Hideko the Bus Conductress

『秀子の車掌さん』 
Hideko no shasho-san

Imported 35mm Print. The first of Mikio Naruse’s 17 collaborations with actress Hideko Takamine, Hideko the Bus Conductress is a delightful portrait of a rural bus route as a dry spell in patronage pushes diligent young ticket-taker Okoma (Takamine) and her driver to figure out new ways to bring in business. Imbued with a go-getting entrepreneurial spirit, Okoma proposes to narrate the bus route in the cheerful parlance of radio girls of the time. Based on writer Masuji Ibuse’s (Black Rain) popular serialized heroine Okoma, Takamine’s role in the film would mark her transition from a Shirley Temple-esque child actress to more mature parts. Light in tone and at times reminiscent of Hiroshi Shimizu’s Mr. Thank You—particularly for its provincial airs, sight-seeing pastorals and relaxed plotting—Naruse’s wartime production portrays a young girl on the verge of finding her own voice.

Print courtesy of The Japan Foundation.

Dir. Mikio Naruse, 1941, 54 min., 35mm, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Hideko Takamine, Kamatari Fujiwara, Daijiro Natsukawa.

Part of the John and Miyoko Davey Classic Film Series
Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us – Part I
May 9—31, 2025

© 1941 Toho Co., Ltd.

Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us is co-organized by Japan Society, Metrograph and the Japan Foundation, New York.

Mikio Naruse: The World Betrays Us – Part I is generously supported by The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund for Classic Japanese Film.

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by Ms. Miyoko U. Davey, The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, and Film Circle members.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film Program. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film Program.