| Otoko wa Tsurai yo | |
|---|---|
Poster for the No.18 "Tora's Pure Love" (1976) |
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| Directed by | Yōji Yamada |
| Written by | Yōji Yamada Yoshitaka Asama et al. |
| Starring | Kiyoshi Atsumi Chieko Baishō Chishu Ryu |
| Music by | Naozumi Yamamoto |
| Cinematography | Tetsuo Takaba |
| Distributed by | Shochiku (Japan) |
| Release date(s) | 1969 - 1995 |
| Running time | 110 - 140 min. |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Otoko wa tsurai yo (男はつらいよ, "It's tough being a man") is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as "Tora-san" (寅さん), a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. The series itself is often referred to as "Tora-san" by its fans.[1] Spanning 48 installments released between 1969 and 1995,[2] All of the Otoko wa tsurai yo films except episodes 3 and 4 were directed by Yōji Yamada, who also wrote (or co-wrote) all the screenplays. The series was considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the longest movie series in the world, until it was surpassed by the Huang Fei-Hong series. However, unlike the Otoko wa tsurai yo series, it was not principally helmed by one director.[3]
Each film featured a different leading lady, called a Madonna, and a different region of Japan. (There were also episodes that featured scenes in Arizona and Vienna.) Two films were usually made each year between 1969–1989, one for summer and one for New Year release. From 1990-1995 only one film was made each year, for New Year release. AnimEigo released the series for the first time in the United States in 2009 under the title "Tora-san".[4]
The film series ended after Atsumi's declining health and death from lung cancer at age 68 without Tora-san ever settling down and finding domestic happiness. Atsumi was so identified with the Tora-san character that his death was also considered by fans to be the death of Tora-san. Director Yamada decided not to continue the series after Atsumi's death. However, he instead reworked a Tora-san script stuck in development as "Niji wo Tsukamu Otoko" starring Nishida Toshiyuki as a traveling cinema operator. Although "Niji" was a tribute to movies in general, the final scenes were Yamada's touching, loving post-humous tribute to the Tora-san series and to Atsumi Kiyoshi. Almost all of the principal actors from "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" have cameos in the "Niji" film, and the Tora-san character even makes a surprise cameo appearance near the end of the movie hinting that perhaps Tora is still out there somewhere. The film ends with a dedication to Atsumi Kiyoshi.
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All of the Tora-san movies had the same basic plot with some minor variations. Kuruma Torajirō (or Tora-san), a traveling salesman whose sole possessions include only the contents of a small suitcase, the clothes on his back and some pocket money, wanders from town to town peddling his wares. He yearns to return to his home in Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo. His sole surviving family members include Sakura (his kind-hearted half-sister), Hiroshi (Sakura's husband), Mitsuo (Sakura and Hiroshi's son), Tatsuzō (Tora-san's elderly uncle) and Tsune (Tora-san's elderly aunt). Tatsuzō and Tsune run a traditional sweets (Dango) shop in Shibamata. The film often begins with Tora-san dreaming of doing grand deeds, anxious to be worthy of his family, usually resulting in disappointment and subsequent awakening.
Tora-san unexpectedly drops in on his family. While the family is glad to see him, Tora-san's stay eventually causes some kind of ruckus and usually a violent family argument ensues. He then storms off with his belongings just as suddenly as he arrived.
Some time later, he arrives in some remote town planning to peddle his wares to the locals. There, he meets the "Madonna", a local damsel in distress. Tora-san usually tells the damsel to look him up at his family's dango shop in Shibamata. The damsel takes him up on his offer and Tora-san invariably returns. Torasan falls head over heels in love with her (though he always seems oblivious to his own feelings). However, in his shy efforts to win the Madonna's heart, Tora usually ends up inadvertently bringing her together with an old flame or another man. Tora-san invariably ends up heartbroken but puts on a brave face and wanders off again on his journey to heal his broken heart.
Preceding the first theatrical film of Otoko wa tsurai yo, a teledrama version was broadcast from 1968 to 1969. It was originally titled "Gukei (or "Gukyō")-Kenmai" (愚兄賢妹), meaning "Goofy Brother and Wise Sister." The name comes from the final subtitle of Naite tamaruka (泣いてたまるか). (The star of Naite tamaruka is also Atsumi Kiyoshi.)
