She drops His Lordship, and her man drops her!
The clients love it!
Really!
But that guy's a real piece of work.
Always pretending he's new to the Quarter...
Made to drink of the bitter cup by the man she loves...
My heart just bleeds for the poor dear!
Just watching it happen sent the chills all through me!
I'd appreciate your sympathy more if you hadn't arranged it all.
It's hell being in love. It's hell being loved.
And it's hell being sexy to survive!
You know nothing.
Why shouldn't I trust a man I love?!
Kiyoha! Stop it!
You've got a few clients and now you're all grown up, huh?!
Let go!
Come down into hell with me and you'll know how it feels!
Let go!
Let me go!
What do you know about it?!
Stop it!
Come back here!
Cry and you lose. Love and you lose.
Win and you lose.
Hey!
Where are you going?
Just to the bath.
Are you ready for this?
It's eating away at me.
'She who runs away will be known by her dainty feet'...
How will he look at me?
In tears?
An evil leer?
When I see for myself...
...will I know even then?
Haberdashery & Sundries
Be right back.
Oh...
The smiling demon...
Don't waste your tears on him.
Save them for your clients.
Who's crying?!
Everywhere's the same.
At least now...
...I know that.
Out of the way!
Gods preserve us!
What a waste!
Tsunezo!
Keep this quiet.
Out of the way!
Purify the room with salt!
Yoshizo...
Clean this up.
What a sight!
That damn artist took off!
He did it!
That bastard!
After all her talk about love...
...having its own rules!
Rise to Buddha!
So?
We need a courtesan fit for the highest grade...
...to take her position.
You're the only one who can do it, Kiyoha.
Just get someone almost as good.
We can't do that!
I'm fine being number 2 or 3. I'm freer to bitch that way.
You're our only girl...
...fit to promenade!
Seiji! Say something!
Oiran...
Please, Oiran.
Kiyoha! I heard you ran off.
Where did they catch you?
They didn't catch me.
I came back myself.
This way.
The samurai's name is Kuranosuke Matsumoto.
He's a very important gentleman.
He'll be a very good customer. Don't let him get away!
His power and money mean nothing. If I like him, he won't get away.
If not, I won't meet him again.
I saw your promenade the other night.
Very beautiful.
Thank you.
I very much wanted to meet you.
And I must say...
...that paulownia chest-of-drawers is very nice.
The chest may look very nice, but there's nothing inside it.
I thought it was a point of pride with the ladies of the Quarter...
...to hide that from a client.
Pretending there's something there when there isn't...
It's petty. I don't do that.
Pretending there's nothing there when there is something...
That's called 'style'.
I see.
Perhaps this money will buy you kimonos to fill that chest of drawers.
I didn't say I wanted money to fill that chest.
We were meant to be.
An oiran has expenses.
Please don't be shy.
However great a samurai you might be...
...you don't please a courtesan with money.
So you can just bugger off!
What do you think? Not a bad dancer, eh?
I yield.
I win!
How dare you!
What are you doing?!
I apologize, Milord.
She's still getting ready. I'll send her straight here.
That's all right.
I'm enjoying the sake.
Should you keep him waiting, Higurashi-oiran?
Sure! You were here first.
Yeah, but...
...I'm not a regular. I work for days to afford you!
You should be looking after clients with money!
Me...
...I'm crazy about you.
I'm in heaven just being here.
You're such an idiot!
That's exactly what I like about you.
And I know very well that you don't have any money.
Yeah, I guess so...
Excuse me.
Today I come only to apologize.
My behavior the other day was unpardonable.
Please find it in your heart to forgive my poor manners.
Raise your head, please.
It's as you say.
A courtesan does have expenses.
I was lying when I said your money meant nothing.
I apologize.
Seiji...
Do you have any marriage plans?
Uh, no...
Well...
...would you like to marry my niece?
I couldn't!
At least hear us out. We don't have any children.
She's like a daughter to us.
