"Utamaro and His Five Women" is the highly-embellished account of a great artist, set against the background of Tokyo in the late 1700's. In this world of brothels, drinking parties and violent outbreaks of passion, the artist Utamaro dedicates himself to creating gorgeously vivid portraits. Although he worships women through his art, these emotional paintings are his only true connection to the passionate world around him. Rather than decorating his life, art becomes his life.