Original subtitles

A TOEI production

Spring1907

In the Asokuso district, in the heart of the city there was Yoshiwara,

the biggest pleasure district in Japan.

This world apart, which covered a few acres

walled in by a high fence, could be entered only through a big gate.

Poor families would sell their young daughters there.

They would sell their bodies for seven or eight years.

Two ways led to the Yoshiwara world :

the paradise way, for men ; the hell way, for girls.

TOKYO BORDELLO

From the noveI by Shinichi Saito

Screenplay : Kazuo Kasahara and Sadao Nakajima

Cinematography : Fujio Morita

Art direction : Yoshinobu Nishioka

Music : Masar� Sato

Cast :

Yuko Natori Wakashio

Sayoko Ninomiya Kokonoe

Mariko Fuji Yoshizato

Mineko Nishikawa Kobana

Rino Katase Kik�

Junichi Inoue Kokonoe's lover

Mami Nomura Haru

Naoto Takenaka the fiddler

Sumie Sasaki The Madame

Ittoku Kishibe the house boy

Ken Ogata poIiceman Fukushima

Mikio Narita Kesaji the pimp

Kinpachi Nezu Nobosuke Furushima

So Yamamura The House Boss

Kayako Sono Chika

Narrator : Kyoko Kishida

A fiIm by Hideo Gosha

SyphiIis!

SyphiIis!

Go see a doctor!

Stop!

Out! Get off!

Those damn kids!

Put yo�r Iegs there.

Excuse-me, Doctor.

She's a new one, don't be rough.

The doctor must have a look at that work tool of yours which you'lI �se daiIy.

Doctor, l'll leave her to you.

You're not a virgin any more.

You had a man, back home?

Listen caref�Ily.

You have special status.

But it's only because you have a licence

that you can work.

lt's IawfuI prostitution.

But that activity

can be practised only in Yoshiwara. You understand?

Something else.

To get out of the Yoshiwara district,

you need to get police authorization.

As for the rest, your empIoyers

will expIain it to you.

Let's start.

Hisano Ueda, nineteen,

from Obayashi vilIage, Okayama district.

800 yens? She cost you a lot!

Yes, b�t she's a real gem.

Do read the contract before yo� sign.

Her father was in the navy?

Yes, in the merchant navy.

What happened?

His ship sank down because of overload.

He had to seIl eveything to pay his debts.

Not counting the compensations he had to pay his empIoyees.

But as it was not enough, he had to sell his daughter.

Do you know the word ''climax''?

''CIimax? ''?

Fukushima! l didn't ask for you!

But, boss, she must be toId.

You aIIow me to?

When you're with a man...

You climax when it is the most pleasant.

But when you have hundreds of men,

if you climaxed each time, you'd soon be a wreck.

Just make the customer believe that yo� cIimaxed, got it?

Fukushima! I told yo� to shut �p!

Now, sign up.

Your skin is sofy.

HeIlo, yo� sweep with energy.

HeIIo, l was waiting for you.

Everything's in order.

l'll leave her with yo�.

Thank you very much.

Come on, foIIow me.

Chika!

I'lI take the girl.

Yo�'re going to show her around?

Serve Kesaji some tea.

Come with me.

Come on!

Don't faIl asleep!

Kesaji might prefer something eIse.

Serve her some good sake

You found a good girl.

She'II bring a Iot of money.

Do you want some sake?

Kokonoe, heIIo!

This is Kokonoe.

My name is Hisano.

She is the one who brings in the most.

lf you follow her exampIe, you'll be a Great Geisha, just like her.

From now on, she wiIl be your Iittle sister.

Take care of her and give her advice.

There's a strange smeIl here.

There's a smeIl.

Come closer.

It's her smeII.

You smelI nice.

She smeIls.

I can't smeII anything.

Hello!

Kokonoe,

I wish you a nice day.

She is the new girl?

Not bad-Iooking at aII.

Kokonoe, have a nice day.

See you Iater.

The boss only greets Kokonoe, Yoshizato et Kobana,

our three great geishas.

They bring in the most.

They're our bread-winners.

Hello!

Yoshizato, l wish you a nice day.

See you Iater.

This is Yoshizato.

HelIo, my name is Hisano.

GIad to meet you.

Thank you for taking care of her.

AlI right.

You understand? You must win the favors of your colIeagues.

Yes.

Kobana, heIlo!

This here is Kobana, o�r third great geisha.

If you work well,

you'Il become as bea�tifuI as she is.

HelIo, my name is Hisano.

Good l�ck.

O, great gods,

make men bring us lots of money.

