Ugetsu monogatari

film by Mizoguchi Kenji [1953]

Also known as: “Ugetsu”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The film Ugetsu (1953), directed by Mizoguchi Kenji, is based on Ueda Akinari's collection of supernatural tales, Ugetsu monogatari (Tales of Moonlight and Rain). This film is considered one of the finest Japanese films ever made and is an allegorical commentary on postwar Japan.12

Mizoguchi Kenji was a Japanese film director known for his visually stunning films that explored themes of reality, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the power of a woman's love. His work often focused on the struggles of women within Japanese society. Ugetsu is a period drama that exemplifies Mizoguchi's mastery of the genre, noted for its exploration of reality and its evocative sense of place achieved through deliberate camera work.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ueda Akinari
Ugetsu monogatari was the basis for the film Ugetsu (1953), directed by Mizoguchi Kenji.
Read More
Ugetsu monogatari was the basis for the film Ugetsu (1953), directed by Mizoguchi Kenji.
Read More

film
Camera movement
In Ugetsu (1953) the hero, seduced in a hot spring by a beautiful ghost woman, moves screen right to join her, while the camera pans left across the pool and then tracks along the ground. The shot dissolves imperceptibly into one in which the camera pans…
Read More
In Ugetsu (1953) the hero, seduced in a hot spring by a beautiful ghost woman, moves screen right to join her, while the camera pans left across the pool and then tracks along the ground. The shot dissolves imperceptibly into one in which the camera pans…
Read More

Mizoguchi Kenji
Ugetsu monogatari (1953), considered one of the finest of all Japanese films, is an outstanding example of Mizoguchi’s period drama. Notable as a study of the nature of reality and for its sense of place created by carefully controlled camera movement, Ugetsu is an allegorical…
Read More
Ugetsu monogatari (1953), considered one of the finest of all Japanese films, is an outstanding example of Mizoguchi’s period drama. Notable as a study of the nature of reality and for its sense of place created by carefully controlled camera movement, Ugetsu is an allegorical…
Read More

History of film
Japan
…of a 17th-century courtesan, and Ugetsu (1953), the story of two men who abandon their wives for fame and glory during the 16th-century civil wars. Both were masterworks that clearly demonstrated Mizoguchi’s expressive use of luminous decor, extended long takes, and deep-focus composition. As one of the great mise-en-scène directors,…
Read More
…of a 17th-century courtesan, and Ugetsu (1953), the story of two men who abandon their wives for fame and glory during the 16th-century civil wars. Both were masterworks that clearly demonstrated Mizoguchi’s expressive use of luminous decor, extended long takes, and deep-focus composition. As one of the great mise-en-scène directors,…
Read More