This is the 13th installment of "Today's Book," a series that selects books to take with you on camping trips and solo travels.Books by Juzo ItamiThat's it. I like watching movies, but I watch them purely for the enjoyment of the film itself, and I don't really do much research into things like the director or insights into the historical context.
The Japanese films I genuinely found interesting were "Tampopo," "Supermarket Woman," and "Marutai Woman."
I felt like these movies all had a similar vibe, so I looked into it and was surprised to learn for the first time that they were all directed by Juzo Itami. I was amazed by this man and that's why I bought this book.
I was shocked when I watched the movie "Tampopo".
The story depicts how Goro, a tanker truck driver wearing a cowboy hat, and his partner Gan try to revive a struggling ramen shop run by a female owner named Dandelion. This story has a unique structure, weaving together various subplots themed around "food and desire."
The story has a Western-style premise, where Goro, after a fight with some thugs, leaves with his feelings for Dandelion still intact. Furthermore, it incorporates fantastical and sensual episodes that draw on a wealth of knowledge about food, including French cuisine, spaghetti, and Peking duck. This work also helped to accelerate the ramen boom in Japan and achieved great success in America.
I was deeply impressed by how the film, through the medium of cinema, explored the meaning of human existence as seen in the act of "eating a meal."
My wife, Nobuko Miyamoto
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that despite his wife, Nobuko Miyamoto, being a talented actress, she was rarely cast in leading roles. This led him to think, "Why not cast her as the lead in my own film?" They are a wonderful couple who successfully combine marital love with professionalism.
Attacks that occurred after the movie "Minbo no Onna"
Before the Anti-Organized Crime Law was enacted, extortion by yakuza was quite rampant in Japan.
Through Mahiru Inoue, a lawyer specializing in civil intervention violence (civil crime), this film revealed to the public the weaknesses and blind spots of the yakuza, who until then had only been associated with a terrifying image.
Shortly after this film was released in theaters, director Juzo Itami was actually attacked by yakuza in front of his home.
However, knowing that Juzo Itami continued to make films without resorting to violence, I find myself reflecting on the struggles and fears he faced, which are not depicted in this book, "Juzo Itami's Book," especially now in the Reiwa era.
The good taste of Juzo Itami, which I wrote about in my essay "Women!"
Of all the anecdotes about Juzo Itami written in this book, the one that stuck with me the most was the passage in his book "Women!" that mentioned the al dente method of cooking spaghetti.
I will conclude this article by quoting the introduction to this book.
thank you very much.
"A person's true character is revealed in their everyday behavior. From how to eat spaghetti, how to enjoy alcohol, how to make a proper salad, how to drive a car correctly, how to wear a sweater, how to light a match in strong winds, and even the art of 'strong and quick' romance. A practical essay on life lessons, told through experiential anecdotes. For men who wonder, 'How can I become a decent adult?'"
