''It's The Only Way To Survive''

Wandering Ginza Butterfly - 1972

As part of our TOEI special, we look at a Japanese classic from 1972. Starring Japanese icon Meiko Kaji, a star of the 60s and 70s.

Meiko Kaji first came to fame in films for Nikkakatsu in 1965 after graduating from High School.

Here we look at her role in Wandering Ginza Butterfly, a yakuza-themed film that casts her as Nami, a young girl of many talents, one of them being that she's a Hustler or Gambler.

The film starts with Nami serving time in prison; here she learns that a sponsor has petitioned for her sentence to be reduced.

At this time, we do not know why Nami is in prison. Once the opening credits are underway and finished, the film quickly moves to Nami out of Prison and on her way to Ginza, which is a district in Tokyo which is home to bars, Gambling Dens, and Loan sharks all run by Yakuza clans.

The most prolific Yakuza clan in the district is run by one Owada.

After encountering a rogue on her travels, who uses her as a distraction, she finally makes it to her uncle's home, who runs a snooker hall.

Nami has a goal and is to find the person who sponsored her in prison. With the help of a local pimp her Uncle knows by the name of Ryuji, she finally finds the place her sponsor is at, but upon hearing of her ill health, she decides to not look in and sends her money via her newfound friend Ryuji.

Mekio Kaji has one of those on-screen personas that make you stop and want to watch her. As Nami, she comes across as a very lady-like female, but easily switches to a cold-looking tough cookie when confronted.

To earn money, Ryuji introduces her to Madame Kayo, who gives her a job as a hostess.

All this is so Nami can earn money to help her sponsor Saeko. Many looking for a quick fix of action may be let down, but then the film was never meant to be. It gives a good view of Japanese cinema changing after years of Samurai flicks; here we have Nami, who is trying to do the right thing after getting out of prison, yet finding it hard due to her circumstances and her ongoing life, which puts her in troublesome dilemmas.

What the film shows is how unpolitically correct films were back in the 70s, some of the way women are portrayed, and the way they're treated is out of touch compared to even Japan in the modern day.

What's more is the way these women just accept what's happening to them.

Nami's character changes that, maybe not as many viewers would have hoped, because Wandering Ginza Butterfly is as much a film about life for poorer folk back in 70s Japan who did what they had to do to survive.

It's as much a story of life as it is a Yakuza Movie or a movie about gambling, a genre that would find big business in Hong Kong cinema in the 80s and 90s.

There is some nice cinematography here, with wide camera angles showing a panorama of a room full of people; this is quite stunning when confrontation ensues.

When Madame Kayo is more or less set up to relinquish her deed to her club, Nami and Ryuji hatch a plan to help.

This results in a typical double-cross; you know it's coming.

From the opening prison scenes to a featured Pool game where Nami battles a drug-induced addict who has to shoot up to perform, to the final reel where redemption will prevail in a bloody battle, Wandering Ginza Butterfly encapsulates 70s Japan in a mix of Japanese culture clashing with a growing modern-day Japan.

It won't win many awards for originality, but some stellar performances from the cast keep you watching. From the mesmerising Meiko Kaji singing the title song to other numbers from the Enka performers.

I have avoided giving much information about the film to avoid spoiling the film's story, so first-time viewers can experience the power of Japanese cinema of the 70’s

Wandering Ginza Butterfly shows how, even in Japan in the 70s, a young woman had to go through hard times and even make hard choices to survive.

Meiko Kaji shows that even a kimono-wearing young lady can be your undoing.

Original Review Date: 20-06-2022

Review By: Sertes Nake

Updated September 2026