I would have enjoyed the movie a bit more if it wasn't for some of the over the top melodramatic nonsense.

And the long pauses and blank stares that I take are to show the characters reflecting/ pondering their dilemma.

The choreography of the fight scenes were also overacted and came off farcical. And exactly how long does it take a person to succumb from multiple wounds inflicted by long knives?

The rich colors and clear photography were a plus to the slow pacing of the movie. Yet there was still the predictable ending, which in most cases are not happy, as they tend to be with western Hollywood productions.

Set in the Taisho period:1912-1926, the beautiful Geisha Koshizu (Junko Fuji) has longed for the opportunity to perform the prestigious Yasuna dance, however a jealous rival, Geisha Adakichi.is not impressed. Popular Koshizu fends off advances, proposals of marriage from her wealthy clients, her heart seems locked in the distant past, to a mysterious stranger... This exceptional emotional drama begins with a lively solo dance number from star Junko Fuji, an enchanting treat, as the credits roll.. An epic multilayered tale follows, a superb seamless blend of Yakuza crime action and a deeply expressive Geisha melodrama. Director Kôsaku Yamashita masterly paints an impressive atmospheric portrait of the early era, giving the film an authentic feel, rich in every detail. With a colourful visually magnificent dance scene, some terrific Yakuza style action !, an excellent finale, Nihon jokyo-den: tekka geisha is outstanding classic cinema... Highly Recommended !!