Seventeen years and 1,100 racy productions later, declining box-office fortunes again pushed Nikkatsu to a new genre. In 1989, it announced it would concentrate on bigger-budget, mainstream features using major stars. The studio filed for bankruptcy protection in July 1993. As in any good romance, the path to happiness is fraught with obstacles, not the least of which is Tsutomu's deep-rooted distrust of women. When he and Mitsu have a brief fling, he can't bring himself to proclaim his love.
Years go by until the two meet again.
Mitsu, now an all-forgiving bar hostess and Tsutomu a salaried employee, almost manage to overcome their hurdles when a dark cloud appears. A red splotch on Mitsu's arm is diagnosed as leprosy. It is at the mountain-top hospital where Mitsu is sent for treatment that the two finally find bliss. But given Nikkatsu's recent death-defying acts, a final roll of the credits for the venerable studio is probably premature. All Rights Reserved.