The Geisha

Sep 10, 1983

2h 24m

★ 5.5

Overview

Yokiro was the most successful Geisha house in Western Japan during the first half of the 20th century and remains open to this day. At its peak, it was home to over 200 geisha, however behind the fabulous facade, there were many battles - between family members, men and women, and with the Yakuza. Momokawa was sold to Yokiro at age 12, and despite being the top geisha, her many complicated relationships provide unending challenges throughout her glamorous but turbulent life.

Genres

Drama

Romance

War

Production Companies

Toei Company

Haiyuza Eiga Hoso Company

The Geisha Trailers

Cast

Katsuzo

Ken Ogata

Momowaka

Kimiko Ikegami

Osodé

Mitsuko Baisho

Tamako

Atsuko Asano

Maruko

Akiko Kana

Asao Koike

Kochi Notable

Tetsuro Tamba

Mikio Narita

Morio Kazama

Sayoko Ninomiya

Kazuo Kitamura

Meichō Soganoya

Shizuku and Tamami are geisha in Atami who are rivals at the same okiya (tea house). Shizuku is a miser who will use any tool necessary to get what she wants, including sex. On the other hand, Tamami believes in doing things the traditional way, with class. With opposing personalities, these two are always at each other’s throats. Tamami continues to blame herself for her mother’s suicide while Shizuku never knew parental love and doesn’t have good luck with men. Learning each other’s past, the two seem to have built a strong bond… that is until Kenzo, the event producer of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics comes to Atami. Kenzo will be making a movie about traditional Japanese culture for PR and would like to have either Shizuku or Tamami in it. Tamami sees this as an opportunity to fulfill her dead mother’s dreams, while Shizuku sees this as a path to getting rich. The two compete for who will get the contract for this dream opportunity.

6.7

My Geisha

Mar 9, 1962

Famed movie director Paul Robaix breaks with tradition by not casting his actress-comedienne wife, Lucy Dell, in his latest film production, a version of Madame Butterfly. Undaunted, the resourceful Lucy wings her way to Tokyo and, masquerading as a Japanese geisha, lands the coveted role from her unsuspecting husband! But in front of the cameras (and behind the pancake makeup), Lucy faces greater challenges: her lecherous leading man - and a husband who is beginning to realize that his talented new "discovery" seems vaguely familiar...

0.0

Arashi Tatsunari

Aug 25, 1982

Can a woman love two men at the same time? Set against the backdrop of Kyoto's rich history, this story depicts a woman's difficult choice for love. Ayako, played by Yukiyo Toake, is an international conference coordinator. Torn between her childhood sweetheart (played by Kenji Sawada) and her English professor (played by Noboru Nakaya), Ayako will seek answers to love, marriage, and choice.

7.5

A Geisha

Aug 12, 1953

Fleeing a distressing family situation, Eiko, a very young girl, becomes an apprentice to Miyoharu, a veteran geisha. Both, determined to preserve their professional integrity, must face the selfishness and ambition of several petty people.

7.2

The Scent of Incense

May 24, 1964

After her mother runs away from home, Tomoko is raised to be a geisha. One day Tomoko meets her mother in a red-light district in Tokyo and her life deeply gets in trouble.

5.2

Madame Butterfly

Dec 30, 1932

Pinkerton marries Cho-Cho San in Japan, whilst on shore leave. When he leaves, she keeps his Japanese home as he left it. He returns three years later, having married again in America, and tells Cho-Cho that their affair is over. She has had a child in his absence, who is sent to her family, before she kills herself.

0.0

Ginza Midnight Story — Utopia

Jul 21, 2000

Japanese gangster drama set in the exclusive Ginza district of Tokyo, following Haruka (Atsuko Sakuraba), a young geisha who is attacked by an influential businessman who plans to abduct her. When she is rescued by the members of a club called 'Utopia', Haruka joins them and becomes a hostess, rapidly establishing herself as one of the most sought-after geisha's in Ginza. At the same time, Haruka learns of a plan by a corrupt, gangster-owned club to set itself up as a rival to Utopia. Such is her loyalty to the club that first helped her, she is willing to do anything to protect it.

