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Light Novel: R.O.D., Volume 5
2010-10-20 19:00:00 Read or Die, Volume 5 continues the story from Volume 4. Indeed, it begins the very next day after a giant paper dragon has swum up the Thames river only to be defeated by British Library Agent Yomiko Readman. Dokusensha has upped the ante for the Guttenberg Paper - they have kidnapped the Queen and are demanding the Paper in return. And they demand that Yomiko be the one to make the exchange. Joker decides that Ziggy Stardust, British Library boffin and Faust should create a fake to make the exchange with. Faust disagrees strongly and is put under house arrest as a result. Ziggy also disagrees, but the fake is made. Just before Yomiko leaves to make the exchange, Faust goes out on a "date" with her in the British Museum, where he says that he is troubled, but doesn't say why. In the meantime, author Sumiregawa Nenene is also under house arrest in Yomiko's apartment. Because Yomiko cannot explain what is going on, she simply confines Nenene to her room, sets Wendy to watch her...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Amagami Emmenthal
2009-09-16 23:10:00 Upon reading the back cover of the Light Novel Amagami Emmenthal (??????????), I commented to the wife, "You gotta figure that any story in which the clothing gets credit as a cast member is definitely gonna be *great.*" (I was being sarcastic, in case that doesn't come across well in text.) In the end, the clothes actually *were* a member of the cast, and I could sort of see it being justifiable. But I'm starting with the end, so let me move backwards to the beginning. At Seiran Private Girls School, Kokone and Riko are classmates, roommates and, apparently, soulmates. But their relationship is far darker than that. Riko is a vampire and Kokone is her source of blood. On the other side, the continued pain and scars from Riko's feeding over the years has turned Koko-chan into a masochist, who fetishizes the wounds Riko causes. The story begins with them in middle school then, much like this review, backs up into their first meeting in first grade, then follows them through the ...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Otome ha Hana ni Koi wo Suru
2009-08-28 03:37:00 If Strawberry Panic didn't exist we'd have to invent it. More importantly, now that it does, Ichijinsha had to re-invent it. And so they do in Shiritsu Katorea Gakuen: Otome ha Hana ni Koi wo Suru ( ???????? ?????????) in which cute, energetic outsider Hina meets, falls in love with and ultimately gets together with the Prince of the school.In the typical LFB version of "Story A," the cute, clueless, clumsy, energetic outsider comes into a old, tradition-steeped private school for girls and bumbles around like a moron. For some reason this behavior is considered cute, and the star of the school is captivated by this. In a series of service-y almost-kisses, the characters torture themselves by not actually getting together and in the end share a chaste kiss - if we're lucky.In this version Hina, the cute, energetic outsider makes it into the elite St. Cattelya school. (Catellya is a kind of orchid.) Hina does run around the school lost in the first scene, but after that, she cease...
By: Okazu Reviews
Light Novel Maria-sama ga Miteru: Bara no Mille-Feuille, Intro & Part 4, Fi
2009-08-19 21:00:00 Part 4Chapter 4 Yumi felt a bit refreshed after she screamed through the roller coaster, and returned to find Sachiko-sama and Yuuki happily talking to each other. They were a boy-girl pair, but looked nothing like two lovers, and instead looked precisely like a princess and her retainer. The image was a bit demeaning, so she wouldn't mention it to Yuuki.(TL SUKOSHI: In Japanese, the word "kawaisou" is used when describing the image, which is a sort of marginality or demeaning attribute due to "cuteness", or "softness". Editor Erica: I like to think of it as a "poor you" kind of feeling.)After they finished the roller coaster event, it seemed as if the "no connection" and the "on purpose" groups had made up, and somehow the four decided to have lunch together. Most of the restaurants in the park had already passed peak hours for an hour-and-a-half, and two tables which looked as if they could seat two were empty. Even though it was called a restaurant, it was actually like a fast f...
