A young boy named Chomatsu (Misora Hibari) lives with an old man Denbei near the grounds of Asakusa temple as bell ringers. In their house is an Echigo lion mask, a memento of Chomatsu's deceased father. After several incidents of Echigo lion masks being destroyed in the area, a local kingpin Saheiji shows up at Denbei's demanded he hand over the mask, a request Denbei rejects out of pity for Chomatsu. However, after it is accidentally revealed that the mask contains an important map, Saheiji plots to steal the mask. Chomatsu gets involved after his mother makes a sudden reappearance that sends the boy on a roundabout journey that will reveal the truth about his family.
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Cast
14 people
Hibari Misora
Chomatsu
Also in
Ghost in the Well
So Young, So Bright
Kodayu Ichikawa
Denbei
Also in
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
The Monster Cat of the Fifty-Three Stations
Yoshiko Tsubouchi
Oito
Known for
Late Spring
The Only Son
Shunji Sakai
Genroku
Also in
Case of Umon: One-Eyed Wolf
Magic Boy
Chikako Miyagi
Umekichi
Also in
Carmen from Kawachi
Fighting Elegy
Kōkichi Takada
Sashichi
Known for
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum
Yoshito Yamaji
Known for
The Tale of Zatoichi
Hiroshi Aoyama
Known for
Samurai Spy
Morie Ishida
Also in
Street of Ronin
Trouble Over Swords and Women: A Woman's Mind
Haruhisa Kawada
Also in
The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday
Roppa's Honeymoon
Kenzō Tanaka
Also in
Harakiri
Women of the Night
Mariko Ogasawara
Also in
Black Lizard
Seven Weeks
Torajirō Saitō Director · Toshio Yasumi Screenplay
First release December 31, 1950 · Produced in Japan · Original title とんぼ返り道中
Production
Shochiku
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
とんぼ返り道中
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · December 31, 1950
Limited theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Japan
January 3, 1951 · Theatrical
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