The ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist Sharaku is an enigmatic puzzle in the world of Japanese art. Working at an age when such masters of the trade as Hokusai and Utamaro were at their zenith, Sharaku suddenly emerged out of obscurity and produced roughly 140 strikingly brilliant portraits of Kabuki performers, only to disappear just as suddenly. To date, no one knows about his true identity or about his post-ukiyo-e career. Veteran director Masahiro Shinoda tries to fill in the blanks with this lavish period production. Set in the 1790s, the film centers on Tombo (Hiroyuki Sanada), a lowly Kabuki player who gets dumped from his troupe after breaking his foot. He joins a ragged traveling outfit run by former courtesan Okan. While not on-stage, he takes up drawing, for which he realizes he has considerable ability. His talents are noticed by Tsutaya Juzaburo, a ukiyo-e publisher who is desperate for a replacement after his star artist Utamaro defected to his rival's stable.
Credits
Sharaku Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Hiroyuki Sanada
He was 34, now 63 years old
|
|
|
Toshiya Nagasawa
He was 33, now 62 years old
|
|
|
Shima Iwashita
She was 54, now 83 years old
|
|
|
Shirō Sano
He was 40, now 69 years old
|
|
|
Masumi Miyazaki
She was 27, now 56 years old
|
|
|
Frankie Sakai
He was 66, 67 years old when he died
|
|
|
Naoto Takenaka
He was 39, now 68 years old
|
|
|
Naomasa Musaka
He was 41, now 70 years old
|
|
|
Eisuke Sasai
He was 36, now 65 years old
|
|
|
Tsurutaro Kataoka
He was 40, now 69 years old
|
|
|
Yasosuke Bando
|
|
|
Riona Hazuki
She was 19, now 48 years old
|
|
Sharaku Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
Tatsuo Suzuki as Director of Photography. He was 60 (76) years old when He died
|
Camera |
|
Masahiro Shinoda as Director. He was 64 (now 93) years old
|
Directing |
