Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – April 10, 2021

April 10th, 2021

Yuri Events

Our top story today is the very exciting news that creator of My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness, Nagata Kabi will be a special guest of this year’s Toronto Comic Arts Festival! This year’s TCAF will be held virtually from May 8 through May 15, so you, too, will be able to see Nagata-sensei interviewed by the inimitable Deb Aoki. Frankly, I can’t wait! TCAF is always my favorite North American comics show, so I hope you’ll all watch some of the panels, see some of the guests, and support the artists – your purchases do triple duty, as they pay artists and support both the library and the sponsoring comic stores.

I was absolutely thrilled to have caught Sarah Frederick’s talk from Brown University this week, “Reading Like A Girl: Yoshiya Nobuko.” When that video is posted, I will absolutely recommend you all watch. It was a great talk.

 

Anime News

Discotek has opened up pre-order on their gorgeous remasters of Riyoko Ikeda’s classic anime Rose of Versailles Collection 1, Rose of Versailles Collection 2 and Dear Brother.

Daryl Harding notes that the Mawaru Penguindrum film crowdfunding campaign made it’s goal in less than three minutes. He has the details on Crunchyroll News.

Over at ANN Crystalynn Hodgkins has cast and staff news and a new promo video from the folks making upcoming anime Aquatope of White Sand.

You can watch Blue Reflection Ray anime over on Funimation, and read the ANN Spring Anime Guide team’s first impressions.

TubiTV, free streaming service has added Liz and the Blue Bird. Joseph Luster gives us the report on CR News.

Crunchyroll is getting Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S and has the shorts for those of you who can’t get enough!

Crunchyroll also launched Zombie Land Saga Revenge this week, and Alex Mateo has the promotional trailer voiced by Mitsuishi Kotono, who also voices the series’ best zombie, Tae. Kara Dennison shows us the cover art from the ZLS manga anthology.

Once again we turn to Kara for news on the Puella Magi Madoka Magica 10th anniversary project and the new OP “Luminous.”

 

Okazu News

This week I’ve added a new video to the Okazu Patreon detailing not just what you’ll get as a Patron, but even more importantly, the impact you have on the Yuri ecosystem! I hope you’ll take a couple of minutes and hear me out, because as an Okazu Patron you do a lot to make a difference on a micro, meso and macro levesl. We’re just a few patrons away from adding support for another creator and giving Okazu contributors another raise!

 

With the mad translation skills of our buddy Mimmy Shen, we’ve added Japanese subtitles to the Yuri Studio video What Makes a Story Yuri? Now you have two subtitle choices. If you want to add a new language translation to any of our videos, please contact me and we’ll work something out.

While I’m banging on about all the cool stuff we do here on Okazu, one of the folks we support directly as a part of our microgoal program, manga artist Hiranashi Mieri has posted a new video as well, detailing a “Week in the Life of a Japanese Manga Artist.”

 

Yuri Doujinshi

Lilyka is running a “Sakura sale” on most of their Yuri doujinshi this week. Coupon Code is YURIS21 for 20% OFF of eligible title through April 11.

 

Yuri Manga

Speaking of Lilyka, I was amazed and pleased to see that they have Momono Moto’s, The Rain and the Other Side of You, which I reviewed some years ago in Japanese, Ame to Kimi no Mukou (雨と君の向こう).

Yurimother has the news that newest volume of the Yuri Drill anthology (百合ドリル) Includes a transgender character.

Hana ni Arashi, Volume 8 (はなにあらし) continues the sweet love story of Nanoha and Chidori.

Ahead of this coming out in English later this year, we’ve added KUJIRA”s Sekai no Owari to Majyou no Koi, Volume 3 (世界の終わりと魔女の恋) to the Yuricon Store.

Yuri roadtrip manga Kita no Onna ni Tamesaretai (北の女に試されたい) is up on the Store, as is Kuzushiro’s office life story, Egao no Taenai Shokuba Desu., Volume 1 (笑顔のたえない職場です。)

Coming this month from Seven Seas is Superwomen in Love! Honey Trap and Rapid Rabbit, Volume 1.

 

Yuri Light Novels

Pre-order for the print edition of Ameco Kaeruda’s A Lily Blooms in Another World is up on the Yuricon Store.

