Happy Chinese New Year! Thanks to our tireless editor and writer Jeanne, we're able to bring you the February issue on time. Even though Jeanne won't translated any more of Rika ;_;, she did write an interesting review of volume I that'll shed some light on the characters and motivations of the manga. For your convenience there is also a link to the translation of chapter I in this issue.

For a look at the real-life English public schools that may well have provided the inspiration for the Salon in Rika, rent the movie "Another Country", starring a very young Rupert Everett and Colin Firth. The school is a hotbed of political and sexual intrigue, and the leaders of the student body, known as "the Gods", wielded powers similar to the Salon Aces. It's worth seeing simply for the lovely understated romance between the two stars.

The pretty picture on the right comes from the cover of Tact Fujiwara's new anthology, Itoshisawakorusenai. She is known for her complex and twisted short stories and distinctive art style. You can see a sample of her work in the Gakuren Virgin. If you enjoy Tohjoh Asami's work, you may like her as well.

Answering a questions from October issue. Yes, there are Phantom Menace doujinshi's. Even though it didn't explode in Japan like it did here, there were definitly TPM doujinshi on sale at the Winter Comiket. I have in my hand one example -- "Statuesque Mentor". It is very pretty, and though it is not at all explicit, the relationship is definitely there. It is full of all these lovely suggestive cuts that the Japanese artists are so fond of, including a dark and long-haired Xanatos that simply screams 'reversible'. Hopefully, we'll see more at the summer comiket.