You'Il find something to suit your taste among those girls.

WelI... long time no see!

I was toId you're very busy...

ls that why you weren't coming any more?

So now, you've got time.

You're a regular, aren't you? I'm moved.

Tonight, you'll be greeted in a princely way.

l mean business. Come inside and see for yourself.

The gentleman is coming up!

Come near, come!

Do yo� know where you are?

ln front of Yoshiwara's best House.

lt's difficuIt to find better elsewhere.

Don't settle for just watching.

Do come inside!

If you hesitate,

they'Il be taken by some other people.

Make your choice.

Going out in such a nice evening, that's good...

But don't stay o�tside too long.

You might catch a cold.

Look at those cute girls waiting for you.

Don't miss the chance.

And it's not expensive.

Good evening!

I was expecting you.

See?

The men watch but shrink from spending their money.

Attracting a customer is an art.

The most important thing is to make a reg�Iar of him, a patron.

If Kokonoe, Yoshizato and Kobana are our three great geishas

it's because they know how to make their c�stomers come again.

That way they don't have to expose themselves in the window.

But the other girIs

go in the window

and must accept any customer.

You wiIl have to find a rich customer.

With one or two customers a night, your debts won't be settled.

Come and sit down.

From here, I can see everything.

It's the House command center.

From here, you can see lots of things.

You can also see behind the scenes.

You must watch carefulIy too.

Those rooms, on the other side...

They're for ordinary girls.

Excuse me! May l open the door?

Come here.

Excuse me.

I have to be away for a whiIe.

Excuse us.

Don't worry.

I'm surprised.

The gentIeman has got taste. She is an exceptional girl.

Here she comes.

Her regular had to Ieave in a hurry.

You are Iucky.

That girI is first choice.

l kept you waiting.

You won't be disappointed.

l'm coId, heIp me get warm.

''l'm cold, help me get warm. ''... Remember that sentence.

lt's tr�e that you're quite pretty

but don't be too proud of it.

A beautifuI girI attracts customers at first.

But if you show it off it'll be difficult to make loyal c�stomers of them.

To deveIop customer's loyalty there's an ancient method

It is the art of moaning in bed.

Chika,

please.

I'Il be right there.

Come with me.

We apologize, sir.

- You did it again? - Yeah!

Everything was going all right but she started pissing.

It's unacceptable.

l'm sorry.

But some c�stomers Iike it.

l'm not a pervert!

You'll get a better girl next time.

Excuse me.

It's too Iate.

Go have a bath.

l'm sorry.

Go change her cIothes, quick!

Come.

Don't faIl asleep. Go heIp them.

Mame!

Were you frightened?

ActuaIly, it's a trick

to get rid of an �npleasant customer.

Do you know what this is?

Lube. And you can eat it too.

But you don't put it on your mouth.

You're new here?

You've got to learn.

This is to misIead the customer.

We've got to use it. We wouldn't hold out with alI those men if we didn't.

Kiku, Chika is calling you.

What's your name?

Hisano.

Let's be friends.

In Yoshiwara, there are 48 species of cherry trees.

Some bIoom very quickly, others more slowly.

Each year, in april,

Yoshiwara is fuIl of fIowers.

And in may,

when the flowers of the late cherry-trees faIl down,

those flowers move eIsewhere.

Look at the district.

The Iife of cherry-trees lasts onIy as Iong as they're flowering up.

Flowerless cherry-trees have no place here.

What's your name?

- Hisano. - Ah yeah!

You smelI nice.

TeII me, Hisano.

What sort of smeIl is that? What perfume do you use?

That student doesn't pay the go-between.

He comes straight here.

Kokonoe protects him!

She's with a student? At her age?

As her contract is nearing its end, she does as she pleases.

Don't worry about it. It's only a passing Iove affair.

As long as she brings in money... .

Isn't that right, boss?

Quite right.

Kokonoe's career is cIose to its end.

We should think of finding repIacement.

Here's that brass band again!

That song reaIly creeps me o�t.

Forward, Forward, Salvation Army,

Forward, Forward, Alleluia!

When the weak unite

We must fight with them.

Forward, Forward, Salvation Army,

Forward, Forward, Alleluia!

Let's save our brothers and sisters

For them, let's fight till the end.

Forward, Forward, Salvation Army,

Do yo�r best today!

Be beautiful. We count on you.

Put some more.

It's too light. That's it. Much better!

That's perfect. You look cute.

Teach her how to appIy her make-up.

Her neck and ankIes, above alI.

Those are the parts customers look first.

She's got spots on her skin. Hide them weII.

Pretty yo�rseIves �p.

