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beththebookdragon's review
4.0
Excellent alternate-history of Japan as a country where the male population has been cut down to 1/2 of the female population. Women do all the work and hold nearly all the significant roles...except for the powerful men of the Ooku, or inner chamber (think 'male harem').
This is not 'just another gender-reversal story'--it's thoroughly set in early 1800s Japan (with plenty of historical and cultural detail) and the intrigue has some originality to it (though one can't escape the 'jealous rival' trope). The shogun who becomes a major character in the second half of the book has a unique and likeable personality--she's not merely a generic "strong woman." Some of the male characters have surprises up their elegant silk sleeves as well.
The artwork is exquisitely detailed: costumes, faces, backgrounds and hairstyles are all elegant and nearly photorealistic in detail. It's a bit hard to tell some of the younger male characters apart (typical of Yoshinaga) but other than that the art is pure joy for historical-manga fans.
Overall, I think this is some of Yoshinaga's best work--certainly her most 'serious'--and I've read about 2/3 of her published manga plus some doujinshi.
This is not 'just another gender-reversal story'--it's thoroughly set in early 1800s Japan (with plenty of historical and cultural detail) and the intrigue has some originality to it (though one can't escape the 'jealous rival' trope). The shogun who becomes a major character in the second half of the book has a unique and likeable personality--she's not merely a generic "strong woman." Some of the male characters have surprises up their elegant silk sleeves as well.
The artwork is exquisitely detailed: costumes, faces, backgrounds and hairstyles are all elegant and nearly photorealistic in detail. It's a bit hard to tell some of the younger male characters apart (typical of Yoshinaga) but other than that the art is pure joy for historical-manga fans.
Overall, I think this is some of Yoshinaga's best work--certainly her most 'serious'--and I've read about 2/3 of her published manga plus some doujinshi.
jackwatt's review
4.0
This is alternative historical fiction of the Edo period where 75% of the men catch a smallpox-like disease and die. The author does a good job of exploring sex and gender in a society under populated with men.
It's an interesting concept and well told. I can't say I enjoy the style of English used, as if the book were translated in the 1700s. I'd probably give 5 stars if the author found a way to communicate the formal style of writing of that time without all of the wherefores, doths, in'ts, etc.
It's an interesting concept and well told. I can't say I enjoy the style of English used, as if the book were translated in the 1700s. I'd probably give 5 stars if the author found a way to communicate the formal style of writing of that time without all of the wherefores, doths, in'ts, etc.
debthebookworm's review
4.0
A very interesting story! I hope we get to see more of Mizuno, but I can't wait to hear more about what Yoshimune finds out!
directorpurry's review
5.0
Cw: attempted sexual assault
Because I love this series so much, I find it difficult to write a review for it. Ōoku is an alternate history of Japan where 3/4 of the male population were wiped out due to a pox-like plague. Despite the shortage of men, hundreds of men live in the inner chambers of the palace, to please the shogun. Traditionally male and female roles of the 1700s in Japan are now flipped in society, leaving this place with female shoguns, tradesmen, and heads of family.
There's a lot of interesting experimentation in this story with masculine and feminine roles, with the remnants of society before the loss of population clearly playing a role. It's difficult to describe without spoiling too much but I find this version of society so interesting and believable that I'm always invested every time I read this series.
Because I love this series so much, I find it difficult to write a review for it. Ōoku is an alternate history of Japan where 3/4 of the male population were wiped out due to a pox-like plague. Despite the shortage of men, hundreds of men live in the inner chambers of the palace, to please the shogun. Traditionally male and female roles of the 1700s in Japan are now flipped in society, leaving this place with female shoguns, tradesmen, and heads of family.
There's a lot of interesting experimentation in this story with masculine and feminine roles, with the remnants of society before the loss of population clearly playing a role. It's difficult to describe without spoiling too much but I find this version of society so interesting and believable that I'm always invested every time I read this series.
nwhyte's review
4.0
It is an alternate history, set in a world where a gender-sensitive plague killed most of Japan's menfolk in the mid-17th century; the story itself is set a couple of generations later, in the early 18th century, in an era when men are prized as potential breeding stock but excluded from the levers of formal power. The first three of four issues collected here follow the story of Mizuno Yunoshin, a poor but good-looking boy who joins the Ōoku, essentially the harem of the shōgun, at a time of political change. (The fourth issue has the new shōgun looking into the archives and presumably setting up a framing narrative for historical flashbacks the next volume.)
It's a fascinating construction. This is a path that a couple of other writershave previously trodden, most notably John Wyndham in his story "Consider Her Ways" (where all men, rather than most, have become extinct). Apart from the information that men now become commodities to be traded on the marriage market, and that the plague has not affected other countries, most of this first volume simply looks at the inversion of gender relationships as applied to the shōgun's ōoku in our world. There's an extraordinary moment when the shōgun speaks to a visiting Dutch delegation from behind a curtain, so that they will not realise that she is a woman; and she then commands a historical exploration of why patriarchal nomenclature continues to be used. Indeed, although Mizuno Yonushin is the ostensible viewpoint figure of the first three issues, I found the new shōgun, Yoshitsune, much the most interesting character.
Anyway, I shall try and get hold of the remaining volumes - I see that the next three are available in English translation. Good for the Tiptree Award, for calling attention to fascinating works like this one.
It's a fascinating construction. This is a path that a couple of other writershave previously trodden, most notably John Wyndham in his story "Consider Her Ways" (where all men, rather than most, have become extinct). Apart from the information that men now become commodities to be traded on the marriage market, and that the plague has not affected other countries, most of this first volume simply looks at the inversion of gender relationships as applied to the shōgun's ōoku in our world. There's an extraordinary moment when the shōgun speaks to a visiting Dutch delegation from behind a curtain, so that they will not realise that she is a woman; and she then commands a historical exploration of why patriarchal nomenclature continues to be used. Indeed, although Mizuno Yonushin is the ostensible viewpoint figure of the first three issues, I found the new shōgun, Yoshitsune, much the most interesting character.
Anyway, I shall try and get hold of the remaining volumes - I see that the next three are available in English translation. Good for the Tiptree Award, for calling attention to fascinating works like this one.
schomj's review
4.0
Beautiful art, interesting story, and a happy ending for one of my favorite characters. Yay!
paladinboy's review
5.0
This needs to be a live action GoT-like series. I'll be buying the rest of these. Great art, great story with heart.
shanbear16's review
5.0
This first volume is absolutely fantastic. The artwork is amazing and the story is interesting and gripping. I loved the alternate history with women being in power. The characters and setting are rich and fully brought to life so it makes you almost believe that this really could have been Japan's history.