Season 1 • Episode 10
LatestDuring the reign of the shogun, Iemitsu, an epidemic causes the population of men to greatly drop, leading to an ooku where the role of men and women are reversed. Thus, “the women become the shogun, served by 3000 handsome men”
Production
Ooku set construction is obsessively detailed and immersive
Costume
Male concubine fashion reinvents Edo aesthetics deliciously
Acting
Sakai's restrained vulnerability anchors the reversed power dynamic
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Fumi Yoshinaga's manga, which reimagines actual Tokugawa history — the real Iemitsu was male, making this speculative fiction hit differently.
The 3000 men figure matches historical ooku female numbers; the production consulted historians to ensure reversed rituals felt authentic rather than parody.
JP
