Sakuran
Cover of the first Japanese manga volume
さくらん
Manga
Written by	Moyoco Anno
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	NA: Vertical Inc
Magazine	Evening
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	2001 – 2003
Volumes	1
Live-action film
Directed by	Mika Ninagawa
Produced by	Fellah Pictures
Written by	Yuki Tanada
Music by	Shiina Ringo
Released	February 24, 2007
Runtime	111 minutes

Sakuran (さくらん, lit. "Derangement"), is a Japanese manga series by Moyoco Anno. The manga is about a girl who goes through different names throughout the story and becomes a tayū, or high ranking oiran (courtesan). North American publisher Vertical Inc published it in English in July 2012.^[1]

A young kamuro (maid in a brothel) is sold into the red-light district of Yoshiwara and is put under the care of the oiran of the Tamagiku house, Shouhi, who names her Tomeki. The girl is very rebellious, leading to the heads of the household considering her potential future as a successful oiran, as a high-ranking courtesan needs not only beauty and talent but also the tenacity to maintain their position in order to be successful.

Tomeki later takes the name O-Rin as a hikkomi (or courtesan-in-training), and later takes the name Kiyoha, and is considered the most beautiful girl in the Tamagiku household. Her popularity threatens the position of the Tamagiku household's other oiran, Mikumo, which creates great tension between the two. Kiyoha's rivalry with Mikumo is not the only challenge she faces, as the appearance of a young man named Soujiro faces her with the impossibility of finding love in her position.

A live-action film adaptation was released in Japan on February 24, 2007. The film stars Anna Tsuchiya and marks the directorial debut of photographer Mika Ninagawa. Ringo Sheena's album Heisei Fūzoku acts as the soundtrack.

• Anna Tsuchiya as Kiyoha
• Ayame Koike as Young Kiyoha
• Asuka Saito as Tomeki
• Kippei Shiina as Kuranosuke
• Yoshino Kimura as Takao
• Hiroki Narimiya as Sojiro
• Miho Kanno as Shohi
• Ai Yoshikawa as Nihohi
• Masatoshi Nagase as Mitsunobu
• Masanobu Andō as Seiji
• Renji Ishibashi as Owner
• Kyōko Koizumi as Oran

• Official website for the film (in Japanese)
• IMDb entry