SEAN: We have a wealth of choices this week. I could pick the much requested Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle, as the resident light novel person. There’s My Wandering Warrior Existence, the latest from Nagata Kabi. But I think I’ll pick something away from my tastes with Orochi: The Perfect Edition, which is from 1969 (a rarity in licenses these days) and was licensed pre-,manga boom and dropped, but is now being released again (also a rarity). It looks scary as hell. MICHELLE: I’m taking my final chance to pick Fumi Yoshinaga’s epic Ōoku: The Inner Chambers. Though it’s been repeatedly heartbreaking to fall in love with various characters along the way, only to have them meet their cruel fate one way or another, it’s also been wholly fascinating...
Mar 14, 2022 • Subscribe
More like this
Ooku: The Inner Chambers
A full review of the anime series now streaming on Netflix
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers
Ooku's character writing, story, and themes interweave together, forming a beautiful and troubling tapestry, but it's actively hindered by its mediocre-at-best visual production.
Pick of the Week: Farewell, Alpha
SEAN: My pick this week is the final volume of Yokohama Kaidachi Kikou, a series that I never thought would get licensed and I am delighted that it…
Anime Like Ooku: The Inner Chambers
In the Edo period of Japan, a strange disease started in the mountains and rapidly spread across the country. This version of small pox, named the Redface
Tree in the Sun, House of Five Leaves, Hyouge Mono, Otogi Zoshi: The Legend of Magatama, Raven of the Inner Palace
Josei January: Ooku: The Inner Chambers
Welcome to the third entry into Josei January. While the title is rather self explanatory, do bear with me here. If you’re unsure of what exactly “josei” is…
Ooku: The Inner Chambers Review — B+
Most of the men are dying of a horrible disease. The shogun becomes a women and her harem is a harem of men.
First Impression: Ooku: The Inner Chambers
It is the era of the shoguns and a mysterious plague spreads through the land, killing off eight in every ten men. Within eighty years, the demography, labor…
511 – Ooku: The Inner Chambers part 1
Welcome to our long awaited Retrospective on Ooku: The Inner Chambers! We're starting our full review of Fumi Yoshinaga's alternate Japanese history manga where the Edo era shoguns…
520 – Ooku: The Inner Chambers part 6
Join us, as we finish our Ooku: The Inner Chambers Retrospective this episode! We discuss the final volumes, reflect on the whole series, and even rank all the…
513 – Ooku: The Inner Chambers part 3
On this episode we talk about anime remakes, Isekai Mou Kaeritai, Kufuku na Bokura, and more! Then we continue to trek into Fumi Yoshinaga's Ooku: The Inner Chambers…
518 – Ooku: The Inner Chambers part 4
On this episode we return to the world of Fumi Yoshinaga's Ooku: The Inner Chambers! We discuss the end of the Redface Pox vaccination arc! We also talk…
519 – Ooku: The Inner Chambers part 5
This week we discuss Ex.Mag Volume V: Bloodsucker, Punisher Max, Death Stranding 2, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, and more! Then we prepare for the beginning of the…
Ooku: The Inner Chambers – A Prologue To Larger Societal Issues
Too Many Podcasts and Netflix Surprises I listen to too many podcasts and know even a little bit about this series. My small amount of knowledge comes from…
This Week in Anime - An Alternate History in Ōoku: The Inner Chambers
Join Steve and Nicky this week as they explore Ōoku's alternate take on history where a female-led Shogun rules over Feudal Japan, accompanied by a harem of men…
Pick of the Week: Transformative Pick
SEAN: It’s a relatively quiet week this week, and none of the debuts interest me (Shaman King’s been delayed anyway). As such, I’ll be picking the 2nd volume…
Pick of the Week: Jump to the Beat
SEAN: It’s Jump/Beat week, so we have an embarrassment of titles. I’ll pick the final Anonymous Noise, which is not quite as gripping now that it’s not showing…
Pick of the Week: Pick of the Seven Days
MICHELLE: Confident that Melinda will choose Seven Days, I’ll instead cast my vote for the fifth volume of Farewell, My Dear Cramer. The best part about any sports…
Pick of the Week: Listen to Our Picks
MICHELLE: I’m looking forward to getting caught up on Wave, Listen to Me! and Haikyu!! and Spy x Family are extremely high on my list of favorites, but…
Skip Beat!, Wave, Listen to Me!, March Comes in Like a Lion, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
Pick of the Week: It’s Up to You
KATE: I suspect everyone on the Manga Bookshelf crew will give a shout-out to New York, New York–I mean, Manga Bookshelf’s most beloved feature was our Banana Fish…
Pick of the Week: We Pick the Riot
MICHELLE: I mean, it’s gotta be Boys Run the Riot. Bonus points for a new volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday, though! SEAN: First of all, an…
Pick of the Week: Househusbands
SEAN: This week I’m torn between small children and yakuza husbands, so my pick is split between the 5th Ascendance of a Bookworm light novel and the second…
Pick of the Week: No Skipping Pick Day
KATE: I only have eyes for one series this week: the delightful Skip and Loafer, a manga that portrays the inner life of a Serious Girl with humor…
Pick of the Week: Pick It Again, Nakamura!!
