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大奥 [Ōoku] #18
Ôoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 18
In Eisner-nominated Fumi Yoshinaga’s alternative history of Edo-era Japan, the men of Japan are dying out, and the women have taken up the reigns of power—including the shogun’s seat!
In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Redface Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen by seventy-five percent. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected. And the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the shogun's Inner Chamber...
Prince Kazu had expected to hate her life in Edo, but her marriage to the shogun Iemochi unexpectedly became a source of true comfort in her life. But now tragedy has destroyed her fragile happiness, and Prince Kazu must struggle alone to find some solace in the shattered remnants of that brief joy.
In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Redface Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen by seventy-five percent. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected. And the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the shogun's Inner Chamber...
Prince Kazu had expected to hate her life in Edo, but her marriage to the shogun Iemochi unexpectedly became a source of true comfort in her life. But now tragedy has destroyed her fragile happiness, and Prince Kazu must struggle alone to find some solace in the shattered remnants of that brief joy.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2020
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Fumi Yoshinaga
157 books248 followersJapanese: よしなが ふみ
Fumi Yoshinaga (よしなが ふみ Yoshinaga Fumi, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist known for her shōjo and shōnen-ai works.
Fumi Yoshinaga was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1971. She attended the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo.
In an interview, she said that "I want to show the people who didn't win, whose dreams didn't come true. It is not possible for everybody to get first prize. I want my readers to understand the happiness that people can get from trying hard, going through the process, and getting frustrated."
Little is known about her personal life. She mentions that her favourite operas are those by Mozart in the author's note of Solfege.
She debuted in 1994 with The Moon and the Sandals, serialized in Hanaoto magazine, but was previously a participant in comic markets.
Of Yoshinaga's many works, several have been licensed internationally. She was also selected and exhibited as one of the "Twenty Major Manga artist Who Contributed to the World of Shōjo Manga (World War II to Present)" for Professor Masami Toku's exhibition, "Shōjo Manga: Girl Power!" at CSU-Chico.
Outside of her work with Japanese publishers, she also self-publishes original doujinshi on a regular basis, most notably for Antique Bakery. Yoshinaga has also drawn fan parodies of Slam Dunk, Rose of Versailles, and Legend of Galactic Heroes.
Fumi Yoshinaga (よしなが ふみ Yoshinaga Fumi, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist known for her shōjo and shōnen-ai works.
Fumi Yoshinaga was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1971. She attended the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo.
In an interview, she said that "I want to show the people who didn't win, whose dreams didn't come true. It is not possible for everybody to get first prize. I want my readers to understand the happiness that people can get from trying hard, going through the process, and getting frustrated."
Little is known about her personal life. She mentions that her favourite operas are those by Mozart in the author's note of Solfege.
She debuted in 1994 with The Moon and the Sandals, serialized in Hanaoto magazine, but was previously a participant in comic markets.
Of Yoshinaga's many works, several have been licensed internationally. She was also selected and exhibited as one of the "Twenty Major Manga artist Who Contributed to the World of Shōjo Manga (World War II to Present)" for Professor Masami Toku's exhibition, "Shōjo Manga: Girl Power!" at CSU-Chico.
Outside of her work with Japanese publishers, she also self-publishes original doujinshi on a regular basis, most notably for Antique Bakery. Yoshinaga has also drawn fan parodies of Slam Dunk, Rose of Versailles, and Legend of Galactic Heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 21, 2022
The penultimate volume in the (alternative) historical manga series by mangka Fumi Yoshinaga. And yeah, a lot happens, but spoiler alert: I am going to mention a couple key things, neither of which would be entirely unexpected: 1) the series’s possibly most beloved character, Iemochi, the Tokogawa Shogun, dies as many did in this period, of beri beri disease at the young age of 20; 2) the emperor also dies, and both of these events set the stage for the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Along the way we are left with the “Prince” who had adapted a kid under the presumption that he might one day become the shogun, but nope. And she’ll leave Tokugawa and resume her life as a woman back home.
After centuries of women commanding leadership in Japan (in this queering of history approach), the men again resume power, and Japan moves from a feudal to a market economy, building a strong military to defend itself from western colonialism.
This volume was powerful and dramatic, maybe essentially the real finishing volume, as I imagine the last volume will be more denouement. But it took a little of the air out of the series for me with delightful and savvy Iemochi gone, truthfully. Sad.
