| The Embalmer | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:The_Embalmer.jpg) Tokyopop edition of the first volume | |
| 死化粧師 (Shigeshōshi) | |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Mitsukazu Mihara |
| Published by | Shodensha |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | Feel Young |
| Demographic | Josei |
| Original run | 2002 – 2013 |
| Volumes | 7 |
| Television drama | |
| Directed by | Masahiro Mori Hideo Mizumura Minoru Tamegai Takeo Kakinuma |
| Produced by | "Shigeshōshi" Production Committee |
| Written by | Sumino Kawashima Ayako Katō |
| Original network | TV Tokyo Aichi Television Broadcasting TVQ Kyūshū |
| Original run | October 5, 2007 – December 21, 2007 |
| Episodes | 12 |
The Embalmer (Japanese: 死化粧師, Hepburn: Shigeshōshi) is a manga series written and illustrated by Mitsukazu Mihara. It was serialized within the magazine Feel Young, and was collected into 7 volumes by Shodensha. The Embalmer was previously licensed for English release by Tokyopop, and four volumes have been released. The company Hanami has released the complete series in Poland. A 12-episode live-action drama adaption called Shigeshōshi was produced and ran on TV Tokyo, Aichi Television Broadcasting, and TVQ Kyūshū; it was later released in a boxset by the company VAP. Two CDs containing music from the series were released in November 2007. A 6-episode WEB show was produced as a spin-off, originally released on the TV Tokyo web page for Shigeshōshi and later as part of the Shigeshōshi boxset.
The Embalmer follows the life of Shinjyurou Mamiya, an embalmer in Japan. Traditionally, cremation is the usual technique reserved for the dead, and, as a result, Shinjyurou faces discrimination for his line of work. Shinjyurou also feels the need for warmth after his job, and constantly has sexual intercourse with women to fulfill his desire. However, he refuses to have a romantic relationship with Azuki, a woman he loves. The Embalmer separates each chapter into separate stories surrounding Shinjyurou's experiences as an embalmer and the effects these experiences have on his life. Mihara found inspiration to create the series after a friend died and she began to research embalming. The series has received relatively positive reviews from Western critics, and the first four volumes have sold cumulatively over 300,000 copies.