白と黒~Black & White~, Volume 2

August 11th, 2022

In Volume 1, we met Shirakawa Junko and Kuroda Kayo two high-spec, elites in an international sales department, who are natural enemies. They don’t just fight…in fact, they don’t fight at all. Their battle is in the world of reputation. Who among their colleagues loves them best, who respects them the most. They go for the throat in business…and in bed. This hate-hate relationship consumes them both.

In Volume 2 of 白と黒~Black & White~ by Sal Jiang, both Kuroda and Shirakawa find themselves facing a new, unwelcome problem. They may not actually hate one another! Certainly, the people around them are sure that the two of them are close. And they are…physically, at any rate. HR has housed them in the company dorm as neighbors.  Shirakawa befriends Hashimoto, another lesbian in the ranks, who has just been surprise promoted in HR. It’s easy for Shirakawa to get Hashimoto as a confidant, but when Hashimoto asks her to say exactly what Kuroda is to her, Shirawkawa has no answer.

Kuroda is gung-ho when the entire sales department visits Singapore. So gung-ho, that she oversteps her authority and makes a deal she had no right to make. Kuroda, who had been taken under the wing of an established exec, Sakakibara, was feeling pretty chuffed, but now she’s in a tizzy. Reprimanded, she apologizes for making Sakakibara look bad.  Kuroda is also asked what Shirakawa is to her and she also has no answer.

Both women are driven and, now, jealous, and neither will give in. Where can Kuroda and Shirakawa even go from here?

There’s less overt violence in this volume, with one exception, but still, Shirakawa and Kuroda are a “yikes” couple in every way. Their loathing of each other is Shakespearean in scale…love would not help. But jealousy? That’s right in their wheelhouse. Two terrible people being terrible, but only to each other and only in a way that hurts no one else. This is perfection. I love this manga so much. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Service – 7 Not a lot of nudity, but a lot of sex and violence
Yuri – 7 Above, and now, jealousy!

Overall – 10

Best manga since GUNJO for best worst couple. I mean, just look at that cover! ^_^

You too will be able to enjoy this manga in English when Black & White Tough Love at the Office comes out in October from Seven Seas!

Posted in Sal Jiang, Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »


Whisper Me A Love Song, Volume 5

August 8th, 2022

One of the common unwritten rules in manga is that backstories are poignant. When we learn why our enemy is so driven we’re supposed to care. We’re supposed to feel for them.

Whisper Me A Love Song, Volume 5 takes that rule and tosses it in the bin. ^_^

The Battle of the Bands approaches and Himari is vexed by the fact that SS Girls and Lorelei members don’t get along. One day while out and about, Hima runs into Shiho, Lorelei’s aggressive front woman. And finally, we learn her back story.

It is, quite possibly the least sympathetic backstory we have ever heard. In fact, it’s so bad, that even Shiho realizes how appalling she comes off. Despite this, Himari becomes convinced that she can make the two bands friends again. She pulls strings and bakes cookies, in order to bring them together.

In any other series, surely we would have gotten at least a partial reconciliation. But no. Shiho doubles down on being the villain in this sweet, soft fluffy series about nothing at all. Dedicated to her role, Shiho comes up with a deal so devilish that no one could possibly have expected the Shiho Inquisition…..!

As summer dawns, and their time to make memories is upon them, Himari is to be separated from her beloved Yori-sempai and take over as the manager for Lorelei! Gasp!

I know, I know, but hear me out. This is a HUGE conflict for this series. Himari and Yori won’t get to spend as much time together! I mean, it’s high school, you only have so many summers. Man, that Shiho is a meanie. In the meantime, Yori and the rest of SS Girls are putting everything on the line, and writing new music to take Lorelei out. And this is done with so many bright smiles and cute expressions that it’s utterly impossible to not care.

Props to Kevin Steinbach for a translation that sounds like very serious-minded  young women who are hopelessly, adorably in love. Jennifer Skarupa’s lettering lets us have a smooth reading experience, although I will always prefer giving letterers time and money to do full retouch. Hats off to Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini for seamless editing and Matt Akuginow’s lovely cover design. All of which means, when I sit down to enjoy Himari gushing over Yori and Yori melting into a puddle at her girlfriend’s smile, nothing gets in my way of goofy grinning!

I know you all know I like mean women, but sometimes, you just want an adorably sweet story about a cute young couple being absurdly happy in your general presence to make life on this planet seem like it’s worth it. When I need that, Whisper Me A Love Song is just the ticket.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – 0 It’s such a delight
Yuri – 8

Overall – 8

SS Girls is working on a killer set, let me tell you…! ^_^

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | 4 Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – August 6, 2022

August 6th, 2022

Yuri Manga

Yen Press announces the license for Fuzoroi Renri by Mikanuji-sensei (the first 5 volumes of which I have reviewed here on Okazu) as Assorted Entanglements.

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

Battan’s story Run Away With Me Girl, Volume 1 will be hitting shelves in English from Kodansha Comics at the end of the year! Some folks had asked me why I hadn’t reviewed this in Japanese and the answer is that it just flew under my radar as being not-for-me. I’ll probably be looking for a guest reviewer for this as a result, so if you love it and plan on reading it, consider applying to Guest Review!

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 1 manga actually hit shelves in May. I reviewed it here in Japanese and again in English. 

Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり) is the delightful story of two older women who find each other. Hanayo, a widow, meets Yoshiko and is turned on to the world of makeup and perfumes. This story is just so lovely and sweet. 

Kitta Izumi and Momono Moto’s melodramatic story about a emotionally fragile singer and her manager has now been given a second collected volume, in Liberty, Volume 2 ( リバティ). This is one of my faves from Galette Magazine.