After centuries of women commanding leadership in Japan (in this queering of history approach), the men again resume power, and Japan moves from a feudal to a market economy, building a strong military to defend itself from western colonialism.
This volume was powerful and dramatic, maybe essentially the real finishing volume, as I imagine the last volume will be more denouement. But it took a little of the air out of the series for me with delightful and savvy Iemochi gone, truthfully. Sad.
July 6, 2021
So much political stuff, because of my so so feelings towards most of the characters of this volume (except for Tensho-in whom I love and adore), I'm pretty disappointed after such a long wait for this manga to be published and translated.
Now that things have sort of catch up to the real history in our reality, it's getting factual and not a lot of spice going and not as an arresting read as before. The existence of so many plot points and exposition going on in which I have zero interest in nor care about is a far cry from the previous volumes.
It's gotten to a point where it's almost like reading a novel what with dialogue boxes making up most of the pages and characters just speak and argue with each other all the time.
In the earlier volumes, I was intrigued by the politics and drama in the inner chambers which was further enhanced with the inclusion of many colorful characters which you either love or love to hate.
Unfortunately this time around, I'm not so invested in most if not all of the characters which made it not as fun to read due to the missing emotional attachments to the characters and what is happening to them. They can all die for all I care (except for Tensho-in of course)
I'm glad that only one volume is left because I don't think I can take reading much of this previously dearly beloved series anymore.
Now that things have sort of catch up to the real history in our reality, it's getting factual and not a lot of spice going and not as an arresting read as before. The existence of so many plot points and exposition going on in which I have zero interest in nor care about is a far cry from the previous volumes.
It's gotten to a point where it's almost like reading a novel what with dialogue boxes making up most of the pages and characters just speak and argue with each other all the time.
In the earlier volumes, I was intrigued by the politics and drama in the inner chambers which was further enhanced with the inclusion of many colorful characters which you either love or love to hate.
Unfortunately this time around, I'm not so invested in most if not all of the characters which made it not as fun to read due to the missing emotional attachments to the characters and what is happening to them. They can all die for all I care (except for Tensho-in of course)
I'm glad that only one volume is left because I don't think I can take reading much of this previously dearly beloved series anymore.
May 31, 2023
Avant-dernier volume de la série, l'essentiel du récit se passe à parler des changements politiques en cours dans le Japon sans vraiment les montrer. Bien que je ne connaisse pas vraiment l'histoire du Japon, il semble clair qu'avec ce volume, on semble converger à nouveau vers l'histoire "normal" du Japon et des événements qui ont amener la chute du shogunat et le début de la Restauration (un coup d'oeil sur wikipédia me confirme la chose).
J'avoue que même s'il y a quelque résistance à uniquement parler des événements politiques à l'extérieur du pavillon des hommes, on prend quand même le temps de dire au revoir à plusieurs des personnages, de leur imaginer des départs plutôt calme. On parle peu de politique interne au pavillon bien qu'on continue à parler de l'importance des tissus et qui montre un important lieu de résistance métaphorique avec l'interdiction de porter des hakama traînant et les concessions qui doivent être faites par Takiyama, mais qui montre bien son réseau de soutien et de support dans son entourage.
[Il semble manquer un phylactère de texte complet p.138 de l'édition française]
J'avoue que même s'il y a quelque résistance à uniquement parler des événements politiques à l'extérieur du pavillon des hommes, on prend quand même le temps de dire au revoir à plusieurs des personnages, de leur imaginer des départs plutôt calme. On parle peu de politique interne au pavillon bien qu'on continue à parler de l'importance des tissus et qui montre un important lieu de résistance métaphorique avec l'interdiction de porter des hakama traînant et les concessions qui doivent être faites par Takiyama, mais qui montre bien son réseau de soutien et de support dans son entourage.
[Il semble manquer un phylactère de texte complet p.138 de l'édition française]
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October 16, 2022Which is more lesbian? Lesbians, or whatever the fuck Chikako and Iemochi have going on? I have to admit I'm almost annoyed they didn't kiss just because a part of me feels that it was such an opportunity to have them understand their sexuality through each other-- but then perhaps I lack the fine eye for female friendship. (This is a joke.)
