Anti-Yuri Manga: Maria Holic, Volume 1 (English)

October 27th, 2009

I want you all to know that I REALLY tried. I took a deep breath, smiled and prepared to do my very very best to approach Maria Holic Volume 1, with an open and cheerful mind. It is absolutely obvious that Maria Holic is meant to be read as broad parody of Yuri tropes. (Yes, yes, pun intended.) What it is, however, is broad and crude.

Kanako is attending a very elite all-girl’s school where she hopes to become closer to the memory of her late mother who was a student there, and to find a soulmate, because she is attracted to women. Kanako is portrayed as a typical “onnazuki,” a person who likes women, but is too hapless and hopeless to get a girlfriend. Kanako falls for practically every girl she sees, which is both cute and sad at the same time.

Because this is not a romance, but a “comedy,” Kanako immediately falls into the clutches of physically cute, but emotionally sadistic Mariya, who is really a boy cross-dressing for reasons not yet mentioned. (I know they will be. I’m reviewing *Volume 1*.)

Kanako blunders around the school both befriending and be-enemying various characters, and generally making a fool of herself for our “entertainment.” The people around her act in ways that make no sense, except that they are meant to be exceedingly broad parodies of typical Yuri tropes, and so act like those tropes unrestrained by sense or sensibility.

I want you to know that I did my best to not read more into this manga than was warranted. I will *not* rant about how Maria Holic is not only anti-Yuri but anti-woman. I squelched that pretty hard as I sat there gritting my teeth, feeling more and more cranky as I read.

I will not talk about how a feminist reading of this volume made me want to grab up my friends Mr. Knife and Mr, Hot Tar and take them trick-or-treating with me, because that would be me being ridiculous and you’d all take me seriously.

What I will say is this – I found the anti-lesbian “humor” painful. At one point, Mariya calls Kanako “lesbo girl” and it really, really upset me. It was meant to be hurtful to Kanako. We’re supposed to find humor in her reaction to this. But, when in a single panel she pleaded with her dead mother (or the Virgin Mary, it’s really moot which,) “why is everyone picking on me?” I lost it and started to cry. If you found that line funny, I hate you. It’s as simple as that. It wasn’t funny, it was cruel. Bullying is not amusing.

When I reviewed the Mariaholic anime, I said that the anime was, at it’s core, about the emotional torture of a young lesbian. I can see that the manga is not quite that – it’s colder, more dispassionate. Where Sasamekikoto plays with typical Yuri tropes in a goofy way, drawing on their faces, if you will, Maria Holic is more mean about it – flipping up skirts and then saying *we* overreacted.

Ratings:

Overall – For me, it’s in negative numbers. Too many tears, too many nosebleeds, too much pain.

The very worst thing about this series is knowing that, instead of finding love in a healthy relationship, Kanako will be fall prey to Stockholm Syndrome, and Mariya – who is loathesome – will become progressively more sympathetic until we can justify what will clearly be an unhealthy, unequal, unreasonable relationship. Once again, it is Mariya on the cover, not Kanako. And that says everything there is to say about this series.

Thanks to Okazu Superhero Dan P. for sponsoring today’s review!

Posted in English Manga | 90 Comments »


Interview with Yuri Manga Artist Morishima Akiko

October 25th, 2009

As anyone who is paying the least little bit of attention to the Yuri manga scene will know, right now one of the most prolific and popular Yuri manga artists is Morishima Akiko-sensei. Not only is she drawing for Yuri Hime (both magazines and the cell phone comics) she always has projects with other publishers and her own work as well.

Morishima-sensei has been a staple of the Yuri scene for many years, starting with her own circle, Girlish, and she’s also drawn (straight) shoujo manga for a number of publishers. She does design and art for her website and her blogs about her work and her life.

I had the pleasure of meeting Morishima-sensei at Yuricon 2005 in Tokyo, where she was one of our guests. She interviewed me briefly at the time, so I felt that it was more than fair I got her back on that. lol This summer, Morishima-sensei released the third and fourth collected volumes she’s done with Ichinjisha. She very graciously took time out of her schedule to talk a little bit with us here. Please give an enthusiastic Okazu welcome to Morishima Akiko-sensei!

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Q1: Please Tell Us About Yourself
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I am a Japanese woman who won’t stop loving Girls and Yuri.
Both my hobby and my work is manga.