Kobayashi Shun'ichi renamed the show Otoko wa tsurai yo. In the final episode of the TV series, Torajirō dies of a snakebite. This denouement made the audience angry and a film version of Otoko wa tsurai yo followed. Initially, Shochiku (松竹), the distributing agency, was not enthusiastic, but Yōji Yamada's persuasiveness ultimately prevailed. With the exception of Morikawa Shin, the supporting cast of the television version did not reprise their roles in the film series - though Sato Gajiro appears in several of the films as "Gen-chan" and Nagayama Aiko is the Madonna in the 6th film.
| Number | Title | Japan Release Date | US Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It's Tough Being a Man ("Otoko wa tsurai yo") (男はつらいよ) |
August 27, 1969 | July 18, 1974 |
| 2 | Tora-San's Cherished Mother ("Zoku otoko wa tsurai yo") 続・男はつらいよ |
November 15, 1969 | July 1, 1970 |
| 3 | Tora-san, His Tender Love ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Fuuten no Tora") 男はつらいよ フーテンの寅 |
January 15, 1970 | October 20, 1973 |
| 4 | Tora-san's Grand Scheme ("Shin otoko wa tsurai yo") 新・男はつらいよ |
February 27, 1970 | July 25, 1973 |
| 5 | Tora-san's Runaway ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Bōkyō hen") 男はつらいよ 望郷篇 |
August 25, 1970 | May 28, 1971 |
| 6 | Tora-san's Shattered Romance ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Junjō hen") 男はつらいよ 純情篇 |
January 15, 1971 | September 1, 1971 |
| 7 | Tora-san, the Good Samaritan ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Funtō hen") 男はつらいよ 奮闘篇 |
April 28, 1971 | June 25, 1975 |
| 8 | Tora-san's Love Call ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō koiuta") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎恋歌 |
December 29, 1971 | April 14, 1973 |
| 9 | Tora-san's Dear Old Home ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shibamata bōjō") 男はつらいよ 柴又慕情 |
August 5, 1972 | March 10, 1974 |
| 10 | Tora-san's Dream-Come-True ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō yumemakura") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎夢枕 |
December 29, 1972 | May 1973 |
| 11 | Tora-san's Forget Me Not ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō wasurenagusa") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎忘れな草 |
August 4, 1973 | January 4, 1974 |
| 12 | Tora-san Loves an Artist ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Watashi no tora-san") 男はつらいよ 私の寅さん |
December 26, 1973 | May 22, 1974 |
| 13 | Tora-san's Lovesick ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō koiyatsure") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎恋やつれ |
August 10, 1974 | |
| 14 | Tora-san's Lullaby ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō komoriuta") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎子守唄 |
December 28, 1974 | December 1975 |
| 15 | Tora-san's Rise and Fall ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō aiaigasa") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎相合い傘 |
August 2, 1975 | June 12, 1977 |
| 16 | Tora-san, the Intellectual ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Katsushika risshihen") 男はつらいよ 葛飾立志篇 |
December 27, 1975 | December 31, 1976 |
| 17 | Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō yūyake koyake") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎夕焼け小焼け （仮タイトルは「男はつらいよ 柴又の伊達男」） |
July 24, 1976 | May 6, 1977 |
| 18 | Tora's Pure Love ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō junjōshishū") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎純情詩集 |
December 25, 1976 | |
| 19 | Tora-san Meets His Lordship ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō to tonosama") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎と殿様 |
August 6, 1977 | August 25, 1978 |
| 20 | Tora-san Plays Cupid ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō gambare!") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎頑張れ! |
December 24, 1977 | |
| 21 | Stage-Struck Tora-san ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō wagamichi wo yuku") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎わが道をゆく |
August 5, 1978 | |
| 22 | Talk of the Town Tora-san ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Uwasa no torajirō") 男はつらいよ 噂の寅次郎 |
