Ikko Furuya

Rieko is cleared of a false charge and released from a prison at the age of 40. She was accused of murdering a child at the orphanage where she worked and served eight years in prison. Her good friend Azumi, who was her only alibi, betrayed her. Rieko sets out to find Azumi and Sakuma, the detective in charge of the case, goes after her. He regrets sending the innocent Rieko to prison, but fears that she will take her anger and hatred out on Azumi. Rieko soon meets a young lady Mio.

A theater troupe rehearsing a classic play of murder, betrayal and phantasmagorical vengeance find life bloodily imitating art backstage. (TIFF)

Osome is a geisha and spy in the Tokugawa period. When she was very young she lost her family to a terrible fire and continues to search for her surviving brother. Along her journey, she discovers much of her family history and gains new friends.

Zoushu Hirate was the acting master of Chibashusaku Dojo in the Hokushinitto style. His wife was dead and he had drunk a lot every day. For the sake of money for alcohol, he chased Kanji Amakasa who killed an office worker of Daikansho. While Kanji hid in the house of Shigekura Sasagawa in a town along the Tone River. Sasagawa family was looking for a good swordsman for the coming fight with the Iioka family.