Love Letter

is a 1953 Japanese drama film and the first film directed by actress Kinuyo Tanaka. With her directing debut, Tanaka became the second female film director in Japan after Tazuko Sakane. The screenplay by Keisuke Kinoshita is based on a novel by Fumio Niwa. Cast Masayuki Mori as Reikichi Mayumi Jūzō Dosan as Hiroshi (Reikichi's brother) Yoshiko Kuga as Michiko Kubota Jūkichi Uno as Naoto Yamaji Kyōko Kagawa as Yasuko Shizue Natsukawa as Reikichi's mother Kinuyo Tanaka as landlady Chieko Seki as office lady Ranko Hanai as restaurant owner Chieko Nakakita as woman at restaurant Keisuke Kinoshita as photo studio owner Release Love Letter was shown in competition at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival. Awards 1953 Mainichi Film Award for Best Screenplay for Keisuke Kinoshita (for Love Letter, A Japanese Tragedy and Sincere Heart) 1953 Blue Ribbon Award for Best Screenplay for Keisuke Kinoshita (for Love Letter, A Japanese Tragedy, Sincere Heart and Ai no sakyū)