Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 4 (作りたい女と食べたい女)

June 19th, 2023

A large woman with long hair in a ponytail, wearing sweats carries fresh greens, a shorter woman in cream blouse and long, green skirt carries a box of groceries. They are smiling gently at one another.There are so many reasons that Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 4 (作りたい女と食べたい女) is an amazing volume of manga, that I’m hard pressed to pick one thing. That said, the best thing about this volume of manga is that it is extremely queer even as the characters basically just sit around eating food. ^_^

I don’t want to spoil anything about this volume because it is just so good, but I will tell you that it includes Valentine’s Day, important backstories and a huge decision that will change everything. I just love how everything in this series is rooted in reality. The story acknowledges trauma, but does not wallow in it. In fact, it offers a clear – and kind – path forward.

In the mean time, Nomoto and Kasuga have developed a family. Nomoto’s friend Yako hosts wonderful food parties, so we can enjoy them making takoyaki. New member of the family, Nagumo, begins to find her own self because of Kasuga’s and Nomoto’s kindness. That, in a word is why this series has become important to me – it is rooted in women taking care of each other, of accepting one another as they are. There is so much pressure even – often, especially – by other women, to conform to certain norms, that a series based around women caring for one another is exceptionally wonderful.

Because so little happens, and the story mostly revolves around people talking and eating, the expressions carry a lot of narrative weight. Yuzaki-sensei’s art is lively and fun, especially when the four are all together having a food party.

I will also tell you that Valentine’s Day is, typical of this manga, more to that than just shared chocolates. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 10 It’s not perfect but the expressions are fantastic
Story – 10
Characters – 10 Ahhhhhh!
Service – 0
LGBTQ+ – 10

Overall – 10

This volume just came out – I bought a print copy, but that wasn’t going to arrive until today, so I also bought this on Bookwalker so I could read it on the 15th. ^_^ Now, having written this review, I’m heading over to get caught up on Comic Walker. ^_^ Not obsessed much.

We’ll be getting She Loves To Cook, She Loves To Eat, Volume 3 in October from Yen Press.

Posted in TsukuTabe / She Loves to Cook, She Loves To Eat, Yuri Manga | 2 Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – June 17, 2023

June 17th, 2023

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.

Event News

I’m In Love With The Villainess and Aonoshimo-sensei has announced their participation at Anime Expo, July 1-4 in Los Angeles Convention Center.

If you are attending, please let us know how it goes!  There’s no way I can attend this year, but I will be thrilled to live vicariously through your experiences. ^_^

Yuri Anime

Hoshikuzu Telepath trailer is up on Youtube. Introverted girl meets “alien” and her life begins to change. In stories like these, it is my belief that the sped-up anime is good for the story.

The big news this week was the announcement of the seiyuu for Sailor Cosmos in the second Sailor Moon Cosmos movie.  They’ve gone with a voice who was there from the beginning and helped make this franchise what it is, so welcome back Kitagawa Keiko, the original Sailor Mars, to the story! I’m pretty happy with this choice. She retired from voicing anime fairly early on (although apparently she continued working in games), so having her back for this is a nice touch. Alex Mateo has details on ANN. Check out the second Cosmos trailer on Youtube.
 

 

Yuri Manga in English

YNN Corespondent Luce wants you to know that Bookwalker Global is running a Yuri Showcase, with 30% discount and 30% coin back on selected titles.

Run Away With Me Girl, Volume 2 by Battan is up on the Yuricon Store and was reviewed on Okazu this week by Matt Rolf!

My Future Starts Today ~Miku Kyoko~: Volume 2 finishes the story begun in Volume 1, which was reviewed by me this week, as well.

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games, Volume 4 is up on the Store.

Qualia the Purple Complete Manga Collection hit shelves this week.

ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, Volume 3 of the manga is also on the Store. (This is about where I thought – hey, I’m almost caught up and then realized that no, haha. I’ll never be caught up. There is too much Yuri to keep up with. ^_^)

You can get My Date Is A Total Ike Woman, as print or digital, in English and Japanese editions by author Mutsumi Natsuo. Don’t miss this charming butch x butch doujinshi.

Manga Mogura announced on Twitter that Futaribeya will finish up with Volume 10 which will be released in Japan in July. Tokyopop will be releasing the final volume in English in September.

Rafael Antonio Pineda reports on ANN that Kiss the Scars of the Girls, which will be out in English from Yen Press in November, has ended it’s run in Comic Newtype.

 

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Yuri Manga in Japanese

It’s the 25th anniversary of Yuru Yuri by namori-sensei and to celebrate, Volumes 1-15 are available for free on Bookwalker JP!

Morninga Milk’s Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan, Volume 2 (私の可愛い子猫ちゃん) is already sold out as a print volume but is available in digital format. Volume 2 of My Cute Little Kitten will be hitting EN shelves in January 2024.

Taguchi Shouichi’s Futari Escape, Volume 3 (ふたりエスケープ) is s fun frolic of food and adult life avoidance.