By: Okazu Reviews
Light Novel Maria-sama ga Miteru: Bara no Mille-Feuille, Part 3
2009-08-17 21:00:00 Part 3High Tension and Roller CoastersThe morning of the amusement park date was a cloudy one."But you know, there's a zero percent chance of rain."The final examinations, which for so long had been a towering cloud of gray, had finally gone somewhere not to be found, and so her mood had cleared. If she were to think of something as gray again, she would think of the school closing ceremony. She hadn't returned the questionnaire, but because of that she had received a notice today."I've heard that the amusement park is fairly empty during the winter."Her younger brother Yuuki said from behind, as he looked over the weather predictions for the day in the newspaper from the living room."Really?"Both of them were on post-exam vacation, but seeing him up at 7 AM was rare. And seeing that he wasn't in pajamas, she knew he wasn't taking a bathroom break before going back to bed again.In the kitchen, on top of the gas stove, the sounds of a moving frying pan could be heard. Because sh...
By: Okazu Reviews
Light Novel Maria-sama ga Miteru: Bara no Mille-Feuille, Part 2
2009-08-16 21:00:00 Part 2Chapter 4To say this was not an adventure story might be understating it. In order to return the princess (Rei-chan) who was swept away by an evil demon safely to this world, you must go, brave Yoshino, with attendant Nana.In order to pull herself together, and bring the story to a climax: at the gates of hell (the front desk), she asked the guardsman (information lady) for the route to Beelzebub's lair (the garden). The guardsman kindly spread out the leaflet and drew on the hotel guide map. With a red pen "this area" or "around here" were marked as being important locations.Of course, with a beaming smile for the two of them, "The garden is beautiful?you might want to take a stroll through it. But? did someone recommend it?" she put the question to them. The truth iTL Sukoshi: they were chasing an Omiai. Though even if their mouths had burst open, there was no way they could have said such a thing.Following the route that had been laid out for them, they had climbed d...
By: Okazu Reviews
Light Novel Maria-sama ga Miteru: Bara no Mille-Feuille, Intro & Part 1
2009-08-16 18:47:00 IntroductionRei: I realize parts of this translation will sound stilted or exist only as frozen language, and I apologize. On at least one occasion I have been called, "too rigid" and this is due to the method I use to translate. Having studied translation to some extent in college, I tend to approach my work much as a linguist might: by diagramming and rearranging sentence components again and again until the square peg of Japanese can reasonably fit into the round hole of English (this analogy is something an understatement). That being said, I am not afraid to adapt or interpret the original's content in translation as long as I feel I have done as much as I can to be true to the intent of the piece. Japanese writing, since its inception, has manifested itself on a multiplicity of interlocking layers of form and meaning?the most notorious of which is poetry. Some of those layers cannot be expressed in English, while others can only be explained through translation notes. I...
By: Okazu Reviews
Hidamari Sketch Light Novel: Hidamari School Life
2009-07-23 04:17:00 I really intended on writing my own review today. Then I ended up sacrificing some hours to the gods of Tech Support and by the time I was done, I just couldn't do it. I just couldn't. Sorry. Bravely, George R. has leapt into the gap to save my shattered nerves and so, I commend him and his review to your care. It's all yours, George! I enjoyed the first Hidamari Sketch novel enough to go right on and try the second one, and I was not disappointed. Hidamari Sketch: Hidamari School Life (?????????????School Life) concentrates on Yuno's life at school, as opposed to the first one at her apartment. We are again treated to a set of short stories, where the characters are the focus, not the action. Autumn has come to Hidamari-sou and tomorrow is the day for everyone to change from summer to winter school uniforms. I've always been amused that the Japanese schools change their uniforms according to the calendar regardless of what the weather may actually be. Apparently consistency sc...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri News this Week - June 13, 2009
2009-06-13 15:15:00 Yuri EventsYuricon and ALC Publishing is, even as you read this, selling Grab Bags and Yuri Manga in Con Row at AnimeNEXT! Drop by tonight for the Yuri Panel at 6PM, in which we will talk about many things - almost all good. :-)***Yuri AnimeKatherine was pleased as punch to be able to share the news with the Yuricon Mailing List that "Aoi Hana is premiering [in Japan] on July 1, according to the website which has been newly revamped, complete with new anime art, a wallpaper section (an adorable relationship chart, and a ton of other material."Yuri Light NovelAnd again, top Yuri reporter Katherine would like you to know that Tiara Bunko has released a Yuri Light Novel, complete with illustrations by Chi-Ran called Ai Yuri Gakuin Youkoso E. The plot seems more of the same, but, hey, *more* of the same!***Yuri MangaThe second volume of Creo the Crimson Crisis arriving on shelves next week is excellent testimony to the fact that my opinion is hardly the only one. :-) And don't forget y...
