Cast: Ayako Wakao

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Machiko Kyô · Aiko Mimasu · Ayako Wakao · Michiyo Kogure

Synopsis Street of Shame (1956) follows the lives of five women who work in the Dreamland brothel, located in Tokyo's Yoshiwara district. As the Japanese government debates a potential prohibition on prostitution, the film delves into the personal stories and aspirations...

Direction Yasujirō Ozu

Cast Ganjiro Nakamura · Haruko Sugimura · Hiroshi Kawaguchi · Machiko Kyô

Synopsis Floating Weeds (1959) follows Komajuro (Ganjiro Nakamura), the leader of a wandering theater group that specializes in affordable kabuki performances in rural areas. His companion, Sumiko, remains devoted to him, as do the other seasoned performers. The troupe reaches a...

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Michiyo Kogure · Ayako Wakao · Seizaburô Kawazu · Saburo Date

Synopsis A Geisha (Gion bayashi) (1953) unfolds in the post-war Gion district of Kyoto, where the experienced geisha Miyoharu takes on the role of mentor to Eiko, a 16-year-old girl whose mother, a former geisha, has recently passed away. After a...

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Shinsuke Ashida · Yusuke Kawazu · Ranko Akagi

Synopsis Red Angel (1966) follows the journey of Sakura Nishi, a dedicated young army nurse dispatched to the chaotic field hospitals in China amidst the tumultuous Sino-Japanese war of 1939. Under the guidance of the skilled but troubled Dr. Okabe, Sakura...

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Takahiro Tamura · Nobuo Chiba · Yuzo Hayakawa

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Raizô Ichikawa · Ayako Wakao · Hideko Takamine · Misako Watanabe

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Hiroshi Kawaguchi · Eitarô Ozawa · Jun Negami

Synopsis A Wife Confesses (1961) is a thought-provoking existential melodrama that echoes the spirit of Alain Resnais. The story revolves around a young woman who, while on a mountaineering vacation, finds herself entangled in a murder accusation involving her husband. Trapped...

Direction Kôzaburô Yoshimura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Junichiro Yamashita · Tamao Nakamura · Ganjiro Nakamura

Synopsis Bamboo Doll of Echizen (1963) is a gripping melodrama adapted from a novel by renowned author Tsutomu Mizukami, whose works have inspired notable directors such as Tadashi Imai and Masahiro Shinoda. The story revolves around a young artisan who specializes...

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Jiro Tamiya · Keizo Kawasaki · Kyôko Kishida

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Akio Hasegawa · Gaku Yamamoto · Kei Sato

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Kyôko Kishida · Yusuke Kawazu · Eiji Funakoshi

Synopsis All Mixed Up (1964) follows the story of a woman who, feeling the void of not having children, finds herself captivated by the allure of a stunning model. This unexpected infatuation leads her down a path of self-discovery and emotional...

Direction Yûzô Kawashima

Cast Ayako Wakao · Eiji Funakoshi · Yuko Hamada · Yûnosuke Itô

Synopsis The Graceful Brute (Elegant Beast) (1962) delves into a tale of extraordinary avarice, deceit, and corruption, all unfolding within the confines of the Maeda family's modest apartment. The narrative revolves around the son, who is siphoning funds from the talent...

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Hiroshi Kawaguchi · Keizo Kawasaki · Ayako Wakao · Yosuke Irie

Synopsis Punishment Room (1956) follows the story of Katsumi, a university student who exhibits a profound lack of respect for his diligent parents, his educators, and even his peers. Following a night of revelry, Katsumi commits a heinous act by drugging...

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Kenji Sugawara · Keizo Kawasaki · Sadako Sawamura

Synopsis The Blue Sky Maiden (1957) is a vibrant and biting exploration of ambition and class, set against the backdrop of 1950s Japan. Directed by Yasuzō Masumura, the film parallels the works of Douglas Sirk, using the era's bold aesthetics to...

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Kazuo Hasegawa · Fujiko Yamamoto · Ayako Wakao · Eiji Funakoshi

Synopsis An Actor's Revenge (Yukinojo's Revenge) (1963) is set in 1836 Tokugawa Japan, where a skilled Kabuki performer, Yukinojo, portrayed by Kazuo Hasegawa, arrives in Edo with his theater company. Yukinojo, known for his exceptional portrayal of female roles, meticulously orchestrates...

Direction Kihachi Okamoto

Cast Shintarô Katsu · Toshirô Mifune · Ayako Wakao · Osamu Takizawa

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Raizô Ichikawa · Ayako Wakao · Tamao Nakamura · Saburo Date

Synopsis A Lustful Man (1961) follows the life of Yonosuke, portrayed by Ichikawa Raizo, who develops an intense fascination with women from a very young age. His first sexual encounter occurs at just seven years old, setting the stage for a...

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Yukio Mishima · Ayako Wakao · Keizo Kawasaki · Eiji Funakoshi

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Ayako Wakao · Yasuko Sawaguchi · Koji Ishizaka

Synopsis Princess from the Moon (1987) is a captivating film inspired by an ancient Japanese folktale. The story unfolds with a rural couple who stumble upon an infant girl nestled within a bamboo grove and decide to nurture her as their...

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Hiroshi Kawaguchi · Eiji Funakoshi · Seiji Miyaguchi