Tora-san, the Matchmaker
Encyclopedia
aka Tora-san Riding High is a 1979
Japan
ese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada
. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi
as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Kaori Momoi as his love interest or "Madonna". Tora-san, the Matchmaker is the twenty-third entry in the popular, long-running Otoko wa Tsurai yo
series.
(also 1979), Kiyoshi Atsumi
was nominated for Best Actor at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony. Chieko Baishō
was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the same ceremony for both films also.
Stuart Galbraith IV
writes that one of the pleasures of Tora-san, the Matchmaker is in the performance of noted actress Michiyo Kogure
in one of her last roles. The German-language site molodezhnaja gives Tora-san, the Matchmaker three out of five stars.
1979 in film
The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada
Yoji Yamada
is a Japanese film director best known for his Otoko wa Tsurai yo series of films and his Samurai Trilogy ....
. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi
Kiyoshi Atsumi
Kiyoshi Atsumi , born Yasuo Tadokoro , was a Japanese film actor....
as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Kaori Momoi as his love interest or "Madonna". Tora-san, the Matchmaker is the twenty-third entry in the popular, long-running Otoko wa Tsurai yo
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...
series.
Synopsis
Tora-san convinces the hesitant Hitomi to go through with her plans to marry her intended spouse.Cast
- Kiyoshi AtsumiKiyoshi AtsumiKiyoshi Atsumi , born Yasuo Tadokoro , was a Japanese film actor....
as Torajiro - Chieko BaishōChieko Baishois a Japanese actress and singer.In Japan, she is well known for her performance as Sakura in the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series . In addition, she has acted in most films directed by Yōji Yamada since the 1960s...
as Sakura - Kaori Momoi as Hitomi Irie
- Akira Fuse as Kunio Koyanagi
- Michiyo KogureMichiyo Kogurewas a Japanese film actress. She appeared in 89 films between 1939 and 1984. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as the headstrong housewife who begins to tire of her dull, earnest husband in The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice .-Selected filmography:* * Portrait of Madame Yuki (31...
as Kuniko Irie - Masami Shimojō as Kuruma Tatsuzō
- Chieko Misaki as Tsune Kuruma (Torajiro's aunt)
- Gin Maeda as Hiroshi Suwa
- Hayato Nakamura as Mitsuo Suwa
- Hisao Dazai as Boss (Umetarō Katsura)
- Gajirō Satō as Genkō
- Chishū RyūChishu Ryuwas a famous Japanese film actor, a favourite of the director Yasujiro Ozu. From 1928 to 1992 he appeared in at least 155 films, including Ozu's Tokyo Story and Yoshitaro Nomura's Castle of Sand...
as Gozen-sama - Tatsuo Matsumura as Reikichi Matsuda
Critical appraisal
Tora-san, the Matchmaker was the third top box-office film in Japan for the year of 1979. For his performances in Tora-san, the Matchmaker and the next entry in the series, Tora-san's Dream of SpringTora-san's Dream of Spring
aka Torasan Dreams Springtime is a 1979 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma , and Kyōko Kagawa as his love interest or "Madonna"...
(also 1979), Kiyoshi Atsumi
Kiyoshi Atsumi
Kiyoshi Atsumi , born Yasuo Tadokoro , was a Japanese film actor....
was nominated for Best Actor at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony. Chieko Baishō
Chieko Baisho
is a Japanese actress and singer.In Japan, she is well known for her performance as Sakura in the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series . In addition, she has acted in most films directed by Yōji Yamada since the 1960s...
was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the same ceremony for both films also.
Stuart Galbraith IV
Stuart Galbraith IV
Stuart Galbraith IV is an American cinema historian, film critic, and DVD special features producer, essayist, and audio commentator.-Early life and education:...
writes that one of the pleasures of Tora-san, the Matchmaker is in the performance of noted actress Michiyo Kogure
Michiyo Kogure
was a Japanese film actress. She appeared in 89 films between 1939 and 1984. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as the headstrong housewife who begins to tire of her dull, earnest husband in The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice .-Selected filmography:* * Portrait of Madame Yuki (31...
in one of her last roles. The German-language site molodezhnaja gives Tora-san, the Matchmaker three out of five stars.
Availability
Tora-san, the Matchmaker was released theatrically on August 4, 1979. In Japan, the film has been released on videotape in 1996, and in DVD format in 2000, 2005, and 2008.External links
- Tora-san, the Matchmaker at www.tora-san.jp (Official site)