Ôoku: The Inner Chambers

Original title: Ôoku

TV Series
2023–
TV-MA
30m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Red 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.

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Anime Dark Fantasy Period Drama Shōjo Animation Drama Fantasy Romance

In an alternate history where the male population is nearly decimated, eligible men serve as concubines to the woman shogun inside the walls of the Ooku.In an alternate history where the male population is nearly decimated, eligible men serve as concubines to the woman shogun inside the walls of the Ooku.In an alternate history where the male population is nearly decimated, eligible men serve as concubines to the woman shogun inside the walls of the Ooku.

Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Episodes10

Browse episodes

TopTop-rated 1 Season 2023

Trivia
Based on an alternate history manga series written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga. It was serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine Melody from June 2004 to December 2020, with its chapters collected in 19 tankobon volumes.

Connections
Remake of The Lady Shogun and Her Men (2010)

User reviews11

Review

Featured review

9/10

Unique!

I'm a sucker for well-made alternate histories. This one makes the grade.

It's the Edo period in Japan. A mysterious plague decimates the male population. Women take over running the country. The plague's impact extends to the Shogun's household where there now is a male harem-the Ooku of the title-in attendance to the female Shogun. Palace intrigue ensues.

Based on just this outline you might think this was going to be just another harem-heavy comedy with fan service, adolescent jokes, and stale rom-com situations.

You would be mistaken. This series is actually an extended and sophisticated exploration of a range of serious themes such as gender identity, role reversal, sexual politics, and economic discrimination. If you like serious themes uniquely addressed, you should check this one out.