A doomed samurai, a blind actor, and the doctor who saves them both — Edo's most unlikely trio.
Okazaki Domain samurai Inaba Gotaro accidentally killed a superior while trying to save his beloved geisha, Ko-en. On the run, they were rescued by the actor Nakamura Utaemon, but Ko-en was taken by the Hatamoto, Ono Issai. Gotaro, who fell off a cliff, was saved by the Dutch-trained doctor, Shibarai Ryokai, and his daughter Oume. While traveling to Edo, they met Utaemon in Mishima, who was suffering from a serious eye disease. Ryokai’s treatment saved Utaemon from blindness, and a strong friendship was formed among the three.
Acting
Nakamura Jakuemon IV's blind actor — theatrical and devastating.
Direction
Fukuda balances kabuki flamboyance with intimate tragedy.
Cinematography
Mishima travel sequences glow with doomed romance.
Director
Seiichi Fukuda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kōkichi Takada plays dual roles as Gotaro AND the magistrate's son, a casting flex that lets him confront himself across class lines.
The Dutch medicine subplot reflects 1950s Japan's postwar fascination with Western science redeeming traditional culture.
JP