And work well.

Kik�...

Do I smelI different?

Yes. You went to high school, didn't you?

That's high schooI smelI.

You're here because of your father's accident.

You weren't poor as we all were. Life wilI be tough for you here.

As for me, when I was home,

we had nothing to eat.

Here at Ieast, we're given white rice every day.

For me, this pIace here is paradise.

Well... not quite.

They don't feed us for free.

Yesterday night, what l did dispIeased a customer.

Old Chika came up quickly

asking me whether I had a needle between my thighs.

Those tits are not half bad.

Where do you think you are?

You're nothing here b�t merchandise.

You don't strike a customer for so littIe.

Give me your hand.

Stop it!

You can't use me as a pretext.

You act this way only because you're jeaIous.

Yes, I am jeaIous.

Hisano, forgive me.

Hisano, my sweet girl.

Hisano...

Do to me what I did to yo�.

Come on, burn my hand!

You won't obey my order?

Hisano.

You too...

you've got the same burn.

Show me.

Show me your burn.

Look.

We've got exactly the same burn.

Now...

we've become tr�e sisters.

early cherry trees have lost their flowers.

late cherry trees start blooming

For Hisano, has come the time of getting her geisha name.

Wakashio, ''young tide''

Nice geisha name for a sailor's da�ghter.

Tonight, yo�'ll start working.

Work hard in order to pay back the 800 yens yo� owe quickly.

Wakashio, work well.

- Do your best. - Wakashio, we're co�nting on yo�.

Wakashio

Sir, you look like a million in your western clothes.

Come closer.

This is our new geisha.

Her name's Wakashio. What do you think?

She's reaIIy beautif�I.

Watch her carefulIy.

Don't go away so quickly.

Don't make do with simpIy watching.

You're Iucky, Sir. Here's a new girl.

What do you think? Don't you want her?

Wakashio, sit up straight. Raise yo�r head.

Boss, Iisten! Good news!

- What's going on? - Our go-between

wants to bring over rich c�stomers from Osaka.

When our three great geishas heard about that

they offered

to help Wakashio get her first c�stomer.

Good idea.

A rich customer at the beginning is a good omen.

We're being l�cky.

Gentlemen, open yo�r eyes... .

On the right, the great geisha Kokonoe.

On the left, Wakashio, our new geisha.

At the back, on the right, great geisha Yoshizato.

And finally great geisha Kobana.

For yo�r pleas�re!

And now...

And now... .

you're going to share them between you.

By drawing lots.

Do you agree?

Yes, all right.

- We're not going to quarrel. - Let's do it this way.

Gentlemen, your go.

Choose.

One each.

Take it. You've alI got one.

For you, it's her.

For you, it's her.

That's it. The dies have been cast.

Yo�'re Iucky.

Wakashio is our new vintage. You'Il be the first to taste it.

l wanted to advise you to have her. Chance works in mysterious ways.

Give me a good tip.

The other three geishas are the best in the house.

These gentIemen have no need for us any more.

Let's go away.

PIease, ladies.

Geishas, stand up!

Go and wait for these gentIemen in your rooms.

WaIk up straight.

What's wrong with her?

Wakashio!

Wakashio!

Wakashio!

Stay here!

Madame, q�ick!

Stop her!

Stop her!

She's running away!

This way!

You bitch!

Money means happiness; money means unhappiness.

Money makes animals clever.

You can buy sake; love can be bought too...

Religion can be bought too

Bonzes are really mischievous

But their hair grows back.

They'll have to shave their headsagain. lt's endless

Do you realize what you did?

I recommended you to that customer and you put me to shame.

If you don't Iike this ho�se,

repay what yo� owe and go away.

Forgive me.

l don't understand what came into my head.

Don't play games with me.

Your famiIy is into debt up to their neck.

That's why you're here.

Yo�'re nothing b�t a prostitute.

In my mind, I know it but...

You're not here to think.

Your mind does not matter. What matters is there!

I'lI show you.

Trust me. I know.

I'Il teach you how to do it.

Remember the lesson.

The most important thing for a prostitute

is to give the customer satisfaction in bed.

You must make him believe you come at the same time as he does.

You must be boId.

He must believe he is abIe to kindle your body.

You must beat your legs up in a violent way.

You must moan and gasp.

The man must be roused watching you and hearing you.

You wiIl do to me what I'm going to do to yo�.

Your body wiIl Iearn.

l went to another go-between.

I toId him about Wakashio.

He wilI recommend Wakashio to a big customer of his.

You reassure me. You must thank him.

You're really heIpfuI.

l wanted to taIk about myseIf too.

l'd like to pay what I owe you in order to be able to leave.

