"A story like mine has never been told."

2005

2h 26m

7.7(3175 votes)

Drama

Romance

History

Overview

In the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.

Where to Watch

Buy

Rent

Links & Resources

Website IMDbView

Social & External

IMDb

Production Companies

Videos & Trailers

3 videos

Cast & Crew

132 members

Acting

章子怡

Sayuri

Acting

巩俐

Hatsumomo

Acting

Michelle Yeoh

Mameha

Acting

渡辺謙

Chairman

Acting

大後寿々花

Chiyo

Acting

桃井かおり

Mother

Acting

役所広司

Nobu

Acting

工藤夕貴

Pumpkin

Acting

Togo Igawa

Tanaka

Acting

Mako

Sakamoto

Acting

Samantha Futerman

Satsu

Acting

Elizabeth Sung

Sakamoto's Wife

Acting

Thomas Ikeda

Mr. Bekku

No Image

Acting

Tsai Chin

Auntie

Acting

Zoe Weizenbaum

Young Pumpkin

Acting

David Okihiro

Shamisen Teacher

No Image

Acting

Miyako Tachibana

Dance Teacher

Acting

Kotoko Kawamura

Granny

No Image

Acting

Karl Yune

Koichi

Acting

Eugenia Yuan

Korin

Production

Yōko Narahashi

Mameha's Maid

Acting

曾江

The General

Acting

Navia Nguyen

Izuko - Geisha in Green

Acting

Natsuo Tomita

Geisha in Lavender

Acting

Fumi Akutagawa

Yukimoto Teahouse Matron

No Image

Acting

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

The Baron

Acting

Koji Toyoda

Male Hairdresser

No Image

Acting

Rick Mali

Man in Grey Hat

No Image

Acting

Steve Terada

Boy on Bike

Acting

Laura Miro

Yukimoto Teahouse Geisha / Spring Festival Dancer

Acting

Diane Mizota

Yukimoto Teahouse Geisha / Spring Festival Dancer

Acting

Yasusuke Uike

Sumo Referee

No Image

Acting

Shûhei Mainoumi

Small Sumo Wrestler

No Image

Acting

Daisuke Dewaarashi

Large Sumo Wrestler

No Image

Acting

浦野眞彦

Sumo Ring Announcer

Acting

Ace Yonamine

Sumo Wrestler

No Image

Acting

Anthony Begonia

Sumo Wrestler

No Image

Acting

Albert 'Sumo' Lee

Sumo Wrestler

No Image

Acting

Dino Rivera

Sumo Wrestler

No Image

Acting

Randall Duk Kim

Dr. Crab

Acting

Takayo Fischer

Tanizato Teahouse Owner

Acting

Asako Takasue

Tanizato Teahouse Matron

No Image

Acting

Clarissa Park

Dancer at Party

No Image

Acting

Nobu Matsuhisa

Kimono Artist

Acting

James Taku Leung

Kimono Factory Worker

Acting

Chad Cleven

Drunken G.I.

Art

Richard J. Bell

Drunken G.I.

No Image

Acting

Cameron Duncan

Drunken G.I.

No Image

Acting

Faith Shin

Little Kiko

Writing

Brannon Bates

Military Police Officer

No Image

Acting

Ted Levine

Colonel Derricks

Acting

Paul Adelstein

Lieutenant Hutchins

Acting

Shizuko Hoshi

Sayuri Narration (voice)

Acting

Michelle Aguilar Camaya

Spring Festival Dancer

No Image

Acting

Janelle Dote

Spring Festival Dancer

No Image

Acting

Kim Hazel

Spring Festival Dancer

No Image

Acting

Ashia Meyers

Spring Festival Dancer

No Image

Directing

HIKARI

Spring Festival Dancer

Acting

Shiho Miyazawa

Spring Festival Dancer

No Image

Acting

Minae Noji

Spring Festival Dancer

Crew

Mami Saito

Spring Festival Dancer

No Image

Acting

Shannon Abero

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Kiyoko Ando

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Miki Fujitani

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Chieko Hidaka

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

Acting

Wendy Lam

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Kana Miyamoto

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Brooke Miyasaki

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Nao Nojima

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Shelly Oto

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

No Image

Acting

Nikki Tuazon

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

Acting

Addie Yungmee

Festival Rehearsal Dancer

Acting

Cassidy Adams

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Lena Ahn

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Allison Chan

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Deziree Del Rosario

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Emilie Endow

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Rosie Endow

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Hannah Hwang

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Emma Fusako Ishii

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Amy Saki Kawakami

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Stefani Lee

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Teanna Lee

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Melissa Morinishi

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Michelle Obi

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Kasey Okazaki

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Jacqueline Osaki

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Ayaka Oyama

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Jade Refuerzo

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

La Na Shi

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Stacy Suzuki

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Miwa Tachibana

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Jordan Tambara

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Shaye Uyematsu

Student Dancer

No Image

Acting

Etsuo Hongo

Shamisen Musician

No Image

Acting

Tateo Takahashi

Shamisen Musician

No Image

Acting

Masakazu Yoshizawa

Shamisen Musician

No Image

Acting

Kazumi Aihara

The Baron's Guest (uncredited)