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Q2: How did you become a mangaka? Was it a childhood dream?
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It all started when my 4-panel comics were adopted by lesbian magazine Anise.

Although, to my regret, Anise suspended publication, I continued with a public sequel on the Web, so it might become serialized in a 4-panel magazine.

My childhood dream was to become a company employee with a steady income and a steady life.
But, you need a plan, not a dream. Perhaps, one day I might possibly grow up. (smile)

Although I liked drawing, I didn’t think I had the talent to become a professional…
I am the most surprised at my current life. I’m very grateful for this happiness.

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Q3: Which artists are your role models?
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Japanese musician Yuki.
Her music and her self are both very cute, yet very tough, and her way of thinking is totally flexible.

I always think that I want to draw such an attractive heroine.

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Q4: If you were not a mangaka, what kind of work would you be doing?
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I went to school to study architectural design.
Even now, I love looking at buildings.
I also enjoy drawing doujinshi and working on my website.

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Q5: What were your motivations for creating Yuri Manga?
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While right now the number of Yuri manga is growing, just a little while ago there were hardly any stories of women in love to read.
So, thinking “If there’s nothing to read, then I’m going to have to draw if for myself,” was the primary motive.

Because it takes a lot of time to draw a manga, it is very difficult to do it as a hobby. Therefore I am very happy that I can draw as my work.

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Q6.1: Please tell us a little bit about your process.
How long does a chapter take to draw?
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In a busy month, working by myself and including dialogue, I can do about 30 pages. If an assistant is helping, 40-50 pages.

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Q6.2: (Please tell us a little bit about your process.)
How many assistants work with you? What is the first step, what is the final step?
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I have two assistants.

First the frame borders and the backgrounds are drawn, then small things are added.
First I do the panel layout, and last the screentones are added, both of which I do. I do most of the drawing myself during this time.

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Q7: What has been the reaction in Japan to Hanjuku Joshi, Rakuen no Jouken and Ruri-iro Yume?
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“I get the feeling that this is familiar and real, but also a dream, too,” is often the impression, I am told. To me, this feeling is a basic of shoujo manga, an especially likable quality, so that makes me happy. More than being popular, I want to feel my manga has continuous support from the people who like it.

The reaction to Hanjuku Joshi has come in three kinds:

People who feel that it’s a standard Yuri setting, with a flavor that is sweet and fluffy.
People who feel that it’s sympathetic to the romance within sex between women.
Or, people who enjoy both these.

I would like the reader to enjoy it freely, for their own reasons.

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Q8: You got your start with doujinshi. How does it feel to be a leader in this new wave of Yuri manga popularity?
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Nono, I’m no kind of leader!

I’m just a servant, a servant of Yuri Manga (smile)
I work with pleasure for the Yuri Manga of tomorrow!

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Q10: What question do you have for overseas fans?
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I am always impressed at the zeal of overseas fans, sometimes they have more information than Japanese fans. Everyone, how do you acquire all your information on Japanese books and DVDs?

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Q11: What message do you have for overseas fans?
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I would think that Yuri Manga is something that is strongly Japanese, a particular cultural convention of Japan. So, I am very glad and interested that overseas fans understand it. The word “Yuri” has reached people from far away countries, hasn’t it? Please continue your support and consideration of Japanese Yuri.

***


Thank you so much Morishima-sensei for your time and all your hard work creating beautiful Yuri for us to read.

Readers, let’s show our support for Morishima-sensei’s hard work by buying Hanjuku Joshi, Ruri-iro Yume and Rakuen no Jouken. Remember, it’s nice for you to read a scan, but that doesn’t help the artist at *all*. Without the artists, you wouldn’t have anything to read. So please, join the majority of readers here at Okazu by paying for your entertainment and supporting artists like Morishima-sensei for their creation of great Yuri!

Posted in Interview, Morishima Akiko | 19 Comments »


Yuri Network News – October 24, 2008

October 24th, 2009

There is getting to be *so* much Yuri news, that I’m thinking about developing a form, to standardize formatting… :-)

Yuri Manga

Bruce P has written me with what well may be the piece of news that is the *most* interesting to me. He tells us that the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (Yokohama Shopping Log) manga is being reprinted in Japan. Why is this interesting to us? Because Kodansha USA is finally up and running…and they’ve started with two old classics, Akira and Ghost in the Shell. (Interestingly, they’ve reprinted Dark Horse’s editions, and in the case of the latter title, used the censored version, so no gratuitous lesbian sex for Americans from Kodansha.) I’m not saying that YKK being reprinted in Japan has any direct bearing on Kodansha USA…just that now would be an exceptionally good time for them to consider it.