I've worked eno�gh.

l want to leave.

Not with this student, l hope.

I don't know. TelI me how much I must pay.

And...

To speak about Wakashio again...

How can l express it?...

She will be hard to tame.

lf I open my umbrella for me alone

My sleeve won't get wet...

You know...

When one counts upon his parents'inheritance.

You end thinking only of that.

Yo� mustn't Iose your head.

Each time I talk to him, he pretends he doesn't hear.

Please... can you pay my schooling fees?

- How much? - A hundred yens.

AlI right.

I'm counting on you.

What about you? Did yo� think of me?

Soon, I'lI be free.

When I graduate,

l'll marry you.

I shall be your wife?

Your wife?

What's wrong with you?

What are you Iaughing at?

Between a girl and her customer,

nothing happens, all is lies when we're in bed together.

l know it quite welI.

Given the difference in years, between you and me...

It's impossible.

And you know it!

I would have prefered you to say :

''Lend me some money. ''

''And let's part and remain good friends. ''

It would have h�rt m�ch less.

That's what l wanted to hear.

Once. At least...

I wouId have liked to share a heartache with yo�.

I don't want to see you any more. Get the heIl out of here.

Get out of here!

Sir, here is the great geisha.

My name is Wakashio.

You could have stayed a IittIe whiIe longer.

There's no room here for cherry tres which don't bear flowers.

Say good-bye to everyone.

You want me to calI for a cab?

No, I want to sIip away.

l'm fed up with make-believe.

Godbye.

Summer 1908

Stop drinking. Yo�'re r�ining your heaIth.

I know l'm destroying myself.

If you go on like this, you're going to die.

That's what I want. l want to die.

You fool!

PIease, don't leave me.

What are you afraid of?

Yoshizato, don't leave me.

UntiI l die.

It's me.

Business is bad and now, it's raining.

Are you aII right?

Yoshizato's customer is stiIl there?

Yes, and it's time to ask him for payment of his nights here.

Madame, I've been to the meeting.

That customer, Noguchi... they say he r�ined many share-holders.

When bad luck starts... .

Yoshizato must get rid of him.

There's an economic crisis.

lf, on top of that, our geishas fall in love, we'Il have to cIose down.

Hey, girIs? Who took my underwear?

ls that it?

- WeIl... - It was given to me.

What does it matter? A coupIe of pieces of underwear.

I don't agree.

- Skinflint. - What?

You thief!

Yo�'re out of your mind.

Stop that ruckus!

That's enough.

Kiku, what will you do with these old cIothes?

I'lI send them home. My family will be happy.

Stop it!

You really put us to shame.

Don't taIk to me that way.

Stop showing off.

We shaIl alI die like dogs.

Whatever we say, we're no better off than animals.

You think so?

Speak for yourseIf.

I'lI show you.

Why did you come into this worId?

You're not an animal.

You're exploited from morning till night.

You must accept your fate.

You must relinquish everything, it's your destiny.

You must relinquish everything, it's your destiny.

This way, Sir!

PIease!

Sir!

Yukichi!

I looked for you everywhere.

l can't take it any more.

l can't take it any more.

Hisano, Iet's run away together.

We'll go to Korea.

We'II achieve s�ccess over there.

Let's go.

I was never abIe to forget you.

Hisano darling.

l want us to have a child. Please!

I'm going to move away from here.

Where wilI you go?

The Madame has just caIled me in.

She toId me l didn't bring in enough money.

She'Il sell me to a house in Shinagawa, the working men's district.

Kiku!

You were nice to me.

l'll never forget you.

Wakashio!

You must relinquish, relinquish... .

The go-between toId me.

The customer is said to be rich.

Don't miss that chance.

Be as beautiful as you can be and seduce him.

The great geisha is coming!

Do yo� remember me?

The heir of the F�r�shima tr�st?

His father died. He inherited.

He could find a better girl than Wakashio.

I wonder why he chose her.

lt seems he's already been with her.

Madame, come quick!

lt's Wakashio's customer. He wants to invite the whole house.

He paid 50 yens!

He's a true rich man's son.

The Furushima heir?

Yo� mustn't tremble in that way.

l'll go greet him.

The Furushima heir, what about him?

Rich or poor, their baIls are alI the same.

Wakashio, stop showing off!

I kept yo� waiting.

There's a party going on next door.

A customer gave 50 yens so that every one couId celebrate.

Everybody is happy.

What are you doing here?

I'lI leave you aIone.

Have a nice evening.

How dare you speak that way?

l'm a great geisha.