Unfortunately was all too clear in its approach-- not only the way these things always are in this manga but in the back blurb and so on. Poor Chikako, who I like more and more as we get more of her. I do wish more would come of her relationship with her mother-- this is the penultimate volume, so not much is to be expected later-- but in general she's very engaging on her own terms and I like that not everything she does makes literal sense. She's her own person.
Also, as usual, fan of everyone else and less a fan of the sociopolitical stuff. It's very strange reading this at a point where I do genuinely recall what happens: the shogun will fall to the imperial forces, if all continues as it has in real-life history. Knowing these characters more concretely as historical figures turns Oooku into what it's always been: Hamilton but for women and specifically about feudal Japan. Good to know.
Unfortunately was all too clear in its approach-- not only the way these things always are in this manga but in the back blurb and so on. Poor Chikako, who I like more and more as we get more of her. I do wish more would come of her relationship with her mother-- this is the penultimate volume, so not much is to be expected later-- but in general she's very engaging on her own terms and I like that not everything she does makes literal sense. She's her own person.
Also, as usual, fan of everyone else and less a fan of the sociopolitical stuff. It's very strange reading this at a point where I do genuinely recall what happens: the shogun will fall to the imperial forces, if all continues as it has in real-life history. Knowing these characters more concretely as historical figures turns Oooku into what it's always been: Hamilton but for women and specifically about feudal Japan. Good to know.
September 29, 2025
Vol. 13 ★★★★★
Vol. 14 ★★★★☆
Vol. 15 ★★★★☆
Vol. 16 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 17 ★★★☆☆
Not as engaging as previous volumes. The political scheming doesn't leave much of an impression as it is the character work that truly shines, whether it's Prince Kazu struggling with grief or Takiyama facing the ongoing changes within the Inner Chambers.
Vol. 14 ★★★★☆
Vol. 15 ★★★★☆
Vol. 16 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 17 ★★★☆☆
Not as engaging as previous volumes. The political scheming doesn't leave much of an impression as it is the character work that truly shines, whether it's Prince Kazu struggling with grief or Takiyama facing the ongoing changes within the Inner Chambers.
December 26, 2022
為了將世界線接上明治維新
後面的幾集性轉少了劇情也比較無趣
不過對於日本史一知半解的我
也不過相對不好看而已
為了圓劇情，作者顯然只能是擁幕派
德川家是正義的一方啊
但沒性轉的慶喜公還是只能當討厭鬼XDD
後面的幾集性轉少了劇情也比較無趣
不過對於日本史一知半解的我
也不過相對不好看而已
為了圓劇情，作者顯然只能是擁幕派
德川家是正義的一方啊
但沒性轉的慶喜公還是只能當討厭鬼XDD
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2021
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
With this penultimate volume in the long running series, we see the Tokugawa Shogunate crumbling as vassals abandon Iemochi Tokugawa, beri beri deaths sweep Japan, Western forces exert influence, and powerful province leaders seek to make puppets of the Imperial family. Through it all, the Ooku itself begins to collapse as the leaders recognize the ascendance of Tokugawa Yoshinobu heralds the end of Ooku.Story: Iemochi is trying her best to keep Japan unified, out of civil war, and to ensure the lineage of the Shogunate. But at the young age of 20, she is crippled by a new disease in Japan: beri beri. She relies heavily on three good men: her faithful Tensho In, Ooku chamberlain Takiyama, and Baron Katsu, who heads the Japanese navy. Together, these men must counsel consort Kazu through her grief, deal with the vagaries of Yoshinobu (who they all detest), and try to uphold Iemochi's last wish to stabilize the Shogunate.
One of the greatest strengths of Ooku has always been that the story draws closely from actual history but creatively uses it in a fascinating alternate universe where women had power. In this volume, the effects of modernization takes a heavy toll on Japan when a new disease sweeps the country: beri beri. We know today that it was caused from shelling rice - an expensive and city-focused process that removed thiamin from the diet and caused debilitating results that often lead to death. The disease was a puzzle to the Japanese - why did the city folk suffer from it and the countryside population didn't? As well, the Japanese army was fed all the fancy white rice (hulled) they could eat and the result was catastrophic - nearly more soldiers died from beri beri than from an actual war. This new disease greatly affects our main characters in Ooku and how it affected the course of history.