By: Okazu Reviews
Hidamari Sketch Light Novel: Youkoso Hidamarisou e
2009-05-21 03:15:00 Thank you, thank you George R. for providing us with another guest review. My head is exploding and I'm running out of the house, and like magic, there in my inbox is a review. Phew. Anyway, once... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Hidamari Sketch Light Novel: Youkoso Hidamarisou e
2009-05-21 03:15:00 Thank you, thank you George R. for providing us with another guest review. My head is exploding and I'm running out of the house, and like magic, there in my inbox is a review. Phew. Anyway, once again, our applause and thanks to guest Reviewer here at Okazu, George! After enjoying Memories Off 2nd ~ Precious Hearts, I decided to find more that Higurashi Chaboh had written. A novelization of Hidamari Sketch caught my eye. I enjoyed the manga (the first three volumes are out in English as Sunshine Sketch, Volume 1 and Volume 2 have been reviewed here on Okazu) and was curious to see how the transition from 4-koma comic to light novel would work, so into my amazon.co.jp cart went Hidamari Sketch: Youkoso Hidamarisou E. The illustrations are spot on, though few, but that's to be expected since Aoki Ume, the original manga-ka, did them. While they're good pictures of the characters, they don't illustrate events in the story. I feel the strength of Hidamari Sketch lies in the char...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Memories Off 2nd ~ Precious Hearts
2009-04-03 21:43:00 A few Saturday news reports ago, I mentioned that George R. gleefully volunteered the news that he had discovered a light novel with Yuri. He also offered up a review for our entertainment and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel: Souer Audition, Part 5 (
2009-03-15 16:00:00 Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel Part V The Crucial Battle Section 1 Well, she didn't have very high expectations. Having appeared at the meeting place at the appointed hour,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel: Souer Audition, Part 4
2009-03-13 21:06:00 Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel Section 3 "We thank you for coming today. For this meeting, the Lillian Kawaraban composed the invitations. Though we're the one's that want... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel: Souer Audition, Part 3
2009-03-11 21:03:00 Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel Section 3 "Does Yumi-san have any connection with this Touko-chan thing?" As everyone was returning, Shimako-san and Noriko nonchalantly split... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel: Souer Audition, Intro an
2009-03-10 20:18:00 Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel Translated by Rei and Sukoshi Edited by Erica Friedman Introduction: Note from Rei: We hope you enjoyed reading Soeur Audition as much we enjoyed... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel: Souer Audition, Part 2
2009-03-10 20:16:00 Notes on the Twentieth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel Section 4 "Please, tell me!" Yoshino-san angrily strode into the room. "'Kind of Person'? We are the future Onee-samas! Better score? Isn't... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Maria-sama ga Miteru Light Novel: Hello Goodbye
2009-03-03 20:53:00 Well. So here we are. Referring to the series that has supplied (indeed, is still suppyling) many hours of entertainment, in the past tense. Like all good fans, I bought Maria-sama ga Miteru:... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Wild Bouquet, Volume 2
2009-01-24 02:57:00 When last we left former princess Deriana and former maid Josette, they were escaping from Deriana's arranged marriage to the King of Akabansu, a kindgom of the Glorious Alliance in which romantic... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Wild Bouquet
2008-12-08 16:20:00 Earlier this year, Ichijinsha, publisher of Yuri Hime magazine, announced a line of light novels for women - their "Iris" imprint. The line includes romance (straight, BL and Yuri,) adventure and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Nineteenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Part 4 (Final)
2008-12-03 21:51:00 Part 4 In Library V 1+1+1-1+2=4. What kind of math is that? The answer is, the number of people looking for Sachiko-sama. Yumi and Touko-chan began, and when Minako-san participated, Touko-chan... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Nineteenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Part 3
2008-12-03 15:37:00 Part 3 In Library IV "Ogasawara Sachiko-san? Yeah, she returned the book a long time ago." Down another branch of the forked road, behind the Loan Counter of the Library's reading room, she... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Nineteenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Part 2