If you want me,

you must pay for a big party like the customer next door.

Yoshizato!

Yo�'ve got to reIinquish, reIinquish...

lt's your fate anyway...

I hate poor peopIe. Go away.

Don't you worry, Sir.

She'lI be back. l'll serve you to heIp you wait.

Nobusuke...

Come here and Iie down.

B�t...

Come on, Iie down...

One year ago...

l was not abIe to save you.

The past is the past.

Don't worry about me.

Yo�'re very kind.

But now,

being rich,

I can buy you whenever l want.

With my father's money.

Money made out of other peopIe's sufferings.

Nobusuke...

It is not necessary. Lie down!

I can't do that!

Make yo�rseIf comfortable.

No, l'm alI right.

I'lI keep my clothes on.

You shouldn't.

I'm quite aIl right.

l want us to stay this way, �ntil dawn.

Lie down.

And sleep peacefuIIy.

Next one!

It's over.

You're pregnant.

Three months.

Next one! - Next one!

You don't look aIl right. I've been foIIowing you for some time.

ShalI we have an ice-cream? l'Il pay.

What's wrong with you?

TaIk to me.

lt's nothing.

You're pregnant?

It shows. From the way you Iook.

Or eIse, you got some disease.

lt's hard to say, but...

Whore's children are given to peasants. lt's the rule here.

Here you are.

Thanks!

I want to ask you something.

CouIdn't you ask Nobusuke for 50 yens?

You remember Noguchi, one of my customers?

He's flat broke from bad investments.

I asked the boss, but...

She wouIdn't accept.

I went to another house.

They'lI buy me for 350.

Noguchi is in debt for 400.

l stiIl need 50 yens.

l'Il stop drinking

and l'Il work real hard.

lf it's for Noguchi,

I know I can do it.

Being a whore

and finishing up in the common grave...

I don't want such a shabby life.

I want to give myseIf fuIly to one man this time.

You think I'm a fool?

No,

you're right.

I'lI ask Nobusuke.

Thank you.

Don't cry.

Even if you Iove the chiId's father, you must have an abortion.

No way to know if he'll admit being the father.

Use powder from the physalis, the red fIower.

Even if you love the father's child,

you must have an abortion.

l can't accept that money.

Why not?

You said everything wouId be all right, if you could find the money.

And that we could have a famiIy together.

Yes, I said it.

But now it's different.

The situation has changed.

My parents found the money. They want me to come back home.

- What about that money? - That's what l said.

It's what I said,

l don't need your heIp any more.

l've changed.

l should never have

risked so much at the Stock Exchange just for yo�r sake.

Shit!

Sir... come and see.

Special price for you.

You made a good choice. You won't regret it.

How much money do you plan on spending?

l'Il telI you who Yukichi is.

He's wanted by alI the police forces in the whoIe country.

He stoIe 500 yens.

As he was one of your customers, yo� must teIl us

all you know about him.

Commissioner... this customer only came once.

She doesn't know anything.

Did l ask you for advice?

He's reaIly a bad guy.

He's an ungrateful thief. ReaIIy irretrievabIe.

He ran away,

and stopped on the way to sleep with his pal's wife.

Listen.

Should he come back, let us know.

Got it?

Did you Iearn how to pretend you're coming?

Fukushima! You reaIly think of nothing eIse!

Sorry.

I spent a nice evening.

Well, l'm glad.

Everything went well even without lube.

l don't know.

There's a strike. Leaving is difficult.

That's what you said.

What's with you? You're not the same.

l'm bored with everything these days.

I've aIways been bored with everything.

What about commiting suicide?

ShaIl we commit suicide?

I could die with you.

- ls it true? - Of course.

We shaIl drink all night Iong.

Before leaving this world, , Iet's party!

We shall leave Yoshiwora when we want to.

But what will we do after?

We've got no place to go.

We could become scavengers.

There's a strike on.

Leaving is difficult.

You've already said it.

SIowIy.

ls that aIl right?

She was lying in an alIey by the river.

A rickshaw driver found her.

What are you saying?

F�r�shima...

Nobusuke...

You want Mr Furushima, that's what you're saying?

How strange he looks!

Come on!

Wake up.

Wake up.

Come on, get �p!

What's wrong with you?

We promised we'd die together, Iast night.

I was not speaking seriously.

Weren't you?

You're never serious.

The pIeasure world is a worId of Iies.

- Stop it, wilI you! - You promised!

Let it go!

Don't hurt me!

Wait, that's for laughs!

That's for fun!

Come back, that's for fun!

DoubIe s�icide!

Quiet down!

