Otoko wa Tsurai yo


Otoko wa Tsurai yo is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as Tora-san, a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. The series itself is often referred to as "Tora-san" by its fans. Spanning 48 installments released between 1969 and 1995, all of the Otoko wa tsurai yo films except episodes 3 and 4 were directed by Yōji Yamada, who also wrote all the screenplays.
Each film featured a different leading lady, called a Madonna, and a different region of Japan. Two films were usually made each year between 1969 and 1989, one for summer and one for New Year release. From 1990 to 1995 only one film was made each year, for New Year release. AnimEigo released a boxset of the first four films in the United States in 2009 under the title "Tora-san". The series holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running movie series starring a single actor.
The film series had presumed to have ended with 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 had decided at the time not to continue the series after Atsumi's death, but 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 posthumous 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.
However, the 50th Tora-san film, Tora-san, Wish You Were Here, was released in Japan on December 27, 2019.

Basic plot

Torajirō Kuruma is a traveling salesman whose sole possessions are the contents of a small suitcase, the clothes on his back and some pocket money. He wanders from town to town peddling his wares. He yearns to return to his home in Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo.
His family members include Sakura, Hiroshi, Mitsuo, Tatsuzō, and Tsune. Tatsuzō and Tsune run a traditional sweet 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 they are 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.
In each film he falls in love with a "Madonna", an attractive woman, but he invariably ends up heartbroken.

Origin of the series

Preceding the first theatrical film of Otoko wa tsurai yo, a teledrama version was broadcast from 1968 to 1969. It was originally titled "Gukei -Kenmai", meaning "Goofy Brother and Wise Sister." The name comes from the final subtitle of Naite tamaruka.
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, the distributing agency, was not enthusiastic about the film's prospects but Yōji Yamada's persuasiveness ultimately prevailed. The film series went on to become a huge success with films released every summer and New Years. The series has occupying a large position within the realm of Japanese pop culture psyche. 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 most of the films as "Gen-chan", Nagayama Aiko is the Madonna in the 6th film and Hisashi Igawa is her suitor.

Cast

TV series

Remake

Madonnas

Each movie had a female guest star with whom Tora-san would usually fall head over heels. 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.
Movie No.ActressRole
1Sachiko MitsumotoFuyuko, the Taishaku-ten Priest's daughter
2Orie SatoNatsuko Tsubouchi, the English teacher's daughter
3Michiyo AratamaO-Shizu, the ryokan kamisan
4Komaki KuriharaHaruko Usami, the kindergarten teacher
5Aiko NagayamaSetsuko, the fried tofu shopkeeper's daughter
6Ayako WakaoYuko Akashi, the niece of Tsune's cousin's husband
7Rumi SakakibaraHanako Ota, the disabled school assistant from Aomori
8Junko IkeuchiTakako Rokuhara, the coffee shop owner
9Sayuri YoshinagaUtako, the tourist / writer's daughter
10Kaoru YachigusaChiyo, the barber
11Ruriko AsaokaLily, the lounge singer
12Keiko KishiRitsuko, the artist
13Sayuri YoshinagaUtako, the writer's daughter
14Yukiyo ToakeKyoko, the nurse
15Ruriko AsaokaLily, the lounge singer
16Fumie KashiyamaReiko, the grad student / instructor of archeology
17Kiwako TaichiBotan, the geisha
18Machiko KyōAya Yagyu, Mitsuo's teacher's mother
19Kyōko MayaMariko, the lordship's daughter in law
20Shiho FujimuraFujiko, the electrician's sister
21Nana KinomiNanako, the SKD revue dancer
22Reiko OharaSanae, the divorcee
23Kaori MomoiHitomi, the runaway bride
24Kyōko KagawaKeiko, the English teacher's mother
25Ruriko AsaokaLily, the lounge singer
26Ran ItoSumire, the school dropout
27Keiko MatsuzakaFumi, the Osaka geisha
28Mikiko OtonashiMitsue, the tekiya's widow
29Ayumi IshidaKagari, the maid
30Yūko TanakaKeiko Ogawa, the tourist / department store worker
31Harumi MiyakoHarumi Kyo, the enka singer
32Keiko TakeshitaTomoko, the Rendai-ji priest's daughter
33Rie NakaharaFuuko, the hairdresser
34Reiko OharaFujiko, the missing salaryman's wife
35Kanako HiguchiWakana Egami, the Catholic lady's granddaughter
36Komaki KuriharaMachiko, the junior high school teacher
37Etsuko ShihomiMiho, the Kabuki actor's daughter
38Keiko TakeshitaRinko, the veterinarian's daughter
39Kumiko AkiyoshiTakako Takai
40Yoshiko MitaMachiko, the doctor
41Keiko TakeshitaKumiko, the tourguide
42Kumiko Goto/
Fumi Dan		Izumi Oikawa, Mitsuo's girlfriend; Izumi's mother
43Kumiko Goto/
Mari Natsuki		Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend
44Kumiko Goto/
Hideko Yoshida		Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend
45Kumiko Goto/
Jun Fubuki		Oikawa Izumi, Mitsuo's girlfriend
46Keiko MatsuzakaSakaide Yoko
47Rino KataseMiya Noriko, the photographer
48Ruriko AsaokaLily, the lounge singer
49Ruriko AsaokaLily, the lounge singer