SEAN: July 4th is always rough for me, as I live next to neighbors who love to shoot off fireworks and I have dogs. So I need comfort…
Pick of the Week: Skipping This Week
SEAN: My eyes this week are on Skip and Loafer, a Seven Seas title about a “country bumpkin” moving to the city that has me just with its…
My Taste is Better Than Yours Episode 16 – Oooku (Ooku: The Inner Chambers)
This series is definitely not a mass-produced model.
Pick of the Week: A Pick for All Seasons
ASH: The releases this week seem to have a bit more variety to them than some weeks bring, but maybe that's just because I'm paying closer attention. And…
Pick of the Week: Mermaid Josei
SEAN: Josei? From a magazine we almost never see anything licensed from? Complete in one volume? Sold! Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand also looks quite pretty,…
Pick of the Week: Picks Galore
KATE: Holy smokes–that’s a lot of good manga heading our way this week! I’d be hard-pressed to limit my pick of the week to just two titles, let…
Pick of the Week: Finding Gems
SEAN: There’s no new manga titles that really call out to me, and while I am interested in These Legs Don’t Lie!, that borderline H cover makes me…
Pick of the Week: Asadorable Manga
SEAN: Naoki Urasawa tends to be one of those authors I know I should get into but I never really have for various reasons, but let’s face it,…
Pick of the Week: Heroine Addiction
SEAN: Despite the fact that I suspect this will be one of THOSE types of shoujo stories (see also: Hot Gimmick and its ilk), I cannot resist those…
Pick of the Week: Lucky Manga
MICHELLE: I’m happy to get more of Ace of the Diamond and Giant Killing, two long-running sports favorites of mine, but last week my love for Spy x…
Ace of the Diamond, Giant Killing, Holmes of Kyoto, Skip Beat!
Pick of the Week: Traveling Manga
SEAN: I am torn between two manga with really nice art this week. Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie and Heterogenia Linguistico both make me want to judge books…
Pick of the Week: Double Vision
SEAN: I realize that it’s offering comfort to the enemy, but I have to admit, the title that attracts me most this week is Double, from Tokyopop, those…
Pick of the Week: As Expected
SEAN: A lot of diverse choices this week. The “prestige” title is clearly Downfall, but let’s face it it’s far too bleak for me. Instead, to no one’s…
Pick of the Week: I Spy
MICHELLE: I suspect this’ll be another of those weeks where most or all of us say the same thing. So, before I get to the inevitable, I’ll also…
Pick of the Week: Quality Assortment
KATE: I think the best way to describe this week’s new arrivals is A Whole Lot of Stuff I’m Unlikely to Read. I will cop to being interested…
Pick of the Week: Mostly Fish
SEAN: Honestly, the title I'm most interested in this week is Fish Society, despite the fact that I'm 99% sure that once I pick it Ed will tell…
Pick of the Week: Sweet Picks
SEAN: I've been enjoying the Dahlia in Bloom series since it began, and Lucia has been an excellent recent addition to the cast. As such, I'm making Lucia…
Pick of the Week: White Roses
SEAN: It’s an embarrassment of riches the first week of 2021. There’s the new Ascendance of a Bookworm novel, the new Sweat and Soap, and any number of…
Pick of the Week: Otonari Complex
MICHELLE: Otonari Complex for sure. True, the premise of a couple with confusing gender presentations is not new, but I haven't personally read one in ages. Also, Makoto…
Pick of the Week: Modern Dracula
MICHELLE: It's absolutely Glitch for me this week. Siblings investigating a weird town would be enough on its own even without the goodwill Lost Lad London engendered, honestly,…
Pick of the Week: Midsummer Manga
MICHELLE: I don't know how I could resist Steampunk BL from the author of Guardian! It's Stars of Chaos for me this week. SEAN: I'll read Guardian, but…
Pick of the Week: Burning Bright
KATE: I was going to be a party-pooper and opt out of this week's column, but then I read the blurb for Tiger, Tiger and I was sold.…
Pick of the Week: Atomic Devastation
KATE: Though this is a lighter week than usual, I found two titles on the list that piqued my interest. The first is Maiden's Bookshelf: The Moon Over…
Pick of the Week: Valentine Manga
MICHELLE: There are several interesting releases this week about boys in love. I honestly kind of wish I could pick Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben, because a…
Pick of the Week: Trillion Game
SEAN: There are a pile of titles that I'm interested in this week, including some shoujo stuff that sounds old school (as I joked in manga the Week…
Pick of the Week: Atomic Devastation
KATE: Though this is a lighter week than usual, I found two titles on the list that piqued my interest. The first is Maiden’s Bookshelf: The Moon Over…
Pick of the Week: BL Unanimity
SEAN: Another week, another pick that’s blindingly obvious. I admit I am interested in Yen On’s new title, but clearly the choice is BL Metamorphosis, which seems to…
Pick of the Week: Keep Smiling
SEAN: If Kodansha thinks they can trick me into picking them every week just by putting out some really interesting josei titles… well, they’re probably right. The most…