic, often with a kind of goofiness that I imagine is very appealing if you like them. Here you’ll discover works about Bloom Into You by other Yuri artists such as Canno,  Yuriko Hara and tMnR.

Tthis volume had a few stories I enjoyed.  Particularly, “Onigiri, Croquettes, Rolled Eggs,” by Okara Miyama, which looks into a bad day in the life of Yuu’s friend, aspiring writer Koyomi. It’s a lovely look at friendship.

Also appealing to me was Kazuno Yuikawa’s “In the Box,” for – again – taking a deep dive into Sayaka’s feelings about and relationship with Touko.

It’s a no-brainer that I like “Bitter Coffee Time” by Hiroichi, for focusing on Riko and Miyako.

This volume was beautifully lettered by CK Russell, and nicely translated by Jenny McKeon. The small error of Sayaka’s birthdate has already been acknowledged and will be changed in future editions. I wouldn’t mention it at all, except people do like to jump on that kind of thing, so I wanted to assure you, it’s been noted already.

Which brings me to a point I want to make yet again – should you see an error or have a sustainable argument against a translation choice, there is an effective means to communicate this to companies. Go to their website, click their contact forms, write a politely worded message detailing the error. Remember human beings work at these companies, so do be sympathetic. The wrong thing to do is become rude or vicious in a public forum, so avoid that if possible. I assure you, being polite works. I’ve addressed many problematic language issues in the years I have been writing here. All you need to do is be polite.

If you loved Bloom Into You and want more time with Yuu and Touko and their friends…this is the book for you!

Ratings are variable on account of it being an anthology.

Overall – 8

Bloom Into You Anthology Volume Two (linked here by an amazon affiliate link. I’ll get it up on the Yuricon Store when all the options are avaialable) will be out in January, so you have another chance to indulge your passion for this series, just around the corner.

Posted in Bloom Into You / Yagate Kimi ni Naru, English Manga, Nakatani Nio, Yuri Anthology, Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »


2DK, G Pen Aftertime Ohsawa Yayoi Short Story Collection (2DK、Gペン、アフタータイム。大沢やよい 短編集)

November 11th, 2021

Ohsawa Yayoi’s adult life romance, 2DK, G Pen, Mezamashitokei was a part of the monthly Yuri contributions from Comic Yuri Hime from 2015 to 2018. After 8 volumes, in which we became familiar with the details of our protagonists’ lives and loves, we may be forgiven for wondering how they are doing now. ^_^

Ohsawa-sensei gives us a glimpse of Nanami and Kaede’s home life in the cover story of her new collection, 2DK, G Pen Aftertime Ohsawa Yayoi Short Story Collection (2DK、Gペン、アフタータイム。大沢やよい 短編集). They haven’t changed. Nanami is still busy, Kaede is still incapable of taking care of herself and a little prone to imagining things, but they are still love-love.

This is followed by a her recent shorts for Comic Yuri Hime. “Sono Hi, Night Date Nanode” is a delightful story about falling in love with, and under, the stars. And “Take Out Dekimaska?” is a nice little scenario between a delivery woman and a waitress that was both kind of sweet and deeply satisfying when the waitress loses her patience with the delivery woman not cluing in.

“Guragura Platonic” is a Ohsawa’s spin on a sex-worker fantasy. “Campus ni Trap,” is a teacher and student story (with bonus drunken teacher, so CW if this is not your thing). The final story is one of my faves, “Office Sempai, Kiraina Watashi,” which wraps up the 2DK storyline by showing us Tanihara Yuuko, Nanami’s over-acheiving kouhai, who now has a mythos of her own because Ohsawa-sensei could not let her go. I have a calendar from a Yuriten gone by of Tanihara exhorting me to give it my all at work, every month. It’s so annoying and hilarious I keep it on the living room table.  This month she reminds me that Business = Drama, so “Everyday Make Drama”. 「えヴリデイ、メイク・ドラマ」

Tanihara’s new kouhai just *cannot* figure out her enthusiastic sempai. Okata is completely confused by this bundle of motivational poster-energy and finds her both annoy and realizes that she likes her. ^_^

It was lovely to revisit with characters we know and meet new ones. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – 5 There is some nudity and sexual situations, especially in the sex worker story.
Yuri – 10

Overall – 9

I’ll always look forward to Ohsawa-sensei’s work and to see where it takes us and her. ^_^

Posted in Ohsawa Yayoi, Yuri Manga | 2 Comments »


How Do We Relationship, Volume 4, Guest Review by Matt Marcus

November 10th, 2021

Welcome to another Guest Review Wednesday on Okazu. I am so delighted to introduce a new Guest Reviewer here today for so many reasons: Matt Marcus is a cohost of various projects on the Pitch Drop Podcast Network, such as the JRPG games club podcast Lightning Strikes Thrice. Finally, after me waiting patiently to have someone to talk to about this…here we are at last. There will be spoilers in this review and let me tell you, I am so relieved! Please give your attention and a warm welcome to Matt!

How Do We Relationship is a story about college first years Miwa and Saeko who, once they learn that they are both attracted to women, decide to date. Last we saw them in Volume 3, the lack of open communication had continued to strain their relationship, leaving Saeko troubled over her standing with her partner while Miwa is tempted by the reappearance of her old high school crush Shiho.

There is no sense being coy about it: How Do We Relationship, Volume 4 is where the girls break up. Saeko had been using sex as the panacea for her insecurities, but troubles in the bedroom, coupled with confronting the reality that Miwa harbors deep romantic feelings for another woman ends up straining her to the breaking point. Miwa wrestles with guilt over her conflicting attractions and tries to cling to the relationship but to no avail. The two agree to stay friends, however it is clear that Miwa believes that she carries the sole blame for the end of their courtship.

The fulcrum on which this series balances is how tolerable you find Saeko, and in this volume we see her at her worst so far. She starts to seriously lose control of the defense mechanism that she developed after her traumatic experience in middle school–the facade of a carefree and kind partner. It is not until late in this volume that Saeko finally has a moment of emotional honesty, voicing some of the ugly thoughts and fears that she had been repressing–but not with Miwa. If you have seen or experienced this emotional playbook, this can be a tough read. I want to root for Saeko to grow and truly heal from her past, but on the flip side she hurt Miwa quite badly and has yet to even acknowledge it. The sole consolation I have is knowing that with seven volumes currently out in Japan, there is quite a bit of runway for her to turn it around.

I have focused on the heavy stuff, but like the rest of the series the emotional drama happens around character-driven shenanigans with mixed results. A particular low note are the couple of chapters that focus on group singer Mikkun and Saeko working around the former’s jealous new girlfriend, which does little to drive the plot forward and rehashes the “straight cis man has a crush on a lesbian” beat from Volume 3. In a story with quite a large supporting cast, I would have liked to see a little more character development in their subplots.

As for Yuri/queer content, this volume pushes things ever-so-slightly forward, with the final chapter opening the door for a couple more queer relationships to develop. Another noteworthy element is the reappearance of Kan, the “villain” of Volume 2. It is hard to say for sure from what little we see of him, but he may have started letting go of his internalized queerphobia. At the very least he comes off as less of an unrepentant asshole (heavy emphasis on “less of”).

I have always appreciated Tamifull’s art, particularly the outfit designs and instruments. On occasion it can be disorienting (for example, second year Mozu–who already looked like a dead-ringer for Miwa but with light-colored hair–reappears with black hair just to make things more confusing for two pages), but I found the tumultuous energy accurately reflects the free-wheeling nature of one’s first year of college. When it counts, Tamifull knows how to visually punctuate an emotional moment or punchline (shoutouts to the Pound Cake Face).

All in all, I found these chapters challenging but rewarding. If you have found the messiness of the story and the characters compelling thus far, this volume really delivers on moments that will have you screaming internally the whole way with some heartrending lines to boot. Other than a small tease of a flashforward near the end, I have no idea where the next movement will take this series, but I know that I will be tuning in for it.

Ratings:

Art – 8 Has a few standout moments in the series so far.
Story – 8 A little uneven at times but lands the big moments.
Characters – 7 Compellingly infuriating.
Service – 3 There still is sex, however it is less of a focus compared to previous volumes
Yuri – 9 / LGBTQ – 7 Someone actually says “lesbian” out loud; unfortunately, it’s Rika.

Overall – 8 A challenging but rewarding read.

Lastly, I have to give big props to Tamifull’s very cheeky reveal in the author’s notes. You will clearly see what they meant if you flip back to Chapter 1.

Erica here: Thanks very much Matt!

OKAY. Now that you have all caught up I need to say this. Saeko and Miwa always were a terrible couple. I’m glad they broke up. You all were cooing over them in Volume 1 and I was up to Volume 3 chanting, “Break up, break up, break up.” ^_^ In fact, if they hadn’t, I was going to stop reading, because Saeko’s jealousy was intolerable to me; traumatic experience or not. I can assure you this, I am about to dive into Volume 7 in Japanese and 1) I am still reading and 2) this is a completely different, (dare I say, much better) story now.

Volume 5 is slated for a February release in English and everything (including the cover style) is about to change.

Posted in English Manga, Guest Review, Matt Marcus, Yuri Manga | 5 Comments »