Yuricon at Yurithon!

August 1st, 2017

Please join us August 4-6 in Montreal, Canada for Yurithon, part of the Otakuthon event. I’ll be joined by some of my senior staff and dearest friends (but not all, and we’re really going to miss those of you not there!) and we’re doing a bunch of panels. I’m bringing a bunch of stuff to give out as prizes, so come with your best questions ready!

Here’s where you can definitely find us!

Friday: 5:00pm-6:00pm: The Secret History of Yaoi and Yuri
In this presentation, I trace the artistic and literary roots of some of the common tropes of Yuri and BL.

Saturday: 1:00pm-3:00pm: Must Read/Must Watch Yuri
This is our “flagship” panel – 90 minutes of Yuri anime and manga. We’ve brought animation clips and and tons of stuff to watch and read. Prizes are primarilyy for this panel. Bring it on!

Saturday: 7:00pm-8:00pm: A Yuri Otaku in Japan
We’re going to give you the Yuri-focused downlow on getting to Japan, staying there, shopping there and going to events there. Want to know where to get Yuri? Join us and find out.

Sunday: 1:00pm-2:00pm: “Yuri Court”
This is a silly game I made up on the spot for a con Sunday. ^_^ Participants will “present a case” for a Yuri being Guilty (of being crappy) or Innocent (by being good) and a panel of judges (not just me, so don’t worry that I’m gonna slam your decision. There’s three of us, I can be outvoted. ^_^) will decide on a verdict. I hope to have some prizes left to offer folks for this game.

If you’re an Okazu reader or a member of the Yuricon community, please introduce yourself. I want to meet you all and thank you in person. ^_^

Posted in Events, Okazu News, Yuricon | No Comments »


Yuri Manga: Eclair blanche – Anata ni Hibiku Yuri Anthology (エクレア blanche あなたに響く百合アンソロジー)

July 31st, 2017

In April 2017, I reviewed a new Yuri anthology,  Eclair  – Anata ni Hibiku Yuri Anthology. It was, apparently, successful enough that a sequel was almost immediately planned, and so, today, I’m taking a look at Eclair blanche – Anata ni Hibiku Yuri Anthology (エクレア blanche あなたに響く百合アンソロジー).

There are many names in this anthology that will be familiar to Okazu readers, Amano Shuninta, Nakatani Nio, Kitao Taki, Canno and Hirao Auri among them.

Like all anthologies, your mileage may vary, as the authors play to their interests  and strengths, with still fairly heavy reliance on schoolgirl stories. This isn’t just a fetish, you understand, it’s a comfortable place to play, as no commitment, no social commentary and above all, no political position need be taken to present a heartfelt, sincere Yuri story. 

Of this anthology, the standout piece for me was Canno-sensei’s story which follows a fairly jaded lesbian, who finds a real connection with the girl next door. I also liked Kitao Taki-sensei’s story that takes the tired trope of a childhood promise and examines it in an adult light.

All in all, a collection of strong voices and variable art styles makes for a great place to pick and choose from a buffet of Yuri. You’re likely to find a piece or three that suit your tastes. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 7

While this collection is not available on the US Kindle, you can get it digitally on Bookwalker Global, which has the advantage of being both region and device agnostic. Both Eclair and Eclair blanche are available.

 

Posted in Éclair, Yuri Anthology, Yuri Manga | 3 Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – July 29, 2017

July 29th, 2017

Sailor Moon is turning 25 and Revolutionary Girl Utena is turning 20 years old. How old do you feel? We at Okazu feel 15 years old!

Join me and Yuricon staff and friends at Yurithon in Montreal, Canada Aug-4-6 to celebrate. There will be presents, well, prizes for great panel questions and participation. ^_^

***

 

Celebrate 15 Years of Yuri News and Reviews! 
Become an Okazu Patron! 
***

Yuri Manga

The Kase-san official Twitter account reminds us that, as of today,  Apron to Kase-san (エプロンと加瀬さん) is available in Japan. Also available, the deluxe version with the Asagao to Kase-san animation clip on Blu-Ray.

Hirao Auri’s idol group Yuri romantic comedy Oshi ga Budokan Ittekuretara Shinu  (推しが武道館いってくれたら死ぬ) Volume 3 is available for those of us who are actually rooting for Eripyo.

And don’t miss Volume 4 of Nakatani Nio’s (to me, controversial) Yagate Kimi ni Naru (やがて君になる).

Pixiv Yuri manga Deaike Site de Imouto to Deau Hanashi (出会い系サイトで妹と出会う話)  about a woman who signs up for a meetup on a lesbian site only to discover the woman she’s come to meet is her younger sister, is being collected into a volume.

Comic Natalie reports on Spirits magazine, in which a new “rap Yuri” manga, Catcher in the Rhyme (キャッチャー・イン・ザ・ライム)  will be beginning this month in issue 34.  Comic Natalie also says that  Yuri “comedy,”  Sekai de Ichiban Oppai ga suki! (世界で一番おっぱいが好き！) will be starting up in Comic Cune‘s September issue, but I think imma pass on that one. ^_^;

 

Yuri VN News

From the horse’s mouth – Josh Kaplan, creator of Highway Blossoms tweeted, “recently started just for making yuri VN’s; our first two games will be formally announced in September.” Check out Studio Elan’s Twitter account for character designs and news.

