G-taste (ジィ・テイスト, G-taste?) is an hentai manga series illustrated by the artist Hiroki Yagami 八神ひろき (Yagami Hiroki, 八神ひろき?) and serialised in Young Magazine Upper's. The "G" in "G-taste" is used symbolically as the letter between "F" (for "Fetish") and "H" (for "hentai"). The anime has been licensed in the US by Softcel Pictures. However the rights have since expired and now Critical Mass have since bought the rights. It should be noted though that not all of the series has been licensed as only the first five episodes have been released in the US. Episodes 6 and 7 have, to date, not been released in the US at all. Hiroki Yagami places a great deal of emphasis on character design, and some of his female characters have become cult figures in Japanese anime. The G-taste comics consist of a collection of four scene erotic vignettes, which typically each focus on a particular female character. Characteristically, they feature very little male involvement in sexual acts, which contributes to the voyeuristic atmosphere. They are not usually very graphic, abiding by the Japanese legal restriction on not showing the lower genital areas. Some of the activities shown include masturbation, bondage, lesbian sex etc. Like most anime, it features female characters with highly improbable proportions. The comics seem to thrive on fetishes, and motifs of long legs, heels and short skirts are continuously recycled. Nevertheless, G-taste can be said to be artistic in terms of presentation, with slow and deliberate scenes showing close-ups of anatomy and of movement. Its art is relatively unique in Japanese anime. The characters of G-taste include the stock figures of Japanese pornography, including the school girl, office clerk, secretary, nurse, waitress, receptionist, campaign girl, maid, doctor, teacher, and wife. G-taste has also released a number of short films, mostly dramatisations of its comic stories. It has also spawned a number of computer games, including G-taste Mahjong for Arcade and PlayStation 2. But far and away the most successful part of the G-taste franchise is the resin figurines modelled on G-taste characters, which enjoy mainstream appeal in Japan and overseas. Some of the resin statues sell for up to USD $150 each. To an extent, the G-taste franchise demonstrates the crossover occurring between hentai, anime and comics. Characters Characters of Vol. 1 Moe Yagisawa Moe Yagisawa (八木沢萌) - office lady Characters of Vol. 2 Nana Morimura & Vol. 3 Mai Kanazuki Nana Morimura (森村奈々) - maid who answers directly to Mai Kanazuki Mai Kanazuki (神無月舞) - manager of the maids and private secretary to Baron Masquerade, whom she secretly loves Risa Mizutani - (水谷理沙) maid who befriends Nana Ayaka Konno (紺野彩香) - race queen/maid Mayu Hoshino (星野麻由) - student/maid Baron Masquerade (マスカレード男爵) - mysterious masked nobleman? Characters of Vol. 4 Sayaka Mizukoshi & Vol. 5 Misuzu Kawamura Sayaka Mizukoshi (水越沙耶香) - high school teacher Misuzu Kawamura (川村美鈴) - high school student/swimmer in love with her mentor Touka Fubuki (風吹東花) - doctor for a high school and twin sister to Kyoka Fubuki Characters of Vol. 6 Asuka Senou Asuka Senou (瀬能明日香) - young nurse Kanae Aizawa (相沢香苗) - young nurse, senior colleague of Asuka Kyouka Fubuki (風吹京花) - doctor in a local hospital and twin sister to Touka Fubuki Characters of Vol. 7 Yuna Shingyouji FINAL Yuna Shingyouji (真行寺由奈) - news announcer Manga Characters Yuki Shihodo (四方堂由姫) - young wife Riona Kisaragi (如月里緒菜) - "woman in red" Toko Nogami (野上東子) - event companion Jun Kusakabe (草壁純) - policewoman Kotomi Amano (天野琴美) - museum curator Aoi Nishina (仁科葵) - bus tour guide Elena Sradoka (エレーナ・スラードカヤ) - model Kyoko Hachioji (八王寺京子) Yui Jougasaki (城ヶ崎唯) - student/waitress Marina Kisaragi (如月麻里菜) - elder sister of Riona who works as a shrine maiden Yoko Takaoka (高岡陽子) Ren Hasumi (蓮見蓮) - nurse Mayu Saiki (斉木まゆ) - waitress Leotard Highheel (レオタード・ハイヒール) Fumika Kamizono (神園史華) Emiri Tsuchiya (土屋絵美理) Asami Ikegami (池上麻美) Lady O (龍梅) - magician Keiko Saotome (早乙女慶子) Sayuri Kawamura - policewoman Tomoyo Hanasaki - nurse Hiroki Yagami - nurse Miki Endou - high school student Mika Sawatari - bunny girl Mizuki Nomura Serika Kitahara Aya Takigawa Asami Akiyama Shoko Okazato Reiko Nagai Ryoko Fujisawa Yuka Egawa Ayumi Miura Izumi Joban Kana Mochizuki Yui Kizaki Ronmei Mio Mouri