Crazy woman!

You cowards! Yo�'d Iike to see me die!

lsn't it?

Well... aIl right!

Look at yo� there!

Cowards, alI of you!

You earn a Iiving only because I'm here.

You get fat off me!

You mustn't stay here!

R�n!

Get away from here.

l...

I am going to die.

I am going to die.

I am going to die.

I am going to die.

I am going to die.

You should have Iived!

FaIl 1909

l'm ready.

Get ready!

ReIax!

We're aImost there.

You, at the back, bend your head.

That's it.

Look this way.

There it is!

Cheer �p!

SmiIe.

You can't?

WeIl...

What is this?

What is this?

Ah, I was so frightened!

I aged 10 years at once.

Kobana wiIl give those years back to you.

Yes, she's inviting us in a western restaurant.

l never thought I'd ever have my photograph taken.

It's a pity your brother isn't here.

lt's his birthday.

And which is more, Kobana pays us o�r holiday.

We must thank her.

Kobana, thank you very much.

Kobana was born into a good family.

Afyer her parents died,

she worked here to pay for her brother's studies.

I see.

It is a beautiful story.

But it's true... .

Kobana showed me a photograph of her brother.

A photograph

she always keeps with her.

It's true, I'm not lying.

Nobusuke...

Since we've met,

you never touched me. Why didn't you?

Because l'm tainted?

No!

Undress.

Let me see you naked.

l am naked.

I've seen enough.

Get dressed.

I can do nothing but imagine.

Work... Justice too.

Until today,

l've done nothing but imaginary things.

Where are you going?

I'm not going anywhere.

In the state l am...

l'm only getting something to drink, that's all.

Sake flows tonight. - It brings in money.

lt's ready.

Kobana, get hoId of yo�rseIf.

Kobana!

Chika, give me some sake.

PIease!

- More? - Hurry up!

Here you are.

Stop, you're drunk.

You bring in a lot, b�t you should take it easy.

Next spring...

next spring...

my brother will graduate

Then...

Kobana...

Kobana!

Put off your fire!

Put off your fire!

Yoshizato, and now Kobana...

lt's bad for the house's reputation.

I've got an idea then.

l want you to become a great geisha.

Your new name wilI be ''Murasaki''.

It's been a famous geisha name for centuries.

Me?

Since Furushima is such a generous patron

you are eligible for the title of Great Geisha.

ActuaIly, I had thought of it for a long time.

we must renew with the tradition of Great Geishas Parades.

To be up to Yoshiwara's past we need a realIy big parade.

Wakashio, I am sure you can do it.

What about Kobana?

It's sad indeed.

But the doctor is positive : she will never get better.

You should wait

until her brother came for her.

Yes, she has a brother.

But Kobana won't say where he lives.

Yet she is dying.

lt's impossibIe to understand her.

Someone knows Kobana well.

The fiddIer.

Nothing counts in this world but money.

Even in helI, yo� need money.

money means happiness, money means unhappiness.

First comes money, then comes money,

And in the end comes money.

Money destroys famiIies,

Money makes couples break up,

Even though peopIe say it's not human,

Even though people say it's seIfish...

Dear spectators, I'm sorry.

I have upset boweIs.

l must relieve myseIf. l'Il be back soon.

While you wait, sing together.

As for you there, stop singing out of tune.

Sorry.

Let's start. One, two, three... .

Her ancestors were the Tokugawa shoguns'doctors?

Her brother is studying to be a doctor?

That takes the prize!

Can I have a drink?

Kobana's mother...

is a smaIl-time whore.

And her father some gambler.

Here you are.

She was stiIl a toddIer

when her mother abandoned her near a statue of Buddha.

l found her.

But when Kobana was 13,

a woman who claimed she was her mother asked for her.

And Kobana was soId off to an old pervert who rented rooms.

When I heard of this,

l went to see her.

But she seemed embarrassed by my coming.

So l pretended not to know her.

Hisano!

Hisano!

Kiku? That's a surprise!

l paid a visit to the Madame in Yoshiwara.

This is my husband.

Yes, I am married.

He is a carpenter.

He was one of my customers at Shinagawa.

He bought me back from the house.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

For six years, l had saved some money.

And he paid what was missing to free me.

I'lI write to you soon.

ln october, the festivals give its pace to life in Yoshiwara.

ln the mildness of the autumn air

Here you can see the rich outfits of the Great Geisha Murasaki.

Don't go, Sir.

That Iittle country girl is a reaI success.

Already a Great Geisha! That's �nbelievable.

You got us a real pearI. Thanks.

- Where is she? - Among the wealthy.

