Customer Reviews

Ôoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I came to like Fumi Yoshinaga's stories due to her excellent story-telling abilities and yaoi content. But her art is typically considered so-so by many readers. However, the art in this book came as an unexpected delight. Her artwork in this book REALLY improved as compared to all her earlier works I'm aware of (The Moon and the Sandals, Antique Bakery, Truly Kindly, Gerard and Jacques, etc). It is more refined, less "stylized", not sketchy at all, and most of her men look genuinely pretty and pleasing to an eye. Yet, it's still a distinct "Fumi Yoshinaga", just more carefully drawn and aesthetic. The quality of this English localization is absolutely gorgeous too. This is the first VIZ Signature manga I bought, and three (!) color inserts, well-designed cover with "semi-dust jacket", thick paper, careful lettering and inking... well, that was all very surprising, so much unlike DMP, Kitty, Go! Comi or Tokyopop, or any other US manga publisher I know of, and at a such reasonable price! Archaic English used throughout the book is somewhat annoying, at least at first. But give it a try, after the first 20 pages or so, I got used to it, and it didn't bother me that much.

This is NOT YAOI, and really not even a BL/shounen-ai, though there are some mild BL scenes (e.g., one of the main male characters is kissing another young man, there's an attempted man/man rape scene, and implied male same-sex relationship between some of the Inner Chambers' inhabitants (though nothing is shown on that)). Surprisingly, no lesbian pairings are shown or even implied, which I find somewhat unrealistic: with the population being 75% female, I think such relationships are to be expected. I hope it might be shown in further volumes. There are also a few very non-explicit heterosexual implied-sex scenes between a female shogun and her harem men. The book got its mature / 18+ ratings not because of "sexual situations" as the publisher claims, but probably because of its mature themes that would appeal to more grown-up audiences. It's NOT a sword-battling fantasy / adventure full of dragons, angels or world saviors (though there are some interesting sword fights between samurai shown), but a thought-provoking, groundbreaking and possibly quite philosophical work.

All traditional Japanese shogunate era (or just traditional overall) female/male roles are reversed in the story. Because males are so rare (see product description above, most died off because of a mysterious epidemic), they are treated as frail and beautiful "flowers", to be guarded and protected by strong and stern women. However, women are still truly feminine in the book, just a lot of societal stereotypes of how women *should* behave were removed: women are often warriors, or skillful and wise politicians in that alternative-history Edo Japan, but still loving and respectful towards their husbands, eager to bear and have children. While reading this book, I was amazed how realistic it all felt: that's how Edo Japan could have possibly been if such male/female imbalance had indeed happened. The character of the female shogun is interesting and intriguing. Just as a wise male shogun with samurai spirit and principles would behave, she doesn't like any excesses, doesn't care about appearances, yet quite "lustful" and eager to have "surprise" and rough sex with her male concubines. As any wise and highly principled ruler (i.e., unattainable ideal of that era), she does not go for young and good-looking (they are too expensive to up-keep, male concubines just love dressing up in all those bright "peacock" colors and expensive silks...and our shogun cares a lot about saving state money), besides, she's "virile" and "potent" enough to have a "quickie" with not-so-good-looking and older males ("a man is a man" philosophy, just the reverse of "any female would do" stereotype common for the image of a truly "virile" man...) Of course, when men are doing that type of thing in this book, it's often done for money or connections, and they're often viewed as "shameful" or "whores" by others / themselves...do you see any similarities? Yep, the true history, just with gender roles reversed...

I'm very looking forward to Ooku: The Inner Chambers, Volume 2, scheduled to appear in December this year. Four volumes have been already published in Japan, and it seems that the series is still on-going.

This is the book that could have been written and fully appreciated / understood only in the 21st century, after all the gender equality achievements and reconsideration of women's role in society. The story is most likely to appeal to mature female readers, though my hope is that some male readers read and like it too. It's unique and so beyond regular manga fare. Probably, a book of the year for me, and highly recommended!

I love Fumi Yoshinaga's work and she always suprises me. I did not like the first manga of her that I read, Gerard & Jacques, for that reason I stayed a long time away from her works. Antique Bakery was so praised that I forced myself to read it and fell in love. After I got Flower of Life and I was fully convinced that she was one of the top manga-kas of her generation. I was very eager to read Ooku, and every nomination this work received increased my curiosity. I was very happy when VIZ announced this title.

Ooku impressed me with the mature, beautiful and neat art style. The story was really interesting, mixing history and gender discussions, the main character, Mizuno, is kind and ambitious, although a little naïve, and I felt very interest to know if he would succeed in his career at the inner chamber. For that who do not know, the inner chamber is the shogun seraglio, in a Japan where most of the man, specially the young, died in reason of a strange disease, the red pox. Women took the power and men are an expensive delicacy and necessary source of seed. Mizuno used to bed with women who wanted child for free. Only the most powerful and rich families can afford a husband, and only the shogun can have so many.

