A little over a year ago I had the pleasure of reviewing Anoko to Me ga Autabi Watashi ha Shakaiin Yuri Anthology (あの娘と目が合うたび私は 社会人百合アンソロジー). Today I have the even greater pleasure of reviewing the translated edition, Whenever Our Eyes Meet…!

The place of anthologies in the west are still pretty shaky. People are sometimes confused by the idea of a scene, or a concept being the point, rather than a fully developed story. Japanese anthologized stories are so often just a scenario or setup to something that we are then supposed to imagine the rest of, rather than a complete story. But for a glimpse of the variety in jousei Yuri manga being created in Japan, this is a great collection. My favorites remain the same as in the JP edition. Quoting myself:

The volume starts off really strongly with a lovely cover image and opening story by Harukawa You. In the opening story, a graphic designer is hired to do a CD cover design for an indie singer whose schtick is wearing a horse head. What is hidden underneath the mask is a really lovely young lady who admires her work.

I really enjoyed irua’s “Everyone’s Missing Out” in which a unloved boss turns out to have a secret supporter among the employees. I still enjoy this one, especially as the boss is middle aged.

Seta Seta’s “Stopped Meter” was a ridiculous story I liked about a female cab driver finding herself driving someone she knew a long time ago in another job.

And Yuki Yukiko’s ”Hand-delivered Love Letter,” about a woman who works at a shipping company and her charming and beautiful customer, was a terrific end story for the book.

Yen did another lovely job, and Leighann Harvey’s translation was seamless, but for one complaint which is not her fault. I will stick to my guns and say that Yen translating “Yuri” in the title is pointless. Yuri is a genre term and does not need translation. You don’t have to translate the word “daikon” in a recipe, either. It’s called a daikon. Yen’s refusal to acknowledge that we’ve worked long and hard to get that term recognized is a pain point for me and exactly why I do not tend to count Yen as “allies” in the manga industry. Queer folks and our allies understand how hard we fight for our words and how much it takes to have them recognized. Yen’s management does not and will not recognize this because this is not their fight and they don’t “get” why it’s important. Nice people, who do a great job, but not necessarily on our side.

Ratings remain the same as for the JP edition:

Art – Variable but generally good
Story – Surprising variety, considering
Characters – Generally likable
Service – Not really
Yuri – Yes

Overall – A solid read, let’s give it an 8

Realistically, I’m no more interested in falling in love with a coworker than a classmate, but at least they are all adults. ^_^