In any case, Bruce P. says, “the first two volumes will be released on 10/23. This is great news since many of the original volumes are no longer available through Amazon.co.jp. Now if only they would reprint the art book.” Here are links to the reprinted Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Shelia was the first of several to point out that Nakamura Chin, creator of Gunjo, has a short story collection out called Chinman. If you love her art, as I do, I hope you’ll support her work.

Also, Sheila and Erin both mentioned that there is yet *another* Yuri anthology planned, called Comic Lily, while the publisher who put out Sakuraike’s work’s new anthology has changed it’s name to Yuri Shoujo – and it appears to be planned for a November 19 release at Comitia, so not necessarily a bookstore release. We’ll see.

Waaahhh. Such drama over a title.

Here are some recent and upcoming manga releases:
Comic Yuri Hime Magazine

Gokujou Drops 3 by Mikuni H.

Otome Senshi Lovely 5 by Jonouchi Nene

Honey Quartet by Tokoro Kemeko

Also on December 4th Mori Natsuko will be releasing a new novel called Futari no Hitori Asobi.

And Yuri Hime Wildrose 4 is due out in December.

***

Yuri Anime

George and I are on the same page, wanting to let you know about some Yuri anime this season. Kampfer is not going to win any awards, but there is a strain of Yuri running through it, as a country might say there’s a strain of virus running through it. :-)

Also no less ridiculous, but somehow more fun, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun has a major Yuri character, played for laughs and pathos.

Also, George and several others noted that first episode of Hidamari Sketch x365 Tokubetsuhen aired last week.

I also want to say – when are we gong to see a Yuri anime from Ichijinsha? They were the one who unleashed Loveless on the world. I think it’s time for them to provide us with the same kind of virality. Here’s today’s question – which Ichinjinsha (Yuri Hime, Yuri Hime S, Comic YH) series would *you* like to see as an anime?

***

Other News

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of moderating a Queer Manga Panel at NYU as part of their Pride month. The panelists were Ivan Velez Jr., June Kim, Hiroki Otsuka and the always fabulous Mari Morimoto. One of the attendees, James Leung, did a great write-up of the panel, so I’ll let him tell you all about it on his blog, Random Access Information.

And last, but very much not at *all* least, I want to draw your attention to an amazing piece of investigative reporting by YNN correspondent Bruce McF. This is not Yuri, but it is *huge*. Because of some interesting circumstances, Bruce began to look at where pirated streaming anime was served from and he uncovered the fact that the largest percentage of illegally streaming anime in America is served from properties owned by Rupert Murdoch. Go read the article – it’s absolutely fascinating.
Rupert Murdoch is the Biggest Pirate of the US Anime Market.

***

Well, we began with a Bruce and we ended with a Bruce. That’s a wrap for the week!

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 | 8 Comments »


Yuri Anime: Sasamekikoto (English)

October 23rd, 2009

What an amazing year. Not only have we had a ton of Yuri in anime in general, we had the delightful and lovely Aoi Hana and now…unbelievably, in English, for free, legally streamed to our computers, the Yuri comedy-drama Sasamekikoto. It’s like a dream state. ^_^

In short, Sasamekikoto, the “thing that is whispered,” is a story about Murasame Sumika who is in love with her best friend, Kazama Ushio. It’s a hopeless love because, despite the fact that Ushio loudly proclaims that she likes girls, she only likes cute, petite girls. Tall, athletic, hypercompetent Sumi just isn’t cute and frilly, the way Ushio likes them. May I just editorialize for a moment and say Ushio’s an *idiot.* Sumi is perfect.

The first few episodes start off on a dour note, with Sumika pining away for an oblivious Ushio, who appears to fall for a new girl each week. The first few episodes follow the manga pretty closely, so I don’t expect too much change as the story goes on.

Sasamekikoto is surprisingly richly animated, well voiced by a mostly-new cast and is an interesting take on a variety of Yuri tropes. Best friend, one-sided love, cross-dressing, and more to come. (For all full breakdown of all the tropes, check out my review of Volume 2 of the manga.) Although the story is decidedly melodramatic, it has pretty steep ups and downs of comedy and drama to manage, which it does pretty well.