I don't know if Yoshinaga will mix real Japanese history in her series, like the contact with other countries. Does the disease affected other places or is a Japanese plague? I can hardly wait for the next volume. Ah, one problem for me, VIZ was very careful and the text is almost in archaic English. It's difficult for a foreigner - I'm Brazilian - to read it as fast as if it was in current English, but this choice give to Ooku a more elegant face. Really nice peace of work.

Ooku tells a brilliant story set to the backdrop of a diseased Feudal Japan. It has beautiful artwork and lifelike characters and my favorite has to be Yoshimune, the strong female shogunate. She is a true feminist, and it shows by how she believes that women are just as capable as men. She has a fierce look to her eye, and it appeals to many fans of Ooku.

My only negative comment is that the translators decided to stick with the old Shakespearean way of talking. So, rather than hearing (or reading) a normal manga, you are reading something as though it was taking words from Romeo and Juliet (forsooth, thou, e'er...). It starts out very tiresome, but it starts to flow beautifully, adding more character as the manga unfolds.

I'm no expert on manga, but this really is a great series, even if you're not up for a historical tale. It's like a manga never before read. Absolutely astounding...

This sophisticated title truly elevates the manga form to the level of fine art. In a thoughtful, quirky and delightful twist on the "gender-bending" so popular in Japanese theater and literature, this elegantly drawn mirror-Edo is internally consistent and compelling.

"Yoshimune" ROCKS the role of the female Shogun, and the more you know of the historical times and people being "mirrored" here, the more fun this book will be for you. Sumptuous entertainment for the historically minded Japanophile.

I've been a fan of manga for most of my life, and have read various different series of all genres. But of all of them, Ôoku: The Inner Chambers is the best in quality and in entertainment value. It's easy to tell that the series actively tries to be historically accurate, and tell an original story at the same time. The Early Modern English and lack of any unneeded comedy or outrageous scenes that almost all other manga use really makes me respect the author and translators of this series. It doesn't try to be 'something for everybody', or fit to any expected norms. It has its own, clear objectives and more than succeeds in them.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who respects and wants respect from their entertainment.

This book won the James Tiptree Award for exploration of gender issues. The first graphic novel to win the prize. It's great for a non-Japanese like myself to have a glimpse of the Japanese life. I am getting vol. 2 of the novel because this first one is so interesting. No spoilers here. Read it for yourself and enjoy.

On the whole I liked the story.

What I didn't particularly care for was the choice to translate the Japanese into *old* English. I think that the dialogue would have flowed much better in modern English.

I've read novels like Musashi, Taiko, and Vagabond which were set in feudal Japan and none of them used "'tis," "thee," "doth," "prithee," etc and they fit the time just fine.

With Ooku, I found myself sort of skimming the dialogue because I found it too painful to read. I got the gist, but I would have liked to have enjoyed it more.

I've read novels written in old English and I've enjoyed them immensely. Unfortunately, just not this one =\

I like the story, but the English translation reads like a Shakespearean play, and not in a good way, in a "trying too hard" sort of way. Words like "victuals" and "wherefore" are not necessary to convey that this is set in an ancient setting. Their clothing and mannerisms convey all of that. I'm not saying to make them sound like they're from the modern world, but tone down the Olde English crap.

FUMI YOSHINAGA IS THE REASON I STARTED READING MANGA."GERARD AND JAQUES" WAS THE FIRST, AND WHILE SOME OF THE STORY CONTENT WAS OFF PUTTING TO ME I REALLY WAS DRAWN TO THE ART WORK. I'VE SINCE BOUGHT AN OVER FLOWING BOOK SHELF FULL OF ASSORTED MANGA. I BELIEVE FUMI YOSHINAGA TO BE ONE OF THE BEST ARTISTS AND "OOKU" DOES NOT LEAVE ONE UNHAPPY.
I REALLY ENJOY HISTORICAL ROMANCES AND AND IN MY MIND "OOKU"IS PLACED IN THAT CATAGORY.BUT IT HAS PLENTY OF HUMOR AND AND THE "NEW" SHOGUN WHO COMES ON BOARD IS A GREAT CHARACTER.SHE IS THERE TO TIGHTEN THE PURSE STRINGS OF THE COUNTRY AND IS QUITE A "PENNY PINCHER". SHE IS ALSO VERY LUSTY AND DRAGS MEN INTO THE BUSHES TO HAVE HER WAY WITH THEM.I FIND THIS CONTRAST VERY FUNNY.
ALL THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE INTRODUCED FROM THE NAIVE YOUNG "STUD" TO THE SHOGUNS "RIGHT HAND MAN"/FRIEND TO THE "DOWN AND OUT" MAN WHO WAS USED BY HIS FAMILY AND SET ASIDE BY HIS WIFE ARE A GREAT SLICE OF HUMANITY YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT.

The characters speak with a kind of Shakespearean inflection. It is ridiculous that people in Medieval Japan would be using Early Modern English.