Ōoku: The Inner Chambers

Synopsis

In the wake of a long-foretold prophecy, Edo-period Japan endures with resilience and pride. The new shogun, Yoshimune "Nobu" Tokugawa, struggles with customs she finds outdated and impractical. A devastating plague has reduced the male population to just one-fifth of the total. Despite this, three thousand youthful, athletic, and attractive men still serve in the Ōoku, the shogun's Inner Chambers. Seeking to understand the origins of the current societal structure, where women lead families and govern the nation, Nobu examines historical records detailing the peculiar illness. Social norms and traditions have evolved to adapt to the epidemic, forming the foundation of modern society and revealing the difficult history of the first female shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa. These changes are especially tied to the fate of a young monk named Arikoto Madenokoji, who was forced to abandon his spiritual path and dedicate himself to the shogun and her Ōoku.

Background

Oooku was released on Blu-ray as a two-disc set by Netflix on July 20, 2023. The anime adapts the first 15 chapters of the manga.