This gender role inversion story is interesting, though the plague that kickstarts the social changes is pretty much obviously not natural and its preciseness is a little annoying since it's obvious we won't be seeing any explanation of it in-story. 
 The main part of the story takes place in the Inner Chambers where the Shogun's supply of handsome men is kept. They've become a rather isolated mini-society, especially as the current Shogun is a seven-year-old girl . The first storyline in this opening volume features Mizuno, a young man who cannot marry the woman he loves, and rather than accept an arranged marriage enters the Inner Chambers to give his family a better stipend. Life is difficult in the Inner Chambers, with plenty of backbiting and politics. 
 But then the Shogun dies, and a new Shogun arrives, a lusty woman with a strong belief in frugality. She takes a fancy to Mizuno, only for them to learn of the horrific custom that is "the secret swain." 
 The next storyline deals with the new Shogun instituting cost-cutting measures with dire consequences for certain members of the Inner Chambers, and having an audience with a Dutch captain that raises some disturbing questions in her mind. 
 The art is good, and the writing is interesting. 
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