what is with the slew of dark and twisty oneshots? first Watagiri Saya and now Mochi Au Lait. I'm not complaining. I am just a bit shocked.
It's a sign of growing confidence and tranquility in Japan's LGBTQ community. Even though marriage equality hasn't been attained, improved social acceptance by mainstream societ, and the fact lesbian women aren't subjected to the oppressive social pressures as heterosexual women (marriage, childbearing, virtual domestic servitude in a staunchly patriarchal society) means there's more freedom and space despite lingering prejudice. Plus a stronger sense of community and solidarity with each other. I
With a general sense of wellbeing of this strength exists in any community, artists and their audiences are more daring in entertaining darker themes (whereas in more turbulent times they deal is lighter distracting fare to allay anxiety). Bottom line is that traditional Yuri with its fluffy stories and flippant characters no longer reflects the actual Lesbian experience in Japan, and we're seeing the beginnings of a move towards darker (supernatural, horror, sci-fi, and more deviant hentai) material in the next 2 to 3 years.
