When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

"The tree sprouts no matter how strong the wind blows."

Keiko, whom everyone calls Mama, narrates her story: she's a hostess on the Ginza, 30, a widow. She describes life's vicious cycle: acting cheerful around drunks, dressing and living well to convey confidence, needing money for these expenses and for her demanding mother and brother, and knowing she's growing older.

Director: Mikio Naruse

Cast

Hideko Takamine

Keiko Yashiro

Masayuki Mori

Nobuhiko Fujisaki

Reiko Dan

Junko Inchihashi

Tatsuya Nakadai

Kenichi Komatsu

Daisuke Katō

Matsukichi Sekine

Ganjirō Nakamura II

Goda

Eitarō Ozawa

Minobe

Keiko Awaji

Yuri