Via Senior YNN Correspondent Sean G, we have some early digital release dates a’coming!

The *amazing* I’m in Love With the Villainess, Volume 3 is headed our way on June 3. No kidding, do not miss this . Just because it has one of everything.

ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! (Light Novel) Vol. 3 will hit your digital device on April 29.

 

Yuri Visual Novels

Via YuriMother, we have news that “El Dia announced a new Yuri mystery adventure visual novel Kanda Alice mo Suiri Suru which will be released for Nintendo Switch in late April. The game’s scenario is written by Hatsumi Hatsumi, who also wrote the Flowers series, The Curse of Kudan, and contributed to Yumeutsutsu Re:Master.”

KikaiDigital are planning to release a new Yuri Visual Novel in Summer 2021, Symbiotic Love – a demo of which is already available on Steam. According to the press release, “Symbiotic Love is a coming-of-age Yuri visual novel set in a southern coastal city of China, with mystery elements. It is the prequel to Melancholy Love, another visual novel already localized into English. The game is influenced by notable works such as Flowers. It also integrates Chinese traditional and youth culture to create a very Chinese story which is part of the Linghua Series (a total of four Yuri VNs).”

 

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Posted in Yuri Network News | 8 Comments »


Hero-san to Moto Onna Kanbu-san, Volume 3 (ヒーローさんと元女幹部さん)

April 8th, 2021

In Volume 1 we met Honjou Hayate, a woman with a secret identity as the hero Rapid Rabbit and her evil arch-rival Honey Trap. Honey leaves the presumably evil Antinoid organization (whose goal is obscure, but clearly evil,) and teams up with Hayate in life and superheroing,  We left our protagonists at the end of Volume 2 after someone else’s traumatic experience leaves them feeling mildly down.

As the pages of Hero-san to Moto Onna Kanbu-san, Volume 3 (ヒーローさんと元女幹部さん), Hayate and Honey are having a vacation at the beach. Hayate tells Honey her origin story and it’s pretty darn depressing (and I think pretty heavy on the foreshadowing.) But the head of the Antinoid army, X, is taking a personal interest in these two and she spends the remainder of these pages looking for ways to force Honey to rejoin the her organization. In order to save Honey, Hayate has to come to terms with her feelings for the former evil henchwoman.

In what appears to be a climactic battle, Honey and Rabbit defeat X! But wait, there will probably be a 4th volume. Don’t worry, though, Hayate and Honey are in love and you know what they say about love saving the day. ^_^

If you like Kamen Rider-like transforming baddies, and Saturday morning cartoon heroes, a dollop of of dark storytelling contrasted with a cheerful Yuri love story, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for Superwomen in Love! Honey Trap and Rapid Rabbit, Volume 1 coming this month from Sevens Seas.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Service – 4 Bikinis
Yuri – 4

Overall – 7

For a series about heroes who are saving humanity, an awful lot of people seems to remain unsaved in this story.  ^_^;

 

Posted in Yuri Manga | No Comments »


Girl’s Kingdom, Volume 2

April 6th, 2021

We met Misaki, a new student at Amanotsuka Girl’s School, when she unceremoniously climbed the wall to save some time and ran into Amanotsuka Himeko. Their meeting was kismet, because the girl who never wanted to become a maid and the girl who didn’t want a maid,  turn out to be an excellent mistress and maid combo. This was all detailed in Volume 1.

In Girl’s Kingdom, Volume 2, Misaki and the newest member of the Sky Salon, Misaki’s roomate Kirara, are roped into any number of impossible tasks in order to make their ladies’ lives better. Because this series is goofy and fun, they manage to accomplish them all, no matter how silly. And let me assure you they are varied and very silly tasks. From arranging a successful marketing relationship, to saving a restaurant, to becoming better maids, Misaki makes in-roads in all manner of issues at this unreal school, peopled by unreal people, in unreal situations.

