You don't need a history PhD for this one.
Summary:
- Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is Netflix's 2023 historical fantasy series.
- It is set during the Edo period of Japanese history.
- It will help to have some basic history knowledge, but it's not necessary.
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is a historical fantasy series by Studio Deen, based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga. All 10 episodes of the anime aired on Netflix on June 29, 2023.
The series is set during the Edo period of Japan. As a result of the rapid decline in the male population, the world is dominated by women. Still, there are men serving in the first female shogun's Inner Chambers.
Great Anime, Faithful Adaptation
Ōoku scored 7.44 on MyAnimeList, which is a pretty solid score. Fans praised the series for the engaging story and diverse characters, each of whom could surprise you with their intricate personalities and clear motivations.
The anime was a faithful adaptation of the manga, but didn't finish the story of the original source. There is no information about a possible sequel, so we don't know if we'll ever see how the story progresses.
History Knowledge Isn't a Must
Since Ōoku is set during a real life period, a number of fans were worried that they would need to have some knowledge of Japanese history. The series traces some real events that happened during the Edo period, but tells them in a different way.
The original manga expects readers to know at least some basic things about this period in Japanese history, so it will definitely be nice to know at least a few historic events. It'll help you to get into the story faster and understand everything better.
However, if history has never been your cup of tea, you don't have to spend a week researching it before watching the anime. Just pay attention and listen to what the characters are saying and you'll be just fine.
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The series does deal with some politics, that's true, but it explains just the right amount of it, so you'll only need to have some basic knowledge to truly enjoy it.
Ōoku received praise from both teams: fans who knew a lot about the Edo period and those who only heard the name somewhere. Everyone can love the series, no matter what their cultural background is.
But get ready, because if you've never read anything about Japanese history, there's a good chance that Ōoku will be the anime to make you interested in it. It may force you to spend a couple of evenings reading about shoguns and the Edo period, but trust us, you're going to love it.