THE LONGEST COMEDY MOVIE SERIES OF ALL TIME

[@shalakamanohar]

Beautiful movie series, funny, deep, and poignant at times! I love the portrayal of Japan through these movies and Tora san is just pure love!

[@terrytalksmovies]

It is. It should be better known outside Japan than it is. 😀

[@MiddleAgedGeekGrrrl]

Wow, 50 films! He must truly be a beloved character. Great video, thanks for broadening our film horizons.

[@terrytalksmovies]

I'll show you some when you have time.

[@jamlane]

Very well said! I like your descriptions. I was living in Tokyo when he died and didn't fully comprehend who he was, but I could see that people were deeply affected by his loss. Thank you!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Tora-san movies are among my comfort viewing. There's something magical about them.

[@aqueousmoments]

First off, thank you for your presentation. I watch Tora san regularly and even though I understand very little linguistically, the actor portraying Tora san is so good at his craft I can easily understand what is going on. The director, who I just saw on Japanese television a couple days ago is amazing. I live in Japan and doubt I will ever really learn the language and was hopeful to find this series dubbed in English. It is currently on Netflix but only in Japanese. Thanks again

[@terrytalksmovies]

The series is on Blu-ray with English subs. I'm slowly buying the disks. Glad you liked the video.

[@aqueousmoments]

@@terrytalksmovies Thank you for sharing that. It will help a lot.

[@Nogu3]

I grew up watching this series as a child, growing up in Hokkaido with my grandmother. Even today I have every single film on vcr (besides tora san, okairi which is on dvd) and once a year it's a tradition to watch one movie.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Tora-San movies are great comfort films.

[@ringokageyama6439]

I've watched the Tora San movies growing up in Japan.Than in the 80's watching them in a theatre next to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles.

[@terrytalksmovies]

There's something magical about them.

[@vihangaharshana]

I loved this show. One time I did a character analysis on Kuruma Torajiro for my literature class. At that point I went even more deep into this show. This is one of my favorites but every single action here has some level of detail compared any other shows. I think that’s the main reason why this was continued for around 30 years. I’ve watched this couple times now and would watch it again when I have some time ❤

[@terrytalksmovies]

It wasn't a show, it was a series of movies. Each year, a Tora-San movie would drop and the public loved them. And rightly so. There was magic in these films.

[@Annoying_Customer]

Thanks for the information. I found my way here after a Japanese language teacher I follow made a video which implicated this character (A Dying Persona - Kaname Naito). I will definitely watch some of these as part of my immersion. I enjoyed your observation about class and the post war influence of the west on Japanese culture. I like this trope of the Lovable Loser. I think Bill Murray has thoroughly leaned into this during his career and I certainly love him for it. Cheers cheers!

[@terrytalksmovies]

Bill Murray is always The Smug Rebel. Tora-San is a beautifully unique character.

[@marctremblay8087]

I have watched many Tora san but had visited Shibamata before that, while i visited i saw the statue and after research came to watch them, Really funny family drama with much emotion you cant help love it .

[@terrytalksmovies]

If I get back to Japan, Shibamata is a definite visit for me.

[@marctremblay8087]

@@terrytalksmovies It is worth the visit, The water tower on the Edogawa river is still there, The temple and shops just as in the TV series, opposite the Tora san museum is a house called Yamamoto tei , i personally recomend it. I went there december 2019 and they had a small Koto concert.

[@Big_Dai]

I wonder if Golden Boy was influenced by Tora-san in some way, shape or form.. Thanks for the video.

[@terrytalksmovies]

Possibly. Tora-San was incredibly influential. I really want to visit Shibamata one day.

[@mariellepavel5710]

Thanks Terry for the video. Very well done. :)

[@terrytalksmovies]

Glad you enjoyed it. Tora-San needs to be known by more people.

[@windansea6702]

I visited Shibamata today and for anyone who is a fan of the series I highly recommend going there. The town, train station, museum and restaurant where the first 4 episodes were filmed are amazing. I intend to visit again.

[@pozzo6828]

What you said makes perfect sense. I have the same perspective. The series has a way of touching one's mind subtly.

[@terrytalksmovies]

There's something magical at play with Tora-San.

[@matthewdavey6064]

Thanks Terry, will try and hunt a few down.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It might be difficult but it is possible. They're lovely flicks.

[@finnishculturalchannel]

In Finland it was Uuno Turhapuro (Eng: Numbskull Emptybrook), who appeared in 20 movies between years 1973-2004. Here's couple of clips of him and of the transformation, which takes place when he manages to marry into a rich family. In the first clip he has just moved to Helsinki from the countryside to find himself that wealthy wife to live off. In the second clip we have the wedding and a typical scene of their marriage life. Uuno's wife tells him to get a job and Uuno talks himself out of the situation. In the third clip he's on a vacation in Spain with the wife and in-laws and couple of friends and has a vacation romance there: "Kaupungin tavoitelluin poikamies" "Ensimmäisen Uuno-elokuvan ensimmäiset minuutit" "Uuno tanssii - Uuno dansar"

[@terrytalksmovies]

Wow. Thank you for giving me another movie rabbit hole to dive down and explore. Tora-San sounds a bit more poignant than Uuno Turhapuro but twenty movies is a great run for any character.

[@DansTravels5823]

Does sound interesting. Another series to put on the list. Thanks.

[@terrytalksmovies]

My pleasure. That's what the channel's all about. Hunting down the good stuff and serving it out to the hungry. 😀😀

[@osvaldogreco]

I still have 20 to complete the 50; thanks for remind me of Tora-San!

[@terrytalksmovies]

I'm slowly working my way through them. Love 'em.

[@osvaldogreco]

@@terrytalksmovies I was introduced to the series by the grandfather of one childhood's friend, who migrated here after the war and the family in japan sent to him regularly from magazines to movies in film; no idea how they could do that! I learn japanese from them too; by some of those funny things in life I also have a half sister who is also half japanese (father in merchant navy, so...) and this ends in an argentinian who loves japanese culture and cinema from all around the world! It's like Around the World in 80 movies!

[@theletterm1787]

Is there a longer film series than this?

[@terrytalksmovies]

It may well be but Marvel's MCU will beat it at some stage.

[@tunagarza9240]

Oh yeah, I love 寅さん

[@terrytalksmovies]

How can you not love 寅さん?

[@TimChuma]

Had not heard of this one thanks.

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's a deep cut alright.

[@jorensleong4202]

Was wondering if they allow to dub the series.

[@terrytalksmovies]

No need. Subtitles are better.

[@jorensleong4202]

Aww man, was wondering how Tora-san and family sounded in English@@terrytalksmovies

[@terrytalksmovies]

@@jorensleong4202 It's so culturally specific that dubbed just simply won't work. Unless people know, for instance, what dango is, they'll be confused by a dubbed version.

[@twoswords5524]

I've been watching the movies on netflix (japanese only), where can i find it with english subs?

[@terrytalksmovies]

On physical media mostly. The Japanese DVDs have English subtitles.

[@SneakyNinjaDog]

I am intrigued by this, but I also find that even though I love Japanese movies in general, comedy however is sometimes special and does not translate well. How funny is this for us non-japanese?

[@terrytalksmovies]

It's funny, sweet and strangely comforting.

[@jimmierasmussen9298]

I would like to see all of the "Tora-san Movies". I will even pay for it. Can you somehow find the way. Thankyou

[@terrytalksmovies]

CD Japan sells them. Google it.