Yuri News Network – (百合ネットワークニュース) – May 30, 2026

May 30th, 2026

In blue silhouette, two women face each other. One wears a fedora and male-styled attire, one is in a dress and heels. Their body language is obscure - they may be dancing, or laughing or fighting. Art by Mari Kurisato for Okazu

We are on the cusp of Pride month and I have to say…this year is going to be amazing. Queer folks world-wide are fired up and ready to stand out and stand up for rights. I don’t usually suggest this, but if you can make a local Pride event…go. Be seen, be heard. Be you.

Yuri has had an incredible breakout year, with big hits and big fun on the way and it’s gone mainstream in ways we could not have ever imagined. So get your rainbows out and get in the Utena car, we’re going to Yuri. ^_^

 

Yuri Anime

Our top news today is the theatrical release of Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena is coming to North American theaters. Yesterday I wrote up an article with links to theater chains that will be carrying it.  And hint – you can ask your theater if you can have the poster. They’ll only throw it out. ^_^

Coming on August 8 to Netflix is THE RIBBON HERO, a fresh take on Tezuka’s Princess Knight. It looks…good! Extra points for The Phoenix reference in the trailer.

Rock Is A Lady’s Modesty Complete Collection is out this week from Sentai Filmworks!

For folks enjoying Kamiina Botan Fully Blossoms When Drunk on Crunchyroll,  Sr. YNN Correspondent Matt Marcus shared this X post by Wall  who recommends Professor Ken Suzuki’s book on SSM in Taiwan, for  those who Japanese fans who noted that Jinran’s older sister is married to a woman. Via Sr. YNN Correspondent Sean Gaffney,  the series is get a Blu-ray and DVD release in Japan this July.

 

Yuri Events

In Higashinakano, Tokyo, Japan, at loneliness books, queer Yuri creators Rica Takashima and Morishima Akiko are doing a talk event about Yuri in the 1990s and today, on June 18, from 8-10PM. This is a ticketed event, with limited space, so register today! At last 20% of the people there will know me, so feel free to say hi to everyone! ^_^

 

Fun Yuri News

While we’re talking Yuri history, Japan Gay Guide did a pretty fun interview with me about the modern history of Yuri, and Yuricon. Thanks Tobias Waters for the questions! Read Q&A with Yuri Expert and Historian, Erica Friedman.

With Utena in mall theaters, what else could we ask for? Well, this week on Pop Culture Jeopardy, Yuri is was the question to an answer. On Jeopardy. Joshua Bote served the Yurijin well, with the right question, “What Is Yuri?” to a clue in the category “Is That Russian?” that read, “No…It Covers Japanese Media Focusing on Relationships Between Female Characters.” I nearly fainted. Yuri is mainstream. Holy shit.

 

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Yuri Manga in English

Fujichika’s The Delinquent and the Transfer Student, Volume 1 is headed our way and Kinokuniya is doing a special pre-order with a shikishi illustration!

Yuri Espoir, Volume 5 is up on the Yuricon Store. This will hit shelves in September, from Tokyopop. 

Also on the Store, we have The Death Defying Princess Creates a Yuri Harem to Survive, Volume 1 which is absolutely exactly what it says on the tin.

Humble Bundle and Kodansha have teamed up for a BL, Yuri & More from Ichijinsha Bundle! For $35 you can get $1200 worth of manga and raise money for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

August will see Yen Press’s release of  What Does The Fox Say, Volume 1 in English. Yen also promoted Shino and Ren on Bluesky.

Sal Jiang went onto social media to say that Wicked Spot will end with chapter 16.

Battan also took to the socials to say that their current series Fatale Game is at risk of cancellation. All chapters but the last two are currently free in English on Kodansha’s K-Manga site! Go read and support it. Battan was in NYC last night for a talk at MINT Manga and will be at TCAF in Toronto.

Via Matt, Viz has announced Surface Tension, the third VIZ Originals One-Shot following Drifting into Summer and Sky Full of Stars from Tiklil. 

 

Yuri Manga in Japanese

Akiyama Haru’s Watashi no Blue Garnet, Volume 2 (私のブルーガーネット) is up on the Yuricon Store.

