20 years after the death of legendary actor Kiyoshi Atsumi, TSUTAYA presents the timeless appeal of the Showa era classic "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" series
2016.08.04
Press Releases
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd.
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director, President and COO: Kazuo Nakanishi / hereinafter referred to as "TSUTAYA"), which operates 1,478 TSUTAYA stores nationwide, will be gradually rolling out recommended corners for the "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" series in TSUTAYA stores nationwide to communicate the appeal of the "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" series, a masterpiece by Kiyoshi Atsumi, whose appeal is once again attracting attention 20 years after his death, and to let more customers know about it.
In addition, NHK BS Premium*1 has aired a special feature rediscovering the charm of Kiyoshi Atsumi, as well as rare interview footage with his co-stars from the "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" series and a documentary that gives a glimpse into the real Kiyoshi Atsumi, who had previously kept his private life secret. Many books related to Kiyoshi Atsumi have also been released, and his charm is once again attracting attention in various media.
By learning about the life of Kiyoshi Atsumi, who dedicated his life to film, we will once again introduce the popularity and appeal of the classic "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" series, one of the masterpieces of the Showa era and registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as a long-running series, along with user reviews submitted to Filmarks *2, one of Japan's largest film review services.
Four appealing points of "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" as discussed by users of the movie review service "Filmarks"
▽Part 1: The appeal of Japanese culture
You can once again experience the good old Japanese traditions of family gatherings, interactions with neighbors, and the warmth and connections between people.
●The good old days of Japan!! Let's take a look at the Tora-san series. It's so much fun to watch Tora-san's eloquence. It's wonderful to have a relationship where communication can be based on "Are you still an idiot?" (Male, 20s)
●I don't miss Japanese food, but I do miss Japanese culture and scenery...I was reminded once again that this is a great film series that evokes nostalgia. (20s, female)
●First time watching "It's Tough Being a Man." We can't choose the era we are born in, but as someone born in the Heisei era, I felt somewhat envious of this film and wished I had lived through it at least once. The charm of the foolish Tora-san still resonates with me today, and it makes my heart brighten. From now on, I'd like to take my time and see where Tora-san goes from here. (Male, 20s)
●"His last name is Kuruma, his first name is Tora-san, and people call him the vagabond Tora." Showa era. A heartfelt Edokko human drama set in the downtown area of Shibamata. A total of 48 films, it is one of Japan's greatest epic films and a "bible" for the good old Japanese. This is the first film featuring Tora-san, the clumsy but loyal national character loved by everyone. Baisho Chieko's down-to-earth beauty is spot on. I love this world the most. It's definitely a wedding scene. A hymn to humanity that will make you laugh and cry. Long live the Japanese people. I wish I was born in the Showa era. (Male, 20s)
Part 2: The appeal of Kiyoshi Atsumi and other famous Showa actors
I was fascinated by Tora-san's personality! I was also comforted by his excellent dialogue with his co-stars.
●An immortal masterpiece. All of his works follow the same pattern, but I never get bored of them. I was impressed by Kiyoshi Atsumi's acting skills and Tora's aria. (Male, 20s)
●I love it. The dialogue between Morikawa Makoto and his uncle is great. Above all, Tora-san is young, reckless, stupid, passionate, lovesick, goofy, funny, and just generally energetic. This is a masterpiece that lives up to its name as the first installment in the world's longest-running series. (40s, male)
●It's ridiculously funny. Baisho Chieko is so cute. This is what retirement is all about. (20s, female)
●At first I hated it, but I gradually grew to like it, and in the end I loved it. That's the kind of person Tora-san is! Ryu Chishu's "Bataa??" bit is just too cute. And then there's Shimura Takashi, who looks older and melancholic. I'm so excited to see my two favorite actors performing together!!! Even though I was born in the Heisei era, this brings back some nostalgia for some reason. A film filled with the Japanese spirit. (20s, female)
▽Part 3: The Diverse Charms of Madonna
We look back at the silver screen actresses who supported the Showa era, including the love interest Madonna of "Tora-san" who appears in each episode.
●The second installment in the series. Madonna is Sato Orie. I watched it again. The chaos this time is toned down compared to the previous film. However, just when you think, "Huh? This isn't going well," there's always a punchline. and laugh... Yamazaki Tsutomu and Akino Taisaku are young. Baisho Chieko is truly beautiful and adorable. A baby had been born. I wonder if Yoshioka Hidetaka will play this role later. (Female in her 40s)
●Michiyo Shinju is cute. (20s, female)
▽Part 4: The appeal of the tourist spots that served as filming locations
You can rediscover the old Japanese townscapes in the cityscapes of the various cities that appear in the film.
●An undisputed masterpiece by director Yamada Yoji, a pride of Shochiku. This work has a complete worldview, including the scenery of Taishakuten and the characters. I wonder if we'll ever see another nationally popular film series like this again. The final scene was at Amanohashidate, which was quite moving for me as a Kyoto native. (Male, 20s)
●The first of a series of 48 films. When I recommend this to people around me, the reaction isn't great, but it's still a masterpiece that should be seen. It is packed with the essence of what will become the 48th film in the future. Tora-san's films are full of love, laughter, and emotion, and feature beautiful scenery from all over the country. (Male, 20s)
TSUTAYA has set up a "Showa Cinema Yokocho" corner, which looks back on masterpieces from the Showa era. To mark the 20th anniversary of Kiyoshi Atsumi's death, we have set up a "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" corner to provide an opportunity for customers to rediscover this Japanese masterpiece. We hope that customers who have not seen "Tora-san" will be able to discover its appeal and that this timeless Showa-era masterpiece will enrich their emotional experience.
※①NHK BS Premium Special Program Information
July 30th (Saturday) 21:00:22:30 BS Premium
The Premium "Tora-san, what were you thinking? Kiyoshi Atsumi's Journey of the Heart"
Learn more http://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/3303/2225444/index.html
▽ Thursday, August 4th, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM BS Premium
20 years after his death: Documentary drama "Strange Man - Kiyoshi Atsumi and Tora-san Before Dawn"
Learn more http://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/92420/2420451/index.html
▽ Friday, August 5th, 9:00-10:41 BS Premium
Premium Cafe: Kiyoshi Atsumi's 25 Years as "Tora-san" (First aired in 1995)
Learn more http://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/3599/2315581/index.html
▽ August 9th (Tuesday) 23:45-0:45 BS Premium
Another Stories "The Movie 'It's Tough Being a Man' - The Birth of Tora-san: An Unknown Drama"
Learn more http://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/3444/1453032/index.html
▽ Thursday, August 11th, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on BS Premium
Tora-san Railway Trip
Learn more http://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/9999/9990021/index.html
※②Filmarks(https://filmarks.com/)
Japan's largest movie review service, recommended by TSUTAYA. In July 2016, the number of movie reviews exceeded 20 million. Based on the function that allows users to easily post and check movie ratings and reviews, it has been supported by many movie fans as a "movie viewing record," "memo and memorandum of movies they want to see," and "communication tool for enjoying movie talk."
Materials related to this matter
20 years after the death of legendary actor Kiyoshi Atsumi, TSUTAYA presents the timeless appeal of the Showa era classic "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" seriesInquiries regarding this matter
TSUTAYA Corporation Public Relations Unit TEL: 03-6800-4764
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