Fairy in a Cage (1977) Ori no naka no yôsei

Director: Kôyû Ohara
Writers: Oniroku Dan (novel), Seiji Matsuoka (screenplay)
Stars: Rei Okamoto, Naomi Tani, Reika Maki

During World War II, the tyrannical Judge Murayama uses his military power to imprison and torture innocent people. Suspected of helping an anti-government movement, the lovely Namiji Kikushima is captured, along with a local kabuki actor. Helpless and unable to escape, the two are subjected to a grueling series of tortures including rope bondage and physical assault. As the Judge and his evil assistant Kayo revel in their perverse fetishes, a new military recruit they have hired named Taoka may be the key to the prisoners' freedom. He loves Namiji and will do whatever he can to help her, even if it means betrayal to organize an escape.

It may be difficult to believe that Koyu Ohara, director of silly comedies like Joshidaisei: Sex Hoteishiki, was behind Ori No Naka No Yosei, one of the best examples of Nikkatsu's violent pinku eiga series of softcore torture films. It reunites starlets Naomi Tani and Rei Okamoto from the previous year's brutal Okasu! as victims of the Japanese military's World War II Inquisition division, the Kempe. They catch the eye of Judge Murayama (Hirokazu Inoue), who has them brought to his private torture chamber for some S & M fun on false charges. Ohara's direction is crisp, and torture fans will find much to admire in the Sadean eroticism he brings to the proceedings. Knowing a good torture combination when he saw one, the director would bring Tani and Inoue back the following year (albeit with less memorable results) for Nawa Jigoku.

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