Via publisher Number 9, Yuni’s digital comic Anata Mitai ni, Volume 1 (あなたみたいに) is getting a print volume. This story follows a woman who falls in love with another woman for the first time.

Via Comic Natalie, Asumi-chan and Kocho-chan, Volume 1 (亜澄ちゃんと胡蝶ちゃん) is out. This rom-com is about a selfish girl and a selfless girl who are dating.

Also Via Comic Natalie, in Kareshi no Onna Tomodachi ga Guigui Kuru (Watashi ni) (彼氏の女友達がぐいぐい来る（私に)), Takanashi Mao is seeing a guy who really doesn’t understand her and it’s affecting her. When she meets her boyfriend’s friend, Shiraishi Sayu, she finds her life being pieced back together.

I keep forgetting to post this. Senno Knife has a self-published Yuri manga Carmilla (カーミラ) on his Booth page. This is a girls’ school story based on the classic lesbian vampire novel.

Fans of Ohsawa Yayoi’s Hello, Melancholic! might be interested in a Hello, Melancholic! Saki and Chika Special Ep. (ハロー、メランコリック！-SAKI CHIKA SPECIAL EP-) she put out. You can get that digitally on Bookwalker JP.

And for fans of sono.N’s SHWD, there is an SHWD Extra-Ep.1 up on Pixiv, free to read in Japanese.

Via G-Man on X, Unmei wa Yaku ni Tatanai (運命は役に立たない) is a story after red threads appear on everyone’s finger leading them to their fated match…even if they don’t want it. Read sample chapters in Japanese on HanaYume.com!

 

LGBTQ Comics

Via Matt once again, Iron Circus has JOE THE PIRATE, about Marion Carstairs, b. 1890, who “came out of the womb queer,” & lived life as Joe: WWI ambulance driver, speedboat pilot, lover of Marlene Dietrich.”

I bought myself a present this week of Tille Walden’s graphic novel adaptation of Charity and Sylvia. I really enjoyed Rachel Hope Cleve’s book on this early American lesbian couple and reviewed it here on Okazu in 2015.

 

 

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Live- Action

Via Olivia on X, a subbed version of a TV show about lesbian life on Nippon TV. This aired in the days leading up to a  Japanese Supreme Court decision about same-sex marriage, while pride celebrations are happening countrywide.

Taiwan Travelogue is slated for a live-action drama! This will be a Japan-Taiwan TV adaptation. I will move heaven and earth to watch this.

 

Light Novels

Mob Shoujo ga Last Boss Majo o Shiawasenisuru made (モブ少女がラスボス魔女を幸せにするまで) is an isekai about two friends who are reincarnated on opposite sides. Rozelika is determined to make Grace smile again.

 

Other News

Our newest team member, Japan correspondent Sasori, has a game page on Steam. 灯台の見守り — Lighthouse’s Vigil is a moody little horror game. Wishlist it and help her get it released.

 

Your support for Yuri journalism and research has never been more important than right now. Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

 

 

Posted in Yuri Network News | 2 Comments »


Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena in N. American Theaters June 21-22

May 29th, 2026

Title poster for Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena, a brown-skinned woman with flowing dark hair in a flowing white dress floats diagonally upwards, a pale-skinned woman with flowing pink hair in a white school uniform jacket and shirts floats diagonally downward from the same center.It is with joy that I heard that Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena is getting a theatrical release in the United States (and, apparently Canada!) Yesterday, GKIDS made their official announcement and I spent some hours tracking down every theater I could find that will be playing this movie, so before I rave about why you should go see it, here’s the most important information, about where and when.

 

Where To Watch Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena

The following movie chains are carrying the movie.  The chain in my town is running the movie in my old hometown, but not here, so check for the nearest location.

AMC Theaters

Cineplex

Regal Theaters

Cinemark Theaters

The GKIDS announcement only mentions AMC, so do take a look at local theater chains…and, if there is a chain that is showing it that I have not included, let me know in comments. You don’t have to mention that the chain theater near you has it, unless it’s a chain I don’t have here.

 

When To Watch Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena

June 21-22, 2026

These are the most common dates, but I have seen 21 and 23 for some theaters. Check your nearest theaters for time and dates. 

