Soundtrack: Ichiro Saitô

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Machiko Kyô · Mitsuko Mito · Kinuyo Tanaka · Masayuki Mori

Synopsis Tales of Ugetsu (1953) unfolds during the tumultuous civil wars of 16th century Japan, where two peasants, driven by ambition, seek to elevate their status. The potter Genjuro aims to amass wealth by peddling his ceramics in the nearby city,...

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Kinuyo Tanaka · Tsukie Matsuura · Ichiro Sugai · Toshirô Mifune

Synopsis The Life of Oharu (1952) chronicles the journey of Oharu, a woman in her fifties navigating the rigid societal norms of 17th-century feudal Japan. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes the paramour of a man, leading to...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Yûzô Kayama · Mitsuko Kusabue · Yumi Shirakawa

Synopsis Yearning (1964) follows the story of a young woman who, at the age of 19, loses her husband during wartime. A devastating bombing destroys her in-laws' shop, but she chooses to stay and rebuild it, driven by her love for...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Akira Takarada · Tsutomu Yamazaki · Keiko Awaji

Synopsis A Woman's Life (1963) follows the journey of Nobuko, a resilient woman who endures the loss of her husband and takes on the responsibility of raising their son alone. Her life takes a challenging turn when her son chooses to...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Chikage Awashima · Masayuki Mori · Yuriko Hoshi

Direction Yasujirō Ozu

Cast Hideko Takamine · Chishu Ryu · Tatsuo Saito · Sanae Takasugi

Synopsis The Munekata Sisters (1950) follows the complex love story of Setsuko, who is unhappily married to Mimura, an unemployed engineer with a drinking problem. Setsuko has always harbored feelings for Hiroshi, but their inability to confess their love led to...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Masayuki Mori · Mariko Okada · Chieko Nakakita

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Setsuko Hara · Yôko Sugi · Ken Uehara · Sô Yamamura

Direction Hiroshi Shimizu

Cast Kyôko Kagawa · Yukiko Shimazaki · Kenzo Kawarazaki · Jûkichi Uno

Synopsis The Shiinomi School (1955) follows the inspiring journey of a university professor and his wife who face the challenge of raising two sons affected by infantile paralysis. Determined to provide the best for their children, the couple embarks on 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 Mikio Naruse

Cast Keiko Enonami · Kyôko Kagawa · Akihiko Katayama · Daisuke Kato

Synopsis Mother (1952) follows the journey of a young girl who observes her recently widowed mother's struggle to maintain the well-being of their family. The narrative delves into the challenges and resilience of a single parent striving to provide for her...

Direction Yasujirō Ozu

Cast Choko Iida · Hohi Aoki · Eitarô Ozawa · Mitsuko Yoshikawa

Synopsis Record of a Tenement Gentleman (1947) unfolds in the aftermath of World War II in Japan, where a man discovers a young boy who has lost his way and brings him to a crowded tenement building. Initially, no one is...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Nobuko Otowa · Jun Fujimaki · Kamatari Fujiwara · Yosuke Natsuki

Direction Kinuyo Tanaka

Cast Masayuki Mori · Yoshiko Kuga · Jûkichi Uno · Kyôko Kagawa

Synopsis Love Letter (1953) follows the story of Reikichi Mayumi (Masayuki Mori), a melancholic and troubled individual who secures a new position five years after the conclusion of World War II. His job involves crafting love letters for others, a task...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Kinuyo Tanaka · Isuzu Yamada · Hideko Takamine · Mariko Okada

Synopsis Flowing (1956) follows the story of Rika, portrayed by Kinuyo Tanaka, a widow who finds herself in a desperate financial situation. Compelled by necessity, she accepts a position as a housemaid in a struggling geisha house located in Tokyo. The...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Setsuko Hara · Hideko Takamine · Akira Takarada · Hiroshi Koizumi

Synopsis Daughters, Wives and a Mother (1960) follows the story of an elderly woman residing in Tokyo and her five adult children, along with their respective spouses, who are grappling with financial difficulties. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when one...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Machiko Kyô · Masayuki Mori · Yoshiko Kuga · Yuji Hori

Synopsis Older Brother, Younger Sister (1953) unfolds in a rural setting near Tokyo, where Akaza and his wife Riki are deeply concerned about the prospects of their children. Their eldest son, Inokichi, is known for his reckless gambling and womanizing ways....

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Yôko Tsukasa · Akemi Kita · Reiko Dan

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Mitsuko Miura · Kyôko Kagawa · Chieko Murata

Direction Heinosuke Gosho

Cast Hiroko Kawasaki · Yasuko Miyazaki · Keiko Sawamura · Yoichi Numata