[1][2][3] The first of Suzuki's "flesh trilogy" (followed by Story of a Prostitute and Carmen from Kawachi), the series is considered the "crowning achievement" of his period working at the production house Nikkatsu.

[4][5] The film is viewed as a direct and allegorical critique of Japan's Occupation and subsequent development, which rather than breaking with the country's pre-war militaristic, authoritarian social structures only sees their reconstitution in the post-war period.

[6][7] In an impoverished and burnt out Tokyo ghetto of post-World War II Japan, a band of prostitutes defend their territory, squatting in a bombed-out building.

Forming a sort of family in an environment where everyone (American soldiers and Japanese yakuza) is a potential antagonist, the girls cajole each other, and ruthlessly punish any of their group who violate the cardinal rule—no falling in love.

[7][8] Planned as an "adult release" (Japanese films were classified by the country's film board as "general release" or "adult"), the usual pace of production at Nikkatsu (10 days pre-production, 25 days shooting, three days post-production) allowed Suzuki and his innovative production designer Takeo Kimura precious little time to construct sets to recreate post-war firebombed Tokyo.