Gosaigyo no Onna (2016 Film)
Gosaigyo no Onna (released internationally as Black Widow Business) is a 2016 Japanese suspense-comedy film directed by Yasuo Tsuruhashi. The film is based on the 2014 novel Gosaigyo by author Hiroyuki Kurokawa.
Plot
The story follows Sayoko Takeuchi (played by Shinobu Otake), a woman who targets wealthy, elderly widowers through a matchmaking service. She works in tandem with the service's director, Toru Kashiwagi (Etsushi Toyokawa), to manipulate these men into leaving their assets to her. After a target dies, Sayoko and Kashiwagi split the inheritance equally.
The plot centers on her involvement with Kozo Nakase (Masahiko Tsugawa). Following their marriage, Nakase dies suddenly, leaving his entire estate to Sayoko and disinheriting his own family. His daughter, Tomomi (Machiko Ono), hires a private investigator named Honda (Masatoshi Nagase) to uncover the truth behind her father's death and Sayoko's background. While continuing her scheme, Sayoko encounters Kiharu Funayama (Tsurube Shofukutei), but finds herself developing genuine feelings for him, complicating her usual business model.
Production
The film was produced by Yuko Hata and Hisashi Usui, with cinematography by Katsumi Yanagishima. Principal photography commenced on July 22, 2015, and concluded in mid-September 2015. The film was distributed by Toho and released in Japan on August 27, 2016, with a runtime of 127 minutes.
Cast
The film features a large ensemble cast, including:
- Shinobu Otake as Sayoko Takeuchi
- Etsushi Toyokawa as Toru Kashiwagi
- Tsurube Shofukutei as Kiharu Funayama
- Masahiko Tsugawa as Kozo Nakase
- Masatoshi Nagase as Yoshinori Honda
- Machiko Ono as Tomomi Nakase
