Tenko

Tenko is a television drama, co-produced by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). A total of thirty one-hour episodes were produced between 1981 and 1984, followed by a telemovie, Tenko Reunion, in 1985.

First series

The first series chronicles the fall of Singapore, and the evacuation of British nationals from the city. One ship, bound for Australia with a smattering of refugees on board, is torpedoed and sinks in the Java sea.

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The survivors gather on a beach, and are subsequently captured by Japanese soldiers before being interred under Commandant Yamauchi (Burt Kwouk), a deeply traditional Japanese soldier, who regards the prisoners as "third class women". His sadistic deputy Lieutenant Sato (Eiji Kusuhara) is dubbed Satan by the inmates.

Related Topics:
Burt Kwouk - Eiji Kusuhara

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Conditions in the camp are harsh - no clean water, and little more than rice and water for the inmates to eat and drink. In addition to the main cast, the major personalities of the first season's episodes included elegant snob Rose Millar (Stephanie Beacham), tarty Blanche Simmons (Louise Jameson), nurse Nellie Keene (Jeananne Crowley), upper-class newlywed Sally Markham (Joanna Hole), mother and daughter Judith (Ann Queensberry) and Debbie Bowen (Karin Foley) and Sylvia Ashburton (Renee Asherson), a haughty general's wife.

Related Topics:
Stephanie Beacham - Louise Jameson - Jeananne Crowley - Joanna Hole - Ann Queensberry - Karin Foley - Renee Asherson

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The first series chronicles the women's first year in captivity, ending during Christmas 1942, focusing on their efforts to adjust to being interned and to their new Dutch companions in the camp.

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