Sandakan No. 8

Sandakan No. 8

Year: 1974

Runtime: 122 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kei Kumai

WarHistoryDrama

A prostitute is a woman too. A young journalist interviews an elderly woman about being forced into prostitution in Borneo at a brothel called Sandakan No. 8.

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Timeline & Setting – Sandakan No. 8 (1974)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Sandakan No. 8 (1974). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1920s–World War II era

The film primarily unfolds in the early 1920s, with flashbacks tracing Osaki’s life from indentured servitude to prostitution in Sandakan No. 8. The narrative spans the wartime disruptions of World War II and the postwar aftermath, showing how the period’s upheavals redefine relationships and social standing. The interwar colonial setting and the war years frame the characters’ experiences and traumas.

Location

Sandakan, British North Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia), remote village shack near Sandakan

Sandakan, in British North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia), is the setting for the infamous Sandakan No. 8 brothel. The story also follows Osaki’s life in a remote village shack nearby, highlighting a stark, rural backdrop. The colonial-era port and its shadowy underworld shape the characters’ fates, illustrating the harsh social climate of the period.

🌴 Tropical setting 🏚️ Isolated location

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:35

Main Characters – Sandakan No. 8 (1974)

Meet the key characters of Sandakan No. 8 (1974), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Keiko Mitani (Komaki Kurihara)

A determined journalist researching the history of Japanese women trafficked into Asian brothels. She pursues Osaki’s story to illuminate a painful, often silenced chapter of history. Her present-day inquiry creates a bridge between the historical flashbacks and contemporary reflection, challenging societal taboos.

🕵️ Investigator 🧠 Curious 🗒️ Researcher

Old Osaki (Kinuyo Tanaka)

An elderly survivor who lives with several cats in a remote shack and narrates her life story. She bears the scars of a life spent in servitude and exploitation, yet she retains a quiet resilience. Her testimony reveals the emotional toll of trauma and the lasting impact of social judgment.

💔 Survivor 🧭 Trauma 🐈 Cat lover

Young Osaki (Yoko Takahashi)

A poverty-stricken girl sold into indentured servitude as a maid in Sandakan, who is later forced into prostitution. Her brief romance with a poor farmer underscores vulnerability and the fragility of early affection under brutal conditions. Her life arc sets the foundation for the adult Osaki’s later memories.

💔 Victim 🌸 Youthful 🏚️ Poverty

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:35

Major Themes – Sandakan No. 8 (1974)

Explore the central themes of Sandakan No. 8 (1974), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Exploitation

The story centers on the exploitation of women forced into servitude and prostitution, beginning with Osaki’s sale by her poverty-stricken family. It portrays coercion, vulnerability, and the enduring scars of trafficking. The narrative deepens the viewer’s understanding of power imbalances and the human cost of commodified labor. The kimono given by Osaki’s mother becomes a poignant symbol of memory and lost innocence.

🪖 War and aftermath

World War II acts as a catalyst that intensifies the characters’ hardships and fragments families. The war brings brief moments of longing and devastation, followed by social and personal upheaval in the postwar period. Osaki’s life is transformed by the conflict, influencing how she is perceived upon returning to Japan. The broader impact of colonial and wartime violence lingers long after the fighting ends.

🚪 Stigma and memory

Survivors like Osaki carry social stigma that endures beyond the end of discrimination and trauma. The film examines how memory—embodied in keepsakes like the woven kimono—shapes identity and self-worth. Keiko’s investigation frames these memories, forcing a negotiation between truth and shame. The narrative suggests that memory can both preserve history and impose isolation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:35

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Unlock the Full Story of Sandakan No. 8

Don't stop at just watching — explore Sandakan No. 8 in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Sandakan No. 8 is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Sandakan No. 8 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Sandakan No. 8, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Sandakan No. 8 Summary

Sandakan No. 8 Timeline

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Sandakan No. 8 Timeline

More About Sandakan No. 8

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