Part of the 2026 season: Knowing Me, Knowing You
Like Asura
Ashura no gotoku, 阿修羅のごとく
Director MORITA Yoshimitsu
Cast OTAKE Shinobu, KUROKI Hitomi, FUKATSU Eri, FUKADA Kyoko
2003, 135 min, English subtitles
In the winter of 1979, the four TAKEZAWA sisters reunite after discovering their aging father’s (NAKADAI Tatsuya) secret love affair — and even a child born from it. Choosing to shield their mother, Fuji (YACHIGUSA Kaoru), from the truth, each of the quartet’s personal problems and secrets also comes to light.
The eldest, Tsunako (OTAKE Shinobu) is entangled in a love affair. Makiko (KUROKI Hitomi), the second sister, quietly endures the knowledge that her husband has a younger girlfriend. Takiko (FUKATSU Eri), painfully shy, has resolved to marry her first love. And the youngest, Sakiko (FUKADA Kyoko), is pregnant with her boxer boyfriend.
Based on the acclaimed book and 1979 NHK drama of the same name, MORITA Yoshimitsu (The Family Game 1983; Haru 1996), one of Japan’s most renowned directors, skilfully and sensitively portrays the emotional depth of each character, exploring the idea that human beings possess many faces and harbour complex, often conflicting emotions, in this timeless film.
Contains sexual references
© 2003 TOHO CO., LTD. HAKUHODO INC. THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. NIPPON SHUPPAN HANBAI INC.
Screening dates
Please note: Tickets for some screenings may not be available yet.
- Storyhouse Friday 13 February, 20:00
- Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Sunday 15 February, 13:30
- HOME Saturday 21 February, 15:15
- Riverside Studios Sunday 22 February, 17:30
- Exeter Phoenix Saturday 7 March, 14:00
- Aberystwyth Arts Centre Saturday 14 March, 17:00
- Broadway TBC
If you like this you may like the following
All films in this season
The Hotel of My Dream
Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality
The Man Who Failed to Die
What Should We Have Done?
The Final Piece
She Taught Me Serendipity
Ghost Killer
Adabana
Strangers in Kyoto
Petals and Memories
Ura Aka: L'Aventure
Teki Cometh
Conflagration
Blue Boy Trial
Kaneko's Commissary
The Real You
Silence of the Sea
Love Doesn't Matter to Me
Sham
The Last Blossom
Like Asura
I Am What I Am
ANGRY SQUAD: The Civil Servant and the Seven Swindlers
A Bad Summer
Missing Child Videotape
NEMURUBAKA: Hypnic Jerks



Petals and Memories
Strangers in Kyoto
The Real You