The Insect Woman (1963)
Nippon konchûki (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 2h 3min
- Drama
- 16 Nov 1963 (Japan)
- Movie
Life story of a woman born in poverty trying to succeed. Through her many schemes, she faces her ups and downs in a cyclical nature, fueled mostly by self-interest.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 12 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Seizaburô Kawazu | ... |
Karasawa
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Kazuo Kitamura | ... |
Chuji
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| Tanie Kitabayashi | ... |
Madam
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Teruko Kishi | ... |
Rin
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Emiko Aizawa | ... |
Rui
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Emiko Azuma | ... |
Kane
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Sumie Sasaki | ... |
En
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Hiroyuki Nagato | ... |
Matsunami
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Shigeru Tsuyuguchi | ... |
Honda
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| Asao Koike | ... |
Sawakichi
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| Sachiko Hidari | ... |
Tome Matsuki
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| Jitsuko Yoshimura | ... |
Nobuko
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| Masumi Harukawa | ... |
Midori
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Daisaburô Hirata | ... |
Kamibayashi
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Setsuko Amamiya | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Tomio Aoki | ... |
(uncredited)
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Tomoko Aoyagi | ... |
(uncredited)
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Hyôe Enoki | ... |
(uncredited)
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Kazuko Fujii | ... |
(uncredited)
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Makiko Fujisawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Makiko Fukamachi | ... |
(uncredited)
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Yûzô Harumi | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jôji Hidehara | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jirô Hiratsuka | ... |
(uncredited)
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Kayoko Honoo | ... |
Miyako (uncredited)
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Akiko Hoshii | ... |
(uncredited)
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Keiko Kanô | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Takeshi Katô | ... |
(uncredited)
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Michie Kawaguchi | ... |
(uncredited)
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Kyôko Kinukawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Keiko Kitaide | ... |
(uncredited)
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Tomiko Kudô | ... |
(uncredited)
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Akira Kume | ... |
(uncredited)
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Masakazu Kuwayama | ... |
Owagawa En's Lover (uncredited)
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Hiroshi Midorikawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Gen Mihama | ... |
(uncredited)
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Tokuhei Miyahara | ... |
(uncredited)
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Naoko Miyazawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Midori Mori | ... |
(uncredited)
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Masumi Motegi | ... |
(uncredited)
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Tsugio Nakayama | ... |
(uncredited)
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Yoshiyuki Nemoto | ... |
(uncredited)
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Kunio Niitsu | ... |
(uncredited)
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Shôichi Ozawa | ... |
Ken (uncredited)
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Tomoko Sagawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Yoshikazu Saitô | ... |
(uncredited)
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Kôichirô Sakai | ... |
(uncredited)
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Shinzô Shibata | ... |
(uncredited)
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Hitomi Shimizu | ... |
(uncredited)
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Tôru Sumikawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Masuyo Suzumura | ... |
(uncredited)
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Eiko Takada | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Toshio Takahara | ... |
(uncredited)
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Hiroshi Takao | ... |
(uncredited)
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Chigusa Takayama | ... |
(uncredited)
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Harumi Tanaka | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Taiji Tonoyama | ... |
Foreman (uncredited)
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Yoshio Tsuchida | ... |
(uncredited)
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Masako Urushizawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Masahiko Uzawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Megumi Wakaba | ... |
(uncredited)
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Setsuko Watanabe | ... |
(uncredited)
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Toshiko Yabuki | ... |
(uncredited)
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Sakutarô Yamakawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Takashi Ôkawa | ... |
(uncredited)
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Setsumi Ôkura | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Shôhei Imamura | ... | (as Shohei Imamura) |
Written by
| Keiji Hasebe | ... | (screenplay by) and |
| Shôhei Imamura | ... | (screenplay by) (as Shohei Imamura) |
Produced by
| Jirô Tomoda | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Kazu Ôtsuka | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Toshirô Mayuzumi | ||
Cinematography by
| Shinsaku Himeda | ||
Editing by
| Mutsuo Tanji | ||
Art Direction by
| Kimihiko Nakamura | ||
Production Management
| Masanori Yamanoi | ... | executive in charge of production |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Tadahiko Isomi | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Tsuneo Furuyama | ... | sound |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Yasuo Iwaki | ... | gaffer |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Mary-X Distribution (2018) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- ARTE (2021) (Germany) (tv) (internet)
- ARTE (2021) (France) (tv) (internet)
- Channel Neko (2007) (Japan) (tv)
- Elephant Films (2014) (France)
- Eureka Entertainment (2012) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Japanese New Wave Cinema Classics (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- Toho (1964) (United States) (subtitled)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Amorality in Japan. Tome is born into poverty in rural Japan, in the late 1910s. Chuji, her father, dotes on her; her mother is less faithful. Tome becomes a neighbor's mistress, works at his mill as World War II rages, and has a daughter. After an affair with a mill supervisor, Tome goes to Tokyo to seek her fortune. She leaves the child, Nobuko, in Chuji's care. Tome's a maid at a brothel, learns trade from the madam, enjoys the protection of a businessman whose mistress she becomes, and is soon herself the boss. As Chuji ages and Nobuko grows up with her own ideas, can Tome's self-preserving schemes provide continued comfort? Or will the mice scamper over her?
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She lives by instinct with no sense of right or wrong. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #473. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in 100 Years of Japanese Cinema (1995). See more » |
| Quotes |
Tome Matsuki:
Is that it? Is that how human beings are? Karasawa: Yes. That's how life is. See more » |