Muromaki, a Japanese mangaka who began her career in 2020, is making her English-language debut with Lilies Blooming in 100 Days, originally titled 100-nichigo ni Saku Yuri. Published by Yen Press with a release date of , the full-color volume offers a unique approach to the yuri genre, presenting one hundred distinct romantic encounters between women.
Rather than a continuous narrative, Lilies Blooming in 100 Days functions as an anthology, a curated collection of moments. Each “day” introduces a new pairing or situation, ranging from high school dynamics to adult relationships and age-gap scenarios. This structure prioritizes variety, though it necessarily limits the development of sustained storylines.
The book’s most striking feature is its visual presentation. Muromaki’s clean and expressive linework is significantly enhanced by the full-color format, lending immediacy to each vignette. The artist demonstrates a particular skill in rendering facial expressions, subtly conveying a range of emotions – hesitation, longing, embarrassment, and desire. The frequent use of the classic “flustered” expression, rendered in red, doesn’t detract from the overall effect, but rather reinforces the emotional tone.
The narrative style is deliberately varied. Some entries consist of a single page, featuring one image and a brief accompanying story. Others expand into multiple panels on a single page, offering slightly more developed scenarios. The volume is framed by a longer short story at the beginning and end, centering on a student’s affection for her teacher. This framing device serves as a thematic anchor, as the school setting appears most frequently throughout the collection.
The work explores sensuality and intimacy, though it remains restrained and suggestive rather than explicit. Kissing and implied physical contact are present, but handled with a soft, almost teasing touch. This approach feels intentional, leveraging the quality of the artwork and the effectiveness of implied eroticism.
However, the brevity of many of the stories – the abundance of single-page vignettes – can hinder emotional investment in the characters and their circumstances. The volume, at times, feels more akin to an artbook than a traditionally readable manga. A greater proportion of longer-form stories might have fostered deeper emotional resonance while still allowing Muromaki’s artwork to take center stage.
Despite this limitation, Lilies Blooming in 100 Days is likely to appeal to fans of yuri themes, particularly those who appreciate a presentation that prioritizes visual artistry. The quality of the illustrations is undeniably high, and the use of color makes the volume visually striking and memorable, even if its narrative ambitions are relatively modest.
The release of Lilies Blooming in 100 Days comes as Yen Press continues to expand its offerings in the yuri manga space. The publisher recently announced six new manga licenses for Fall 2025, including several titles within the genre, signaling a growing demand for these stories among English-language readers. The manga is also being discussed within online yuri communities, such as on Reddit, where fans are anticipating its arrival.
Muromaki’s work has garnered attention for its unique approach to the yuri genre. The artist initially presented the material as a daily challenge – the #100DaysofYuriChallenge – which contributed to the volume’s episodic structure. The success of this initial concept has clearly resonated with publishers and readers alike, paving the way for this English-language release.
For artists with an interest in yuri, the book is recommended as a source of inspiration. The numerous full-page spreads offer a wealth of visual ideas, showcasing Muromaki’s skill in composition, color, and character design. Beyond its appeal to fans of the genre, Lilies Blooming in 100 Days represents a noteworthy addition to the growing landscape of translated manga available to English-speaking audiences.
