1170s-1962

Harada's ancestor was an attendant of Antoku Tenno (Emperor Antoku/安徳天皇/1178-1185) and lived in Kyoto under the name Sakyo/佐京. (His further ancestor is called ''Sakyo Udakami/佐京宇多神'').

In 1180, there was a war between the imperial family (generally called the Heike) and the warlords (generally called the Genji). It is called the ''Jisho-Juei War/治承・寿永の乱''.

In 1185, the imperial family was defeated at the sea off Dannoura/壇ノ浦 (A), and those involved committed suicide or starved to death, but about six people, including Harada's ancestors, escaped from the battlefield and fled to the Sea of Japan.

They then arrived deep in the mountains called Tsubame-sanjo/新潟県燕三条 (B) in present-day Niigata Prefecture.

It had mountains and valleys, perfect for hiding. Harada's ancestors were helped by local farmers.

In 1924, Kino Sakyo moved from Niigata to Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture. (C)

She married Kuranosuke Harada, a resident of Kiryu.

Due to Japanese law, she changed her last name from Sakyo to Harada.

In 1929, Harada's mother Mitsuko was born.

On the left is Harada's mother when she was 5 years old.

Harada's mother is in the front row, far right.

Harada's mother is fifth from the left in the front row.　
Harada's mother lived and worked at another inn, learning how to run a business.

In 1957, Harada's mother moved from Kiryu to Maebashi. Maebashi is located 30 minutes by train from Kiryu.

Harada's father, Tutomu, ended up marrying another woman.

Harada's mother was so angry that she stormed into Tutomu's wedding hall with a kitchen knife to protest.

In 1957, Harada's mother gave birth to Harada's older brother Osamu without getting married, but she died in a traffic accident in 1958.
Harada's mother gave birth to Harada's old sister. But old sister died of an illness.
Harada's mother protested by hitting the doctor who misdiagnosed him with her geta.

Harada was born in 1962. Harada's mother took this opportunity to quit running a bar where she had been working with men and started running a Japanese-style inn (kappo Ryokan/割烹旅館).

1963. Harada's mother and 1 year old Hiroshi Harada

The inn was a mysterious old Japanese building with red as its main color.Furthermore, it became a meeting place for Gunma's conservative politicians.In order for a woman to survive on her own, she needed the help of conservative politicians.

In the end, Harada's mother inherited Hanayagikai's management methods.

This is how Harada began witnessing and experiencing things like conservative politicians, alcohol, women, and geishas from his childhood.

Director Hideo Gosha continued to draw Karyuai(花柳界) in his later years. Harada was around 30 years old when he began to admire filmmakers who had the same background as him. Harada began creating Zashikiro.

''Yokiro (1983)''　director: Hideo Gosha 　photo credit: Toei, Haiyuza
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203224/