Sailor Moon The Super Live, in London, Guest Post by Rue Ball

March 19th, 2025

As I have been shouting from the rooftops, the live-action extravaganza Sailor Moon The Super Live is on tour. I have seen any number of live stage performances of Sailor Moon, including my very first trip to Japan! I saw Sailor Moon The Super Live in NYC in 2022 and enjoyed it immensely and have plans for seeing it next month when it comes NJPAC – why not join me and say hi! ^_^ The tour is adding a few dates now – they just added a *4th* date in Seattle, wow, so definitely see if you can be part of this. It’s really quite wonderful.

And, now, Okazu friends in London have experienced the show for the very first time! Rue Bell was kind enough to write up this report for us. Thank you Rue, I’ll turn it over to you….

I attended Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon The Super Live (henceforth Super Live) in London with some friends and members of the Okazu Discord Server. Like may geeky events in London, the experience started on the London Underground before we even got to the theatre, with more and more passengers wearing Sailor Moon themed clothes, bags and hair buns as we drew closer to the Camden venue. Seated tickets were available for a premium, but most of us opted for the basic standing ticket. There was a merchandise stall that included photos of the cast and Sailor Moon branded light sticks.

Super Live is a musical adaptation of the first season of the anime, which is the part of Sailor Moon that I have the most familiarity with and nostalgia for, having watched selected episodes on VHS as a child. The plot introduces Sailor Moon and the four Inner Senshi, then they battle against Queen Beryl and her six monster for possession of the Silver Crystal. Tuxedo Mask is in every fight as a love interest and ambiguous friend-or-foe figure.

Sailor Moon Super Live, London 2025, photo by Ashley Payne. Five girls in Japanese sailor-suit school uniform inspired hero costumes, on a stage. Huge colorful ribbons of light fill the background.

Super Live is performed entirely in Japanese, with translations projected onto a large screen. The musical numbers were translated with animated typography, and standard subtitles were used for the spoken dialogue in-between. I thought this worked well, however in this
particular venue overhanging balcony seats meant the dialogue subtitles were not visible from about half of the standing area, which is likely to have created a poor experience for audience members in those areas.

I enjoyed the shimmer, sparkle and spectacle of Sailor Moon when I was a child, and I think Super Live’s impressive production lived up to it. The dancing was, to my eyes, impeccably synchronised and choreographed, and it was backed up by a huge screen at the back of the
stage, and an LED-covered set and props that all pulsated and changed colour in time with the music and dancers.

Sailor Moon Super Live, London 2025, photo by Rue Ball. Five girls in Japanese sailor-suit school uniform inspired hero costumes, on a stage, each posing in the traditional "appearance" pose of their character. Behind and above them is a person in a tuxedo and cape, while a large moon is projected behind them, superimposed with the words, Time and Again we find each other.

 

As an adult, the interactions between the Sailor Senshi are my favourite part of the Sailor Moon anime. These unsurprisingly weren’t the focus in this musical with a highly compressed plot. However, one person I went with did notice that the Senshi actors still conveyed these dynamics using small interactions, so the observant fans will enjoy those. There were also two musical numbers focussed on the diverse personalities and skills of the Senshi. The message that there are all sorts of ways to be a girl or a woman is quite important to me, so I appreciated these performances being there, and got quite emotional about them in the finale.

I think the Tuxedo Mask performance deserves a particular shout-out. He was played by the female actor Sufa, and she nailed his cool, confident presence in every scene. The performance reminded me of an otokoyaku – a woman playing a man’s role – in the Takarazuka Revue. I don’t think that this is intended to be seen as queer, but I expect that yuri fans will nonetheless enjoy watching an actor playing with gender roles.

Sailor Moon Super Live, London 2025, photo by Rue Ball. Five girls in Japanese sailor-suit school uniform inspired hero costumes, on a stage, each posing in the traditional "appearance" pose of their character. Behind and above them are a woman in purple with scarlet hair and half a dozen people in purple posing around her.

 

I would definitely recommend Super Live to any Sailor Moon fan, it adapts many of the things that drew me to the original series. The run in London ended on March 19th 2025, but at the time of publication a North American tour is planned for March and April 2025.

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Honey Latte Girl

March 17th, 2025

A woman with light brown hair, pulled into a ponytail wearing a grey blouse smiles gently off camera. The English words "Honey Latte Girl" in large yellow neon-light font .Sometimes you just need an adorable coffee shop story and, in Honey Latte Girl, an English translation of Inui Ayu and Inu Ha Sakana’s doujinshi from YURI HUB on Bookwalker JP, that’s exactly what you get.  

Our protagonist is a barista who watches over her customers with care. One customer, in particular – a woman who seems stressed and very tight in her routine. This customer orders the exact same thing every day. One day, the customer comes in, looking very out of sorts, so the barista suggest something new and soothing.

