Shoji Maruyama

This film is based on a real Meiji era performer -- and tells of Tochuken's partnership with his wife (played by Chikako Hosokawa) who played shamisen for his songs/recitations), his affair with a geisha (Sachiko Chiba), and the deterioration of his partnership and marriage.

The film documents an excavation in 1953 of a large kofun (burial mound) near Yuuka village (in present day Misaki) in Okayama prefecture. Under the guidance of researchers at Okayama University nearly 10,000 locals participated in the undertaking and was hailed as archaeology/history "by the people." It is considered one the most significant documentary films of the postwar period in Japan.

A half brother and sister work at a hotel in Hakone respectively as a porter and a souvenir shop clerk. They are close. One day a woman named Hasegawa checks into the hotel in order to recuperate in a calm environment with fresh air. She is the mother of the store employee. The mother and daughter were separated due to the Kanto earthquake. The girl was practically raised by her older half brother.

Short animated film from 1947

Short animated film from 1947