Directed by:
Mika NinagawaScreenplay:
タナダユキCinematography:
Takuro IshizakaComposer:
Ringo ShiinaCast:
Anna Tsuchiya, Kippei Shiina, Hiroki Narimiya, Yoshino Kimura, Miho Kanno, Junko Nakajima, Renji Ishibashi, Masanobu Andō, Masatoshi Nagase, Ken'ichi Endō (more)Plots(1)
Tokyo was once a tiny fishing village called Edo. The city owes its rapid expansion to the fact that, in 1603, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu wanted to found the country's capital at a place that was as far away as possible from the imperial seat in Kyoto. Edo soon grew to become a magnificent city. Anyone passing beneath the Great Gate of the new capital entered a glamorous world of pleasure and recreation. In Yoshiwara, the door-to-door bordellos covered an area easily equivalent to nine football pitches. Nevertheless, the quarter could not be compared to red-light districts of today's cities. The pastimes on offer in Yoshiwara were meant exclusively for wealthy visitors, who were often members of the best families in the land. The brothels were more like salons, presided over by courtesans. Indeed, these salons had considerable influence on the arts, fashions and other cultural proclivities of what is known as the "Edo" period. The women who worked at such places were expected to be as well-versed in music, dance and parlour games, as in the art of flower arranging. A courtesan in Edo could not be bought, rather, she wanted to be won over, and therefore expected a certain amount of attention, sensitivity and generosity from the man who conquered her. Edo's ordinary inhabitants eyed everything that went on in Yoshiwara with a mixtrure of envy and distrust. SAKURAN tells the story of one woman living in the lustrous world of Yoshiwara who was determined to stand on her own two feet and live life as she pleased. (Berlinale)
(more)Cast
![Anna Tsuchiya](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276534_2ca824.jpg)
Anna Tsuchiya
Japan
Best movies:
Memories of Matsuko (2006)
Kamikaze Girls (2004)
The Taste of Tea (2004)
![Kippei Shiina](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/948/157948923_cdb2f9.jpg)
Kippei Shiina
Japan
Best movies:
Admiral Yamamoto (2011)
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (2005)
Quill (2004)
![Hiroki Narimiya](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/273/273224_c45687.jpg)
Hiroki Narimiya
Japan
Best movies:
Nana (2005)
The Floating Castle (2012)
In the Night of the Storm (2005)
![Yoshino Kimura](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/278/278048_fe105d.jpg)
Yoshino Kimura
UK
Best movies:
Confessions (2010)
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Fine, Totally Fine (2008)
![Miho Kanno](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/169/021/169021859_3w1sq9.jpg)
Miho Kanno
Japan
![Junko Nakajima](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/490/167490658_i9zkjz.jpg)
Junko Nakajima
Japan
Best movies:
Spirited Away (2001)
Samurai Fiction (1998)
Isle of Dogs (2018)
![Renji Ishibashi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/948/157948984_a7ec64.jpg)
Renji Ishibashi
Japan
Best movies:
Zatoichi at Large (1972)
Farewell to the Ark (1984)
Half a Confession (2004)
![Masanobu Andō](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/169/010/169010301_kz9wiq.jpg)
Masanobu Andō
Japan
Best movies:
Kids Return (1996)
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning (2021)
Drive (2002)
![Masatoshi Nagase](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/046/576/46576490_1c5fbc.jpg)
Masatoshi Nagase
Japan
Best movies:
The Hidden Blade (2004)
Sweet Red Bean Paste (2015)
Mystery Train (1989)
![Ken'ichi Endō](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/768/166768999_e6a70d.jpg)
Ken'ichi Endō
Japan
Best movies:
Nobody Knows (2004)
The Raid 2 (2014)
Crows-Zero (2007)
![Kyōko Koizumi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/055/126/55126045_b1a767.jpg)
Kyōko Koizumi
Japan
Best movies:
Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad (2007)
Tokyo Sonata (2008)
Hanging Garden (2005)
![Shun Oguri](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/906/164906754_088523.jpg)
Shun Oguri
Japan
Best movies:
Júki (2006) (TV movie)
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa (2005)
Weathering with You (2019)
Keishi Nagatsuka
Japan
![Yu-ri Sung](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/674/166674189_ee31d9.jpg)
Yu-ri Sung
Japan
Best movies:
Like Father, Like Son (2013)
I Wish (2011)
The 8-Year Engagement (2017)
![Tomomi Maruyama](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/169/212/169212942_yy1avq.jpg)
Tomomi Maruyama
Japan
Best movies:
Nana (2005)
Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (2014)
Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno (2014)
![山本浩司](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/337/168337815_je7li2.jpg)
山本浩司
Japan
Best movies:
I Just Didn't Do It (2006)
True Mothers (2020)
The Lightning Tree (2010)
![Minami](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/118/160118402_2609d6.jpg)
Minami
Japan
Best movies:
Battle Royale (2000)
Minamata (2020)
Her Granddaughter (2015)
杉本凌士
Japan
Best movies:
Suspect X (2008)
Battle Royale (2000)
Sakuran (2006)
![村松利史](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/265/166265139_6c50e2.jpg)
村松利史
Japan
Best movies:
Nana (2005)
Instant swamp (2009)
Vital (2004)