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Ōoku: The Inner Chambers Alternate History Manga Enters Final Arc

The June issue of Hakusensha's Melody magazine revealed on Tuesday that Fumi Yoshinaga's Ōoku: The Inner Chambers manga will enter its final arc in the magazine's next issue on June 27. The manga's 18th compiled volume will also ship on June 27.

Viz Media publishes the manga in English, and it describes the story:

In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Red Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen by seventy-five percent. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the Shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected. And the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the Shogun's Inner Chamber...

Yoshinaga launched the manga in Melody in 2004. Hakusensha published the manga's 17th volume last August. Viz Media published the 16th volume in English last December. The manga won the 2009 James Tiptree, Jr. Award, and it also won the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2009.

The manga inspired a live-action film adaptation in 2010, a live-action television series titled Ōoku: Arikoto・Iemitsu Hen in October 2012, and a second live-action film titled Ōoku: Eien - Emonnosuke・Tsunayoshi Hen in December of the same year.

Viz Media released Yoshinaga's All My Darling Daughters manga, and Vertical is releasing her What Did You Eat Yesterday? manga. Yen Press has released her Not Love But Delicious Foods Make Me So Happy! manga, and Digital Manga Publishing has released her Antique Bakery, Don't Say Anymore Darling, Flower of Life, Garden Dreams, Ichigenme... The First Class is Civil Law, The Moon and the Sandals, and Solfege series. Tokyopop's Blu imprint had released Yoshinaga's Gerard & Jacques, Lovers in the Night, and Truly Kindly manga.

Antique Bakery received an anime adaptation. What Did You Eat Yesterday? has inspired a live-action series, a special, and an upcoming film.

Source: Melody June issue