Acting

Jennie Baek

Geisha (uncredited)

Acting

Yuki Bird

Wealthy Guest (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Michael Chen

Rickshaw Driver (uncredited)

Production

Allen Dam

Spa Patron (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Maggie Hai-Uyen

Guest of the Baron (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

James Huang

Spa Worker (uncredited)

Acting

Masa Kanome

Radio Caster (uncredited)

Acting

Branden Weslee Kong

Rickshaw Driver (uncredited)

Acting

Aurelie Kyinn

Wealthy Guest (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Ruffy Landayan

Military Soldier (uncredited)

Acting

Teddy Lau

Noodle Chef (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Stacey Lee

Maiko (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Jon Liggett

Drunken G.I. (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Julia Ling

Spring Festival Dancer (uncredited)

Acting

Jia Mae

Sexy Geisha (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Tohoru Masamune

Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Crew

Danton Mew

Takamaya Towel Servant (uncredited)

Acting

Doug Ming

Fisherman (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Ryan Moriarty

Teahouse Patron (uncredited)

Acting

Skye Nakamura

Teahouse Owner (uncredited)

Acting

Sophie Oda

Kimono Factory Worker (uncredited)

Acting

Ricky Pak

Spa Patron (uncredited)

Acting

Steffinnie Phrommany

Geisha (uncredited)

Acting

Catherine Kim Poon

Geisha (uncredited)

Acting

Osamu Saito

Chairman's servant Arima (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Jasper Salon

Tea House Patron (uncredited)

Acting

Austin Michael Scott

Drunken G.I. (uncredited)

Acting

Cathy Shim

The Baron's Guest (uncredited)

Acting

Steve Sornbutnark

Attendee (uncredited)

Acting

Clara Soyoung

Hanamachi St. Geisha (uncredited)

Acting

Aaron Takahashi

Rickshaw Runner (uncredited)

Acting

Ray Tom

Spa Patron (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Henry T. Yamada

Sumo Judge (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Joseph Steven Yang

Spa Patron (uncredited)

Similar Movies

5.4

1943

The Lamp Still Burns

A tribute to the important work of female nurses during World War II.

Movie

6.7

2020

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.

Movie

7.1

2002

Chicago

Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.

Movie

7.7

1993

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.

Movie

7.1

2001

Nowhere in Africa

A Jewish woman named Jettel Redlich flees Nazi Germany with her daughter Regina, to join her husband, Walter, on a farm in Kenya. At first, Jettel refuses to adjust to her new circumstances, bringing with her a set of china dishes and an evening gown. While Regina adapts readily to this new world, forming a strong bond with her father's cook, an African named Owuor.

Movie

6.7

2005

Lemming

After the death of his boss's wife, a young engineer faces the sudden psychological metamorphosis of his own wife, seemingly possessed by the soul of the deceased...

Movie

7.7

1962

Vivre Sa Vie

Twelve episodic tales in the life of a Parisian woman and her slow descent into prostitution.

Movie

7.6

1962

Jules and Jim

In the carefree days before World War I, introverted Austrian author Jules strikes up a friendship with the exuberant Frenchman Jim and both men fall for the impulsive and beautiful Catherine.

Movie

7.0

1990

State of Grace

Hell's Kitchen, New York. Terry Noonan returns home after a ten-year absence. He soon reconnects with Jackie, a childhood friend and member of the Irish mob, and rekindles his love affair with Jackie's sister Kathleen.

Movie

6.5

2015

Black Mass

The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

Movie

6.4

1985

Prizzi's Honor

Charley Partanna is a hitman who works for the Prizzis, one of the richest crime families in the US. When he sees Irene Walker, it's love at first sight. But he soon finds that she, too, is a killer for hire. Charley can overlook his suspicions, but he can't turn off his heart. And the couple must remember that even if they love each other, the Prizzis love only money.

Movie

6.6

1999

American Pie

At a high-school party, four friends find that losing their collective virginity isn't as easy as they had thought. But they still believe that they need to do so before college. To motivate themselves, they enter a pact to all "score" by their senior prom.

Movie

6.8

1999

Payback

With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's the question bad guy Porter is left asking after his wife and partner steal his heist money and leave him for dead -- or so they think. Five months and an endless reservoir of bitterness later, Porter's partners and the crooked cops on his tail learn how bad payback can be.

Movie

5.5

1987

Light of Day

Cleveland siblings rise with a rock band while coping with personal problems.

