is a 1938 Japanese

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

film written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.

Plot

The movie opens with Toku and his fellow blind masseur friend Fuku walking down a mountain path, heading for a spa town where they have been hired to serve the guests. Toku develops an affection for a female customer who passed him on his way to the village and whom he recognises by her distinct Tokyo smell. The woman also awakens the interest of guest Shintarō, who arrived together with his little nephew. When a series of thefts occurs, Toku, believing that she is the culprit, wants to help her escape. Instead, he not only learns that she is innocent, but also that she is on the run from her patron whom she dislikes. The next day, she leaves the village in a carriage with a man, possibly her patron, witnessed by Toku and Shintarō and his nephew.

Cast

Mieko Takamine (2 December 1918 – 27 May 1990) was a Japanese actress and singer. Biography Mieko Takamine was born the eldest daughter of famous chikuzen biwa player and teacher Chikufu Takamine. She gave her acting debut in the 1936 film ''Kimi yo takarak ...

as Michiho Misawa * Shin Tokudaiji as Tokuichi *

Shinichi Himori , born , was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1925 to 1959. Career Born in Tokyo, Himori entered the Shochiku studios in 1924 and, after starting out in side roles, became a leading player, particularly speciali ...

as Fukuinchi Misawa *

Shin Saburi was a Japanese film actor noted for his leading roles in a number of films by the director Yasujirō Ozu including ''Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family'' (1941), '' Tea Over Rice'' (1952), ''Equinox Flower'' (1958) and '' Late Autumn'' (196 ...

as Shintarō Omura * Bakudan Kozo as Kenichi *

Takeshi Sakamoto was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1926 to 1965. Selected filmography External links * 1899 births 1974 deaths Japanese male film actors Actors from Hyōgo Prefecture {{Japan-film-actor-stub ...

as Manager of the Kujira Inn * Zentaro Iijima as Kamekichi * Hideko Kasuga as Okiku * Chieko Kyotani (credited Chieko Kyoya) as Oaki * Toru Hirose as Hiking student * Akio Isono as Hiking student * Toshiaki Konoe as Hiking student * Fusako Maki as Hiking girl *

Mitsuko Miura was a Japanese actress active from 1938 to 1964. She appeared in over 150 films under the direction of filmmakers like Mikio Naruse, Kenji Mizoguchi and Hiroshi Shimizu. Biography After graduating from Otsuma Girls' High School, Tokyo, Mitsuko ...

as Hiking girl * Ayuko Hirano as Hiking girl

Legacy

Film scholar Alexander Jacoby describes ''The Masseurs and a Woman'' as part of a group of three Shimizu films (together with '' Mr. Thank You '' and ''Ornamental Hairpin'') which "were bittersweet studies of grown-up feelings" and "group portraits set among temporary communities" that "concentrated more on the delineation of character than on plot". Distanced from social and political realities and with its largely personal concerns, it conformed, according to Jacoby, with the producing company

Shochiku () is a Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution company. It also produces and distributes anime films, in particular those produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks (which has a long-time partnership—the company released most, if not all ...

's tradition of ''Ōfuna flavor'' films (low-key domestic dramas, named after the location of the company's studios).

Home media

The Criterion Collection released the film in the US on DVD in 2009 as part of the Eclipse Series 15: "Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu".

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Masseurs and a Woman, The 1938 films 1938 comedy films 1938 drama films 1938 comedy-drama films Japanese comedy-drama films 1930s Japanese-language films Japanese black-and-white films Films directed by Hiroshi Shimizu Films with screenplays by Hiroshi Shimizu Films about blind people