A new series in Comic Yuri Hime, Osoto Gohan wo Go-issho ni (おそとごはんをご一緒に) Volume 1 is up on the Yuricon Store. This series is about food and friendship.

From Galette magazine, we have Watashi no Naka de Ichiban ni Hikaru, Anata ( 私の中でいちばんに光る、貴方), a collection of shorts by Yatosaki Haru.

The Yuribute Yuri Hime One-Shot Story Collection (ユリビュート 百合姫読切再録集)  is a “Yuri tribute” to one-shot stories that ran in the original Yuri Hime magazine from 2004-2010.

 

Yuri Doujinshi

Last week, YNN Correspondent Patricia B. had mentioned this, but it bears repeating – new high-fantasy WLW doujinshi, Tsurugi by Nerikomi Tōkichirō is kickstarting… and has already passed it’s initial goal!

Hitorimi De: 60-sai Lesbian No Single Seikatsu, Issue 1 (ひとりみで: 60歳レズビアンのシングル生活) is  a short about an older lesbian at 60, with no lover or family, by Morishima Akiko.

 

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LGBTQ Live-Action

Amazing news out of NHK! The She Loves To Cook, She Loves To Eat live-action series is getting a sequel! Crystalyn Hodgkins has the details over at ANN.

In Her Words: 20th Century Lesbian Fiction, a film by Lisa Marie Evans & Marianne K. Martin with interviews with major lesbian fiction writers of the 20th century, will be showing at the Frameline Festival and streaming June 24- July 2.

 

Yuri Light Novels

Volume 1 of the Light Novel series There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless…,  is up on the Yuricon Store.

 

Yuri Webcomics

Mage & Demon Queen creator COLOR_LES, and Galatea are teaming up with singers Hayley Kiyoko, while other artists are partnering with Ava Max and MAY-A, for a new webtoon called Love Stories. Here’s the full press release from Business Wire.

 

Yuri Visual Novels

Studio Élan’s Please Be Happy has joined the listings on the Store. I’m making a concerted effort to expand these Yuri VN listings, so if you know of a great Yuri VN and would like to see it listed – or would like to review a Yuri VN – contact me!

 

If you’d like to support Yuri journalism and research, Patreon and Ko-Fi are where we currently accept subscriptions and tips. 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 our readers.

 

Posted in Yuri Network News | 2 Comments »


Comic Yuri Hime July 2023 (コミック百合姫2023年7月号)

June 15th, 2023

A smiling girl in a summer Japanese school uniform of blue shirt and white blouse, balance a red umbrella on her palm. The sun is shining, casting shadows in the road.Well hahaha on me. I picked up Comic Yuri Hime July 2023 (コミック百合姫2023年7月号) from the bookstore and plowed through it, with every intention of reviewing it right away, so I’d be caught up. Yeah, well. But let me assure you this was another good volume. I say that, even when there are a number of stories I myself will not read, because I am fully aware that my tastes are not everyone’s tastes.

Once again, I am loving the cover story. Color fills the screen now; the text speaks of admiration and joy at the smiling girl’s smile. Nice work, Mebachi-sensei.

This issue gets off to a strong start as we meet Lily in “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” Lily will, of course, become an important character, but also importantly, Rae stands up for gay people openly in the Church, chastizing some nuns about their intolerance. You go, Rae!

The SS Girls get their day on stage at last! Of course they slay their set, but they have a surprise left up their sleeves… “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” is always fun to read.

In “Kiraware Majoureijo to Dansou no Ouji-yaku,” once again, a well-bred young lady is treated like crap by her royal fiance, but the actual heir to the kingdom takes a fancy to her. She may wear a uniform, but she’s all girl underneath!

Kurumi is practicing hugs in “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita” but when it comes time to lay one on Ruriko, has she really considered the consequences?

Ohsawa Yayoi’s contribution to the Yuri is My Job! Official Comic Anthology ( 私の百合はお仕事です！公式コミックアンソロジー), “Uragaeshimai” is an amusing look at the change in dynamic when Hime suddenly grows up. Gosh I love her art.

There are other stores with manipulative high school students, aliens, android maids and lesbian brothels as usual. A wide variety of work for, hopefully, a wide variety of readers!

Ratings:

Overall – 8

The August issue hits shelves today in Japan! (So maybe I’m not so far behind after all.)

Posted in Comic Yuri Hime, Magazines | No Comments »


Run Away With Me Girl Volume 2, Guest Review by Matt Rolf

June 14th, 2023

Two adult woman sit up in bed, half dressed, gently touching.What happens when a woman gets to question the path she’s on in a supportive environment away from negative people and the weight of societal expectations? Battan gives their protagonist the space to do just that in Run Away With Me Girl, Volume 2, and the result is a book far more enjoyable to read than Volume 1.

