The Ghost Cat and the Mysterious Shamisen

Synopsis

A quintessential example of the period "ghost cat" (bakeneko or kaibyo) movie, this was one of at least six such titles released by the studio Shinko Kinema between 1937-40 featuring Japan's first scream queen, Sumiko Suzuki. Here she plays Mitsue, the possessive onna-kabuki actress betrothed to apprentice shamisen player Seijiro. When one day Okiyo, a beautiful young girl of samurai class, is led to Seijiro's house by his lost cat Kuro, she becomes besotted with him. Dark jealous passions are invoked in Mitsue, which are intensified when Seijiro gifts Okiyo his precious shamisen. The cat is the first to suffer at the end of Mitsue's hairpin, but returns from the grave to assist Okiyo's younger sister Onui avenge her sister's murder.

Main Cast

Sumiko Suzuki

Mitsue Bando

Age : 80 | Popularity : 3%

Mitsuko Mori

Onui, younger sister of Okiyo

Age : 92 | Popularity : 3%

Kinue Utagawa

Okiyo

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Shinpachirō Asaka

Age : 117 | Popularity : 3%

Eigorō Onoe

Age : 77 | Popularity : 3%

Mitsugu Terashima

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Hiroko Takayama

Okimi

Age : N/A | Popularity : 4%

Tokusaburo Arashi

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Crew

Department	Role	Name
Directing	Director	Kiyohiko Ushihara
Writing	Screenplay	Shōtarō Saijō
	Original Story	Shōtarō Saijō
Camera	Director of Photography	Takenori Takahashi
Department	Role	Name

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