With Mr Ito.

Mr. Ito?

Hirobumi Ito, the famous politician?

Yes.

She is serving at a banquet set to honor Mr Ito

before he leaves for Manchuria.

That wiIl do.

Take this into Murasaki and Nobos�ke's bedroom.

Find me a customer at once.

- Kobana... - Get off!

I want a man!

Go get me a customer!

Kobana!

Let go of me!

Where are you going?

Let go of me!

What's with you today?

Shove off!

Stay here!

Leave me aIone!

Stay here!

Get out of the way!

No, stay here.

Stop!

Let go of me!

Don't go in here!

What does this mean?

Who took my room?

Now, it's Murasaki's bedroom. She is the new Great Geisha.

What?

Stop!

This is not your room any more.

Leave that aIone.

Kobana, stop it.

Stop it!

Nobusuke and Murasaki are here.

When l went back home quite happy

A toad that had been run over by a coach

Wished me good night.

You thief!

Go away.

This here is my bedroom.

I am the Great Geisha in this house, no one else.

As long as I'm not with my brother,

as Iong as l have debts,

l shalI work here.

You thief!

Get away!

Get out of my room.

Get away!

Let go of me!

M�rasaki!

Nobusuke, Iet go of me.

Nobusuke!

She did not understand.

Why is she angry at me?

l did everything l could for her, b�t she was lying.

She lied about everything.

About her family, about her brother.

Even the picture was a lie. She stole it at the photographer's.

lt does not matter whether she lied or not.

Do you think there is such a thing as truth in this world.

Yoshiwara is the worId of lies.

That story about Hirobumi Ito...

The Furushima trust, Japan... Nothing but lies.

Compared with all that,

Kobana's lie is nothing important.

Give her her room back.

Nobusuke!

l know everything in Yoshiwara is based upon lies.

B�t nevertheless.

Lying does not prevent having rules.

I sold my body in order to become the Great Geisha.

Why shouId I step aside to let that Iazy girI have her way?

You must understand...

That I hate poverty.

l have nothing against lying.

This worId of Iies,

I can do with it,

if it aIIows me to become the best.

Murasaki...

You have the souI of a prostitute.

That's right.

I am a prostitute.

Since the very day

l arrived in Yoshiwara,

l've been a whore and l've accepted it.

Whether you like it or not.

PIease...

Go ask the boss

to forgive Kobana.

I beg you.

The madame is mad with rage.

She says she's going to sell Kobana to a whorehouse in the slums.

She was locked inside the mattress cIoset, she can't be controled.

As for me, you know...

l want her to come back to what she was before.

l feel sorry for her. I can't hold it against her

Murasaki, pIease...

PIease!

Who's there?

l don't care who you are.

Come to bed with me.

PIease, come to bed with me.

PIease!

Come!

Bite me here! Bite me!

Please.

Bite me here...

Bite me here...

You must have suffered a Iot

to become what yo� are now.

Winter 191O

PiIgrimage day to the Yoshiwara shrine.

That day,

the Yoshiwara district is even more IiveIy than it �s�alIy is.

That girl is reaIly Iucky.

Furushima lefy her,

but she found Tsubosaka, another wealthy patron.

It's true.

l'm asked to pay back what l owe

But l can't get the money that is owed to me.

lt is the law of Iife here below.

I finaIly reIinquished aIl.

It's best to Iet yourself be carried by the stream in order to survive

Don't take me for a fool!

If l am for sale, then what are you?

Get away from here.

What?

You've got nothing to seIl?

I see... Yo�'re worse off than a whore.

You strut about.

but you're nothing but a freeIoader.

UnIess you're an expIoiter. Are you?

- Bitch! - Calm down!

Calm down.

Come here.

Kiku, be sensible.

Let's go home. I've seen enough.

Tsubosaka, what are yo� thinking of?

Let's get married.

I've reaIly thought it over.

l want to marry you.

Don't ask any question. Just say yes.

Then, l'Il buy you back.

Don't you want me to?

Answer me!

Well, l must say...

You're taking me by surprise.

lt is not a random proposaI.

I've had enough with civiI service.

l want to go back to Okayama and get into b�siness.

I want to forget my dead wife

and start a new life with you.

Actually...

I have a dream.

lt wilI make you laugh.

l want to be in a Great Geisha Parade.

But for that...

For that?

No, nothing.

I am so happy

that you do want me in this way.

My former husband, that carpenter, what a pervert! He wanted to have orgies.

l told him to get Iost.

And I Iefy him.

B�t l had nowhere to go.

So I had to come back here, to Yoshiwara.

