Hanre Goze Orin (Ballad of Orin)

At the beginning of the Taisho era (1912-26), a meeting of blind traveling women entertainers (goze) is held, where orin is judged and banished from the group for breaking the rule of non-involvement with a customer. Although she was seduced, the master who trained since she was 6 years old honors the severe laws of the blind entertainers and rejects her.

Expelled from the group at age 19, orin is now 26. There are men who take kindly to orin traveling alone from village to village displaying her skills. But they are usually after her body. one night, orin is invited to a party for soldiers departing for Siberia. She is able to receive many tips, but afterwards she is almost raped by the man who invited her. She is saved by a seller of geta clogs who happens to be passing by. The next day the geta seller goes off on his journey in a different direction from hers. orin in her desire to meet him goes ahead and waits for him.
Having watched her perform at an outdoor festivity, the man has a soft spot for her. He is Iwabuchi, a deserter who refused to go to Siberia and goes under the alias of Tsurukawa. Telling orin to pretend that she is his sister, they travel together as brother and sister. Unlike other men, Iwabuchi shows no interest in her body and cares for her as if he were her real brother.

one day, there is a bit of trouble and Iwabuchi is detained by the police. During his absence, orin is raped by Bessho, a member of the itinerant sellers group. on returning from the police investigation, Iwabuchi sees orin all disheveled, realizes what has happened, and kills Bessho in anger. The blind orin sees nothing. Instead of hating Bessho, orin blames herself and leaves Iwabuchi.
Hoping to meet Iwabuchi again, orin continues her travels and finally is reunited with him. However, Iwabuchi's crime is already known to the police and he is hounded by them. Finally, Iwabuchi confesses his guilt to her. But orin continues to love and respect him as if he were a Buddha.

The following year, a detective visits orin and notifies her that Iwabuchi has been executed. But orin, not having ever seen living humans, could not understand death. orin sets off on her journey again in search of Iwabuchi. In the last scene, the stage is full of the blind entertainers playing mournful shamisen music.