A Taxing Woman is a 1987 Japanese film directed by Juzo Itami. The film stars Nobuko Miyamoto as Ryoko Itakura, a no-nonsense tax agent who is tasked with investigating the tax affairs of a wealthy businessman named Hideki Gondo (played by Tsutomu Yamazaki). Gondo is a shrewd and resourceful businessman who has made a fortune through various illegal means, including tax evasion.
Despite Gondo's best efforts to evade detection, Itakura is determined to catch him. She uses a variety of methods to track down his hidden assets, including wiretapping his phone and following him around town. As the investigation deepens, Itakura discovers that Gondo's network of contacts extends across multiple industries and government agencies, making it even more difficult to bring him to justice.
As the two characters continue to clash, their fight becomes increasingly personal. Itakura is driven not just by a desire to uphold the law, but by a sense of justice and a belief that everyone should pay their fair share. Gondo, on the other hand, sees himself as a champion of the little guy, and resents Itakura's relentless pursuit of him.
The film is notable for its mix of comedy and drama, as well as its commentary on Japan's tax system and the power dynamics between the government and big business. Itami, who wrote and directed the film, had a reputation for making satirical comedies that tackled serious social issues, and A Taxing Woman is no exception. The film was a box office success in Japan and was followed by a sequel, A Taxing Woman's Return, in 1988.