December 27, 1978 | September 28, 1979 |
| 23 | Tora-san, the Matchmaker ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Tonderu Torajirō") 男はつらいよ 翔んでる寅次郎 |
August 4, 1979 | May 1980 |
| 24 | Tora-san's Dream of Spring ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō haru no yume") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎春の夢 |
December 28, 1979 | June 1, 1980 |
| 25 | Tora's Tropical Fever ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō haibisukasu no hana") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎ハイビスカスの花 |
August 2, 1980 | December 26, 1980 |
| 26 | Foster Daddy, Tora! ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō kamome uta") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎かもめ歌 |
December 28, 1980 | |
| 27 | Tora-san's Love in Osaka ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Naniwa no koi no Torajirō") 男はつらいよ 浪花の恋の寅次郎 |
August 8, 1981 | January 1, 1982 |
| 28 | Tora-san's Promise ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō kamifūsen") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎紙風船 |
December 29, 1981 | June 1982 |
| 29 | Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō ajisai no koi") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎あじさいの恋 |
August 7, 1982 | December 24, 1982 |
| 30 | Tora-san, the Expert ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Hana mo arashi mo Torajirō") 男はつらいよ 花も嵐も寅次郎 |
December 28, 1982 | |
| 31 | Tora-san's Song of Love ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Tabi to onna to Torajirō") 男はつらいよ 旅と女と寅次郎 |
August 6, 1983 | January 20, 1984 |
| 32 | Tora-san Goes Religious? ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Kuchibue o fuku Torajirō") 男はつらいよ 口笛を吹く寅次郎 |
December 28, 1983 | June 29, 1984 |
| 33 | Marriage Counselor Tora-san ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Yogiri ni musebu torajirō") 男はつらいよ 夜霧にむせぶ寅次郎 |
August 4, 1984 | December 21, 1984 |
| 34 | Tora-san's Forbidden Love ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō shinjitsu ichiro") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎真実一路 |
December 28, 1984 | May 1985 |
| 35 | Tora-san, the Go-Between ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō ren'aijuku") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎恋愛塾 |
August 3, 1985 | |
| 36 | Tora-san's Island Encounter ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shibamata yori ai wo komete") 男はつらいよ 柴又より愛をこめて |
December 28, 1985 | |
| 37 | Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shiawase no aoi tori") 男はつらいよ 幸福の青い鳥 |
December 20, 1986 | June 1987 |
| 38 | Tora-san Goes North ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shiretoko bojō") 男はつらいよ 知床慕情 |
August 15, 1987 | January 11, 1990 |
| 39 | Tora-san Plays Daddy ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō monogatari") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎物語 |
December 26, 1987 | |
| 40 | Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō sarada kinenbi") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎サラダ記念日 |
December 24, 1988 | |
| 41 | Tora-San Goes to Vienna ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō kokoro no tabiji") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎心の旅路 |
August 5, 1989 | November 1989 |
| 42 | Tora-san, My Uncle ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Boku no ojisan") 男はつらいよ ぼくの伯父さん |
December 27, 1989 | January 11, 1990 |
| 43 | Tora-san Takes a Vacation ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō no kyūjitsu") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎の休日 |
December 22, 1990 | |
| 44 | Tora-san Confesses ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō no kokuhaku") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎の告白 |
December 21, 1991 | March 1992 |
| 45 | Tora-San Makes Excuses ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō no seishun") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎の青春 |
December 26, 1992 | |
| 46 | Tora-san's Matchmaker ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō no endan") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎の縁談 |
December 25, 1993 | |