 

Why You Should Watch Revolutionary Girl Utena The Movie: The Adolescence of Utena

In 1990s, we had two anime series that were foundational for the growing Yuri fandom.  One of the directors for Sailor Moon was Ikuhara Kunihiko. Under his direction in the third and the beginning of the fifth seasons, we were introduced to Sailor Uranus/Tenoh Haruka and Sailor Neptune/Kaioh Michiru. This young lesbian couple changed the world, by making an anime one of the very first portrayals of a lesbian couple on Japanese TV.

Following that series, Ikuhara built a creative team, known as Be-Papas, and they created an anime and manga series, Shoujo Kakumei Utena (少女革命ウテナ) Revolutionary Girl Utena in English. (This link goes the category on Okazu, where you will see many, many posts about the series and its influence. One of those posts was included in my book: Retrospective of a Revolution – 20 Years of Shoujo Kakumei Utena.)

This movie is the one of four alternate versions of the Utena narrative. The TV animation is a 39-episode fantasy exploration of magical and school shoujo tropes, gender, abuse and redemption. It’s fantasy and funny as hell, with intense and fabulous background music.  At the moment it is out of print, but if you check your library system, you might find one of the many releases available. I know I donated at least one to my library. The manga from Viz Media, is another iteration of the narrative. It is much less queer.  The manga for the movie, the fourth iteration, is largely the major influence for me to discover the history of the references in the series, launching me on my trajectory of learning the artistic and literary history of Yuri.

And then there is the movie. This movie is visually one of the most astonishing experiences I have ever had. I first saw it on a shitty VHS copy from an illicit video rental place, then was able to see it on the big screen at the Japan Foundation in NYC.  It is my eternal pleasure to have introduced this film at the Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival in San Francisco. At that time I spoke to an audience of 1200 people (about 1000 of which had no idea what it was about)  at the Castro theater, with Ikuhara himself sitting in the front row. 

This movie is a magnificent work, often intentionally inexplicable, (sometimes unintentionally) with symbolism that may appear profound, and may not. The music is gorgeous and meaningful. The voice acting is memorable, even more so as  we have lost Kawakami Tomoko, Utena’s voice actress.

Please go and see this movie while you can…and if you find you cannot understand it, just let it wash over you, like the roses on the dueling ground. I promise it’ll be worth it.

Posted in English Anime, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Yuri Anime | 2 Comments »


Introducing Indonesian Yuri Web Series and Their Significance to the Queer Community

May 27th, 2026

by Lena Tama, Guest Writer

Indonesia has no shortage of yuri works created by passionate queer/ally artists, including English-language web comic series that are free and available to read on multiple online platforms. Despite the many struggles and challenges, they continue to produce their crafts in hope of providing comfort and safe space for the queer community, both locally and internationally.

Group of young women in winter coats all huddled together raising red wine in a toast. Everday by Day, art by Magnolia Team
The main cast of Everyday By Day, a yuri webtoon series by Magnolia Team. Image by Magnolia Team, 2025.

On May 16, 2026, Comic Frontier (Comifuro), Indonesia’s biggest doujin & art market for fellow artists to sell and promote their works, held its 22nd event. Among them were three particular groups of artists who also produced their own yuri web series, each with unique themes and upbringings.

Join me as I explain these three yuri web comic series as well as an interview with the people working on these titles!

Everyday By Day

Everyday By Day (EBD) is a slice-of-life yuri series created by Magnolia Team, whose core members are Zaki, Azura, and Marbelous. Started in 2018, EBD is currently one of the longest-running yuri series made by Indonesian artists that is available to read on Webtoon English or Magnolia Team’s social media accounts on Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Two women in winter sweaters snuggled under a blanket on a yello sofa. One of the main couples of Everyday By Day, a yuri webtoon series. Characters from left to right: Claire and Ashley. Image by Magnolia Team, 2026.

One of the main couples of Everyday By Day, a yuri webtoon series. Characters from left to right: Claire and Ashley. Image by Magnolia Team, 2026.

Set in the fictional Harbour City, EBD tells the story of five main sapphic couples, each with distinct dynamics and personalities, as they live their romantic life in a city where being queer is normalized and accepted. Azura (she/they) explained the dynamics of the couples as such:

  • Naomi & Hana (low x high cortisol)
  • Nadya & Ann (flirtatious x tough-looking adults)
  • Jean & Sena (airhead x serious)
  • Ashley & Claire (warm x cold)
  • Gisel & Wendy (kink dynamic)

According to Azura, the core value of EBD is to tell a lighthearted sapphic story,regularly published on Monday to provide comfort for the readers during their first day of the week at work. In addition, despite a relatively simple story that’s easy to follow for both newcomers and regular readers, EBD also presents ample character development and drama that each couple frequently faces.

“Being set in a city that welcomes queer people, the story explores the drama and conflicts that emerge among those couples without them having to face additional layers of prejudices and hatred. By laying it bare like that, we want to convey that conflicts among couples are a universal thing regardless of their gender identities and sexual orientations,” said Azura.

“In that sense, love is also a universal thing for everyone, thus we want people to accept queer couples kindly, too.”

 

Doctor and Nurse (unofficial title)

Woman in hot pink, with pal pink hair and woman in black with green hair kiss in modern art image. “Doctor and Nurse” (unofficial title), a yuri series by Iwa. Characters from left to right: Nurse (Elise) and Doctor (Jessica). Image by Iwa, 2026.
“Doctor and Nurse” (unofficial title), a yuri series by Iwa. Characters from left to right: Nurse (Elise) and Doctor (Jessica). Image by Iwa, 2026.

Doctor and Nurse is a new adult yuri series created in 2026 by Iwa (she/her) that revolves around the relationship between a female Doctor and a female Nurse. Currently available on Instagram, Gumroad, and Twitter, Iwa plans to host her own website to upload the series in the future.

The artstyle of Doctor and Nurse is contemporary and raw with uncensored nudity and imagery, particularly the stitch marks all over the Doctor’s body, as parts of the overarching themes of exploring mental health and criticisms toward patriarchy in an industry dominated by cisgender heterosexual men.

Jessica, the illegal doctor working on organ harvesting for debt collectors, is a character designed to show the way mental illness can ruin oneself inside out. The stitch marks on her body are a direct result of her never fully feeling comfortable in her own body, whereas her asymmetry design screams instability.

Iwa elaborated on Jessica’s character, “I want to show the stitch marks all over her body to showcase the self-harm without the romanticization of mental health struggles. I want to show it for what it is: A struggle that people should discuss and overcome without any prejudices.” 

Meanwhile, Elise, the traveling nurse, is inspired by pin-up girls, yet her actions and works defy the stereotypical female nurses that are often sexualized by men and struggling against gender-based violence.

“Female nurses are often subjected to sexualization, sexual violence, and abuse of power relations. However, I want to tell the story of a nurse who travels from place to place to liberate herself from the system and dedicate herself to help people,” said Iwa.

 

To Get HerA woman with orange hair and leather jacket. embraces a woman in demin overalls, yellow blouse with short silver hair. “To Get Her”, a yuri webtoon series by ChamomileTea Studio. Character from the left to right: Ann and Libby. Image by ChamomileTea Studio, 2025.

“To Get Her”, a yuri webtoon series by ChamomileTea Studio. Character from the left to right: Ann and Libby. Image by ChamomileTea Studio, 2025.

To Get Her is a 16+ rated yuri series created by ChamomileTea Studio, whose members are the duo Skeetcha and JasmineTea. Originally created in 2021 as a 4-koma web series on Facebook and Tapas, the studio then shifted to developing the series primarily for Webtoon Canvas in the scrolling comic format in 2023. Later on in 2025, To Get Her became an official Webtoon Original series.

Available on Webtoon, To Get Her tells the story of Ann, a workaholic graphic designer who’s trapped in a lifeless corporate environment which deprives her of life beyond work. Her latest gig with a posh bar near her home leads her to Libby, a bartender whose presence begins to change Ann’s life for the better.

Amid their journey of self-acceptance and loving relationship, Ann and Libby encounter other recurring characters like Libby’s friendly bar manager, Ann’s pesky and friendly female coworker, and a male coworker who seems to be attracted to Ann.

