Koge
The Scent of Incense
- Release Date
- May, 24th, 1964
- Running Time
- 205 min
- Genre
- Feature
- Color
- -
- Screening Format
- -
[ Directed by ]
[ Cast ]
[ Staff ]
- ARIYOSHI Sawako ── Original Story
- KINOSHITA Keisuke ── Screenplay
- KUSUDA Hiroyuki ── Cinematography
[ Production Company ]
SHOCHIKU
[ Distributor (Japan) ]
SHOCHIKU
[ Story ]
Tomoko's father died when she was only 3 years old and her mother, Ikuyo, married a wealthy man who, unable to carry on the responsibilities of a family, runs away to Tokyo with her to lose his share of the estate. Ikuyo then sells Tomoko as an apprentice geisha. Later, the mother joins her daughter in the red-light district. Ikuyo's youthful appearance and devotion to her work soon makes her the top lady of the quarters. Unfortunately, Ikuyo's regal life is short lived. She becomes pregnant.
Meanwhile, Tomoko gradually approaches womanhood and is sold to Tokyo where she becomes a full-fledged geisha. One day Tomoko attends a private party and falls in love with Ezaki, an army cadet, and they pledge marriage. She now decides to give up her profession and open a geisha house, but the Great Kanto Earthquake shatters all her hopes.
With the help of a patron, she next becomes a successful innkeeper. But her mother says she will marry her former servant, and this causes ill-feeling. Tomoko's own plans are ruined when Ezaki, now an officer, says that he cannot marry the daughter of a prostitute. When war breaks out Tomoko tries to recreate a life of her own.
Following illness, and the death of her mother, Tomoko lives only with the memory of the dead. Now sixty-three, she watches the waves on the beach. Like the waves there is no return for her...only the scent of incense to remind her of the past.
【Quoted from Unijapan Film Quarterly 1964 7.4】
[ Contact (International) ]
SHOCHIKU CO., LTD.
International Sales & Licensing
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tel: +81-3-5550-1623
fax: +81-3-5550-1654
E-mail: ibd@shochiku.co.jp
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