An acclaimed yakuza autuer best known for his pungent Jingi Naki Tatakai series, Kinji Fukasaku spins this tale about the rough life of geishas. Set in the mid-'50s, the film centers on Tokiko (Maki Miyamoto), a young lass from a poor weaver's family who works as a maid for a geisha house. Tokiko learns the real nature of her future career from her "older sisters." Perky, modest, and self-sacrificing, she gladly accepts her dubious fate so long as it means more money for her impoverished family. This film was penned by veteran director Kaneto Shindo.


 

CREDITED CAST:
Maki Miyamoto	Tokiko aka Omocha
Junko Fuji	Satoe
Kaho Minami	Terucho
Mai Kitajima	Somemaru
Masahiko Tsugawa	Yoshikawa
Yumiko Nogawa	Michiko
Mariko Okada	Hanaman's owner
Takeshi Katô	Kitayama
Noboru Mitani	Mikami
Naomasa Rokudaira	Kayama
Takashi Sasano	Kosaka
Seizo Fukumoto	Police detective

 

AWARDS

Asia-Pacific Film Festival
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1998	Won	Best Supporting Actress	Junko Fuji
Awards of the Japanese Academy
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2000	Won	Award of the Japanese Academy	Newcomer of the Year - Maki Miyamoto
2000	Nominated	Award of the Japanese Academy	Best Art Direction - Yoshinobu Nishioka
			Best Cinematography - Daisaku Kimura
			Best Director - Kinji Fukasaku
			Best Editing - Koichi Sonoi
			Best Lighting - Kiyoto Ando
			Best Music Score - Masamichi Amano
			Best Screenplay - Kaneto Shindô
			Best Supporting Actress - Junko Fuji
Blue Ribbon Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2000	Won	Blue Ribbon Award	Best Supporting Actress - Junko Fuji
Hochi Film Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1999	Won	Hochi Film Award	Best Supporting Actress - Junko Fuji
Kinema Junpo Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2000	Won	Kinema Junpo Award	Best Supporting Actress - Junko Fuji
Tokyo International Film Festival
1998	Won	Best Actress Award	Maki Miyamoto