In 1934, Mizoguchi joined Daiichi Eiga-sha (a production company) established by Masaichi NAGATA, and made his name by releasing movies such as 'Orizuru Osen' (The Downfall of Osen), which, based on Kyoka IZUMI's novel, featured Isuzu YAMADA, 'Naniwa ereji' (Naniwa Elegy), which was produced together with a talented screenwriter Yoshikata YODA for the first time, and 'Gion no shimai' (Sisters of the Gion), a masterpiece set in Gion, Kyoto.
9年、永田雅一が設立した第一映画社に参加し、山田五十鈴出演で泉鏡花原作の「折鶴お千」、名脚本家依田義賢とはじめて組んだ「浪華悲歌」、京都の祇園を舞台にした傑作「祇園の姉妹」などを発表して名声を高めた。