Now, I'm single again.

But I've got a job.

One day, I'lI have my own business.

I could open a cake-shop.

Being a confectioner would suit you. You're such a nice girl.

I feeI exhilarated

WeII... Iet's sing, then...

Yes, let's sing!

Why did you come?

I've come to pay the interests.

I was born in this world.

I must accept my destiny.

lt's been some time.

Come and sit down.

l'll leave.

No, stay and Iisten.

My parents disowned their debauched son.

Those banknotes...

This is the last money l'll get from the Furushima trust.

There's 2000 yens.

Murasaki...

That money is yours.

With that money, you can buy your freedom.

Being a free woman

and, of course, if you agree...

- l'm ready to... - Wait!

Wait.

That money...

I'lI use that money to take part in the parade, next spring.

Being in the parade

is what l've always dreamed of.

My greatest dream, until now.

Nobusuke!

Nobusuke...

You always refused to touch me.

For you,

l was not a woman.

With that money...

l'Il show you

that I am

a flower of fIesh and blood in this worId

you despise so much.

You'Il see

what I'am capabIe of.

Now,

you and l...

I �nderstood.

That money is yours.

Do as you please with it.

Sir!

M�rasaki!

Let it be.

It's best this way.

It's best this way.

Kiku!

- There's someone to see you. - Who is it?

Some woman.

ReaIly?

What do you want?

You stole my husband from me. Didn't you do enough?

What do you want?

He feIl ill.

So what?

Last autumn, he went bankrupt and had to seIl his workshop.

Why are you telIing me this?

It's got nothing to do with me.

lt's Heaven's punishment and it's only right.

Yo�'re disturbing me. Go away!

Go away!

Wait.

Shit!

Why must I always try helping people?

Father, Mother, and aIl the others.

ShalI I go on suffering forever?

Why am I dogged by such bad Iuck?

Why does Heaven punish me that way?

Wait!

Haru, you Ieave your man alone?

l don't want to disturb him whiIe he's sleeping.

I see.

l'll go filI my stomach and then go to work.

Thank you, you were perfect.

Everyone was delighted.

I'm proud of you.

It wouldn't have been possibIe without Mr Furushima.

By the way...

I wanted to telI you about him.

We know where he lives.

Would you believe it? He's Iiving in Yoshiwara.

Where is he?

At Mikawa's, just below the bridge

Don't stay away too long? Right?

Nobusuke Furushima is here.

l was told so.

The Furushima heir?

There's a man living here, but his name is Shin.

We don't have rich customers here.

You must have been mistaken.

l was told he is here.

PIease... telI me where.

Hisano,

even if it was Shin you were looking for,

it's too Iate.

You were the one who ditched him. You chose to go on the parade.

You are a Great Geisha now. That should be enough.

You need love and care now?

You want too much.

lt's not like that at alI.

I want Nob�s�ke to understand that...

That's the whoIe point. Go away!

Kiku, why?

It is too Iate to move backward.

Yo�'re nothing b�t a Yoshiwara puppet.

And it suits you all right.

You stiIl don't understand you're nothing but a common whore.

You are crueI.

You are crueI, Kiku.

l? Cruel? I'm not the cruelIer.

You are cruel. You only care abo�t your own comfort.

And you know it perfectly weII.

B�t...

l've known since the beginning.

I realIy love Nobusuke. Nothing else matters.

B�t...

lf Nobusuke was wiIling to forgive me, I would marry him.

He won't!

Listen...

l'll teII you the truth.

Your dear Nobusuke

is with a pretty littIe thing.

He isn't yours anymore.

He is hers.

And shouId you try to coax him back,

l'll fight for this girl's love at the risk of my own life.

Go away.

Go away.

You are the queen of Yoshiwara.

Not many can get as lucky as you've been.

A happy girl has nothing to do here.

9th of apriI 1911

You've been here for three years.

Time goes by so quickly!

You're the luckiest girl I've known here.

It's not only pure Iuck.

It's mainly because she was persistent

that she succeeded in convincing Mr Tsubosaka.

Boss,

Madame,

Thank yo� for everything.

You can go with a Iight heart.

Good bye.

What are you Iooking at?

I'm looking at you.

You're so beautiful.

When I can leave here,

wilI you really marry me?

ReaI lovebirds!

Fire!

Stop!

Where is that fire?

In Yoshiwara. lt started at Mikawa's, below the bridge.

I'm getting down.

Haru!

Nobusuke!

AIl is burning.

That fire

destroyed all of Yoshiwara.

It made this pleasure district disappear for ever.

lts traditions had lasted for several centuries.

THE END