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Crime comedy

A Taxing Woman (1987): Cast & Plot

A Taxing Woman (1987) movie poster

A Taxing Woman is a 1987 crime comedy directed by Jûzô Itami, starring Nobuko Miyamoto as Ryoko Itakura, Tsutomu Yamazaki and Daisuke Yamashita. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes.

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A Taxing Woman (1987) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 7m (127 min)
Director
Jûzô Itami
Genres
Comedy , Crime
Original language
Japanese
Studio
New Century Producers
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is A Taxing Woman About?

The premise of A Taxing Woman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Intrepid tax investigator Ryoko Itakura targets the enigmatic, womanizing Hideki Gondo, a suspected millionaire who runs a lucrative chain of shady hourly hotels. Gondo claims to have a yen for her but refuses to reveal where his fortune is hidden, having evaded Japanese tax authorities for years. Their cat‑and‑mouse clash devolves into a satirical battle of wits as each tries to outmaneuver the other.

A Taxing Woman Themes & Keywords

· 35 tags
  • villain
  • murder threat
  • name calling
  • japanese sex comedy
  • breast feeding an adult
  • unpaid taxes
  • photography
  • itami and miyamoto
  • part of series
  • first of series
  • local blockbuster
  • tax evasion
+23 more
  • promotion
  • japan
  • three word title
  • telephone call
  • telephone
  • train
  • camera
  • female topless nudity
  • apology
  • opening a door
  • visit
  • domestic violence
  • cigarette smoking
  • urban setting
  • city
  • reference to jack nicholson
  • female protagonist
  • sex
  • female nudity
  • tax collector
  • yakuza
  • tax evader
  • japanese
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Cast & crew

A Taxing Woman Cast & Characters

Nobuko Miyamoto leads the cast as Ryoko Itakura, with Tsutomu Yamazaki as Hideki Gondo and Daisuke Yamashita as Taro Gondo. Directed by Jûzô Itami; 58 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in A Taxing Woman

· 54 more
Show all 58 cast members
From the director

More from Jûzô Itami

More films directed by Jûzô Itami, best-rated first: Tampopo, Supermarket Woman, A Quiet Life and The Last Dance.

Full filmography
Plot

A Taxing Woman Plot Summary

What happens in A Taxing Woman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A female tax auditor, Ryōko Itakura, leads an undercover efficient drive through the books of various Japanese companies, uncovering hidden incomes and recovering unpaid taxes with a steady, patient gaze. Her work reveals how some firms bend the lines of legality, and she pursues every promising lead with a calm persistence that never loses sight of the larger goal: fair taxation.

Full summary

The whole story of A Taxing Woman, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know A Taxing Woman?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Ryōko Itakura's profession?
Details

A Taxing Woman Also Known As

11 alternative titles, including “Marusa no Onna” and “The Woman From Marusa”.

Also known as
  • Marusa no Onna
  • The Woman From Marusa
  • La inspectora
  • Сборщица налогов
  • Die Steuerfahnderin
  • 女税务官
  • L'Inspectrice des impôts
  • 女稅務員
  • 마루사의 여자
  • A Coletora de Impostos
  • 女税務員

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Movies Like A Taxing Woman

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Taxing Woman’s Return, Minbo, or the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion and A Wicked Woman.

FAQ

A Taxing Woman FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of A Taxing Woman, each answered in a sentence.

How long is A Taxing Woman?

A Taxing Woman runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).

When was A Taxing Woman released?

A Taxing Woman was released on February 7, 1987.

Who directed A Taxing Woman?

A Taxing Woman was directed by Jûzô Itami.

More films by Jûzô Itami

Who is in the cast of A Taxing Woman?

A Taxing Woman stars Nobuko Miyamoto as Ryoko Itakura, Tsutomu Yamazaki as Hideki Gondo and Daisuke Yamashita as Taro Gondo, among 58 credited actors.

Does A Taxing Woman have a post-credit scene?

No. A Taxing Woman has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is A Taxing Woman in?

The original language of A Taxing Woman is Japanese.

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