Ōoku (大奥) is a Japanese drama produced by FujiTV.
The Ōoku was the part the ladies lived in Edo Castle.
The story is set in Edo period in Ōoku, a place where thousands of women work for one general.
The story is told from the point of view of Maru, a girl from a merchant family.
One day, Tokuko, wife of a Tokugawa shogun(御台所 midaidokoro) saved Maru from the bullying.
Tokuko is clever, tough, and self-confident, and always wanted to escape from Ōoku.
Takiyama is the woman with the strongest authority in Ōoku, and is able to speak with the shogun equally.
She was born into a very poor family but, because of her beauty, she got a job in Ōoku.
Takiyama used to be Iesada's lover, but they couldn't marry or even love each other officially because of the distinction between their ranks.
Though, as Takiyama said, she was not allowed to have a baby; thus she completely lost her hope for living.