And your mother was a working girl here.
You're like a son to us already.
If I do say so myself...
...the girl's very pretty.
And not from the Quarter, of course.
In that case, it is my filial duty to insist...
...such a young lady should marry a man of greater substance.
I need someone to succeed me in running this house.
You know very well...
...we can't just close it down.
Tell me, Higurashi...
...would you like to leave here?
If it were on my own two feet...
...I'd leave any time.
I'll take you out of here.
Whatever has come over you, Milord Kuranosuke?
Do you need someone to warm you?
Don't make jokes. I mean it.
You won't just be a concubine.
I'll look after you, no matter what.
If I ask formally, will you accept me?
When the cherry tree blooms.
The cherry tree?
When cherry trees bloom here in Yoshiwara...
...I'll be ready to leave.
Higurashi!
It's incredible!
Lord Matsumoto's hired the whole Quarter!
And that's not all!
He says he wants you to see cherry blossoms!
Come and look! Come on!
Ah, that's good!
Everyone! Listen to me!
I wish to take Higurashi of the Tamagikuya...
...as my wife.
That is the reason for this banquet. Drink your fill!
Lord Matsumoto!
Thank you, Milord!
Lord Kuranosuke! Drink with us!
That's wonderful!
Higurashi...
...you're not pregnant, are you?
Why do you ask?
What if I am?
You'll have to get rid of it with lantern-plant.
It'll be rough.
Take some time off. The quicker you do it the better.
Who says I'm going to?
I've been blessed.
Whoever's the father, it's my child.
I'm going to have it.
What are you talking about?!
Even if I didn't love the father...
...the child will always be mine.
You can't refuse His Lordship now. That's the rule!
The boss'll force you to get rid of the baby.
I won't let him! Tell His Lordship no.
He's a samurai! He can kill you!
If it means killing my own child...
...then he can damn well kill both of us!
Suit yourself.
Damn right I will!
Higurashi's so lucky! Bought out of here by a lord!
Really!
But can a whore really be a samurai's wife?
I'm sure Higurashi will make him a fine wife.
Anyway, that'll never happen to any of us.
I don't care who it is, someone get me out of here!
Me, too!
And me!
What's the matter, Mr Seiji?
Nothing.
Have these.
Three of them? You don't mind?
Shigeji...
...do you miss Takao-oiran?
Higurashi-oiran looks after me now.
The Missus says to be grateful for that.
I see...
Who would you miss if they died, Mr Seiji?
Good question...
I wonder who...
I'm pregnant.
I don't know who the father is, of course.
But I mean to have the child.
I couldn't possibly go to you...
...pregnant with a child whose father I don't know.
Even less could I abort the child...
...to become your wife.
Is this true?
Higurashi...
You are a fool, but so am I.
Would it trouble you if I said...
...I'd still have you?
Milord...
Higurashi...
Higurashi!
What's wrong?
Higurashi!
I won't be needing the lantern-plant.
I keep telling myself it can't be helped...
But the poor baby...
My mother...
...was a whore.
The child would be happy knowing you wanted it.
Get some rest.
Did you think I was running away again?
You never were any good at it.
It was here inside me...
My baby!
My Elder Sister is really something!
She's going to be a samurai's wife!
My name is Ume. How do you do.
My husband wants one blessing to go with another.
He'd like Seiji and Ume's wedding on the day you're redeemed.
Would you mind?
What are you looking at, Mr Seiji?
Oh...
...I was just thinking it might rain tomorrow.
It's been a long time, Kiyoha...
No, you're 'Higurashi' now.
I really wish people wouldn't just suddenly...
...keep changing their names.
I never know what to call anyone.
When did this cicada rise up out of the ground?
What about you?
We never saw you any more...
...after you wore yourself out chasing your youth with a 'new girl'.
Do you remember...
...that cherry tree over at Inari Shrine?
Yes.
The only cherry tree in Yoshiwara.
They say that ever since you were an attendant...