The main characters themselves are inspired by Skeetcha and JasmineTea, with Ann based on Skeetcha’s experiences as a graphic designer and Libby based on Jasmine Tea’s past work in the food & beverage/hospitality industry.

JasmineTea (she/her) further explains the dynamic between Ann and Libby. She said, “We want to convey a story that’s very much relatable to our readers, particularly those who work a corporate job that may be boring and/or full of stress every day.”

“The life of two people whose jobs and personalities contrast one another also makes for an interesting story that’s filled with conflicts and romance. We hope that the journey that Ann and Libby take to love each other and themselves can be inspiring.”

 

The struggles of presenting yuri series in Indonesia

Despite presenting unique premise and backstory that differ from one another, all three titles share similar troubles, in that most of their audience are international readers, and that they are struggling to present their works in the local market due to numerous risks, such as hate speech and many cases of gender-based violence.

One such case occurs with Doctor and Nurse. Iwa observes that most of her readers are lesbians and trans women based in Europe, USA, and a handful of Southeast Asia countries like the Philippines, whereas her Indonesian readers are only a fraction of those.

Iwa explained, “Indonesian readers are still hesitant to engage with my work because of the fear that their friends on social media might discover their likes/comments/shares, and then these readers would be at risk of receiving hate speech. Of course, this also hurts my exposure to the local audiences and the revenue.”

“I’m grateful to my readers who are my intended demographic targets, but I also sometimes receive hate speech from bigots and people that are outside of the demographic targets.”

ChamomileTea Studio also faces a similar issue with their web series, in addition to their other, more personal dilemma. Their lead author, Skeetcha (she/her) said,

“We realize that To Get Her garners more attention and support from the international readers than the local ones because we currently also don’t have enough resources and time management to put more effort into advertising it to the local market.”

Another issue is censorship which further affects the algorithm on the platforms. Due to many platforms’ updated policy which may put more restrictions on R18 works, of which yuri is frequently categorized into, this puts the publication of the series at risk.

EBD in particular was rated as Mature 18+ by Webtoon Canvas due to the intimate scenes that typically conclude many of the chapters. As a result, when the platform published a new policy change that began forbidding partial nudity (bareback & cleavage) in early May 2026,  EBD’s then-latest chapter got censored and deleted on Webtoon.

It took Magnolia Team a number of days before they were able to resolve the issue with Webtoon and the chapter resurfaced on the platform. Even then, the team also feel that the Mature 18+ rating that they received also makes it more challenging to reach new audiences on the platform.

Reflecting on the experience, Azura said, “We’re afraid that something like this may occur on other platforms. Censorship hurts our viewership a lot, which will also affect the algorithm. Because of that, we’re trying to spread the publication to numerous platforms and hoping that they don’t get censored.”

 

Supporting Indonesian yuri artists and works

In a country where  many citizens still demonize the queer community and queer works, local yuri artists continue to produce their works as a passion project and/or one of their sources of income, in hope of providing a safe space for the community and inspiring other people to engage with the media or produce their own works, despite the many challenges.

Magnolia Team themselves hope to maintain stability in their work with EBD as it is one of the ways for them to convey their emotions and desires, as well as to love their own hard work.

Azura added, “We hope that our story inspires other people, whether it’s for them to read our works and the others or for them to create their own GL works.”

The rising number of yuri artists also brings hope that more people would be more open and accepting towards yuri works, in addition to opening new topics for them to explore.

In regard to that, Iwa hoped, “May we find more personal and diverse works that revolve around yuri/GL/lesbian. In that sense, I also hope that people can be more open and accepting of using the label ‘lesbian’ in their works, not seeing it as taboo anymore.”

Last but not least, the yuri/GL/lesbian community hope to continue to support one another in continuing their works and achieving their goals.

Skeetcha and JasmineTea said, “We hope to continue supporting the yuri/GL/lesbian community and foster an environment where everyone can support one another. We also hope to see more fanarts, more original works, and various yuri works made by local artists in the future.”

And of course, to close off the article with a popular motto from the local community…

Dirgahayuri!!*

This article is written by Lena Tama, a contributor and queer journalist from Indonesia. She loves all things yuri and will bake cookies & sweets for you!

