Yoshiwara-Enjo/吉原炎上/1987
The film depicts the lights and shadows of prostitutes living in the Yoshiwara brothels(Yoshiwara-Yukaku-吉原遊郭) in the late Meiji period.
It spotlights five prostitutes(Oiran-花魁).
In this film, The Yoshiwara brothel is beautifully recreated on film sets .
It is a milestone in Oiran cinema.
Hisano, the protagonist, was sold to the Nakaumero brothel in Yoshiwara to pay her parents’ debts after they failed in the shipbuilding business.
At first she is reluctant to sell her body, but she eventually grows up to become an Oiran (花魁).
The sergeant of the Furushima Zaibatsu became her customer, and success was guaranteed.
In 1909, on the day she became the venerable courtesan Murasaki, she was furious when her job was ruined by an ill and demented ex-Oshoku(お職)Kobana.
She disagreed with Furushima, who said that she should give the Oshoku position to Kohana, and the two parted ways.
After Furushima left, Murasaki had a new rich client named Tsubozaka.
In 1910, Furushima offered to marry Murasaki, but Murasaki refused. However, Furushima told her that she could spend the money as she liked since it was paid out once, so Murasaki proposed to use the money to perform oiran-dochu(花魁道中) .
In 1911, Murasaki’s oiran-dochu was held.
At that time, however, Furushima began to become client to a lower-class courtesan, Oharu.
Then, on the day Murasaki left Yoshiwara after being betrothed to Tsubosaka, Yoshiwara was hit by a huge fire.
Furushima failed to escape, Murasaki remained silent and stared at the flames.
*Yoshiwara-Yukaku(吉原遊郭)
*Oiran(花魁)
*Oshoku(お職)
*Oiran-dochu(花魁道中)
Cast&Staff
Role | Actor & Actress |
Hisano/久乃 | Yuko Natori/名取裕子 |
Kokonoe/九重 | Sayoko Ninomiya/二宮さよ子 |
Yoshizato/吉里 | Mariko Fuji/藤真利子 |
Kobana/小花 | Mineko Nishikawa/西川峰子 |
Kikukawa/菊川 | Rino Katase/かたせ梨乃 |
Shinsuke/Furushima 古島信輔 | Jinpachi Nezu/根津甚八 |