There are people who say, “If you haven’t seen that movie, you’re missing out on life.” Of course, everyone has different tastes, and it’s entirely up to each person what kind of films they choose to watch. But when it comes to those who haven’t yet seen the It’s Tough Being a Man series, I can’t help but want to gently encourage them: “Why not give it a try, just once?”
That series is packed with the very essence of Japanese comedy.
The protagonist is Tora-san (played by Kiyoshi Atsumi), born and raised in Shibamata, Katsushika. He’s rough around the edges, but deeply compassionate—someone who can’t turn a blind eye to those in trouble. He makes a living as a traveling peddler, a kind of carefree wanderer. Yet in Shibamata, he has relatives who run a dumpling shop called Toraya, where his younger sister Sakura (played by Chieko Baisho) also works. Every now and then, Tora-san drifts back home to Toraya.
And every time he returns, chaos follows. The slapstick uproar that sweeps up his family and neighbors always brings both laughter and tears.
Another highlight of the series is the Madonnas—leading ladies who appear in each film, including Sayuri Yoshinaga, Ruriko Asaoka, Reiko Ohara, and Ayumi Ishida! Every time, Tora-san falls in love with a pure and sincere heart. But the outcome is always the same: he gets rejected and sets off on the road once more.
This cycle of “meeting and parting” turns the entire series into a grand, poetic saga of unrequited love.
Tora-san doesn’t have a driver’s license, so he gets around by train or on foot. Sometimes, he rides a bicycle—but it’s usually one he’s borrowed from someone. Perhaps because the size never quite fits, he pedals bow-legged while humming a popular tune.
What a cool old guy.
“It’s Tough Being a Man: Go for It, Torajirō!” (1977, directed by Yōji Yamada) is a film where Tora-san takes on the role of a “love advisor.” In classic Tora-san fashion, while trying to help a young couple find happiness, he somehow ends up falling in love himself.
As always, the story begins in Shibamata.
It all starts when Tora-san gets involved in the budding romance between Ryosuke (Masatoshi Nakamura), a young man lodging at Toraya, and Sachiko (Shinobu Otake), who works at a nearby diner. (Otake’s Akita dialect is a delight.)
But things quickly go off the rails, thanks to Ryosuke’s awkwardness with love. He misreads the situation, assumes he’s been rejected, and—believing all is lost—attempts suicide by gas before fleeing back to his hometown on Hirado Island.
Worried about him, Tora-san follows Ryosuke to Hirado. There, he meets Ryosuke’s sister, Fujiko (Shiho Fujimura). Smitten at first sight, Tora-san ends up working at her general store, which also doubles as a bicycle rental shop.
Bicycles appear only briefly in this film—but they leave a lasting impression.
With the sea and hills of Hirado in the background, Tora-san rides a bicycle while humming “Akogare no Hawaii Kōro (My Dream Voyage to Hawaii),” a nostalgic tune about dreams of Hawaii. The expression on his face is wonderful.
On his way back from early-morning supply runs, we see him pedaling with spirit—there’s a certain brightness in his demeanor, as if he’s genuinely enjoying a new kind of daily life.
As Fujiko guides Tora-san around the Xavier Memorial Church and the old Dutch Wall, the two slowly grow closer. For a moment, it feels like—just maybe—Tora-san might finally settle down and get married.
But of course, that’s not how his story goes. Once again, he sets off on a journey alone.
Meanwhile, in the final scene, Ryosuke returns to Shibamata with Sachiko by his side. Perhaps the two of them will one day take over Fujiko’s bicycle rental shop.
With that lingering sense of possibility, the story comes to a quiet close.
Tora-san sets off on another journey—guiding his bicycle through the beautiful hills of Hirado, carrying the memories of those few days in his heart.
His work as a traveling peddler is the very definition of a hand-to-mouth existence. He sells, he laughs, he falls in love, he gets rejected. And yet, he keeps moving forward.
Some people call the It’s Tough Being a Man series “repetitive.” But really—what’s wrong with a life of drinking sake, traveling, sweating for the sake of others, and occasionally falling in love?
Long live repetition.
To those who’ve dismissed it without ever watching: please give It’s Tough Being a Man a try, even just once. It doesn’t matter which episode you start with. Chances are, your life will gain just a little more laughter and kindness. And who knows—maybe you’ll find yourself pedaling along, humming an old pop tune, just like Tora-san.
Text_Hideki Inoue
🎬CYCLE CINEMA STORAGE🎬
#01 “The Bicycle Thief”
#02 “Project A”
#03 “Shoot for tomorrow!”(origin title “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”)
#04 “The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)”
#05 “Izakaya Choji”
#06 “Cinema Paradiso”
#07 “Kids Return”
#08 “PERFECT DAYS”
#09 “Kramer vs. Kramer”
#10 “E.T.”
#11 “Gachi-Boshi”
#12 “Yesterday”
#13 “Wadjda”
#14 “The Zone of Interest”
#15 “Anselm”
#16 “Otoko wa Turai yo”
Profile
Text＿Hideki Inoue
I am from Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. I work as a writer and editor. My hobbies include hot baths, skiing, and fishing. Although I have no personal connection, I am independently conducting research on Shiga Prefecture. I prefer an active fishing style called “RUN & GUN,” which involves moving around actively instead of staying in one place. Purchasing a car to transport bicycles for this style of cycling seems like putting the cart before the horse.
Illusutration＿Michiharu Saotome
Post Date：2025.05.16