2008-12-03 15:35:00 In Library -- III "Library? Is that right?" As the words flew out of Touko-chan's mouth before she could think about it, Yumi blinked. Touko-chan spoke, before she could say 'then why didn't you... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Notes on the Nineteenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Introduction and Part 1
2008-12-03 15:34:00 Introduction: Before anything else, I must take this opportunity to thank Sukoshi, whose assistance was invaluable. She translated "In Library IV" and the "Cherry Blossom Folk Tales." Thank you,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://okazu.blogspot.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Vanilla, A Sweet Partner
2008-07-04 03:04:00 You may have gotten the mistaken impression from reading these reviews, that I enjoy making a complete fool of myself in public, by laughing out loud and snorting in amusement while on public transportation, airplanes, waiting rooms, etc. This is not true - it's just that, given the average quality of what I read and watch, I can't help myself.Which brings us to today's review of a high quality lesbian schoolgirl killers Light Novel, Vanilla, A Sweet Partner, by Asaura. And special thanks to Anastasia Moreno for pointing me in the general direction of this work of "literature!" lol Vanilla follows the lives of the totally deranged schoolgirls Kei and Nao and their guns. And the guns of everyone around them. And random gun information, because, you know - guns! Yes, the author is a gun otaku and since I am not particularly enamored of guns in my native tongue, other than the fact that Kei used a Beretta 90 TWO and Nao a Takami rifle, I can't tell you a single thing about any of t...
By: Okazu Reviews
Light Novel: Maria-sama ga Miteru: Margaret ni Ribon
2008-06-05 19:58:00 In Maria-sama ga Miteru: Margaret ni Ribon, White Day is approaching and Yoshino, Shimako and Yumi have all gathered at the Rose Mansion to plan a way to return the chocolates that they received on Valentine's Day. They decide to buy candies and make small bags that they will decorate. As they decide on the forms, materials and decorations of the bags, each conversation leads into a short story. The first story picks up with the current life of former Rosa Chinesis, Mizuno Youko, first-year law student, but forever meddler and onee-sama to everyone around her. Youko's determination to be a completely different person - say, someone like Sei - fails utterly.Then we take a moment to look at former Rosa Foetida, Torii Eriko's, relationship with Yamanobe. This story was the best in the book, as she meets, befriends and ultimately agrees to be rivals with, Yamanobe's daughter. It was a short story, but very touching and beautiful. We get to see a side of Eriko we've never seen befor...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Escalation (From Cream Lemon)
2007-11-04 16:58:00 For today's review, I would like to thank 828-san, who let me know that there was a novelization for the "Escalation" arc from the classic hentai series, Cream Lemon. (Here is a synopsis of "Escalation" and the other Yuri(ish) episodes of CL.)(BTW, when I use quotes around the title, i.e., "Escalation," I am referring to the anime or the story in general; when I put the title in italics, Escalation, I am referring to the novel. Just to be clear.)In and of itself "Escalation" is not a particularly unique or worthy story, but when you consider that it is, in all likelihood, the direct ancestor of both Maria-sama ga Miteru and Strawberry Panic, it's worthy of note. Plus, it wasn't too bad, as porn goes. :-) The novel pretty much follows the story of the three "Escalation" anime episodes, with a bit more depth for each character (except for Midori. She gets one line of character development.)Okay, so the story follows Komatsuzaki Rie, as she leaves her home where her tutor has broken...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Strawberry Panic, Volume 3 (Japanese)
2007-08-11 02:22:00 When it comes to Strawberry Panic!, Volume 3, I really don't even know where to begin. This book was so cracktastic, so chock full of utter randomness that went nowhere and did nothing that the only thing I can think of to start is this:I believe in my heart that stories that take place at all-girl's private schools for the daughters of the privileged that are not action stories, ought to include no more than 1(One) use of private helicopters. More just seems overkill. :-)You may remember that Volume 2 in the Strawberry Panic! light novel series ended with Amane and Hikari having run away from the school together and Nagisa having removed herself from both the Etoile-sen and her relationship with Shizuma.Volume 3 begins with the crowning of the winners of the most recent competition for the Etoile-sen - Spica's newly returned violin virtuoso Kusanagi Makoto and Lu Lim's girl prodigy, Byakudan Kagome (sans bear.) This couple was so utterly "huh???" I read the passage about three ...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Strawberry Panic, Volume 3 (Japanese)
