The word Ooku might conjure images of a secret “women-only garden” where ladies vie for a shogun’s affection in a tangled web of jealous rivalries.
But this is only a small part of the story.
In reality, the Ooku was a sophisticated political system built by elite women to ensure the survival of the shogun’s bloodline and the longevity of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
It was also a massive employer where women could build their own careers.
The Ooku was a colossal enterprise created by some of the strongest women in Japanese history.
From its stunning origins to its little-known job functions and scandals, let’s peel back the layers and uncover the hidden truths of the Ooku.
The Shocking Truth Behind the Birth of Ooku