*[Dirgahayu] means ‘long live’ in Indonesian language

Posted in Guest Review, Now This Is Only My Opinion, Yuri Webcomics | 2 Comments »


Yuri News Network – (百合ネットワークニュース) – May 23, 2026

May 23rd, 2026

A blue silhouette of a girl with a white flower in her hair, embracing the earth. Blue block letters read YNN Yuri Network News. Art by Lissa P. For Okazu.

Yuri Event

A don’t-miss event for Yuri fans! On June 18 in Nakano, sponsored by  Loneliness Books, Rica Takashima and Morishima Akiko will be doing a joint talk event about Yuri! Morishima-sensei will be talking about Yuri in the ’90s and Takashima-sensei will be talking about Yuri in America. How exciting!

 

 

Yuri Manga

Yen Press announced the license for Snowmelt and Agapanthus at Anime North!  I reviewed Volume 1 here on Okazu in Japanese in 2024. This is a classic Yuri school story, with likable characters.

Yen is also doing a The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All, hardcover Vol. 2 Numbered Edition Web Exclusive. 

Yuama’s newest story, being serialized right now in Comic Yuri Hime magazine,  has it’s first collected volume.  Tayutau Koi no Chirisai ni, Volume 1 (たゆたう恋の散り際に) is available on Bookwalker JP.

Note: Because shipping from Japan and buying books due to payment processors being hampered by right-wing bullshit is making things more expensive and slower, going forward I’m going to default to Bookwalker JP for Japanese manga links, until I put things on the Yuricon Store. 

Creator Ayukawa Ao on X says that this week Sunday Webry will begin serializing Natori to Shizuha (なとりとしずは), a story about two young women who meet and become close through Judo. May not be Yuri romance, but will be intimate friendship, which is fine by me.

A new series that has been getting some praise and some criticism is Gansaku ni Dai Juuban (贋作の第十番) which runs in Champion Cross. This series is a Yuri mystery about a butch orchestra conductor who pairs with a femme historical musical score analyst in order to recreate the score of Beethoven’s 10th symphony…a score which was responsible for the death of the analyst’s mother. By Kajimoto Reika, the art and story in this are all over the place, but there are also reasonable allegations of AI use in the color pages. That’s a shame because otherwise, the story is fascinatingly too much in a good way.

Sazame to Rio (さざめとりお ) is a story about two women’s lives together. 

Another Yuri manga named after the couple (which does seem to be a trend…) is Mikoto to Rei, (ミコトとレイ」), by Kudo Eru.  According to Comic Natalie, this story about a girl who is chill and a member of the morals committee at school began on social media and now has a collected first volume.

One-shot Gesso by Kurose Yu won a Kadokawa Editorial reward. This short about a girl who paints is on X.com to read for free. Gesso is the medium one paints on board or canvas as a primer for before painting.

inori. on X.com announced that the German edition of  I’m In Love With The Villainess, Volume 2  from Dokioco “will be released as a Deluxe Edition featuring the complete second part and a new cover by Hanagata-sensei.” inori.-sensei also added that she has written a bonus story for this edition!

 

Yuri Live Action

Via Sr. YNN Correspondent Matt Marcus, Taiwainese lesbian dating reality show Girls Love House,  Episode 1 is on Youtube with EN subtitles.

 

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Yuri Merch and Pop-Up Shops

Via Matt Marcus, there is a Kamiina Botan Fully Blossoms When Drunk pop-up store in the Princess Cafe on Sunshine-dori in Ikebukuro. (I sob with desire to be on Sunshine-dori in Ikebukuro.) The Cafe is promoting it on their X account.

Also via Matt, Here is a Mobile Suit Gundam ~ The Witch From Mercury  x kitsune and tanuke collaboration at Maruchan. Gundampixel on Bsky has the images. You probably can guess which creature Suletta and Miorine are. ^_^

For those of you in or around Brooklyn, NYC, the Yurimart will be held at Yume at 671 Flatbush Ave on Sunday, May 31 from 12-6. I’m going to stop by for a bit, so if you see me, say hi! I’ll have a few stickers to give away. ^_^

And via YNN Correspondent Sasori, the folks behind Kimi ga Shinu made Koi wo Shitai/ I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day are doing some after-event sales for goods that were at Prism Garden. Check out their official X account for details.