| 47 | Tora-san's Easy Advice ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Haikei, Kuruma Torajirō sama") 男はつらいよ 拝啓車寅次郎様 |
December 23, 1994 | |
| 48 | Tora-san to the Rescue ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō kurenai no hana") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎紅の花 |
December 23, 1995 | |
| Special | Tora's Tropical Fever ("Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirō haibisukasu no hana tokubetsuhen") 男はつらいよ 寅次郎ハイビスカスの花 特別篇 |
December 1997 |
Each movie had a female guest star with whom Tora-san would usually fall head over heels (Although in the latter movies, Tora would play more of a surrogate father figure to the younger female stars.) These characters were referred to as Madonnas. Each Madonna was played by an ingenue who was popular at the time of the movie's release. The list of Madonnas is as follows:
| Movie # | Madonna played by: | Role: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 光本幸子 (Mitsumoto Sachiko) | Fuyuko, the Taishaku-ten Priest's daughter. |
| 2 | 佐藤オリエ (Sato Orie) | Tsubouchi Natsuko, the English teacher's daughter |
| 3 | 新珠三千代 (Aratama Michiyo) | O-Shizu, the ryokan kamisan |
| 4 | 栗原小巻 (Kurihara Komaki) | Usami Haruko, the kindergarten teacher |
| 5 | 長山藍子 (Nagayama Aiko) | Setsuko, the fried tofu shopkeeper's daughter |
| 6 | 若尾文子 (Wakao Ayako) | Akashi Yuko, the niece of Tsune's cousin's husband |
| 7 | 榊原るみ (Sakakibara Rumi) | Ota Hanako, the disabled school assistant from Aomori |
| 8 | 池内淳子 (Ikeuchi Junko) | Rokuhara Takako, the coffee shop owner |
| 9 | 吉永小百合 (Yoshinaga Sayuri) | Utako, the tourist / writer's daughter |
| 10 | 八千草薫 (Yachigusa Kaoru) | Chiyo, the barber |
| 11 | 浅岡ルリ子 (Asaoka Ruriko) | Lily, the lounge singer |
| 12 | 岸恵子 (Kishi Keiko) | Ritsuko, the artist |
| 13 | 吉永小百合 (Yoshinaga Sayuri) | Utako, the writer's daughter |
| 14 | 十朱幸代 (Toake Yukiyo) | Kyoko, the nurse |
| 15 | 浅岡ルリ子 (Asaoka Ruriko) | Lily, the lounge singer |
| 16 | 樫山文枝 (Kashiyama Fumie) | Reiko, the grad student / instructor of archeology |
| 17 | 太地喜和子 (Taichi Kiwako) | Botan, the geisha |
| 18 | 京マチ子 (Kyō Machiko) | Yagyu Aya, Mitsuo's teacher's mother |
| 19 | 真野響子 (Maya Kyōko) | Mariko, the lordship's daughter in law |
| 20 | 藤村志保 (Fujimura Shiho) | Fujiko, the electrician's sister |
| 21 | 木の実ナナ (Kinomi Nana) | Nanako, the SKD revue dancer |
| 22 | 大原麗子 (Ōhara Reiko) | Sanae, the divorcee |
| 23 | 桃井かおり (Momoi Kaori) | Hitomi, the runaway bride |
| 24 | 香川京子 (Kagawa Kyōko) | Keiko, the English teacher's mother |
| 25 | 浅岡ルリ子 (Asaoka Ruriko) | Lily, the lounge singer |
| 26 | 伊藤蘭 (Itō Ran) | Sumire, the school dropout |
| 27 | 松坂慶子 (Matsuzaka Keiko) | Fumi, the Osaka geisha |
| 28 | 音無美紀子 (Otonashi Mikiko) | Mitsue, the tekiya's widow |
| 29 | いしだあゆみ (Ishida Ayumi) | Kagari, the maid |
| 30 | 田中裕子 (Tanaka Yuko) | Keiko Ogawa, the tourist / department store worker |
| 31 | 都はるみ (Miyako Harumi) | Harumi Kyo, the enka singer |
| 32 | 竹下景子 (Takeshita Keiko) | Tomoko, the Rendai-ji priest's daughter |
| 33 | 中原理恵 (Nakahara Rie) | Fuuko, the hairdresser |
| 34 | 大原麗子 (Ōhara Reiko) | Fujiko, the missing salaryman's wife |
| 35 | 樋口可南子 (Higuchi Kanako) | Wakana Egami, the Catholic lady's granddaughter |
| 36 | 栗原小巻 (Kurihara Komaki) | Machiko, the junior high school teacher |
| 37 | 志穂美悦子 (Shihomi Etsuko) | Miho, the Kabuki actor's daughter |
| 38 | 竹下景子 (Takeshita Keiko) | Rinko, the veteranarian's daughter |
| 39 | 秋吉久美子 (Akiyoshi Kumiko) | Takai Takako |
| 40 | 三田佳子 (Mita Yoshiko) | Machiko, the doctor |
| 41 | 竹下景子 (Takeshita Keiko) | Kumiko, the tourguide |
| 42 | 後藤久美子 (Gotō Kumiko) / 檀ふみ (Dan Fumi) |
Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend; Izumi's mother |
| 43 | 後藤久美子 (Gotō Kumiko) / 夏木マリ (Natsuki Mari) |
Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend |
| 44 | 後藤久美子 (Gotō Kumiko) / 吉田日出子 (Yoshida Hideko) |
Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend |
| 45 | 後藤久美子 (Gotō Kumiko) / 風吹ジュン (Fubuki Jun) |
Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend |
| 46 | 松坂慶子 (Matsuzaka Keiko) | Sakaide Yoko |
| 47 | かたせ梨乃 (Katase Rino) | Miya Noriko, the photographer |
| 48 | 浅岡ルリ子 (Asaoka Ruriko） | Lily, the lounge singer |
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