Women who sacrifice themselves for love. In "The water magician", aki (Takako Irie) is a famous water juggling performer in a travelling carnival. After falling in love with carriage driver Kinya (Tokihiko Okada), she vows to make sure he always has enough money to make his way through law school. Putting his needs first, Taki makes great sacrifices to ensure there is always money for him in every letter she sends, even if it means that she has to go without. When the money begins to run out, Taki is forced to take desperate measures to help Kinya live his dream.
Women who sacrifice themselves for men.
In "the Downfall of Osen", Isuzu Yamada was sold to a brothel as a young girl and now works for a cruel and shady antiques dealer as a come-on in a deal. He is trying to swindle some monks, who need to rebuild their temple, out of some valuable statues. She has taken under her wing the very humble Daijirô Natsukawa, a would-be medical student. She wants him to be a great man and turns in her employers and pays for the boy's tuition.... but where is she to get money to let him complete his studies?
In "the Downfall of Osen", Isuzu Yamada was sold to a brothel as a young girl and now works for a cruel and shady antiques dealer as a come-on in a deal. He is trying to swindle some monks, who need to rebuild their temple, out of some valuable statues. She has taken under her wing the very humble Daijirô Natsukawa, a would-be medical student. She wants him to be a great man and turns in her employers and pays for the boy's tuition.... but where is she to get money to let him complete his studies?