 

Yuri Light Novels

Cinderella no Kutsu Shokunin ~ Risou no Hitoashi, Otsukuri Shimasu ~シンデレラの靴職人 ～理想の一足、お作りします～   is about You, who works at a shoe company and dreams of opening a shop that sells custom-made shoes. About to give up, You meets Aoi, who encourages her to open a shop. Various customers come to “Sun Maid” with various wishes: A bride who pursues perfection, a young man who admires stiletto heels, a girl who is devoted to what she loves…” “Custom-made magic cannot be broken even at midnight.” This is available on Bookwalker JP. I’ll add that to my reading queue. ^_^

 

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Yuri Literature

The extraordinary Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāngzǐ has won the International Booker Prize. The NY Times utterly failed to make it make sense, but Waterstones on X summed it up beautifully, “A metafictional triumph blending a queer love story with both intimate and sweeping reflections on colonialism, culture and complexities of translation.” Here is a translation of translator Lin King’s acceptance speech.

 

Other News

Warsaw, Poland has just recognized its first same-sex marriage after an EU ruling that they must recognize marriages from other EU countries.

Last up, you know how I love girl gang stories. One of the three great series that will never die is YajiKita Gakuen Douchuuki. It’s not explicitly gay, but Kita is a chick magnet. Today I realized that the newest iteration of the series is YajiKita Isekai Douchuuki (やじきた異世界道中記) , which is to say the cast of this modern-day Taiga Drama have all been sent..to another world. Outstanding. ^_^

 

Your support for Yuri journalism and research has never been more important than right now. Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal is to raise our guest writers’ wages to above industry standard, which are too low!

Your support goes straight to paying for Guest Reviews, folks helping with videos, site maintenance, managing the Yuricon Store and directly supporting other Yuri creators. Just $5/month makes a huge impact! Become part of the Okazu family!

Become a part of the Yuri Network, by being a YNN Correspondent: Contact Us with any Yuri-related news you want to share with us.

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Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou, Volume 12 (私の推しは悪役令嬢。)

May 21st, 2026

Cover of Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou, Volume 12 / 私の推しは悪役令嬢。Story by inori., art by Aonoshimo. Surrounded by white lilies, a young woman with long blonde curls, in a red fatasy-style school blazer and dark blue skirt with voluminous white petticoats, turns towards us as if to curtsey, her blue eyes and smile very gentle.The end draws inexorably nearer, in Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou, Volume 12 (私の推しは悪役令嬢。) Salas holds the Revolutionary Government in his hands, while the Provisional Government lead by Dole and the nobles seem intent upon driving the commoners to rebellion….

…which was the plan, Rae finally admits to Claire. Claire finally learns that everything Rae and her father have done is to save her, and all she has to do is stand with the Revolution. But Claire is a noble through and through. And she’s always been the “Villianess,” willful and obstinate. Claire turns herself in to the Rebel forces, know that she is going to die. 

Rae becomes despondent. Everything she has done, all the allies she has made, has failed to save her love. But those allies are stronger than Rae knows, and when Misha gets into her face and say, “hey you’re not the only one who gets to interfere with friends’ love lives.” And then a wild card shows up and suddenly, we have hope once again. 

 Watching Salas manipulate everyone (and gloat about it) is enraging, but as horrifying as it is, we must acknowledge that Dole was, in his own way, just as manipulative. It’s easy yo see him as a good guy masquerading as a bad guy, but…he also was, genuinely a bad guy, too. 

This is a powerful and deeply emotional volume, then sets up all the pieces for Rae and Claire to face one another from opposite sides of a philosophical gap for the final time.

Ratings: 

Art – 9 Aonoshimo’s art is wonderful.
Story – 10 This is still one of the best climaxes in Villainess media
Characters – 10 Claire practically grows wings here
Service – 1 A kiss. A sad, bittersweet kiss.
Yuri – 10

Overall – 10

Based on the timing, I expect this to go about 14 volumes, unless there is a coda…which I hope there is. Let’s not forget to write Comic Yuri Hime and ask for more!

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