Koharu to Minato: Watashi No Partner Ha Onna No Ko, Volume 1 (小春と湊 わたしのパートナーは女の子)

July 25th, 2024

Koharu to Minato: Watashi No Partner Ha Onna No Ko, Volume 1Two women smile at one another holding tapioca teas. One is taller with collar-length black hair that fades into lavender, wearing a fashionable black suit and accessories. The other is shorter, with long light brown hair, casually dressed in a green tee and jeans with her arm around the other woman's waist. (小春と湊 わたしのパートナーは女の子) is a fictionalized autobiographical comic essay on the real-lives of the creative team, Daruma and Hiarron, which has been running in Comic Yuri Hime magazine. Originally in the end pages of the magazine, it has recently been moved into the body. Conveniently I found some time recently to finish up this first collected volume in the middle of a very busy week. 

The main point of this book is that Koharu and Minato are adorable together. 10 years apart in age, Koharu is a bit of a free spirit, naturally a bit butchier than Minato, while Minato tends to be a fashion plate. The two of them are good for one another and their relationship is wholesome as can be. (As I write this review, my wife and I have just shared a bowl of cereal for an afternoon snack and we’re feeling very wholesome ourselves, so, like, I get it. ^_^)

The story, as such, becomes more interesting when they tell they story of how they met online and ended up meeting, then dating long-distance and eventually moving in together. I will say that I find myself oddly interested in the minutiae of their lives together. ^_^

There is no major conflict here. Maybe they go out for boba tea, or they have a date to see a movie. They live together and are very in love. It’s the kind of manga you’ll want to read a small section at a time, so you’re not overwhelmed with the cuteness. The art here is loose and comfortable, a style that suits the narrative very well.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters  – It’s never not weird to score a person’s perspective on themselves. They both seem very nice. 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 10

Overall – 8

Although this is a fictionalized autobiographical look at their lives together – and they do discuss marriage at one point – there is little discussion of queer life in Japan (although that may be addressed in the next volume. For that reason, I am scoring this a a Yuri, not  LGBT comic.

This series began as a digital comic, but there’s a definite “meant for publication” feel to it. Despite that, it is currently in digital format only, so only available on Kindle in Japan, multiple JP digital manga sites and Bookwalker outside.

Volume 2 hit digital shelves in May, and if I need more comfort food Yuri, I’m sure to reach for the next volume as well.

Posted in Comic Essay, Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »


Otherside Picnic, Volume 10

July 24th, 2024

Two women stand back to back. The shorter with collar-length dark hair in a green jacket over striped shirt holds her hand up to her face near a blue eye, that does not match her other brown eye. Behind her is a taller women with long, blonde hair, looking back over her left shoulder at us. In the background are a tall girl with red hair, her hand on a shorter girl's shoulder. The shorter girl holds up a fist as if ready to protect the other girl.by Sandy Ferguson, Guest Reviewer

Otherside Picnic, Volume 10 includes the satisfying conclusion of ‘Sannuki and the Karate Kid’, the beginning of ‘The Whisper Is At-Your-Own-Risk’ and the always welcome bonus Kozakura story ‘Getting Lost in Self-Loathing’, the title is a bit of a spoiler…

In this volume the events of the stories happen in our world. Sorawo and Toriko do not enter the Otherside, instead they are responding to the Otherside interacting with our world in both stories, though in very different ways.

Throughout this volume Sorawo shares her thoughts concerning the nature of the Otherside and how it becomes part of our world.

And through conversations Sorawo explores the distinction between those who actively seek an encounter with the Otherside, people like her and Toriko who are willing to risk the consequences of such an encounter, compared with those who stumble on a ‘patch’ of the Otherside that has somehow infiltrated our world. This is partly as an explanation of why she is willing to help those who stumble into the Otherside, but as she also makes clear she doesn’t want to deal with them being a nuisance who might get in the way of her and Toriko’s fun.

