Overview

After the RAA was shut down by GHQ, businessman Kuramoto Daisuke returned to Sakurahara with his women and rebuilt his brothel, Hinomaru-ro. His son, Maresuke, returned from the war but fled, disgusted by his father’s business. By 1953, the red-light district flourished again. Wealthy customer Kinokuniya took Mitsuko, a young virgin, as his mistress. Meanwhile, university student Chieko entered the brothel to research prostitution for her thesis, challenging the women’s views. In 1956, the Prostitution Prevention Law was enacted, and Kuramoto died from the shock. Maresuke took over the brothel, improving the women’s treatment. Mitsuko later returned after being rejected by her family and fell for an innocent student, Shibata. When the law took effect in March 1958, the women became soapland workers. On the night Sakurahara’s lights went out forever, Mitsuko took poison.