0.0

Ginza Midnight Story — Utopia 2

Aug 25, 2000

In a continuation of "Utopia: Midnight Story, White Flower Bud" Haruka Ichijou follows through in her vow to become the No1 Geisha. She develops intricate schemes and mindful manipulations in changing her "Papa-san's," or Sugar Daddies, on her way up the modern geisha ladder. After she pits one against the other, the men begin to compete for her in elaborate and very expensive ventures, and their fight to win her for their prize in all-consuming frenzy becomes the focus for the No1 Spot. A barrage of young geisha's karate fighting seals their fate at last!

7.4

The Geisha House

Jan 15, 1999

Set in a Kyoto geisha house during the post-WWII era, the young Omocha begins her rigorous apprenticeship within the traditional community of geiko and maiko. She must navigate complex internal rivalries and a strict social hierarchy while the house struggles to maintain its customs. As modern society shifts around them, the residents face the increasing pressure of Japan's changing cultural identity.

7.2

Flowing

Nov 20, 1956

Otsuta is running the geisha house Tsuta in Tokyo. Her business is heavily in debt. Her daughter Katsuyo doesn't see any future in her mother's trade in the late days of Geisha. But Otsuta will not give up. This film portraits the day time life of geisha when not entertaining customers.

7.1

Sisters of the Gion

Oct 15, 1936

Umekichi, a geisha in the Gion district of Kyoto, feels obliged to help her lover Furusawa when he asks to stay with her after becoming bankrupt and leaving his wife. However her younger sister Omocha tells her she is wasting her time and money on a loser. She thinks that they should both find wealthy patrons to support them. Omocha therefore tries various schemes to get rid of Furusawa, and set themselves up with better patrons.

5.5

A Woman Called Sada Abe

Feb 8, 1975

The young and beautiful Sada Abe, the daughter of a rich merchant, is banished for losing her virginity after being raped by a college student. Sada wanders the city, becoming a geisha and eventually meeting Kichizo, a posh restaurateur who falls under her spell. Together, they embark on a week-long sexual escapade filled with dangerous obsessions. Their complete descent into each others desires culminates in a shocking crime of passion which captures the city's headlines. Based on a real event from 1936.

7.2

Late Chrysanthemums

Jun 15, 1954

What is the life of a Geisha like once her beauty has faded and she has retired? Kin has saved, and become a wealthy money-lender, spending her days coldly collecting debts. Even her best friends, fellow Geisha Tomi, Nobu, and Tamae, are now indebted to her. For all of them, the glamour of their young lives has passed; Tomi and Tamae have disappointing children. Kin has two former lovers who still pursue her; one she wants to see, and the other she doesn't. But even the one she remembers fondly, when he shows up, proves less than satisfactory.

7.2

Lady Maiko

Sep 13, 2014

Country bumpkin Haruko only ever wanted to become a maiko, an apprentice geisha. Initially rebuffed for lack of references, Haruko's strong accent intrigues a linguistics professor, who undertakes to coach her.

5.9

The Barbarian and the Geisha

Sep 30, 1958

Townsend Harris is sent by President Pierce to Japan to serve as the first U.S. Consul-General to that country. Harris discovers enormous hostility to foreigners, as well as the love of a young geisha.

5.6

Inferno of Torture

May 2, 1969

Japan nineteenth century. High demand for tattooed geisha generates an entire industry for their "production". Europeans pay more for tattooed beauties. Against this background, and considering the gorgeous tattooed women develop the history of confrontation between two highly skilled masters of tattoo.

7.6

Demons

Feb 13, 1971

Tells the story of the samurai Gengobe, who seeks revenge after falling prey to the schemes of a geisha and her husband.