The Josei Alphabet: U

“U” is for…

Umimachi Diary, written and illustrated by Akimi (Banana Fish) Yoshida, serialized in Shogakukan’s Flowers: Yoshida has been nominated for or won all kinds of awards for this tale of three sisters who meet a half-sister after their estranged father’s death. There’s really no legitimate reason that this hasn’t been licensed yet.

Umi Yori mo Fukaku, written and illustrated by Akemi Yoshimura, serialized in Shogakukan’s Petit Comic, 10 volumes: A fortune teller informs a college student that she’ll be dead within three years. In spite of the psychic’s subsequent arrest for fraud, his predictions seem to be coming true.

Uruwashi no Kouhi Elisabeth, written by Jean Des Cars, Tetsuya Tsukamoto, and Tomoko Naka, and illustrated by Naka, originally published by Tokuma Shoten, two volumes: This series tells the tale of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who apparently was quite the trailblazer when she married into the Hapsburg clan. (She did not pave new ways by being any more distantly related than first cousin to her husband, Franz Josef, but we blaze trails where we can.)

Utsukushiki Doukyonin, based on a novel by Laura Wright, adapted by Towa Isezaki, originally published by Ohzora Shuppan, one volume: A virginal matchmaker ends up with a hot lothario for a roommate and tries to turn him into marriage material. Try that, Patti Stanger. I dare you.

Uwasaya, written by Ayumu Hosaka, illustrated by Natsume Hasumi, serialized in Ichijinsha’s Zero-Sum Ward: Who better than a super-gifted cosplayer to help capture a vicious serial killer? I don’t know why there isn’t a cosplayer on Criminal Minds, now that I think of it. I mention this series mostly because it’s one of the few Zero-Sum titles that doesn’t look or sound a bunch like every other Zero-Sum title.

What starts with “U” in your josei alphabet?