Makimura still holds a torch for Midori, who is still pregnant and engaged to a man. At the beginning of the book the women are not speaking. But, as Midori contemplates the weight of her impending life changes, she breaks down and lets Maki back into her life. Maki takes the opportunity to invite Midori on a trip to see Maki’s friend Komari, a school girl with whom she chats online. Midori, wanting to escape her own life, takes Maki up on the offer, and the women immediately leave for Shōdoshima Island where Komari lives. 

The bulk of the book takes place on Shōdoshima, keeping the reality of Maki and Midori’s real world at bay. It is here that all three women connect with each other and take stock of their lives. The adults find awe in Komari’s fearlessness and honesty as she grapples with the challenges she faces in trying to live her identity. All three observe and encourage each other and use the information to consider what it is they really want from their lives and relationships.

I strongly support the plot choices made in this book. At least some of the characters in this volume are working toward healthier choices than Volume 1, and that’s to Battan’s credit. As with all vacations, there is a bill to be paid upon Midori and Maki’s return.  The bill does not come due in this volume, allowing the characters to bask in the possibilities of a hopeful future.

The artwork is improved in this volume. The dreamy quality of the series overall is accentuated on the island. The backgrounds are more interesting and help set the scene better than Volume 1. Battan wields frame-breaking character features with skill, and uses them more effectively here than Volume 1. My biggest critique is that at times Komari is drawn in a very elfin manner. This accentuates her youth and the un-reality of the island vacation, but at times she just looks weird.

While yuri, this book still exists in a space where the relationships and commitments of the characters are left unstated at important places. A group bath scene with excellent artwork is the service highlight. The scene is tasteful and well-done, and anything more explicit is just not what this series is. The real relationship payoffs are emotional. Midori is moving toward making definitive statements about the sort of relationships she wants, and Volume 3 will give her an opportunity to make good on those movements.

Final Verdict: Leave your troubles behind and get yourself sorted in a steam bath with other women.

Published by Kodansha Comics, with translation by Kevin Steinbach and lettering by Jennifer Skarupa.

Ratings

Art – 8
Story 8 – Not as harsh as volume one, and that’s most welcome.
Characters – 7 We’re getting there.
Service – 5 We don’t have to take our clothes off to have a good time.
Yuri – 8
Overall – 8

Posted in English Manga, Guest Review, Yuri Manga | 5 Comments »


My Future Starts Today ~Miku&Kyoko~, Volume 1

June 12th, 2023

On a background of blue hydrangeas, are two girls in tan sweater and red skirt school uniforms are back to back. Standing, one holds a camera. The other reaches back above her head to hold the other's ponytail and reaches behind her to hold the other girl's wrist.Do you remember Blue Drop? It began as a manga, then had a couple of Drama CDs. Some years later it was given an anime that was both very interesting and kind of forgettable at the same time.  Funimation licensed it, releasing a complete collection in 2010. That’s practically a human lifespan ago and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you didn’t remember it. But the point is, that the creator, Yoshitomi Akihito has gone on to make a number of stories and few series, most of which center on sexualizing schoolgirls. None of them have made it over here. I was very surprised to learn that My Future Starts Today ~Miku&Kyoko~, Volume 1 has been localized and released as a digital volume.

Kyoko and Miku have been friends since childhood, but Kyoko doesn’t really understand Miku. So when Miku tells Kyoko she’s in love with her, Kyoko has no idea how to feel about it. It doesn’t help at all, that Miku offers Kyoko her body to do whatever she wants with.

Miku sets about trying to appeal to Kyoko, to seduce her, but Kyoko…while not opposed, per se, really doesn’t know what Miku is thinking. Miku ramps up the seduction with every chapter until Kyoko pushes her away, causing a separate misunderstanding. As this volumes ends, Kyuko hears rumors in school that Miku is hanging with the predatory lesbian Nana-sempai! 

The major down side to this story is Miku’s behavior. She’s written and drawn like every pervy middle-aged dude who thinks high school girls are seductive, thinks girls are like. It’s frankly exhausting. But this has always been Yoshitomi’s oeuvre, so I can’t say I was surprised. That said, both girls stay mostly full dressed (Miku does undress a little) and while they do kiss, when Miku tries to touch Kyoko is when she is pushed away.

This series is complete at Volume 2 if you’d like to see what becomes of Kyoko and Miku. I think I can guess. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7 Very clean and understandable, lots of “sexy” poses
Story – 5 Miku wants Kyoko, there’s not that much subtlely
Characters  – 7 Other than the immediate circumstances, we don’t learn much about the as people
Service – 7
Yuri – 7

Overall – 7

I’ve encountered the publisher MediBang and Media Do Co., Ltd.once or twice, but I finally looked them up. MediBang seems to be a publishing and art platform, while Media Do describes themselves as “one of the largest eBook distribution companies in the world ” – and they own Netgalley, for those reviewers out there. On the translation side they seem to be doing a fine job, but this manga hardly had complicated ideas to communicate, either. They don’t credit humans for the production and I have a nagging feeling that some or all of this is automated. I hope I am wrong.

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »