▁su ited ▁to ▁her ▁tal ents ▁in ▁an ▁attempt ▁to ▁give ▁Nik k ats u ▁a ▁new ▁star ▁to ▁replace ▁Na omi ▁T ani ▁who ▁had ▁retired ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 . ▁The ▁film , ▁, ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁of ▁the ▁four - part ▁" W oman ▁Who ▁... " ▁series ▁all ▁st arring ▁Kaz ama . ▁The ▁second ▁film ▁in ▁the ▁series , ▁, ▁directed ▁by ▁A ki ra ▁Kat ō , ▁was ▁released ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁The ▁third ▁entry ▁in ▁the ▁series ▁Woman ▁Who ▁Ex poses ▁H ers elf ▁came ▁out ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁Kaz ama ' s ▁acting ▁in ▁this ▁film ▁won ▁her ▁the ▁award ▁for ▁Best ▁Act ress ▁at ▁the ▁ 3 rd ▁Y ok oh ama ▁Film ▁Festival . ▁The ▁final ▁film ▁in ▁the ▁series , ▁the ▁June ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁, ▁was ▁directed ▁by ▁Mas aru ▁Kon uma , ▁who ▁had ▁also ▁directed ▁Woman ▁Who ▁Ex poses ▁H ers elf . ▁The ▁We iss ers ▁comment ▁that ▁throughout ▁the ▁series ▁" K az ama ' s ▁acting ▁ability ▁always ▁sh ines ▁through ." ▁ ▁By ▁this ▁time , ▁according ▁to ▁the ▁We iss ers , ▁Kaz ama ▁had ▁become ▁Nik k ats u ' s ▁" big gest ▁actress ▁of ▁the ▁' 8 0 s ." ▁In ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁Kaz ama ▁was ▁pa ired ▁with ▁Nik k ats u ▁director ▁Tak ashi ▁Sug ano ▁in ▁another ▁film ▁tail