It’s challenging to find things to say about this volume that I haven’t already said in my review of Volume 1. It’s still absolutely mad as a porridge knife, full of pointlessly salacious nonsense, then covered by other pointless nonsense…but all the pointless nonsense is the plot, so one can’t really complain. And, might one think to complain, British transfer student Sarah would surely scold. After all, England is the place maids come from, we are assured, so clearly she will be better at this than anyone. Because being a maid can be learned by osmosis, apparently.  ^_^

More importantly, this novel is absolutely goofy; adapted ably by Philip Reuben and editor teiko, who keep both the fake humor and the real humor behind, it in this theater of the absurdly written. Illustrations that sometimes match the descriptions in the text are an added bonus. It’s a hoot and everyone deserves some off time for their brain. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8 Pretty, but why?
Story – 7 Even sillier than Volume 1
Characters – 8 Likeable and loopy
Service – 7 Underwear and baths, how revelatory.
Yuri – 4 Slowly getting there, amazingly. A whole half-step forward, at least

Overall – 7

If all this maidly and mistressly excitement isn’t enough for you, Volume 3 is coming your way in June! All three Girls Kingdom volumes are available from J-Novel Club on Amazon, Bookwalker Global and are on the Yuricon Store.

Posted in Light Novel | 1 Comment »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – April 3, 2021

April 3rd, 2021

Yuricon Store Update

Thanks to our Okazu patrons, the Yuricon Store reboot is about to get into full swing. We’ve re-enabled the multiple retailer option, so you’ll have more choices of zaibatsu you want to give your money to. ^_^; These will all be contingent upon any given system having the item available, obviously.

English Manga, English Anime and Light Novels will be available through Amazon, RightStuf and Bookwalker Global (GL). Japanese Manga and Drama CDs (which have sort of faded out, but aren’t dead, yet) will have Amazon JP, CD Japan and Bookwalker JP options. Digital Manga will be available on Bookwalker GL and Kindle, or directly when they are not on a large system. Yuri Literature will be getting links on Amazon and Bookshop.org. Other items, like Visual Novels and Games and Yuri Goods will be sold through Amazon or directly through their own sites and Yuricon and Okazu apparel and branded goods are still through Redbubble. When this update is over, I’ll consider adding a doujinshi category, but that might end up being more complicated than it’s worth. ^_^;

I really appreciate Okazu Patrons’ candor and assistance with these choices  and with their help, we have two assistants who will be continuing the cleanup of old entries and adding in new vendors! Hopefully, they’ll be able to fix the older entries, while I am able to add things going forward. Here’s to getting this done by end of summer!

We’ve added a number of items onto the Store – where we were able to add the multiple links, we have. Please bear with us, while we are in the awkward phases of getting it all done. ^_^

 

Yuri Manga

The Rose of Versailles, Volume 5 is headed our way in May!

Takeshima Eku’s delightful school band love story, Whisper Me a Love Song, Volume 3 is headed our way in English in June, and Japanese readers are up to Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau, Volume 4.

I’m in Love With the Villainess manga, Volume 1 is a great visual for the this series we love so much.

I’m absolutely digging the manga version of Flum Apricot on the cover of ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, Volume 1.

Tsukiko’s Yuri-adjacent Futaribeya, Volume 2 went up his week.

The conclusion of Ohsawa Yayoi’s delightful school band love story, Hello, Melancholic! Volume 3 (ハロー、メランコリック!) is now on my to-read pile. Yay!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s review, Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, Volume 6  (付き合ってあげてもいいかな) is out in Japanese and I have no idea what to expect.

The Special Edition of the manga version of  Kudan no Folklore (クダンノフォークロア 特装版), Sukerasparo’s paranormal VN includes an original soundtrack,  art postcards and more.

 

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Seven Seas announced on Twitter that Iwami Kyouko’s Transparent Light Blue is now available on multiple digital formats.

Yen Press reminds us that Strawberry Fields Once Again, Volume 2 is now available and that they still really do have the Yuri manga Breasts Are my Favorite Thing in the World! which is a real thing, not an April Fools joke, but also never going to be listed on the Yuricon Store. ^_^

ANN’s Alex Mateo has the news that  Otona ni Nattemo is resuming serialization after creator Shimura Takako suffered a sudden illness. This series is released in English as Even Though We’re Adults.