We hear more of Sorawo’s definitions of urban lore and ghost stories and why the distinction is so important to her, with a harrowing glimpse into her childhood to explain why this is the case.

One aspect of Otherside Picnic I appreciate is the ability to portray the presence of the Otherside in an ordinary setting that I find unsettling. For example, Sorawo’s response to seeing Satsuki in a crowd and what happens next.

Satsuki Uruma looms more and more into the narrative throughout this volume in a variety of ways, such as Sorawo becoming annoyed when people are happy to tell her that she looks like Satsuki.

Satsuki haunts Sorawo’s life, not just with her presence, but her fears of what will happen if she shares with Kozakura and especially Toriko that she can see Satsuki. We see more of the connections that Satsuki made, the young women who were drawn to her and who she recruits. The question that arises is what was Satuski’s objective bringing these young women into her vision of the Otherside?

In ‘The Whisper Is At-Your-Own-Risk’ we meet Runa Urumi, also known as Luna-sama, a Satsuki devotee touched by the Otherside with a talent that is a powerful illustration of the consequences of what happens when elements of the Otherside being deliberately introduced into our world.

But it is useful to remember that Satsuki and her ilk are not the only people bringing the Otherside into our world. Sorawo uses the gift of her eye to prepare Akari for her confrontation with the Kano Sannuki.

‘The Whisper Is At-Your-Own-Risk’ is one of my favourite stories from the novels, and the manga has already got a good start in its version of the story, with its dramatic recreation of the kidnap, the story of Luna-sama being touched by the Otherside and Sorawo’s realisation that she has to face the trauma of her past as she is confronted by held captive by a cult who worship Luna-sama.

I am really looking forward to Volume 11, which comes out in November!

I was particularly drawn to the bonus short story, “Getting Lost in Self-Loathing”. As always, we are invited to witness Kozakura’s perspective on events, and this one was a doozie. Kozakura’s honesty about her complicated feelings about Satsuki, Toriko and Sorawo and how they had drawn her into the Otherside is compelling and raw.

Sorawo’s role in Kozakura’s musings are particularly interesting, as Kozakura expresses a combination of annoyance with a dash of gratitude over how Sorawo has changed her life.

Ratings:

Story – 9

Artwork – 9 “A whole lot of…teeth?” is a scene that will be haunting my dreams. And then there is the ethical dilemma, can we enjoy the wonderful artwork of Akari beating up what looks like an old woman?

Character – 9 We are given more glimpses of the complexity that is Sorawo, how she responds to the trauma of her childhood and how this has shaped her ability to be in relationship with other people. And ‘Getting Lost in Self-Loathing is an excellent character study of Kozakura

Service – 7

Yuri – 8 In this volume we are introduced to more potential Yuri thanks to Natsumi and Akari.

Overall – 9

Tags:
Posted in English Manga, Guest Review, Otherside Picnic, Yuri Manga | 2 Comments »


Omai Series

July 22nd, 2024

Promotional image for the TikTok version of Omai Series, showing Omai (left) and Mina (right) hugging her.Thailand’s next-door neighbor Vietnam is poorer and more socially conservative, and has a government more resistant to addressing its LGBTQ population’s concerns. Thus it’s understandable that Vietnamese bách hợp (“lily”) films and series are still few and far-between. One of the most recent and most interesting ones is Omai Series (no “the”) from Fimbé, filmmakers associated with Brave Films & Entertainment, a Ho Chi Minh City production house. Omai Series was originally released in the form of very short TikTok videos, in Vietnamese only. These were then combined and released as longer YouTube videos with English subtitles for international fans, and then combined again into a movie-length season 1 (with a season 2 compilation perhaps to follow in future).

Born on the internet and unconstrained by the strictures of broadcast TV, Omai Series (literally) shows its colors in the first scene: First-year university student Mai (nicknamed Omai after the Hanoi dried fruit snack) arrives at her new apartment in Ho Chi Minh City to find a strange flag on the door. “Is my roommate a foreigner?” she wonders. No, that’s the lesbian flag, and her roommate is the sultry and sophisticated Mina, a third-year student. Mina directs Omai to sit with her on the only bed (“no chairs in this room”) and teases Omai about her nickname (“Sour? Sweet? Or spicy?!”) while reassuring her, “Don’t worry, I won’t eat you.”

