茶 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
茶 REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS

[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] “Yuki Tanada’s One Million Yen Girl: On Shame, Solitude, and Starting Over” by Anna Moon

Yuki Tanada (director). One Million Yen Girl, 2008. 121 min.

The artistry of One Million Yen Girl was palpable from the very first frame, from the darkened screen and the sound of approaching footsteps to the moment when light fell upon the uniformed man with his upright posture and stern expression. The next frame introduced Satou Suzuko, a barefoot, 21-year-old woman with her face buried between her knees.

The director captured both the beauty of the actress and the striking contrast between scenes, moving from the melancholic atmosphere inside the prison to the tranquillity of the world outside. The film then turned to the past, returning to the chaos of the restaurant where Suzuko used to work.

She had been living a diligent and honest life. She even sewed the curtains for her new apartment to save money and tried to rescue a kitten from the rain.

Sometimes unfortunate things simply happen, such as when good people cross paths with those who harbour bad intentions or selfish tendencies.

The contrast between respect and ignominy soon came to the surface. Suzuko’s younger brother angrily asked her which school would accept someone with a criminal in the family.

“I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of,” she said.

People tried to humiliate her after society had branded her a “criminal offender”. The circumstances behind what had happened no longer seemed to matter. I found it striking that some of the same people who would step on others to elevate themselves might nevertheless bow respectfully to their elders, because that is what their culture expects of them.

“Have you ever felt as if you don’t belong anywhere, and just want to live in a place where no one knows you?”

If Suzuko had a million yen, she could pay the rent in a new town and survive until she found another job. Japan is a beautiful country, but, as with anywhere else, sometimes it is far better to be a tourist than to be a member of the community.

It is frightening. Sometimes suffering can arise from sheer bad luck, as it did for Suzuko’s innocent and intelligent younger brother, who was subjected to relentless and undeserved bullying.

The story was at once light and heavy, dark and heart-warming. Yet, in its entirety, it was beautiful, much like the actress at its centre.

^{How to cite: Moon, Anna. “Yuki Tanada’s One Million Yen Girl: On Shame, Solitude, and Starting Over.” Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, 4 Sept. 2026, chajournal.com/2026/09/04/one-million-yen.}

Anna Moon was born in a small and historic town in the Philippines. Growing up, she was fascinated by languages, traditions, and cultures, which led her to a lifelong journey of traveling the world and beyond. She currently resides in Manila, where she works as a Korean Research Associate and co-owns a furniture company with a friend. [All contributions by Anna Moon.]