[Jimbocho Theater] Behind Great Films Are Female Screenwriters: A Special Screening of Works by Sumie Tanaka and Yoko Mizuki, Who Supported the Golden Age of Post-War Japanese Cinema, Starting April 4th (Sat)

Jimbocho Theater, the classic cinema in the city of books, spotlights films from various angles—including directors, performers, and themes—and screens good old Japanese cinema on film.

Starting Saturday, April 4th, we will feature two female screenwriters who supported the golden age of post-war Japanese cinema: Sumie Tanaka (1908-2000) and Yoko Mizuki (1910-2003).

Sumie Tanaka is known for her work on a series of films based on Fumiko Hayashi's novels directed by the master Mikio Naruse, such as "Repast," "Lightning," and "Wandering Life," and excelled at writing scenarios themed around women's ways of life. As a writer, she was a female author who fully demonstrated her talent, winning several literary awards.

On the other hand, Yoko Mizuki worked on scripts for masterpieces that remain in film history, such as "Kwaidan" (directed by Masaki Kobayashi, based on Lafcadio Hearn) and Naruse's masterpiece "Floating Clouds" (based on Fumiko Hayashi). Alongside this, she wrote hard-hitting social dramas based on her own thorough research, such as "Tower of Lilies," "Kiku and Isamu," and "Grandmother," earning high praise not only for the works themselves but also for her approach.

How did these two female screenwriters, who lived through the same era, depict the turbulent post-war period? For this program, we have chosen to focus on their original scripts rather than just their representative works based on existing novels, allowing you to experience their unique authorship.

Why not take this opportunity to enjoy the thrill of watching films through the lens of the screenwriter?

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《Special Screening》

Sumie Tanaka and Yoko Mizuki

──Behind Great Films Are Female Screenwriters

April 4 (Sat) – April 24 (Fri), 2026

Jimbocho Theater

(1-23 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo TEL. 03-5281-5132)

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Admission: General 1400 yen, Senior 1200 yen, Student 1000 yen

*Closed on Tuesday, April 14th for facility maintenance.

Jimbocho Theater Website

https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/jinbocho-theater/

Click here for the "Sumie Tanaka and Yoko Mizuki" special screening page:

https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/jinbocho-theater/features/2026-04-04_tanaka-mizuki.html