Tokyo Story
Encyclopedia
is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu
. It tells the story of an aging couple who travel to Tokyo
to visit their grown children. The film contrasts the behavior of their biological children, who are too busy to pay them much attention, and their daughter-in-law, who treats them with kindness. It is often regarded as Ozu's masterpiece, and has twice appeared in Sight & Sound
magazine's 'Top Ten' list of the greatest films ever made.
) and Tomi Hirayama (Chieko Higashiyama), from the small seaside town of Onomichi
in southwest Japan, pay a visit to their busy children in Tokyo
and Osaka
. Only their youngest unmarried daughter lives with them: Kyoko (Kyoko Kagawa
), a schoolteacher.
After the day-long journey from Onomichi to Tokyo (before the advent of the bullet train
), the couple finds themselves neglected by their children. Their eldest son, Koichi (So Yamamura), is a district pediatrician with two boys. Their eldest daughter, Shige (Haruko Sugimura
), is a hairdresser. The children wish to spend time with their parents, and do, to an extent; but, as they have lives, work and families of their own, they find it difficult to maintain a balance between the two. Only the couple's widowed daughter-in-law Noriko (Setsuko Hara
) goes out of her way to entertain them. She takes them on a sightseeing tour of metropolitan Tokyo.
Koichi and Shige pay for their parents' cheap stay at the hot spring spa
at Atami, but the parents return because the busy nightlife at the hotel interrupts their sleep. Shukichi stays with Shige and visits some old friends, while Tomi goes to visit Noriko. At Noriko's, Tomi advises Noriko to remarry as her husband, the couple's son, died eight years ago in the war. Shukichi, meanwhile, gets drunk with some old friends.
The couple are dissatisfied, though uncomplaining, and they leave for home. They stop at their youngest son Keizo's (Shiro Osaka) place at Osaka, but during the ensuing train journey Tomi is taken ill. When they reach Onomichi, Tomi becomes critically ill. Koichi, Shige and Noriko rush to Onomichi, on receiving telegrams, to see Tomi, who dies shortly afterwards. Keizo arrives late as he is outstationed.
After the funeral, Koichi, Shige and Keizo decide to leave immediately as they have their work at Osaka and Tokyo, leaving only Noriko to keep their father company. After they leave, Kyoko complains to Noriko that they are selfish and inconsiderate, but Noriko explains that everyone has their own lives to lead and that the drift between parents and children is inevitable.
After Kyoko leaves for school, Noriko informs her father-in-law that she must return to Tokyo that afternoon. Shukichi tells her that she has treated them best despite not being related by blood. Noriko insists on her own selfishness; Shukichi credits her protests to humility. He gives her a watch from the late Tomi as a memento
, and advises her to remarry. At the end, the train with Noriko speeds from Onomichi back to Tokyo, leaving behind Kyoko and Shukichi.
and his long-time collaborator Kōgo Noda
over a period of 103 days in a country inn in Chigasaki
. The two, together with cinematographer Yuharu Atsuta, then scouted locations in Tokyo
and Onomichi
for another month before shooting started. Shooting and editing the film took place from July to October 1953. In many respects the production of Tokyo Story was unremarkable and routine. As with most Ozu films, production - from the development of the script to the final editing - took four months to complete. Ozu used the same film crew and actors he had worked with for many years and the film's themes were similar to the themes of his other films.
's polls of directors and critics, Tokyo Story appeared twice among the greatest films ever made (it was 3rd in 1992 on the critics' poll and it tied at number 16 with Alfred Hitchcock
's Psycho and Andrei Tarkovsky
's The Mirror
in 2002 on the directors' poll). It holds a 100% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes
, based on 34 critical reviews, with also the highest average critical score on the website at 9.7/10. John Walker, former editor of the Halliwell's Film Guides
, places Tokyo Story at the top of his published list of the best 1000 films ever made. Tokyo Story is also included in film critic Derek Malcolm
's The Century of Films, a list of films which he deems artistically or culturally important, and Time Magazine
lists it among their All-Time 100 Movies. It was ranked #16 in Empire
magazine's "The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema" in 2010.
Roger Ebert includes it in his series of great movies, and Paul Schrader
placed it in the "Gold" section of his Film Canon.
The film was restored and released on DVD by The Criterion Collection
as a two-disc DVD set (Region 1) and by Tartan Video in Region 2.
prefers to describe it, "calm"). Important events are often not shown on screen, only being revealed later through dialogue. For example, Ozu does not depict the mother and father's journey to Tokyo at all. Ozu uses his distinctive camera style, often called “tatami
-mat” shot, in which the camera height is low and almost never moves; film critic Roger Ebert
wryly notes that the camera moves once in the film, which is "more than usual" for an Ozu film.
Yasujiro Ozu
was a prominent Japanese film director and script writer. He is known for his distinctive technical style, developed during the silent era. Marriage and family, especially the relationships between the generations, are among the most persistent themes in his body of work...
. It tells the story of an aging couple who travel to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to visit their grown children. The film contrasts the behavior of their biological children, who are too busy to pay them much attention, and their daughter-in-law, who treats them with kindness. It is often regarded as Ozu's masterpiece, and has twice appeared in Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute .Sight & Sound was first published in 1932 and in 1934 management of the magazine was handed to the nascent BFI, which still publishes the magazine today...
magazine's 'Top Ten' list of the greatest films ever made.
Plot
Two elderly parents Shukichi (Chishu RyuChishu Ryu
was 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...
) and Tomi Hirayama (Chieko Higashiyama), from the small seaside town of Onomichi
Onomichi, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea.As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 148,085 and a population density of 520 persons per km². The total area is 284.85 km²...
in southwest Japan, pay a visit to their busy children in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. Only their youngest unmarried daughter lives with them: Kyoko (Kyoko Kagawa
Kyôko Kagawa
is a Japanese actress. She has appeared in leading and supporting roles in such films as Akira Kurosawa's The Bad Sleep Well and High and Low, Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story, and Kenji Mizoguchi's Sansho the Bailiff.- Filmography :...
), a schoolteacher.
After the day-long journey from Onomichi to Tokyo (before the advent of the bullet train
Bullet train
Bullet train may refer to:* The Shinkansen high speed trains of Japan, so nicknamed for their appearance and speed* Other high speed trains of a similar appearance to the original Japanese trains...
), the couple finds themselves neglected by their children. Their eldest son, Koichi (So Yamamura), is a district pediatrician with two boys. Their eldest daughter, Shige (Haruko Sugimura
Haruko Sugimura
was a Japanese stage and film actress, best known for her appearances in the movies of Yasujiro Ozu and Mikio Naruse from the late 1940s to the early 1960s...
), is a hairdresser. The children wish to spend time with their parents, and do, to an extent; but, as they have lives, work and families of their own, they find it difficult to maintain a balance between the two. Only the couple's widowed daughter-in-law Noriko (Setsuko Hara
Setsuko Hara
is a Japanese actress who appeared in six of Yasujirō Ozu's films, most notably as Noriko in the 'Noriko Trilogy': Late Spring , Early Summer and Tokyo Story . Her other films for Ozu were Tokyo Twilight , Late Autumn and finally The End of Summer in 1961.She was born 会田 昌江 Masae Aida in...
) goes out of her way to entertain them. She takes them on a sightseeing tour of metropolitan Tokyo.
Koichi and Shige pay for their parents' cheap stay at the hot spring spa
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
at Atami, but the parents return because the busy nightlife at the hotel interrupts their sleep. Shukichi stays with Shige and visits some old friends, while Tomi goes to visit Noriko. At Noriko's, Tomi advises Noriko to remarry as her husband, the couple's son, died eight years ago in the war. Shukichi, meanwhile, gets drunk with some old friends.
The couple are dissatisfied, though uncomplaining, and they leave for home. They stop at their youngest son Keizo's (Shiro Osaka) place at Osaka, but during the ensuing train journey Tomi is taken ill. When they reach Onomichi, Tomi becomes critically ill. Koichi, Shige and Noriko rush to Onomichi, on receiving telegrams, to see Tomi, who dies shortly afterwards. Keizo arrives late as he is outstationed.
After the funeral, Koichi, Shige and Keizo decide to leave immediately as they have their work at Osaka and Tokyo, leaving only Noriko to keep their father company. After they leave, Kyoko complains to Noriko that they are selfish and inconsiderate, but Noriko explains that everyone has their own lives to lead and that the drift between parents and children is inevitable.
After Kyoko leaves for school, Noriko informs her father-in-law that she must return to Tokyo that afternoon. Shukichi tells her that she has treated them best despite not being related by blood. Noriko insists on her own selfishness; Shukichi credits her protests to humility. He gives her a watch from the late Tomi as a memento
Memento
A memento is a keepsake or souvenir of remembrance.Memento may also refer to:* Memento , a 2000 feature-length film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Guy Pearce* Memento , a Czech book written by Radek John...
, and advises her to remarry. At the end, the train with Noriko speeds from Onomichi back to Tokyo, leaving behind Kyoko and Shukichi.
Production
The script was developed by Yasujirō OzuYasujiro Ozu
was a prominent Japanese film director and script writer. He is known for his distinctive technical style, developed during the silent era. Marriage and family, especially the relationships between the generations, are among the most persistent themes in his body of work...
and his long-time collaborator Kōgo Noda
Kogo Noda
was a Japanese screenwriter most famous for collaborating with Yasujirō Ozu on many of the director's films.Born in Hakodate, Noda was the son of the head of the local tax bureau and younger brother to Kyūho, a Nihonga painter. He moved to Nagoya after completing elementary school and later went to...
over a period of 103 days in a country inn in Chigasaki
Chigasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in central, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 234,400 and a density of 6,540 persons per km²...
. The two, together with cinematographer Yuharu Atsuta, then scouted locations in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Onomichi
Onomichi, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea.As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 148,085 and a population density of 520 persons per km². The total area is 284.85 km²...
for another month before shooting started. Shooting and editing the film took place from July to October 1953. In many respects the production of Tokyo Story was unremarkable and routine. As with most Ozu films, production - from the development of the script to the final editing - took four months to complete. Ozu used the same film crew and actors he had worked with for many years and the film's themes were similar to the themes of his other films.
Reception
In Sight and Sound magazineMagazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
's polls of directors and critics, Tokyo Story appeared twice among the greatest films ever made (it was 3rd in 1992 on the critics' poll and it tied at number 16 with Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's Psycho and Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
's The Mirror
The Mirror (1975 film)
The Mirror is a 1975 Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. It is loosely autobiographical, blending childhood memories, newsreel footage and poems by his father Arseny Tarkovsky...
in 2002 on the directors' poll). It holds a 100% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 34 critical reviews, with also the highest average critical score on the website at 9.7/10. John Walker, former editor of the Halliwell's Film Guides
Leslie Halliwell
Robert James Leslie Halliwell was a British film encyclopaedist and television impresario who in 1965 compiled The Filmgoer's Companion, the first one-volume encyclopaedia devoted to all aspects of the cinema. He followed it a dozen years later with Halliwell's Film Guide, another monumental work...
, places Tokyo Story at the top of his published list of the best 1000 films ever made. Tokyo Story is also included in film critic Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm is a British film critic and historian.Malcolm was educated at Eton College and Oxford University. He worked for several decades as a film critic for The Guardian, having previously been an amateur jockey and the paper's first horse racing correspondent. In 1977, he was a member of...
's The Century of Films, a list of films which he deems artistically or culturally important, and Time Magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
lists it among their All-Time 100 Movies. It was ranked #16 in Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
magazine's "The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema" in 2010.
Roger Ebert includes it in his series of great movies, and Paul Schrader
Paul Schrader
Paul Joseph Schrader is an American screenwriter, film director, and former film critic. Apart from his credentials as a director, Schrader is most notably known for his screenplays for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Raging Bull....
placed it in the "Gold" section of his Film Canon.
The film was restored and released on DVD by The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
as a two-disc DVD set (Region 1) and by Tartan Video in Region 2.
Style
Like all of Ozu's sound films, Tokyo Story's pacing is slow (or, as David BordwellDavid Bordwell
David Bordwell is an American film theorist and film historian. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1974, he has written more than fifteen volumes on the subject of cinema including Narration in the Fiction Film , Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema , Making Meaning , and On the...
prefers to describe it, "calm"). Important events are often not shown on screen, only being revealed later through dialogue. For example, Ozu does not depict the mother and father's journey to Tokyo at all. Ozu uses his distinctive camera style, often called “tatami
Tatami
A is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Traditionally made of rice straw to form the core , with a covering of woven soft rush straw, tatami are made in standard sizes, with the length exactly twice the width...
-mat” shot, in which the camera height is low and almost never moves; film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
wryly notes that the camera moves once in the film, which is "more than usual" for an Ozu film.