Tomiko Miyao

Yasuo Furuhata directs this romantic yakuza flick based on a book by popular romance novelist Tomiko Miyao. Set in 1932, the film centers on Peony (Yoko Minamino), a geisha who was forced into the business at a young age by her dissipated father.

A woman faces betrayal, which tests her love.

This story is based on the novel "Jo no mai" by Tomiko Miyao which is based on the life of painter Shōen Uemura (1875–1949), the first woman to be awarded the Order of Culture. The title refers to the masterpiece bijinga ("picture of a beautiful woman") that Uemura painted at the age of 61. The main character, Tsuya Shimamura, is born in Kyoto as the second daughter of a tea trader who dies before her birth. Tsuya, who loves painting more than anything and is hopeless at housework, attends art school and at age 15 receives the name Shōsui (from the characters for "pine" and "green") from her teacher. The crown prince of England purchases one of her works, propelling her to fame overnight. The novel portrays the remainder of her stormy life, during which she is impregnated by her teacher and raises a fatherless child; through it all she devotes herself to her painting, undaunted.

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.

마쓰에는 고치현의 두목, 기류인 마사고로(鬼龍院政五郞)의 양녀가 되어 기류인 일가에 들어간다. 안채에는 마사고로의 정실 부인이, 건너편에 첩, 보탄과 쇼치쿠가 살고 있는데, 마사고로가 집에 들어오는 날을 두 첩에게 전달하는 것도 어린 마쓰에의 일이었다. 어느 날 마사고로는 여자와 부하들을 데리고 고치현의 명물인 투견을 보러 가고 그곳에서 어부 가네마쓰와 아카오카의 두목 스에나가 사이에 일어난 싸움을 중재하게 된다.