Indeed she doesn’t, at least not literally, but as time goes on Omai gradually finds herself succumbing to Mina’s charms. She’s cheered on by her two classmates and friends Watermelon and the gay-coded Loa Phường, and opposed by her rebellious twin sister Lili, who’s resentful of Omai’s status as the “good child.” Lili’s machinations, Omai’s relationship with her parents, and Mina’s relationship with her mother (who’s trying to match her up with a handsome doctor) drive most of the plot.

Live-action romances live and die based on the sparks that fly between the main couple, and Omai Series does not disappoint in that regard. The actor Omai is especially good at portraying both Omai and her polar opposite Lili — on my first watch I didn’t realize they were played by the same person — although she doesn’t make a truly convincing drunk. The actor Mina is a worthy foil to her. (In a promotional livestream the actors expressed a preference to be identified by their nicknames – which are the same as their character names — rather than by their full real names, and the show credits reflect that.) The acting for Omai’s best friends is broader and less professional — not surprising since Watermelon and Loa Phường are portrayed by the director/screenwriter and Brave’s PR manager respectively.

Omai Series is a relatively low budget show, but it’s a reasonably professional production with adequate English subtitles. However the vertical format sometimes forces odd choices in the cinematography, and for a good part of the show the subtitles are in small yellow text that can be difficult to read at times, especially on a smartphone. To my knowledge it’s the first yuri entry from Fimbé and Brave. I hope it won’t be the last.

Story – 7 (the addition of Lili livens the action)
Characters – 7
Production – 6
Service – 3 (a chaste first kiss leads to something more intense later)
Yuri – 10
LGBTQ — 7
Overall – 7

Omai Series is a sweet and savory Vietnamese treat, whether you snack on individual episodes during the day or make a full meal of it binge-watching in the evening.

Posted in Frank Hecker, Live Action, Staff Writer | 1 Comment »


Cooking Anime: 50 Iconic Dishes from Your Favorite Anime

July 21st, 2024

Illustration of cute food items with faces, in Japanese bento boxes.Hello Okazu family, this is Pattie, ‘the wife’ and first lady of Yuricon and Okazu.

Here’s a little-known fact about Erica… she reads as many cookbooks as I do. There is typically a collection of cooking magazines, vintage promotional cooking pamphlets, and random cookbooks on the table where we eat. When I finish one, I pass it across the table for her to read. I like to think I’ve helped Erica cultivate a taste for them. So, when we were standing in Five Below, looking at the books, this one was too in our wheelhouse to NOT purchase.

Cooking Anime: 50 Iconic Dishes from Your Favorite Anime* by Nadine Estero honestly surprised me. The author has some serious cooking chops. I was expecting the typical basics of Japanese cooking, and while yes, there are some, the bulk of the recipes on offer are much more involved. More on that in a minute. The other thing that sincerely amazed me was just how up-to-date the series are that are included. Laid-back Camp, Odd Taxi, and Godzilla Singular Point were right next to oldies like Howl’s Moving Castle, Cowboy Bebop, and Card Captor Sakura.

So, the recipes! Each begins by naming the series, season, and episode that inspired the recipe, followed by a description meant to establish the recipes’ background. Some are pretty obvious, based on the series, like the recipe for Tofu Steak from Restaurant to Another World. Others… less so, like Sasha’s Stolen Bread and Potato Ration Soup from Attack on Titan (Erica informs me that potatoes are definitely a thing in AoT, something I did not know.) Most recipes include a delightful color illustration, estimated prep and cooking time, and there are quotes about food from the recipe’s series sprinkled liberally throughout. Many of the recipes are multistep, but the author’s careful step-by-step break down of the process makes even the most difficult recipe seem approachable. For example, the Miso Chashu Ramen from Boruto: Naruto Next Generation literally starts with building the broth, making the chashu, the miso tare, and the infused finishing oil to drip on top. Nothing out of a can or box going on here! And yet, her conversational tone assures you that it’s only a matter of time before you’re placing flavorful bowls on the table.