The only real negative I can muster for Sasamekikoto is that I suddenly realized – I don’t like Ushio. Yet. Sumi beating the crap out of the bag in karate made me realize that I really *like* Sumi and want to slap Ushio. It’s a sign of a good story that I’m feeling anything at all about any of the characters, so bravo for the anime producers.

And bravo for Crunchyroll, who continue to invest in Yuri! They’ve told me that they have a genuine interest in building up the Yaoi and Yuri audiences, and I’m very excited to see that they are putting their money where their mouth is. Now we, the Yuri-viewing audience, needs to do the same.

I know, I know, the licensing doesn’t cover huge swatches of the planet. Trust me – if they could get those covered, they would. But for those of us in the US and Oceania – here it is, Yuri. For Free. In English. One hour after it airs in Japan. Support this please, because the better their numbers are – the more they will get. It’s really *that* simple.

For the price of a sandwich a month, you get good Yuri like Sasamekikoto and Aoi Hana and really stupid Yuri like Koihime Musou and not Yuri, but really, like it needs to be any more weird than it is, like Book of Bantorra. (What? You’re not watching it? Oh, you should be…it’s absolutely dreadful. Laughably, hilariously so. And Paku Romi as Hamutz Meseta. There are no other reasons needed to watch this.)

Watch Sasamekikoto and collect the whole set of Yuri Tropes!

Ratings:

Art – 8, with a few obvious cost-saving measures
Story – 7
Characters – 7, but they will get better
Yuri – 8
Service – 2

Overall – 7.5

Teenaged girls with wildly roller-coastering emotions? Ridiculous.

Joshibu ahoy!

…

I like Tomoe and Miyako best, if anyone cares.

Posted in English Anime, Ikeda Takashi, Sasamekikoto, Yuri Anime | 11 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Hayate x Blade, Volume 4 (English)

October 22nd, 2009

If you follow *one* series it should be this one. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Hayate x Blade, Volume 4 is a non-stop, fast-paced, slam-dunk, action-filled crazy-fest from the very first page to the very last. And it’s funny as hell. As I’ve come to say on Twitter, it’s a 4 SLOL (Snort Laugh Out Loud) book.

The book begins with the end of Ayana and Jun’s match and OMG, I cannot believe you can read this in ENGLISH. I remember reviewing it in Japanese and wishing I could share it with you all, because it’s so excellent.

Because *so* much happens in this volume, I want to talk about the translation. Yes, Jun does curse. It seems uncharacteristic in this series, but that’s only ’cause you haven’t met Sid yet. :-D (Sid! How I want you to meet Sid and Nancy! OMG, they are so awesomely hysterical. /Fangirly squeal/) And no, Hayate’s comments about her and Ayana being Jon and Ponch and Cagney and Lacey are *not* weird attempts are localization – they are actually what she says.

Once again, I want to thank, worship, akogare the team of translator and adapter on this book for making it feel so right. I feel as if every voice has been kept intact. Adrienne, Ed, you make this series a real pleasure to work on as a professional, and to read as a fan.

Also, I really, really, want to thank Tor and Seven Seas for 1) giving me the opportunity to work on this series and; 2) fixing that one mistake I kept pointing out. You know the one. Thank you. :-)

Jun fights Ayana, Yuho fights Hayate, Jun and Yuho have a tender moment, Hitsugi and Shizuku prepare for their first fight in a while, Hayate gets close to Akira despite dire warnings, and Momoka and Isuzu (Isuzu! OMG, I just love her. I hope you do too.) have a *major* crisis that introduces Michi and Otoha, who are a pair of utter freaks. ^_^ There is action, comedy, blood, guts, affection, desire and banana peels.

Isuzu=Yuri, and if you are like me and most of the Japanese doujinshi artists, you see Michi and Otoha as a couple, too. Because…duh.

If you are not buying this manga, you are utterly fail. Don’t bother trying to explain yourself.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 3
Service – 2

Overall – 9

I want you to know that a contact (not my editor, but another editor) at Tor offered to send me copies, but I refused. I like it better that my Heroes get the credit. Today I thank once again, ever more fervently, Okazu Superhero Eric P. for sponsoring today’s review and giving me the chance to sings paeans of joy about the BEST MANGA EVER. IN ENGLISH!

Posted in Hayashiya Shizuru, Hayate x Blade | 13 Comments »