Setsuko Hara
In order to secure its contract stars Setsuko Hara and Yoko Tsukasa from Toho for his prior film "Late Autumn", Ozu agreed to direct "The End of Summer" for the studio, making it his only Toho film and the only one of three not produced for Shochiku (the others were "Floating Weeds" for Daiei and "The Munekata Sisters" for Shintoho). As a result, the film is filled with Toho players, many of whom took the opportunity to appear in their only Ozu film, including marquee headliners Hisaya Morishige and Akira Takarada taking small roles. Ozu added a scene at the end to accommodate star Yūko Mochizuki, who requested to be in the film, and his signature player Chishū Ryū.