 

Other News

Kat Callahan continues to take a deep look at NTR: Netsuzou Trap anime at Anime-Now. I still don’t agree that it is worth watching, but I think her perspective is valid and important. (It comes down to, I think, completely different ways of interacting with the story. It’s all “right” and no one is “wrong” here.) Kat is very clear that this is her interpretation, and I agree with the abuse angle, but, exactly as it is in Citrus, I do not think the apparent abuse is anything but a fetishy “here’s why she’s so creepy” handwave, and not ever meant to be dealt with honestly in the narrative.

The Comics Beat has a a write-up of  A Conversation About Inclusivity and Diversity in Comics and the Comics Market and Comics As a Force for Social Change panels at San Diego Comic-Con.

Stephanie Chan looks at Analyzing gender representation of 34,476 comic characters for the Comics Lowdown on Smashpages.

 

Know some cool Yuri News you want people to know about? Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find.Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Posted in Yuri Network News | 6 Comments »


Revolutionary Girl Utena 20th Anniversary Manga in Flowers Magazine

July 28th, 2017

Back in May, we reported that Flowers Magazine would be running a Revolutionary Girl Utena chapter. Well, in honor of the 20th anniversary of this series, manga artist Saitou Chiho will be releasing a 60-page new, original chapter in the September issue of Flowers. The 20th Anniversary Facebook group has released a number of images from the magazine.

We know that this chapter is called “After the Revolution” (okay, yes, I squeed at that) and that there will be at least another chapter released this winter.

Thanks to YNN Correspondent Shannon L for sending along the news link and for reminding me to order the magazine! (I missed getting the first issue of the new Card Captor Sakura. boo….) You can order the magazine in print from Amazon JP (or other reputable JP vendor) or order it with a Japanese bookstore chain like Kinokuniya or Sanseido if you are in or near a city. Undoubtedly, if there are any extras, you may be able to get them on Amazon through a buyer, but it looks like Shogakukan is not a publisher that is embracing digital, yet. I’ll follow up with links and check back with you if it becomes available digitally.

You may remember I’ve commented that Saitou-sensei’s work has really hit extraordinary heights in her series, Torikaebaya. I cannot *wait* to see Utena and Anthy rendered with confident maturity. This cover is already pretty damn good. And they’ve also released this:

As soon as I get a copy, I’ll be sure to tell you how it is! (Oh please, oh please oh please be good….!)

Posted in Revolutionary Girl Utena, Saitou Chiho, Yuri Manga | 6 Comments »


Yuri Manga: After Hours, Volume 2 (アフターアワーズ)

July 27th, 2017

In Volume 1 of Nishio Yuhta’s adult life series, After Hours (アフターアワーズ), office worker Emi and DJ Kei meet at a concert. Kei’s freewheeling life sucks Emi in and the next thing she knows, she’s part of Kei’s team…and life. But what, exactly, she is to Kei, Emi has no idea.

In Volume 2, Kei decides to throw a rave event. The bulk of Volume 2 is given over to surprisingly technical details of how to run a musical event. Kei and Emi have to secure a space and a team, and equipment…exactly the kind of content that inspired me to start Okazu 15 years ago, as I was starting up an event of my very own. ^_^

But behind the energy and the excitement, Emi is feeling the strain of not knowing what, exactly, she is to Kei. This isn’t just an emotional issue to her, as she’s neglected to tell Kei she has no money, can’t afford her apartment, and has kind-of-moved-in under false pretenses. The strain is killing their relationship and Kei can tell something is wrong, of course. Both women spend as much time blaming themselves as they do wondering what’s going on until, finally, the dam breaks.

***

Enjoy today’s post? Subscribe to Okazu with Patreon!
Subcribe with Patreon

***

When Emi admits that she needs to stay with Kei, but isn’t sure what they are to each other, Kei convinces her the old fashioned way, while also plainly saying that they are lovers and of course lovers can live together. The sex scene that follows is extended, but never really explicit or grossly immature. It was, I thought, a well-deserved bit of adult service for readers who now knew more about speaker set-ups than they ever expected to. ^_^ And I thought it a realistic way to resolve the “are they on-again, off-again, or an actual couple?” question we ended the first volume with. Which ws pretty much Emi’s perspective, as well.

Kei and Emi, having come to an agreement about their relationship, face squarely into the future together as the night of the rave arrives. ^_^

To celebrate the publication of the second volume, applicants are submitting comics for a special present booklet, called After Hours bonus track, sneak peaksoft which are available on the After Hours Twitter account. New chapters of the manga are available on Pixiv for preview.

I like everything about this series, except the character design. Kei is 30 and Emi 24, but because moe art prevails, they look 12. I know I’m mostly alone in this, but I would pay more to see them look 24 and 30. That aside, the actual story is great and I love both the pacing and the world building for it. Nothing feels “off” about the story itself. I’m very thankful to those of you who told me to give it a try. ^_^

Ratings: 

Art – 5
Story – 8 
Characters – 9 
Service – 2 The sex still reads/looks adult and sincere, rather than creepy leering.
Yuri – 9

Overall – 8

Volume 2 has no English language release date yet, but believe me, as soon as there is one, I’ll let you know. Volume 1 (which I reviewed in June 2017) is available and a free preview of Volume 1 can be read on the Viz Media website.

Posted in Yuri Manga | 5 Comments »