Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô yûyake koyake

Listed on Guiness' Book of World Records as the series with most movies to is name, Otoko wa Tsurai yo series is the signature masterpiece for both director Yoji Yamada, and actor Kiyoshi Atsumi.

Tora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) befriends an old drunk (Jyukichi Uno) at a yakitori restaurant not knowing that he's a famous painter. Everyone at Torajiro's house thiks he's just an old bum, and can't wait for him to leave. The "old bum" scribbles a small picture in about a minute, and gives it to Tora telling him to go and sell it at an art shop in Jimbo-cho. Tora reluctantly obeys but is in for a surprise when the picture is sold for over 700 dollars (equivalent of about 3000 dollars present day money). By then, the entire family has figured out that the old man is famous painter Seikan Ikenouchi. But auntie has already sent him away. Tora then goes out on a trip to Tatsuno in Bansyu (Tatsuno city in Hyogo prefecture) where Seikan was also visiting his birth place. By coincidence they meet, and Tora is treated like royalty by the city's officials who are looking to have Seikan draw a picture for the city. Tora also meets his old acquaintance Botan (Kiwako Taichi) - a geisha working in town of Tatsuno at a restaurant.

By far this is my favorite episode of Otoko wa Tsurai yo series. I like the story, and I'm a big fan of the late Kiwako Taichi. She always looks great in any role, but her performance as a small town geisha was so fantastic. I think she's one of the greatest female actor to come out of Asia, if not the greatest.

The funny part is Jyukichi Uno's real life son Akira Terao appears together in this movie with son being the city official that's catering to the father.

If there's one episode of Otoko wa Tsurai yo you should see, this one is it.

Why these films are not widely available is beyond logic.

This is the first Tora-San film I've seen, and it did not feel like this was the 17th film in a series of 48. The plot, character development, and story were complete on their own. The film centers on Tora-San, an affable lomanesque salesman who returns to the home of his loving sister and brother-in-law. Following a light-hearted family argument, he goes out, gets drunk, and befriends and brings home an elderly drinking friend. The old souse awakes believing he is in a hotel, and begins ordering the "help" around.

After putting up with his condescension for two days, Tora-San confronts the guest on behalf of his family. Now sober, the guest, Ikenouchi, is abashed at his behavior, and makes amends by doodling a sketch and instructing Tora-San where he can go cash-in the artwork for money. As it turns out, Tora-San's new friend is one of Japan's most famous artists and the doodle sells for 70,000 Yen. Ikenouchi returns to his cushy home, and when the two meet again on a trip to Tokyo, the tables are turned, with Ikenouchi playing host and Tora-San over-stepping his bounds as guest (which is again met with minimal protest in the apparently overly-hospitable Japanese culture).

While in Tokyo with Ikenouchi and the Mayor of Tokyo, Tora-San runs into Botan, a geisha and old friend. Upon returning to his family home, Tora-San is visited by her and learns that she has come in an attempt to recover 2 Million Yen that a Tokyo businessman swindled from her. Empathetic and eager to battle inequity, Tora-San sets out to rectify the situation.

The highlight of the film is the subsequent exchange where Tora-San asks Ikenouchi to paint a piece that he can sell to recover 2Million Yen for Botan. Ikenouchi struggles to make Tora-San understand his unwillingness to use his art as currency and Tora-San feels his friend is selfishly placing this unfamiliar and seemingly petty artistic dogma ahead of the more obvious ideals of friendship and justice. Rejected and angry, Tora-San vows to never speak to his friend again.

In the end, Tora-San reunites with Botan, who proudly shows Tora-San the "Ikenouchi Original" she received in the mail. Unsure why it was sent, Botan explains that she refuses to sell the piece for 2Million Yen, as the letter which accompanied the painting suggested, but instead, chooses to treasure it forever.

Great writing, characters, humor, and pacing that can easily keep the attention of modern audiences, this film was an absolute treat. If you have the opportunity to see it, don't pass it up.