Japan's first working women fought silk, sexism, and their own doubts — and looked FABULOUS doing it.
This is the story of beginning of Tomioka Silk Mill in Meiji Era. Young Ladies who came from all over Japan struggle to obtain skills of yarn-making and they matured through various experiences at the Mill.
Production
Meticulous recreation of 1872 Tomioka Silk Mill, now UNESCO site
Costume
Red sash uniforms symbolizing modernity against rural kimono drab
Acting
Miyu Yoshimoto's transformation from peasant girl to skilled artisan
Director
Masao Ieki
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The actual Tomioka Silk Mill was Japan's first modern factory, built in 1872 with French assistance — its brick warehouses still contain original reeling machines from Lyon.
The 'factory girls' (kojo) became a literary archetype in Meiji-era fiction, often tragic — this film deliberately subverts that tradition with Tsuru's determined survival.
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