In the 1920s a girl named Midori sold camellias in Tokyo"s slums.
She struggled for a while until one day a gentleman offered her sympathy and help.
When her bedridden mother died of an illness, with no one else to rely on, Midori went to the man"s address.
To her horror she realized she had been tricked into joining his circus troupe, Aka Neko Za—a traveling freak show of vulgar and deformed performers.
Midori likened her new life on the fairground to hell.
She had to care for her companions and clean up after them, while constantly being belittled and cruelly abused.
Unsure of her future, she found some relief when Wonder Masamitsu, a master illusionist, joined the act.
Enchanted by Midori"s beauty and innocence, Masamitsu took her under his wing; yet even as their affection grew, ominous times awaited Midori and the other freaks.
Under flickering lanterns, the troupe drew curious crowds who watched with uneasy fascination.
Midori"s longing for normalcy grew nightly, but Masamitsu offered a fragile hope.