2007-08-10 21:15:00 When it comes to Strawberry Panic!, Volume 3, I really don't even know where to begin. This book was so cracktastic, so chock full of utter randomness that went nowhere and did nothing that the only thing I can think of to start is this:I believe in my heart that stories that take place at all-girl's private schools for the daughters of the privileged that are not action stories, ought to include no more than 1(One) use of private helicopters. More just seems overkill. :-)You may remember that Volume 2 in the Strawberry Panic! light novel series ended with Amane and Hikari having run away from the school together and Nagisa having removed herself from both the Etoile-sen and her relationship with Shizuma.Volume 3 begins with the crowning of the winners of the most recent competition for the Etoile-sen - Spica's newly returned violin virtuoso Kusanagi Makoto and Lu Lim's girl prodigy, Byakudan Kagome (sans bear.) This couple was so utterly "huh???" I read the passage about three ...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Strawberry Panic, Volume 2 (Japanese)
2007-07-18 00:23:00 Extra long review today because I'm heading out for Otakon (Yuri Panel Sunday at 1pm! All ages!) later this week and will probably only post in teeny, non-review chunks for the next few days. Before I start today's review, I wanted to share this with you. It is a *real* honest-to-god email I received. I have altered it in no way, except to cut out the "Hello Erica" part:i just wnated to tell you i love youre book strawberry panic so much well i didnt read the book i watched the show and i want more episodes that series made me depressed for a weak and im still not over kaori :'[ make mroe episodes :[...Moving right along.In a surprise move, the Light Novel Strawberry Panic!, Volume 2 was actually pretty entertaining. LOL As you know, Seven Seas has licensed the LNs. I am reading the series in Japanese first, because I wanted to see what the original sounded like before I read the translation. And, because I enjoy it.Quick Overview of the Series and Story So Far (If you know all t...
By: Okazu Reviews
Yuri Light Novel: Strawberry Panic, Volume 1 (Japanese)
2007-03-21 18:12:00 One of the many reasons I began teaching myself Japanese was because I resented having to rely on translators' interpretations. I know that in translation one is always balancing "feel" and "sense" and I wanted to be able to read things in the original in order to be able to grasp both, without someone making my decisions for me.So, since Seven Seas will be coming out with a translation of the Strawberry Panic light novels, I wanted to read them first in Japanese, so I could better appreciate how they were reproduced in English.Let me give you this piece of background info, that should help you appreciate my feelings about this novel:On average, it takes me three months to translate a 200 page Maria-sama ga Miteru light novel. If I am reading for myself, without translating, it takes me about a month to read, with the assistance of at least two dictionaries and a translation tool....It took me *4 days* to read this 300+ page novel. With one dictionary.If you can't appreciate the s...
By: Okazu Reviews
Light Novels Article
2007-02-09 21:58:00 This past summer I had the pleasure to be asked to participate in the creation of a manga encyclopedia. The editor and writer, Jason Thompson, asked me to do some reviews, interviewed me for the "Yuri" article and eventually had me write a short article on "Light Novels" for the book.Manga: The Complete Guide, is now available for pre-order on Amazon. It is, alas, without my article on Light Novels. Due to time/space/existential issues, it was left out. I hold no hard feelings, these things happen. But it was a *good* article and I worked hard on it. As the Light Novels (LNs) that got me into reading LNs, and that I have been reviewing here for some time are the Maria-sama ga Miteru series, and those I have yet to read are also yuri, I thought I'd share the article with my readers here. Let me just note quickly that the translation of Tsutako's quote from Ibara no Mori was done by Erin Subramanian. The full passage can be found on Erin's Livejournal.***LIGHT NOVEL (ライトノã...
By: Okazu Reviews
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