Utamaro o Meguru Gonin no Onna plot
A samurai and painting apprentice buys an erotic woodcut by the artist Utamaro. In the painting he discovers a message in which the artist claims that his works contain more real life than the official art, partly regulated by the government. Indignant, he visits the artist, but he challenges him to a duel in which Utamaro has to make works that are better than the work of the samurai. If he succeeds, the samurai will give up his privileged life as an artist and dedicate himself to real art. Utamaro ventures into the world of brothels for inspiration, but becomes entangled in various intrigues.