There was precious little in this book I wouldn’t make, to the point where I was shocked that she was able to sell me on Tuna Meatballs in Orange Sauce from One Piece. I mean, really, that sounds foul… and yet…

The only downside, IMO, was the estimated prep and cook time. But, to be frank, I have this issue with just about ALL recipes. The Land and Sea Mix Okonomiyaki from Himouto! Umaru-chan R says it will take you 15 minutes to finely chop 3 cups of cabbage, 2 scallions, peel and devein 12 shrimp, chop octopus legs, squid heads, mozzarella, and pork belly… aside from making the okonomiyaki base. Apparently, I’m slow.

Ratings:

Art – 9 charming, colorful, enticing
Utility – 9 there were more than a few recipes that called for nothing more than pantry staples
Characters – 10 there were a bunch, for sure
Service – 10 this book WILL make you want to cook
Yuri – 10 I really do love my wife

Slow or not, if you’re like me and Erica; into anime, and food, AND cooking, grab this excellent book. Sincerely, it’s worth twice the price.

*The link to the book on Amazon includes some weird brandjacking by a skin cream, but this link does go to the book. I hope. Or check your local Five Below to see if they have it. ^_^

Posted in Guest Review, Miscellaneous | No Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – July 20, 2024

July 20th, 2024

In black block letters, YNN Yuri Network News. On the left, in black silhouette, a woman with a broad brim hat and dress stands, a woman in a tight outfit sits against the Y. Art by Mari Kurisato for Okazu

Yuri Events

The schedule has dropped for Anime NYC and there are going to be a bunch of interesting panels. It’s got a nice mix of industry and fan stuff going on!. I’ll try and do a round-up before we’re live.

 

Please join TJ “Tiff” Ferentini, Jacqueline Fung, Nicole Roderick and myself on Friday, August 23 in Panel Room 3 for The Rise of Queer Manga and on Sunday, August 25 at 12:30, in Panel Room 1, for A History of Manga By Decades: Manga History Two Books At A Time, with myself and Zack Davisson, where we’ll be talking up our new book, Manga: A Visual History from DK!

Rica Takashima and I will be tabling together and we’re thinking of doing a little pop-up on where to get Yuri in Tokyo. In the mean time, I do want to let you know that Yuri Cafe Anchor has been rebranded to Anchor rainbowport Tokyo. It still is all about Yuri, and is very openly welcoming all genders, with a charge-free period every day, so it can function as a true “third space.” If you get a chance, you should drop by (and buy something to support them, anyway. ^_^)

I’ve put our very own Okazu merch back on the Yuricon Store just in time for you to show up at AnimeNYC wearing your love of Yuri on your chest. Our Okazu Mascots Love Yuri tee comes in 8 colors and sizes from Small to 3x. All of the new designs are back up on the Yuri Apparel section in multiple colors and sizes so I hope to see you proclaiming your love of Yuri at the con! You know I will be. ^_^

Also at AnimeNYC will be the first-ever North American Manga Awards! My very sincere congratulations to Deb Aoki who has working on the creation of this award for years. This is a much-needed award, as manga is regularly sidelined at the Eisners, even though manga is, as a category, the largest chunk of comic sales in the US. Two amazing lesbian works are up for awards: Sakaomi Yuzaki’s She Loves To Cook and She Loves To Eat, from Yen Press is up for a Best Continuing Series Award and the My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness Special Edition by Kabi Nagata, is up for Best Publication Design.  Check out the full nominations list on ANN by Rafael Antonio Pineda. Congrats to all the nominees! I’m so excited that this is a real thing after all that work by so many folks.

