Gunrō no machi

There are male and female students working part-time jobs in the city center while facing the harsh realities of society as they struggle to pay for tuition and living expenses, and there are those who prey on these students. The Sugita-gumi, which was supposed to have been disbanded under the Ordinance on the Regulation of Organizations, established the “Student Part-Time Workers’ Association” and began ensnaring innocent students in its clutches. Eguchi of the student newspaper editorial board and his fellow staff members begin an investigation to expose the Sugita-gumi’s misdeeds.

Directed by Eiichi Koishi, Gunrō no machi leans on a strong ensemble — Yoshiko Kuga, Bontarō Miake, Miki Sanjō — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1952.