Of course, this story goes exactly where one might expect – they begin talking, the customer starts to open up and try new things, they fall in love, the end. ^_^ It’s short and perfect, no bitterness left on the palate. And some days, that’s all you really want – something slight too sweet. ^_^

YURI HUB imprint is run by a bunch of folks associated with the ANCHOR rainbow port tokyo cafe and Yuri Times. The translation is fine and it’s nice to see them bringing Yuri doujinshi to the English-speaking audience!

Ratings:

Art – 7 Inui Ayu’s style is cute, a bit soppy and YMMV
Story – 8 Perfect for jangly days as a sweet treat
Characters – We barely meet them, but nice
Yuri – 9
Service – 0

Overall – 8

Everything was perfect, except…while the *words* honey latte sound very nice, the idea of the drink sounds not so good. ^_^

Posted in Doujinshi, Yuri Manga | 2 Comments »


Comic Yuri Hime April 2025 (コミック百合姫2025年4月号)

March 16th, 2025

Cover of Comic Yuri Hime, April 2025. Two young women walk, in thr frot of the image, in grey Japanese sailor style uniforms, smiling, blurred, as we focus past them on a lone girl with long, dark hair, in the same uniform, watching them from behind.As both a commentary on Hechima’s cover art for Comic Yuri Hime April 2025  (コミック百合姫2025年4月号) and a life reminder, neither brooding, nor stalking are positive life skills. We can perhaps frgive, as we are informed in this illustration, 13 years old. After that age, those two behaviors are not at all cute or desirable.

The volume begins with “Chou Fuka Uchuu yori Ai o Komete” about a loner who is approached by a large alien. This story has very Rose Quartz from Steven Universe vibes, not only because the alien is giant and pink, but also sweet and very affirming.

Haru and Yu are finding their way closer and together, through Haru’s self-loathing in “Kimi ga Hoerutame no Uta wo” by Kashikaze.

Lily’s secret is fully revealed in “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou,” written by inori. illustarted by Aonoshimo, as Mt. Salas erupts and the castle ceiling comes collapsing down. Next month this series will be off, as Volume 10 is releasing soon.

It’s cute smiles, huge faces and sweets this month in “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau,” as Miki ponders how to reply to her senior’s confession of love.

In “Odoriba Skirt ga Naru” Kiki and Michiru are finding their own rhythm as the next Quadrille test approaches. They take time to notice the seniors in the club and learn from them about dance, and life. Among themselves the senors admit that they never really believed Kiki and Michiru would work…but, there they are, killing it.

“Gakeppuchi Reijou wa Kuro Kishi-sama o Horesasetai!” written by sometime and illustrated by suoh, continues to be excellent. It is very, very obvious to us that Frost cultivates a fearsome disposition as a way of protecting herself. We learn a bit about her hurtful hustory and can see Clarice genuinely feels for her, but Frost simply will not believe she has an ally. At last Clarice pulls out her final card and kisses Frost, while forcefully insisting that she actually likes the Black Knight. Will Frost be able to accept that? Probably not, but Clarice tried.

Fumino is introduced to her fiance in an arranged marriage, but cannot stop thinking of Tsubaki. She is convinced she can save the girl from a live as a prostitute. Surprisingly, her fiance seems to understand and support her, in SheepD’s “Kanaria wa Kiraboshi no Yume o Miru.”

And time has leapt forward three years in “Stellvia no Bouquet.” Liza is returning, a hero and a master of magic and Ellen has some important things she wants to say to her mentor.

As always there were other stories I read, and others I did not. This was one of my favorite kinds of issues, where everything is just moving forward, and we can just sit back and read good Yuri. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8
The May issue is out in Japan this week and I am caught up once again! Yay!

Posted in Comic Yuri Hime, Magazines | No Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – March 15, 2025

March 15th, 2025

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 Anime

Time is tight these days, so we’re doing a huge ANN anime round up this week, so buckle in!

Joanna Cayanan has news of the Kamiina Botan, Yoheru Sugata wa Yurino Hana  TV anime, based on a manga of the same name. This follows a 20-year old who becomes a bit “bolder” the press release says, I’d say “grabby” when she gets drunk. This base premise is getting some beautiful animation for the trailer up on Youtube.

Joanna also has news that Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games is also getting an anime. Okazu Staff Reviewer Luce has really enjoyed Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the manga. Seven volumes of that series are out in English from Seven Seas, with Volume 8 on the way in September.

Rafael Antonio Pineda has news that Rock is a Lady’s Modesty will be streaming on HIDIVE. I, for one, cannot wait for this Class S x  Rock mashup. ^_^ Please, gods, let it be good angry rock.

Rafael Antonio Pineda also says Studio Pierrot will be debuting Mahō no Shimai Lulutto Lily Magical Girl TV anime for 2026 . Do I think this will be Yuri? No. Why am I mentioning it then? For two reasons: 1) It’s been a hot minute since a studio announced a genuine new magical girl for girls series and 2) there is a line in this piece that has me howling, about how this is the “most recent in a line” of magical girls series. Friends, their last one was 27 years ago. That’s a pretty thin line. Anyway, glad to see a new shoujo series in the works.

