Tokyo a la Mode. Web Magazine for Japanese Fashion and Urban Culture

Sakuran

By Bobby /Mar 19, 2007
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Sakuran is the tale of a young girl named Kyoha who enters the pleasure quarters of Yoshiwara.  Through her beauty and spirit, Kyoha rises above her obstacles—and rivals—to become a top courtesan in Edo Period Japan (the story is set about 300 years ago).

The film, recently released in Japan, is based on a manga of the same name by Moyoco Anno.  Triple threat Anna Tsuchiya (she models, acts and sings) from Shimotsuma Monogatari (Kamikaze Girls) stars as the defiant Kyoha. 

In her directorial debut, Mika Ninagawa brings her visual creativity as a reknown photographer to the screen by filling it with lush imagery and rich colors.  Also of note is the music created for the film by Ringo Shiina, one of Japan’s true original voices in the music industry.

LINKS: Sakuran movie website - has an English content page
Photos from the film