Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – October 1, 2022

October 1st, 2022

Yuri Manga

Volume 3 of the I’m in Love With the Villainess manga has hit shelves this week from Seven Seas. Rae and Claire will face each other in their fight to join the Academy Knights!

Also out this week from Seven Seas is Tsukiko’s 18+ collection Cats and Sugar Bowls.

We’ve also added Mieri Hiranashi’s The Girl Who Can’t Get a Girlfriend. This began life as an online comic and will now be collected into a revised volume from Viz Originals!

She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat, Volume 1 hit shelves this month from Yen Press. This is a very interesting series and I’m looking forward to everyone’s opinions of it. ^_^

 

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Via Yuri Navi, we have news of a new series starting in Comic Yuri Hime, “Aishitabun Dake Aishite Hoshi i~tsu!” (愛したぶんだけ愛してほしいっ！) about a college drop-out and a hot-head.

Also via Yuri Navi, Lily & Ivy  ~ Kenka Couple Yuri x Seiai Anthology (リリー&アイビー ～ケンカップル百合×性愛アンソロジー～) includes stories by Sakura Trick creator Tachi,  NTR creator Kodama Naoko and others!

 

 

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Yuri Light Novel

The Executioner and Her Way of Life, Volume 5 is available now from Yen Press, pitting Menou against her mentor, Flare.

 

Yuri Anime

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Sean G, we have some recommended reading. Lycoris Recoil And Shingo Adachi: Turning Original Anime Production Chaos In Your Favor,by kViN on Sakuga Blog, is an interesting  – if uncritical – look at the behind the scenes changes that helped make Lycoris Recoil a barnburner this season.

From my perspective, LycoReco was less a masterwork of finesse than a really fun handwave – Noir with jokes. Most of the emotional impact was set dressing and wasn’t going to have real meaning right from the beginning, as we all recognized on the Okazu Discord. Fun, but not smart, or deep, with a million plot holes festooned about the narrative like balloons.

 

Yuri Doujinshi

New on Irodori Sakura 18+ is Pikachi’s Girlfriends Club, described thusly, “The Girlfriends Club: A mysterious association at Yamayuri Girls’ Academy and its sister schools that essentially pays you to spend time deepening your relationships with other club members. The catch? Your interactions are livestreamed to an audience of very wealthy viewers!”

If you’re fans of Our Teachers Are Dating by Pikachi Ohi, don’t miss Irodori’s translated version of Ohi-sensei’s own doujinshi about Kiyattou-sensei and her girlfriend, in Romance for Teachers.

 

Other News

Always popular with the fandom and never really Yuri, the K-ON! manga by Kakifly is now available as a single-volume omnibus collection from Yen Press!

 

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Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


Galette No. 22 (ガレット No.22)

September 30th, 2022

Galette No. 22 (ガレット No.22) begins with another strong cover illustration by pen. This is followed by a comic report by Morita Miyuki of the Galette 5th anniversary event!

Like other recent issues, this is split into two section – short continuing and one-shot stories and the continuation of Hakamada Mera’s Aikata System, presumably because Dgenzaka Shobor has pivoted away from Yuri towards only BL. A loss, I think, because they had some quirky titles. I did review Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Aikata System ~ Gakuen ga Eranda Unmei no Onna no ko~, but not the story has move past the chapters I previously read.  Let me spend a second on this second half of the book for a second, because while the premise of this story seems very much an easy Yuri premise – that is, when a student gets accepted into this school, they are assigned an “aikata” a partner, perhaps lover. But by now in the story, we can see that the system is quite broken and can easily be toxic. Two first years are watching their aikata hurt and be hurt by their former partners. Kairo is ready to see the system burnt to the ground. The reason I am taking time to mention this  is because I would love to a see a story that destroyed the hoary old, unhealthy tradition that binds the characters.

Morinaga Milk’s “Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan” has fall into a rut. I don’t really understand why the two characters can’t just have a conversation, but both of them feel that the other doesn’t love them any more, for various reasons. Once again, I am reminded that Morinaga-sensei’s strength in narrative is just before a couple gets together. I don’t know where this can go and, at the moment, it feels like it’s going nowhere.

Of the remaining shorts and chapters, I really liked the very first one-shot “Natsukashii Mirai no Kimi e” by Asube Yui. It’s a great little fiction about memory and love and loss. Really solid. A sad, but lovely story.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Issue No. 23 is out with the return of “Liberty,” another story I’m not sure where it’s going, but I;m here for the ride. If you buy it from Booth or Melonbooks, it comes with a clearfile by Moringaa Milk!

Posted in Galette, Magazines | 1 Comment »


Nettaigyo ha Yuki Kogareru, Volume 9 (熱帯魚は雪に焦がれる)

September 28th, 2022

Last week, I reviewed Hana ni Arashi, Volume 10 and it reminded me that I had never finished reviewing this series…and then I remembered why.

Nettaigyo ha Yuki Kogareru, Volume 9 (熱帯魚は雪に焦がれる) is the final volume of it’s series, and was released last year. In English, this series is known as A Tropical Fish Yearns For Snow.  It is not a romance story, per se, although it is easy enough to feel that romance is a possibility. Certainly, on one of my previous visits to Tokyo, the Gamers store had a prominent display of this series and various goods in their Yuri section. So it’s very much one of those series that is up to the individual reader. This reader thinks it’s a possibility, not a probability.

That said, it really isn’t a romance, although it is absolutely about a bond of intimacy and friendship between two young women. Konatsu is a cheerful girl who has transferred in to a seaside town and Koyuki is a serious young woman who struggles with social relationships. Konatsu has spent 8 volumes getting to know Koyuki and become a friend that Koyuki can trust with her true self.

Now, Koyuki will be graduating. She’s grown quite a bit. In Volume 8, she found the strength to apply to a school in Tokyo, even though the city was overwhelming. But first, she’s going to have to make up for last year at the school festival. What Koyuki finds is that…she’s not alone. The aquarium club she leaves behind is full of energy and kouhai who respect her and a reputation for fun that comes from all of her hard work. And she has friends and peers who like and respect her. She’s able to step into the spotlight without fear of being ridiculed.

The climax of the story was perfect. Konatsu has spent 8 volumes trying to get through to Koyuki and, at last, she is one hundred percent sure that the message has landed. Although they will not be heading along the same paths into the future, they will be there for each other. The volume wraps up with a series of lovely color images, including a climactic final page in color. Which was nice, as the black and white art looked a bit more rushed than usual.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 4ish

Overall – 8

Now I will share why it took me so long to read this. I was sharing my fandom of this series with a brilliant, funny woman named Claire Montserat Jackson. She died from COVID on August 28, 2021 and I couldn’t bring myself to read this final volume until now. Volume 9 of a Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow came out this past summer. I’m going to make sure I read it in English, so Claire can find out what happened.

It was a gentle series that was just….nice. Slice of life drama and a lovely, heartfelt relationship between two young women at it’s core.

Posted in Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »


Comic Yuri Hime, October 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年10月号)

September 26th, 2022

Comic Yuri Hime, October 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年10月号) was a pretty darn good issue!

The cover continues the colorful travel theme with photos, (one blurry one clear, which was a lovely touch) of a beach scene. The water is genuinely outstanding. I love that this looks like it was painted using brush strokes that are visible, even as it is obviously done digitally. Isshiki’s work has been a lot of fun, visually.

“Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata” starts to move forward. Kaori’s illness has paralyzed Shizuru once again, but finally she’s shaken out of her own PTSD, when confronted by Kaori’s little sister who resents Shizuru and the upcoming loss of Kaori deeply. Even as this series comes towards a close in Japanese, you will be able to read it in English, next month as The Summer You Were There, from Seven Seas.

The Scales of Love Arc has begun and Manaria seems dead set on taking Claire away from Rei. As a commoner and Claire’s maid, Rei has no way to fight back and is, apparently throwing herself recklessly into the monster hunt before the festival. Things are tense in “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.,” written by Inori and illustrated by Aonoshimo. So, so good.

Keyyang’s “Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru” has gotten a bit more serious. Faced with the near impossibility of getting a job without a degree, Hi-chan is thinking of taking a major step and going back to school. What will this do to their idyllic life?

“Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita,” by Usui Shio is also taking a turn for the serious. Now that Kurumi and Ruriko are settled in, an old acquaintance has turned up and is causing chaos for the pair when she goes missing!

The last pieces are put into place in Shiho’s back story, in “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” as Himari learns that Shiho has been competing with – and singing for – a dead girl, for years. This was a very moving chapter. Shiho’s still a jerk, but I’m now inclined to be a little bit forgiving, because she’s 15, ffs.

Boots drop all over the place in Miman’s “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!” Sumika and Nene have a long, long, long overdue talk about important stuff that needed to get said. As the chapter ends, we can see the dark cloud of confrontation around the corner approaching. Story aside…as the adult in the room, how does Mai not see any of this going on?

I’m starting to wonder if “Natsu to Lemon to Overlay” has a plot. Like Yunimaru, I cannot see the end game at all, for Konno’s playing around and having fun before, presumably, dying, maybe, but we can’t tell?

“Odoriba Skirt ni Naru” hit me really hard for randomreasons this chapter. We’ve dealt with Kiki’s body image issues, and this time we deal with Michiru’s strong objections to being seen as cute. CW for an attempted assault on a child. 

“Lonely girl ni Sakarenai” starts with a happy, cheerful school trip and everyone ganging up to figure out how to support the other couple in the group, but ends in crisis.

A few new one-shots and features, comic essays and the usual columns made for a really chunky 500 pages of Yuri manga and a very good issue. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

The November issue has hit shelves in Japan and I’m waiting impatiently for it to arrive at my Kinokuniya.^_^

Posted in Comic Yuri Hime, Magazines, Yuri Manga | No Comments »


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

September 24th, 2022

Yuri Manga

We have a bunch of news via Yurimother!

Yukiko’s Yuri manga Cats and Sugar Bowls, is now available from Seven Seas, as is Yuama’s The Summer You Were There, Volume 1.

YA Novel Night Owls & Summer Skies by Rebecca Sullivan and illustrated by Samadrita “Tikklil” Ghosh, has been adapted as a Webtoon.

GL Web comic, Master of the Fox Bead is now being serialized on Tapas.

 

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Crowdfunded Taiwanese Showa Yuri manga collection, Kitanhana Monogatari (綺譚花物語) has been released. I backed this crowdfunded project and have my ebook here, but it’s available in print in Japanese and in French from Mahô Éditions. I am looking forward to reading it!

 

Yuri Anime

HIDIVE Announced that they have licensed My Master Has No Tail,  fantasy anime about a tanuki learning rakugo, which is classic Japanese comedic storytelling.

 

Yuri VNs

Yurimother wants you to know that Ebi-hime’s Yuri VN, Dreamy Planet is available on Steam and Itch.io. The game follows Haruka, who suffered a breakdown five years before the story began. She abandoned her old life and hid away from her best friend, Shiina.

Studio Élan is asking for your feedback! If you’d like to help them out, please consider filling out their Survey.

Studio YuriEureka is pleased to announce that the demo for their upcoming Yuri VN, Kiss the Demiurge is available on Steam.

 

 

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Yuri Doujinshi

Lilyka has released Letters From A Rainy Day – Oceans and Lace, by Lily Spinel.

 

Other News

Nona the Ninth fans will want to read this interview with Tamsyn Muir on Lyctorhood as Genderfuckery and Greasy Bible Study in Nona the Ninth.

At long last, Japan is going to open borders to independent travelers. No visas, no booking with travel agencies, no pre- and post-travel testing. Masks are still required for most places and, frankly, I cannot understand how anyone is doing anything without masking around other people. Alex Mateo has the news over at ANN. I’m going to hope to visit next autumn, once again.

Fun.com has some …fun…Sailor Moon exclusives! The sweaters are awesome and I want them all.

 

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Posted in Yuri Manga, Yuri Network News | 4 Comments »