Movie

7.1

2005

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

In 1943, as Hitler continues to wage war across Europe, a group of college students mount an underground resistance movement in Munich. Dedicated expressly to the downfall of the monolithic Third Reich war machine, they call themselves the White Rose. One of its few female members, Sophie Scholl is captured during a dangerous mission to distribute pamphlets on campus with her brother Hans. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to the White Rose, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility.

Movie

7.8

1997

L.A. Confidential

Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.

Movie

3.2

1982

An Ice Cream With Two scoops ...

A film about a pair of sisters, whose parents are divorcing after their father leaves their mother for a younger woman, and who plot together to try to repair their fractured family.

Movie

6.0

2001

The Glass House

When Ruby and Rhett's parents are killed in a car accident, their carefree teenage lives are suddenly shattered. Moving to an incredible house in Malibu with the Glasses', old friends of the family, seems to be the beginning of a new life for them.

Movie

8.0

1958

The Hidden Fortress

In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a defeated army, stumble upon a mysterious man who guides them to a fortress hidden in the mountains.

Movie

7.7

1998

Black Cat, White Cat

Matko is a small time hustler, living by the Danube with his 17-year-old son Zare. After a failed business deal he owes money to the much more successful gangster Dadan. Dadan has a sister, Afrodita, that he desperately wants to see get married so they strike a deal: Zare is to marry her.

Movie

Recommended Movies

7.3

2004

House of Flying Daggers

In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful rebel out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

Movie

6.1

2005

The Legend of Zorro

Despite trying to keep his swashbuckling to a minimum, a threat to California's pending statehood causes the adventure-loving Don Alejandro de la Vega and his wife, Elena, to take action.

Movie

7.0

1995

Dangerous Minds

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom, she does so armed with a no-nonsense attitude informed by her military training and a fearless determination to better the lives of her students -- no matter what the cost.

Movie

6.9

1996

Swingers

After 6 years together, Mike's girlfriend leaves him, so he travels to LA to be a star. Six months on, he's still not doing very well— so a few of his friends try to reconnect him to the social scene and hopefully help him forget his failed relationship.

Movie

7.6

2003

The Last Samurai

Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.

Movie

7.4

2000

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

Movie

7.1

2005

Munich

During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.

Movie

7.7

2012

The Broken Circle Breakdown

The loss of their young daughter threatens to destroy the love and faith of two married musicians.

Movie

6.9

2008

Valkyrie

Wounded in Africa during World War II, Nazi Col. Claus von Stauffenberg returns to his native Germany and joins the Resistance in a daring plan to create a shadow government and assassinate Adolf Hitler. When events unfold so that he becomes a central player, he finds himself tasked with both leading the coup and personally killing the Führer.

Movie

7.4

2006

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.

Movie

7.5

2021

The Hand of God

In 1980s Naples, Italy, an awkward Italian teen struggling to find his place experiences heartbreak and liberation after he's inadvertently saved from a freak accident by football legend Diego Maradona.

Movie

6.8

2005

Goal!

Like millions of kids around the world, Santiago harbors the dream of being a professional footballer... However, living in the Barrios section of Los Angeles, he thinks it is only that—a dream. Until one day an extraordinary turn of events has him trying out for Premiership club Newcastle United.

Movie

7.3

2012

Les Misérables

An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France. Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.

Movie

7.1

2002

White Oleander

A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.

Movie

6.2

2016

The Sea of Trees

In Japan's Aokigahara Forest, a troubled teacher meets a mysterious lost stranger who takes him on a life-changing journey of love and redemption.

Movie

6.7

2005

Keeping Mum

A pastor preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife is having an affair and his children are up to no good.

Movie

6.6

2007

Love in the Time of Cholera

In Colombia just after the Great War, an old man falls from a ladder; dying, he professes great love for his wife. After the funeral, a man calls on the widow - she dismisses him angrily. Flash back more than 50 years to the day Florentino Ariza, a telegraph boy, falls in love with Fermina Daza, the daughter of a mule trader.

Movie

7.2

2012

No

In 1988, Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet, due to international pressure, is forced to call a plebiscite on his presidency. The country will vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to Pinochet extending his rule for another eight years. Opposition leaders for the ‘No’ vote persuade a brash young advertising executive, René Saavedra, to spearhead their campaign. Against all odds, with scant resources and while under scrutiny by the despot’s minions, Saavedra and his team devise an audacious plan to win the election and set Chile free.

Movie

6.8

2008

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

London, England, on the eve of World War II. Guinevere Pettigrew, a strict governess who is unable to keep a job, is fired again. Lost in the hostile city, a series of fortunate circumstances lead her to meet Delysia LaFosse, a glamorous and dazzling American jazz singer whose life is a chaos ruled by indecision, a continuous battle between love and fame.

Movie

7.2

2009

The Hedgehog

Paloma is a serious and highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she questions and documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her building's grumpy janitor and an enigmatic, elegant neighbor, both of whom inspire Paloma to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life.

Movie