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mlindner's review
4.0
Found on DPL's shelves when I went to pick up my holds on A Bride's Story 2 and 3.
http://marklindner.info/blog/2015/01/09/yoshinaga-ooku1/
http://marklindner.info/blog/2015/01/09/yoshinaga-ooku1/
ladydewinter's review
5.0
This was just fantastic. I ordered it mostly because I was curious, and because I figured I couldn't really go wrong with Fumi Yoshinaga, and I was right. I hesitated reading it because I expected it to be rather dark, but it wasn't like that at all. I love the premise of this, and she does wonders with it. I can't wait to read more.
juliemawesome's review
5.0
I read this because it made the Tiptree Award list this year. I really enjoyed it. It's an alternate history of Japan in which a plague has wiped out most of the men. At first, it was reminding me of A Brother's Price by Wen Spencer.
Then we get to the "inner chamber" of the shogun. Traditionally, this was full of women. But because of this alternate history, it's full of men. Really greedy of the ruler to keep all of these men just for herself, when they could be out reproducing. Men are still in scarce supply.
There are all these rules, and customs, and traditions of the inner chamber that we slowly learn about. Even as the main character in this volume is learning about them, being a new arrival to it himself. There are different levels of men and it can all get rather confusing if you don't pay close attention.
The one negative comment I do have to say about it is that I felt like some of the rules were being contradicted in later chapter by different rules. Which is a problem I've seen in other manga. It may be a result of the serial nature of most manga. The author thinks of some cool thing to add and doesn't care or doesn't remember what's gone before that might not match up with the new idea. And of course that earlier bit has been published, so it's a little too late to revise it.
So, I don't know. We'll see if the further volumes make other bits make more sense, or if it brings up new problems for me.
It did convince me that I want to read other things by this mangaka.
Then we get to the "inner chamber" of the shogun. Traditionally, this was full of women. But because of this alternate history, it's full of men. Really greedy of the ruler to keep all of these men just for herself, when they could be out reproducing. Men are still in scarce supply.
There are all these rules, and customs, and traditions of the inner chamber that we slowly learn about. Even as the main character in this volume is learning about them, being a new arrival to it himself. There are different levels of men and it can all get rather confusing if you don't pay close attention.
The one negative comment I do have to say about it is that I felt like some of the rules were being contradicted in later chapter by different rules. Which is a problem I've seen in other manga. It may be a result of the serial nature of most manga. The author thinks of some cool thing to add and doesn't care or doesn't remember what's gone before that might not match up with the new idea. And of course that earlier bit has been published, so it's a little too late to revise it.
So, I don't know. We'll see if the further volumes make other bits make more sense, or if it brings up new problems for me.
It did convince me that I want to read other things by this mangaka.
dosymedia's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
On PG 170 an ableist slur for nonvocal people is used. It's unclear if this is meant to be a double entendre regarding the character's secrecy and intelligence, but it occurs within a conversation where this character communicates that they can keep mum on their conversations with the shogun. I'm also not into the use of older English here, the many "thou"s and "wherefore"s and such feel unnecessary, but perhaps that is the most direct translation of the original text.
Otherwise, loved this!! I'm not familiar with this part of Japanese culture or history, so all of the detail pertaining to the social customs and the ways in which those customs changed because of the new demographics was really interesting and I loved all of the scheming that occurred, especially when it enfolded the laws of the inner chambers.
Otherwise, loved this!! I'm not familiar with this part of Japanese culture or history, so all of the detail pertaining to the social customs and the ways in which those customs changed because of the new demographics was really interesting and I loved all of the scheming that occurred, especially when it enfolded the laws of the inner chambers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Ableism
quinnster's review
5.0
At first glance this is very similar to Y: The Last Man and while I did enjoy those, Ōoku is telling a story much more intriguing to me. I think maybe because it is written by a female we're missing those moments of annoying sexism that were pretty prevalent in Y: The Last Man. Also, in Y the decimation of the male population is much more present. Here, we're 80 years past the first case in a time when some people don't even remember when there were just as many men as women. So we're focused less on why this has happened and more so on 'now what?'.
I really enjoy Fumi Yoshigana's art and storytelling. While this is much more serious than Antique Bakery (my only other exposure to Yoshigana's work) she still inserts small moments of humor into the panels to break up the tension. She's written something much more complicated and revealing than I expected.
The story begins with the introduction of the Redface Pox and it's devastating effects. Shorty thereafter we skip ahead 80 years and get a glimpse of life as it stands with women in power and carrying the burdens of a country reinvented. Yunoshin is a handsome man who has very little care until his mother arranges for him a fortunate marriage. Instead he offers to put himself in service to the Shogun at the Ōoku. Once there he learns quickly that living with only men has its downsides.
When the young Shogun dies a newer, more experienced and shrewd Shogun steps into her place and she has big plans for turning everything around. She is smart and no-nonsense, yet she is compassionate and caring in her dealings with the men in her employ. She has suspicions of the state of affairs in her country and she intends to get to the bottom of everything.
So you have some romance and some political intrigue all wrapped up with some gorgeous art!
I really enjoy Fumi Yoshigana's art and storytelling. While this is much more serious than Antique Bakery (my only other exposure to Yoshigana's work) she still inserts small moments of humor into the panels to break up the tension. She's written something much more complicated and revealing than I expected.
The story begins with the introduction of the Redface Pox and it's devastating effects. Shorty thereafter we skip ahead 80 years and get a glimpse of life as it stands with women in power and carrying the burdens of a country reinvented. Yunoshin is a handsome man who has very little care until his mother arranges for him a fortunate marriage. Instead he offers to put himself in service to the Shogun at the Ōoku. Once there he learns quickly that living with only men has its downsides.
When the young Shogun dies a newer, more experienced and shrewd Shogun steps into her place and she has big plans for turning everything around. She is smart and no-nonsense, yet she is compassionate and caring in her dealings with the men in her employ. She has suspicions of the state of affairs in her country and she intends to get to the bottom of everything.
So you have some romance and some political intrigue all wrapped up with some gorgeous art!
ellsbeth's review
4.0
This story is a fascinating way to examine gender roles. It is also an interesting way to consider Japanese culture and politics in the Tokugawa era.
amanda28's review
5.0
First manga I’ve ever read, the storyline was interesting and the shogun is the fiercest character!
shunsetsu's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0