 

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Imagine me flailing my arms here, a la Kermit the Frog. Yaaaahh! ULTIMATE-MAMA, Volume 1 by Hayashiya Shizuru hits shelves on August 31 in Japan! This utterly trashy action manga was clearly written for me. Hard-bodied women and comedic, yet extreme, violence and stupid lesbian sex. Hayashiya-sensei gets me at a level no one else ever has. ^_^

Iberis no Hanayome (イベリスの花嫁) by Akiyama Haru is about a wedding planner who falls for one of her bridezillas. Looks…intense. ^_^

 
Yuri Light Novel

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 2 light novel is hitting shelves in English this month. I’m looking forward to seeing what Euphie and Annis will be up to. ^_^

 

Yuri Event

I hope you will join me at Flamecon, August 20, 12:45 – 1:45 PM in New York City for the First 100 Years of Lesbian-themed Japanese Animation and Comics!

 

Yuri Studio

This week on Yuri Studio we have a new short video – My Life As A Manga Character! It’s about some times I’ve appeared in manga….as me. ^_^

 

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Yuri VNs and Games

Studio Élan has another upcoming release, Who is the Red Queen hitting Steam this month. In this horror Yuri fantasy, Alice must find the pieces of the dismembered Red Queen. From the press release, “The game features over 30,000 words and has 3 major endings… with plenty of dead ends, of course. If you’ve already played the game jam version from itch.io, don’t worry- this is an updated version with new art, music, an updated script, and a Spanish translation!”

Via YNN Correspondent Cryssoberyl we have news of the announcement and trailer for Samurai Maiden on PS4 & PS5. “D3PUBLISHER’s brand-new Girls Sword-fighting Action game “SAMURAI MAIDEN” is scheduled for release in this winter on PS5™/PS4®! Experience the unique “Sword and Ninjutsu Action” where a young woman from the 21st century splits the enemies in half while the beautiful Ninja girls use their Ninjutsu to wipe out the enemies. Kissing other girls will supercharge her, according to Cryssoberyl. ^_^ This will also get a simultaneous Steam release.

 

Yuri Doujinshi

Adriana Hazra over at ANN has the news thay Irodori Sakura has licensed two new Yuri doujinshi! Haijima’s My Crush is My Roommate (Doukyonin ni Kataomoishiteru Yuri) manga and Pikachi Ohi’s Romance for Teachers (which is a story of a side character from Our Teachers Are Dating!). These will be released in August and September, respectively. Check out the link for more details.

 

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Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


New on Yuri Studio – My Life As A Manga Character

August 5th, 2022

Okazu Patrons asked for more video content for the 20th anniversary of Okazu, and I am absolutely planning on something for that. In the meantime, here’s a fun, little short video that I’ve wanted to share for a while…about the times I appeared in manga!

As always, a like and kind comment on Youtube is appreciated! And please subscribe to Yuri Studio. I’m hoping to reach 2000 subscribers this year. ^_^

Posted in Yuri Studio | No Comments »


I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 5

August 4th, 2022

“What if you had the chance to remake the entire world in order to save the person you love…and learned that the world was never what it seemed?” is what I said when I reviewed Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou. Volume 5 (私の推しは悪役令嬢。) in Japanese. And, now, you have had the chance to read I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 5 and can, I hope, understand what I meant. ^_^ I’m still trying to avoid spoilers, as best I can. ^_^

The Nur arc comes to a crashing, sword-waving, magic-using, epic ending, that has shockingly little to do with Nur and Bauer at all. Because Volume 5 is about the Demon Queen and the truth of the world. Basically, if you primarily read isekai, you are probably mostly unprepared for just about anything here, until it all settles down.

As I re-read this volume I am fascinated by the scope of this story, which has implications far beyond this narrative. Will future volumes of the upcoming She’s So Cheeky For A Commoner (which I have reviewed in Japanese, as Heimin no Kuse ni Namaika, Volume 1)  – and any series will come after –  let these petals fall and be dispersed, or will they float around reminded us over and over of what, exactly, is going on? I look forward to finding out. There was a great deal of territory covered in this volume and repeated visits in future volumes might help to reify it.

Even more broadly, this series does all sorts of interesting things with the concept of “another world.” Like the Locked Tomb series, it is simultaneously both fantasy and science fiction and some new hybrid child of those genres and isekai. AND it contains that single important question that fills so much classic science fiction anime – what does it mean to be human?

Despite all this, this novel never pretends to be be meaningful in that pretentious literary way of very serious men writing about humanity. It is a human look at the power of community. Once again, I must quote myself here, when I wrote, “If you are familiar with Doctor Who, you will entirely understand how everything in this book works…and how it must work. ^_^ This leads to the only criticism, if you can even call it that, I have. Because of that specific narrative structure, there was no way to give it a punchy ending, which was perfectly okay. It ended as it had to…and then didn’t end for a few more post-epilogue shorts. When you like your characters, it’s hard to let go, I understand completely. ^_^ ”

What I mean to say here is that this ending was the right ending for this book. ^_^ This series ends where it must, with home and family. I have said this about a dozen times recently, but I’ll repeat it – this is what I am looking for these days in the books I read. Future-building with hope…hopepunk, as Ada Palmer calls, it. Stories in which communities come together to build a better tomorrow. The fact that the leaders of this particular community are queer women is delicious icing on this sweet and satisfying narrative cake.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 10
Service – Very little, for perfectly good reasons.
Yuri – 10
Queer – 10

Overall – 10

This…was a very good book. I hope you’ll all read it. If you have read it, do let me know what you think in the comments!

 

Posted in inori, LGBTQ, Light Novel | 5 Comments »