Odd Obsession

, also titled The Key, is a 1959 Japanese satirical comedy drama film directed by Kon Ichikawa. It is based on the novel The Key by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki. Plot Art historian Kenji Kenmochi is married to the much younger Ikuko. Due to his waning virility, he has his doctor give him hormone injections. In addition, he tries to awaken the interest of his daughter Toshiko's fiancé, assistant doctor Kimura, in Ikuko, convinced that his jealousy will bring his manliness back. Ikuko agrees to the plan, as she has developed a genuine interest in Kimura. However, Kimura's main ambition for becoming part of the Kenmochi family is financing his continued studies with Kenji's money. Kenji eventually dies of a heart failure, an effect of his hormone injections. Cast Machiko Kyō as Ikuko Kenmochi Nakamura Ganjirō II as Kenji Kenmochi Junko Kanō as Toshiko Kenmochi Tatsuya Nakadai as Kimura Jun Hamamura as Dr. Sōma Tanie Kitabayashi as Hana Mayumi Kurata as Koike Kyū Sazanka as Curio dealer Ichirō Sugai as Masseur Mantarō Ushio as Dr. Kodama Book and film For the film, Ichikawa and his co-writers Natto Wada and Keiji Hasebe added a character not in the book, housemaid Hana, who in the finale (again not in the book) poisons Ikuko, Toshiko and Kimura.