Coop and Chris discuss Amazon, Gundam GQuuuuuuX and the late, never lamented Anime Strike on This Week in Anime on ANN.

Look Back continues to rack up awards. Egan Loo has the report that it has won Best Animated Film and Creative Contribution awards from the Japan Film Academy, to add to the collection.

Adriana Hazra has news about the Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved film’s 4D screenings in Japan. I love the term “2.5D” for media but am opposed to “4D” as a film term. What does that even mean? The fourth dimension is Time. My wife suggests you go in for a film screening at 8 and come out at 8:01. ^_^

 

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Yuri Manga

Over on ANN, Mr. AJCosplay takes a look at I Want To Love You Til Your Dying Day, Volume 1 and basically agrees with our own Eleanor Walker’s review about the series having potential.

Comic Yuri Hime, April 2025 (コミック百合姫2025年4月号) is on shelves now!

Coming soon is Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou., Volume 10, (私の推しは悪役令嬢) written by inori. and illustrated by Aonoshimo. When it gets a cover, I’ll get it up on the Store.

Via Yuri Navi, the final volume of  Doushitara Osananajimi no Kanojo ni Naremasuka! ? (どうしたら幼馴染の彼女になれますか!?) licensed by Seven Seas as How Do I Get Together With My Childhood Friend? by Yusaka Syu, was released this past month in Japan.

One-shot about a Gal Maid and Vampire Mistress, Suenai Kyuuketsuki no Zousho-hou (吸えない吸血鬼の蔵書票) is available in Japanese on Champion Cross.

 

Yuri Events

So yet again, my talk at The Ripped Bodice has been canceled…BUT! I am still going to be in NYC on March 21. I’ll be at Kinokuniya in midtown at 11 AM, doing some shopping, meeting up with Sr. YNN Correspondent Sean G., then we are going to listen to James Welker talk about his book at NYU. Since we’re a week away and there still isn’t a reservation page up, I have to assume it’s not open to the public. After that, I’ll be headed to The Ripped Bodice to sign some books. I’ll keep folks up to date on my Patreon and Bluesky, probably Facebook, if you want to join me there! I’d love to see you all for an impromptu Okazu get together!

The Lesbian Lives Conference will be in NYC in October – the Call For Papers is open. I’m hoping to be able to participate and would love to see folks there, too!

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Other News

Not “Yuri” per se, but worth mentioning, ANN’s Alex Mateo has news that the Claymore manga will be getting a Live-Action television adaptation.

On March 31, Bookwalker Global is set to become M12, formerly J-Novel Club, after Sony’s Dwango and Kadokawa have merged. No impact to service is expected (hah, sure) and supposedly new services will be offered. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for better, but will expect enshittification. Crystalynn Hodgkins has the news on ANN.

 

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Posted in Yuri Network News | 4 Comments »


This Monster Wants To Eat Me, Volume 3

March 14th, 2025

Two girls in white sailor-stye Japanese school uniforms with black piping. One, with long hair embraces the other while smiling broadly. The girl being embraces seems pensive as they stand before a colorful sunset sky.By Volume 3 of This Monster Wants To Eat Me, we understand the tensions between Hinako, a young woman who lost everything before she knew she had anything, and a Japanese mermaid so dedicated to protecting her in order to one day eat her, that she opposes Hinako’s only friend, Miko.

This volume is an ordeal for Miko, whose true nature and her friendship with Hinako is put to the test. Miko’s reaction is to sacrifice something important, to assuage Shiori’s doubt….and ensure Shiori must become more responsible for Hinako’s well-being.

Then the story becomes an ordeal for Hinako, who is taken by Shiori to the beach…where the dark loss of her family haunts Hinako even more uncomfortably than usual.

Shiori smiles all the time, and says she wants Hinako to maybe find some happiness, but is this the way to do it? It’s hard to understand Shiori’s motivation at this point. We will, eventually, but right now, we’re more like Miko, wondering what the agenda is here.

Sae Naekawa’s story is always just on the edge of discomfort. We don’t know what feels wrong, or why, but we are made uncomfortable by Hinako’s discomfort. Even though we can see that she is well-protected, there is always something dark under the surface, waiting. Caleb Cook’s translation of Shiori, especially, is exceptional. Nothing she says is “wrong”, per se, but it’s not quite right, either. The house style for Yen’s translation of sound effects means that Bianca Pistillo’ work is good, but not given room to be oustanding. Nonetheless, I want you to really *look* at the first page and see that the same sound effect fills the trees and the oceans and follows the girls as they walk in a brilliantly subtle atmospheric moment.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8 Still ominous and compelling
Characters – 8 The more we know, the less we know
Service – Blood. Violence. Monsters. Secrets. More Monsters.
Yuri – Miko is possessive, Shiori is infatuating and infatuated

Overall – 8

I continue to love this series, and look forward to every volume, whether in Japanese or English. But I very much thank Yen Press for this review copy!

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | 2 Comments »