The Culinary Comedy Masterpiece 'Tampopo' Returns After 40 Years!

This winter, the culinary masterpiece 〈Tampopo〉 finally premieres today, offering warm emotions and laughter like the broth of ramen, and has revealed three viewing points.

#1. A Film Praised by Both Audiences and Critics

Meet it in theaters after 40 years!

The warm culinary drama 〈Tampopo〉, where six people come together to save a ramen shop with no customers by perfecting a single bowl with their unique personalities, is premiering for the first time in the country after 40 years since its release in 1985. The story of the protagonist 'Tampopo' and her five companions, who struggle to complete the best recipe to save a tasteless ramen shop, captures various aspects of Japanese society through scenes satirizing a gentleman in a white suit. Since its release, it has recorded a 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and has won numerous awards and nominations at film festivals around the world, including the Best Editing and Sound awards at the 1986 Japanese Academy Awards, the Foreign Language Film award from the 1987 National Board of Review, and a nomination for the Foreign Language Film award from the New York Film Critics Circle in 1987, recognizing its artistic value. Notably, this domestic release will be shown in a 4K remastered version, delivering the warm emotions and details of the beloved original even more vividly after nearly 40 years.

#2. The Versatile Entertainer

Screenplay & Direction by Juzo Itami

Juzo Itami, a versatile entertainer who represented Japan in various fields such as acting, writing, design, and translation, began directing films in earnest in the 1980s, establishing himself as a master of Japanese cinema. Starting his directing career at the late age of 51 in 1984, he directed a total of 10 feature films, including his debut work 〈The Funeral〉 (1984), 〈Marusa's Story〉 (1987), and 〈The Woman of Minbo〉 (1992), while also writing the screenplays for all his works, showcasing his deep affection for film and strong authorship. His second feature film and most successful work, 〈Tampopo〉, borrowed clichés from the Italian B-grade westerns produced in the 1960s and 1970s, known as 'spaghetti westerns', pioneering a new genre called 'ramen western'. It humorously presents sharp satire on contemporary Japanese society and uniquely Japanese sexual playfulness, completing Itami Juzo's distinctive comedic world.

#3. The Four Leading Actors

Perfectly Completing the Masterpiece with Their Performances!

With Itami Juzo's well-structured direction combined with the solid acting of Japan's representative national actors, 〈Tampopo〉 achieves a richer level of completeness. Nobuko Miyamoto, the director's muse and wife, plays the protagonist 'Tampopo', who challenges herself to create the best ramen, convincingly portraying the character's growth with delicate emotional acting. Tsutomu Yamazaki, a living witness of Japanese film history, plays the truck driver 'Goro', who becomes 'Tampopo's' mentor and guide, delivering both charisma and warmth. Ken Watanabe, who is active in Hollywood beyond Japan, plays 'Ken', Goro's assistant, adding vitality to the film with his witty performance. Lastly, Koji Yakusho, who continues to be active even today, appears as the mysterious gentleman in a white suit, symbolically embodying Itami Juzo's unique social satire and black comedy.