Despite the Shogunate crumbling, author Yoshinaga focuses on the good men in the government. All three are very different (gentle Tensho In, fatalistic Takiyama, aggressive Katsu) but have some interesting common ground in their past. But all three see the writing on the wall and know they will not be able to keep Iemochi's wish to preserve the Shogunate.
There is one volume left of this wonderful series - mostly to follow Yoshinobu's mishandling of the Shogunate and the resulting Meiji restoration. Because there is so much actual history in the series, I greatly recommend having wikipedia handy - you'll marvel at how much is actual fact. I greatly look forward to the last volume and the completion of this exemplary series. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
October 29, 2023
After a few quiet volumes - which I took as a sign that the series was running out of steam- the author comes back with a vengeance and a heck of sucker punch.
This was excellent - a deft crescendo on the last few volumes which form this sad but lovely sequence in the end of the Shogunate.
I think I cried in almost every chapter of the volume. Beautifully characterization with some exceptional art panel. This has been one of my favourites in the latter half of the series.
I think - maybe? Who knows - this series has so many excellent arcs.
This was excellent - a deft crescendo on the last few volumes which form this sad but lovely sequence in the end of the Shogunate.
I think I cried in almost every chapter of the volume. Beautifully characterization with some exceptional art panel. This has been one of my favourites in the latter half of the series.
I think - maybe? Who knows - this series has so many excellent arcs.
February 3, 2024
Two major characters die and a new shogun makes a bad political move.
This volume proves what I've said about this series all along - happiness is fleeting. As soon as a character gets to a decent point, something bad is sure to come along and wreck it (or at least drastically change it). Prince Kazu has been a difficult-to-like person at times, but this one had me feeling for her. Takiyama's reaction to a requirement to change the clothing of the Inner Chamber men was priceless. I hope the next and final volume does this series proud.
This volume proves what I've said about this series all along - happiness is fleeting. As soon as a character gets to a decent point, something bad is sure to come along and wreck it (or at least drastically change it). Prince Kazu has been a difficult-to-like person at times, but this one had me feeling for her. Takiyama's reaction to a requirement to change the clothing of the Inner Chamber men was priceless. I hope the next and final volume does this series proud.
March 25, 2022
Super duper emotional, I was crying my eyeballs out during the first 3/4th of the manga, the rest was good too, shows flashbacks to Takiyama's past and how it relates to the now. Him being on the cover for this volume is most fitting. Can't wait for the final volume that has been set up nicely in this one!
January 23, 2023
It's the second to last volume, and a lot happens here. It's dramatic and sad, and I think it's a perfect set up so that the last volume can bring everything to a close. We've also moved entirely from the matriarchal culture Yoshinaga created for her alternate history to the much more familiar patriarchal one.
January 17, 2023
大政奉還。
日本史の授業で「江戸時代の終わり」としか思わなかった単語が、中身を持つ。
流石に登場人物は本来の性別の者が増え、男性が増えてきてる。女性が権力の座にいると、物語として凄く面白いのに、男性中心になると教科書の内容をトレースしてるだけに感じてしまう不思議。(フィクション要素が薄くなるからだろうが)
それにしても、優秀な権力者は薄明だ...
そして和宮がキャラとしてここまで素敵になろうとは思わなかった。
日本史の授業で「江戸時代の終わり」としか思わなかった単語が、中身を持つ。
流石に登場人物は本来の性別の者が増え、男性が増えてきてる。女性が権力の座にいると、物語として凄く面白いのに、男性中心になると教科書の内容をトレースしてるだけに感じてしまう不思議。(フィクション要素が薄くなるからだろうが)
それにしても、優秀な権力者は薄明だ...
そして和宮がキャラとしてここまで素敵になろうとは思わなかった。
September 30, 2024
Since this is the last book in a series, I'd rather not leave any comments that could spoil what happens in this volume. What I can say is that it's building up to a very fitting and satisfying ending!
September 3, 2021
the cinnamon roll truly was too pure for this world 😔 found this volume a lot less engaging with iemochi gone
3 stars
3 stars
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December 25, 2022離上一集太久忘掉大半，還好看了回顧又想起一些，下一集就要完結了，德川家會如何呢。所謂活著，就是一次次與珍愛的人告別。
July 3, 2024
Interesting world.
July 20, 2021
Political intrigue to the max! With such pretty and (some) earnest characters!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews