The Insect Woman 1963 Amorality in Japan Tome is born into poverty in rural Japan, in the late 1910s Chuji, her father, dotes on her her mother is less faithful Tome becomes a neighbors mistress, works at his mill as World War II rages, and has a daughter After an affair with a mill supervisor, Tome goes to Tokyo to seek her fortune She leaves the child, Nobuko, in Chujis care Tomes a maid at a brothel, learns trade from the madam, enjoys the protection of a businessman whose mistress she becomes, and is soon herself the boss As Chuji ages and Nobuko grows up with her own ideas, can Tomes self preserving schemes provide continued comfort Or will the mice scamper over her