Sakuran

Sakuran (さくらん), is a Japanese manga series by Moyoco Anno. The manga is about a girl who goes through different names throughout the story and becomes a tayū, or high ranking oiran (courtesan). North American publisher Vertical Inc published it in English in July 2012.

Plot
A young kamuro (maid in a brothel) is sold into the red-light district of Yoshiwara and is put under the care of the oiran of the Tamagiku house, Shouhi, who names her Tomeki. The girl is very rebellious, leading to the heads of the household considering her potential future as a successful oiran, as a high-ranking courtesan needs not only beauty and talent but also the tenacity to maintain their position in order to be successful.

Tomeki later takes the name O-Rin as a hikkomi (or courtesan-in-training), and later takes the name Kiyoha, and is considered the most beautiful girl in the Tamagiku household. Her popularity threatens the position of the Tamagiku household's other oiran, Mikumo, which creates great tension between the two. Kiyoha's rivalry with Mikumo is not the only challenge she faces, as the appearance of a young man named Soujiro faces her with the impossibility of finding love in her position.



Film
A live-action film adaptation was released in Japan on February 24, 2007. The film stars Anna Tsuchiya and marks the directorial debut of photographer Mika Ninagawa. Ringo Sheena's album Heisei Fūzoku acts as the soundtrack.

Cast

 * Anna Tsuchiya as Kiyoha
 * Ayame Koike as Young Kiyoha
 * Asuka Saito as Tomeki
 * Kippei Shiina as Kuranosuke
 * Yoshino Kimura as Takao
 * Hiroki Narimiya as Sojiro
 * Miho Kanno as Shohi
 * Masatoshi Nagase as Mitsunobu
 * Masanobu Andō as Seiji
 * Renji Ishibashi as Owner
 * Kyōko Koizumi as Oran