Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts

『乙女ごころ三人姉妹』 
Otome-gokoro Sannin Shimai

Imported 35mm Print. The first of Naruse‘s P.C.L. productions (a predecessor of Toho) after his departure from Shochiku as well as his first sound film, Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts opens in the lowlife streets of Asakasa, as sisters, dressed in worn hand-me-downs, play the shamisen to earn money. Raised by a callous, domineering mother who commands a group of young girls to perform in the streets, the three sisters—a moga (modern girl), a street musician and the eldest who ran off after falling in love—reunite, but life’s cruel sense of irony orchestrates an unduly procession of misfortune. In his first approach to sound filmmaking, Naruse purportedly wanted to have the greatest degree of realism, working at length with his sound engineer in his first Yasunari Kawabata adaptation.

Print courtesy of The Japan Foundation.

Dir. Mikio Naruse, 1935, 75 min., 35mm, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Chikako Hosokawa, Masako Tsutsumi, Ryuko Umezono. Short story by Yasunari Kawabata.

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

© 1935 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.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).

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.