Ejima and Ikushima (1955)
This period film is inspired by one of the most notorious scandals to have taken place in Edo-period Japan. The heroine, Ejima, was a lady of the Ooku, the harem of Edo Castle in which the Shogun’s mother, wife and concubines resided, forbidden from contact with any other man except in the presence of the Shogun. The institution played a key role in the Byzantine world of Japanese court politics during the Edo era. In 1714, Lady Ejima was sent to pay her respects at a Buddhist temple in the city, and chose to pay an unauthorised visit to the kabuki theatre – a violation of protocol that was to have tragic consequences.
Released: Oct 30, 1955
Runtime: 126 minutes
Genre: Drama
Stars: Chikage Awashima, Ichikawa Danjūrō XI, Mitsuko Kusabue, Mieko Takamine, Kuniko Miyake, Ichikawa Sadanji III
Crew: Hideo Ōba (Director), Takao Yanai (Adaptation), Seiichi Funahashi (Original Story), 高村潔 (Production Controller), 白井和夫 (Producer), Hideo Ishimoto (Cinematography)