Also at ANN, Adriana Hazra has the note that Hagino Makoto, creator of A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, is slated to begin a new series for Dengeki Mao. Hopefully we’ll enjoy that one as much as we did this.

Via Megan and  Comic Natalie we have Uso to Kisu ha Houkago ni (嘘とキスは放課後に), about a girl who has a “man habit’ after her mother, but who becomes lovers with a female family friend. It is running in GanGan Joker, so we can guess it will be a mean-spirited Yuri story. ^_^;

Also via Comic Natalie we have Kyuugetsuki-chan to Maido-san (吸血鬼ちゃんとメイドさん), which is a short story collection by Zanka, full of master/slave, vampire/loli and other popular fetistry combos.

One last Comic Natalie link, a book I’m actually really looking forward to as I’ve been reading it online. Kita no Onna ni Tamesaritai (北の女に試されたい) is an absolute mess of story and art, but this women’s road trip by Minoda Kaido centered around food and women is my jam.

 
Yuri Doujinshi

Magnum Lily, Volume 3 is up on Lilyka! Still hoping for Yuri in this Yuri boxing doujinshi. ^_^ Lilyka also has a anthology that interested me, TNT – Short Cut Anthology, for fans of women with short hair, one presumes. ^_^

 

Yuri Light Novels

Thanks to YNN Correspondent NaraMoore for the news that J-Novel Club has announced Volumes 5 and 6 of Otherside Picnic on their Twitch announcements this week. No specific dates, just confirmation that they are on the way.

Not-Yuri, but totally in my wheelhouse, J-Novel Club also announced a new imprint, J-Novel Pulp (and I rejoiced. I love pulp fiction.) One of their first books planned is Jessica Bannister and the Midnight Séance. Yess……

 

Other News

The Yuriten is over for this year, but I had a great time visiting it over the entire month. I dropped them a quick tweet to thank them and hope for the same next year. ^_^And thanks to all the folks who joined us on the virtual walkthrough this year on the Okazu Discord!

Egan Loo at ANN has the news about a new Sailor Moon Musical. This autumn we’ll get Kaguya-hime no Koibito, and some cute Luna as a human action.

The Penguindrum countdown clock hit zero and we found out we’re getting a compilation film for the Mawaru Peguindrum series. Once again we turn to Egan Loo for the news at ANN.

The Blue Reflection franchise kicks into high gear with the announcement that it is getting 2 new games and the upcoming anime will run for two cours. ANN’s Rafel Antonio Pineda has the details.

 

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

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 the Yuri ecosystem!

Posted in Yuri Network News | 1 Comment »


How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 2

April 2nd, 2021

It seems entirely fitting to end a tempestuous week here on Okazu with a tempestuous series. Tamifull’s college drama fits the mood perfectly.

In Volume 1, we met Saeko and Miwa, two students who start dating, but flail a bit figuring out how to make their relationship work both physically and emotionally. As we open the pages of How Do We Relationship, Volume 2, we can see that they have worked out the physical half of the problem. The emotional half, however, is more complicated – as it mostly always is with humans.

Because they now “fit,” together, one might believe that the barriers that keep them from communicating would likewise be coming down. However, Miwa spends her hours concerned that she’s holding everyone back, especially Saeko. Saeko’s denial of her own emotions keeps putting a wall between them. And on top of all this, neither of them are particularly open and out, which causes confusion and jealousy. Add to the mix some clueless bandmates and an aggressive encounter, and things start to look tenuous.

It’s about now that I see stress fractures in this relationship. I don’t really know what other people are seeing, but it seems really obvious to me that if this was a real-life couple I knew, we’d all have a betting pool to see how long they last before they broke up. I’d give them a couple of months, tops. Full props to Tamifull for putting stress on this relationship from all the possible angles at once in a realistic and interesting way.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7 Awkward, jangly, makes you want to run up and give them all advice
Characters – 6 The band members are kind of annoying, especially the guys being clueless and intrusive.
Yuri – 9 / LGBTQ – 5
Service – 3

Overall – 8

Will Miwa and Saeko figure out how to talk about what they are feeling? Tune in to Volume 3  coming from Viz Media this June and find out!

I’ve got Volume 6 here in Japanese and really have no idea what to expect!

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | 3 Comments »