Who directed the 1939 Japanese film The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum?

Who directed the 1939 Japanese film The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum? Kenji Mizoguchi directed it.

The film follows Kikunosuke Onoe, an onnagata— a male actor specializing in female kabuki roles—who struggles to earn artistic respect while living under the shadow of his famous adoptive father. Its story is set in the late 19th century and is based on a short story by Shōfu Muramatsu.

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum was Mizoguchi’s first film for Shochiku after a brief period at Shinkō Kinema. It is often regarded as one of his major prewar achievements, particularly for its long takes, elaborate tracking shots, and emphasis on sacrifice and social hierarchy.

The title is also translated as The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums. It is sometimes confused with later films about kabuki or with Mizoguchi’s other historical dramas, but the 1939 film is specifically associated with the director’s early masterwork and the character of the onnagata performer.