YuruYuri Review: Four Girls Take Over the Tea Ceremony Room and Do Basically Nothing
by Namori
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Quick Take
- Akari is supposed to be the protagonist but the other characters keep forgetting she exists; this joke is the series in miniature
- Comfortable ensemble comedy with yuri undertones handled gently
- 21 volumes ongoing; can be picked up and put down freely
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want gentle yuri comedy without intensity
- Anyone who wants school club manga with a consistently funny ensemble
- Fans of comfortable slice-of-life that can be read in any amount
- Readers looking for ongoing manga with low stakes and consistent warmth
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Yuri themes; mild romantic content between girls; school comedy; gentle content throughout
T rating — appropriate for most readers.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Akari Akaza is starting middle school and wants to join the tea ceremony club. The tea ceremony club has been disbanded. She and her friends Kyoko, Yui, and Chinatsu take over the abandoned room and declare it the Amusement Club.
The Amusement Club does not have a purpose. They spend time together. They eat snacks. Kyoko has enthusiasms that nobody else shares. Chinatsu crushes on Yui. Akari is repeatedly forgotten.
This is the manga.
Characters
Akari Akaza — The nominal protagonist whose defining characteristic is that she keeps being overlooked; the running joke of her presence being unnoticed has been running for 21 volumes.
Kyoko Toshino — The chaotic energy of the group; her manga-within-manga creations and her enthusiasms are the series' comedy engine.
Chinatsu Yoshikawa — Her crush on Yui and her terrible drawing ability are two of the series' most consistent jokes.
Art Style
Namori's art is clean and expressive moe-style — the character designs are distinctive and the facial expressions carry the comedy effectively.
Cultural Context
YuruYuri runs in Comic Yuri Hime S. The yuri content is handled gently — the manga acknowledges its characters' feelings without dramatizing them, which suits the slice-of-life comedy register.
What I Love About It
Akari's presence gag. She is the protagonist. The story is supposed to be about her. And she keeps getting forgotten by the narrative, by the other characters, and occasionally by the reader. Namori has been executing this joke for over twenty volumes and it still works.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe YuruYuri as reliably pleasant — specifically noted for Akari's presence gag being consistently funny across the series' length, for the ensemble comedy being warm, and for the yuri content being handled gently enough to be accessible to readers who want slice-of-life without explicit romance. Frequently cited as the most consistently comfortable yuri manga in English.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Any chapter where Akari's presence is literally forgotten — where the other characters discuss what they're doing and have to be reminded that Akari is right there — is the series' essential comic moment.
Similar Manga
- Kiniro Mosaic — School slice-of-life with similar comfort
- New Game! — Workplace slice-of-life with similar all-female cast
- Ichigo Mashimaro — School slice-of-life in similar genre
- Non Non Biyori — Rural school slice-of-life in similar register
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — the Amusement Club is formed in the first chapter. Can also start anywhere.
Official English Translation Status
Yen Press publishes the ongoing English series.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Akari presence gag is consistently funny
- Comfortable can-be-read-anywhere format
- Warm ensemble dynamics
- Yuri content handled gently
Cons
- Very low stakes and narrative progression
- 21+ volumes requires acceptance of the format
- Character development minimal
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Yen Press; ongoing |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get YuruYuri Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.