...you've been saying...
...you'd leave here when flowers grow on that tree.
That was a little girl's dream.
Why do you think that?
I've given up hoping that tree will ever flower.
And so now it never will.
Was it a good thing to just abandon hope?
If you don't give up hope...
...call the truth a lie...
...and a lie the truth...
...you won't survive.
Do you really...
...believe that?
Higurashi...
...you don't understand a thing.
There can't be a cherry tree...
...that doesn't flower.
It's like he's going home after a night out.
Nobody knew the Yoshiwara Quarter like he did.
Thank you, sir!
Thank you!
Was someone teasing you?
I was dreaming.
A nightmare?
I dreamed you'd gone far away and died.
I won't die.
But thanks. Now go back to bed.
Here, have this.
It might not suit you, though.
Me more than you!
Wear it after your first time.
We have to be up early.
lf you sleep in, they'll burn moxa on you.
Are you still up?
Oh, it's you...
So tomorrow's my last day...
When I first came here, the place looked so big...
Now it feels tiny.
Well, with you gone...
...it'll be quieter.
Same to you!
Higurashi...
Be happy.
You, too.
Still no flowers, huh?
A flower.
Yep.
Shall we go see some real cherry blossoms?
You won't have anything if you go with me, though.
That sounds like more fun than having everything.
That bastard! He'll pay for this!
I'll kill him!
Fools, both of them!
As I live and breathe!
Hey!
That's the only place you can live, you know.
I wonder where Oiran is...
In the bath, maybe?
One, two, three...
Only three left?
Then I'll give one to Oiran, and one to Mr Seiji.
Kiyoha / Higurashi Anna Tsuchiya
Kuranosuke Kippei Shiina
Soujiro Hiroki Narimiya
Takao Yoshino Kimura
Shohi Miho Kanno
Mitsunobu Masatoshi Nagase Wakagiku Minami Carpenter Hiroshi Yamamoto
Young Kiyoha Ayame Koike Shigeji MegumiYamaguchi O-Ran Kyoko Koizumi
Tamagikuya Owner Renji Ishibashi
Tamagikuya Missus Mari Natsuki
Konoya Sadanji lchikawa (Special Guest Appearance)
Seiji Masanobu Ando
Based on the manga "SAKURAN" by Moyoco Anno published by Kodansha Ltd.
Screenplay Yuki Tanada
Music Ringo Shena
Executive Producers Yasushi Shiina Koichi Yamazaki
Takao Igarashi Fumihide Mizuno Hiroyuki Fushitani
Toshio Hirose Osamu lshikawa Akira lshii
Chief Producer Masao Teshima
Producers Mitsuru Uda Yoshinori Fujita
Associate Producer Masayuki Tanishima
Line Producer Chikako Nakabayashi
Cinematography Takuro lshizaka
Lighting Hideo Kumagai
Recordist Showa Matsumoto
Art Designer Namiko lwaki
Decorator Toshiharu Aida
VFX Mitsuaki Hashimoto
Editor Hiroaki Morishita
Continuity Atsumi Koizumi
Assistant Director Toru Yamamoto
Production Manager Masahiro Hondo
Stylists Daisuke lga Yuko Sugiyama
Flower Artist Makoto Azuma
Graphic Design Tycoon Graphics
Support Lumine Wakaba
Support The Agency For CulturalAffairs
Special Support Peach John
Special Thanks to Kyoho Jardins des Fleurs
SAKURAN Film Committee
Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc. PARCO CO.,LTD. TVAsahi Corporation
Kodansha Ltd. Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Tower RecordsJapan Inc. / NMNL.co.ltd
WOWOW lNC. NAGOYA BROADCASTlNG NETWORK. Cinema lnvestment Corporation
Production / Distributor Asmik Ace Entertainment, lnc.
Director Mika Ninagawa
Subtitles lan MacDougall
(C)2007 SAKURAN Film Committee (C)Moyoco Anno / Kodansha