Yuri manga artist Inui Ayu shared some photos of the Shoujo x Shoujo 4 Yuri Managka Exhibition (少女と少女と少女～百合作家4人展～) in Kichioji this week, featuring work by Morinaga Milk, Hakamada Mera, Hatosaki Haru and Morita Miyuki.  My favorite photo shows the nicely framed Yuri prints in the window, where anyone passing by can see them. ^_^

Don’t miss Miguel Adarlo’s report on the The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All Cafe, this week on Okazu!

If you’ve attended any Yuri-themed event or location, we’d love your impressions, Contact us here to write something up for Okazu.

 

Yuri Manga

My Idol Sits the Next Seat Over, Volume 7 is on the Yuricon Store. This volume completes the series and we had Luce let us know how it went this week on Okazu!

Also on the Store is Kiss the Scars of the Girls, Volume 3, by Haruhana Ayu. The cover may not be final, but the story sure is. Check out Okazu Staff Writer Christian Le Blanc’s hilarious review of Volume 2 this week.

Matt Marcus did a great review of Assorted Entanglements, Volume 5 for us this week, as well!

Rafael Antonia Pineda has the news that Kodama Naoko’s latest series for Comic Yuri Hime, “Usotsuki Hanayome to Dousei Kekkon-ron” is ending in the September issue of the magazine. Volume 1 of the manga is on the Yuricon Store!

Joana Cayanan has the news that Yodokawa’s adult life romantic comedy Maitsuki Niwatsuki Ooyatsuki, is ending with the August chapter. We have volumes 1-4 on the Store in Japanese and Volumes 1-3 in English.

Via Comic Natalie, two new series are starting in Comic Yuri Hime, “Kimi ga Hoeru Tame no Uta o” is a story about a girl who has a complex about her husky voice and a singer she admires who teams up with her, and Usui Shio’s new series, “Bokura no Ai ha Kimochi Warui,” about women with unusual sexual fetishes.

 

Your support makes Yuri news, reviews and videos possible.
Help us give our writers the pay they deserve!
Become an Okazu Patron today

Yuri Visual Novel News

 ANN’s Rafael Antonio Pineda has the news that Yuri Visual Novel, Uso kara Hajimaru Koi no Natsu ~The Summer Romance Bloomed From A Lie~ (嘘から始まる恋の夏 ) is getting a manga adaptation in Comic Yuri Hime, called Uso kara Hajimaru Koi no Natsu ~ squall.

 

Yuri Live Action

Rafael Antonio Pineda also has the news that Chaser Game W, the live-action series based on the manga of the same name, is getting a second season. Season 1 was reviewed here on Okazu by Staff Writer Frank Hecker, who has been amazing at  tracking down and reviewing live action Yuri!

Just want to remind folks, too to watch Ayaka is in Love With Hiroko, available on GagaOOLala streaming with EN subtitles or TVer.jp on for free in Japanese only. This has been a very entertaining adaptation of the manga, Aayaka-chan ha  by Sal Jiang so far!

 

Buy us a Sailor Senshi sparkling water
Support Yuri journalism on Ko-fi!

Yuri Anime

The Look Back anime film has topped 1 billion yen at Japanese box offices. Alex Mateo has the news on ANN. Studio Ghibli head Suzuki Toshio had some comments on the movie trailer. Daryl Harding over at Crunchyroll News has that report.

 

Other News

Of interest to folks here, Just Like Mona Lisa, Volume 1 was reviewed by Mr. AJCosplay over on ANN. In a world where most people choose their gender by 12 years old, our protagonist is 18 and happily non-binary, until they are caught up in a love triangle. Read the review for details of the good and the problematic.

Women directing major anime movies is rare enough still that I want to draw your attention to Mohamed Mir’s article on Crunchyoll News, The Colors Within Director Naoko Yamada on Blending Sound and Color in Her Latest Movie.

 

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips.  Our goal now, into 2024, 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 | No Comments »