ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp directed by Yoji Yamada
Date
Wednesday 7 October 2026
Time
6.30pm (BST)
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Booking Details
Online meeting on Zoom
Please register for the meeting in advance from the link below. After registering, you will receive an automated confirmation email with meeting access details (please check your spam folder if you don't receive any emails).
Free for members of The Japan Society
Please remember to watch the film in advance. Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp is available to watch free of charge on JFF Theater after creating an account.
Please help us to keep this event free and open to all!The Japan Society is a charity and its activities are made possible thanks to the support of its members. If you are planning to attend this event and are not a member (as an individual or through your employer), please consider becoming a member or making a donation if you can - the recommended donation is £5. Thank you!   |
For our Film Club in October, we will discuss Yoji Yamada's Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp (1969), the first instalment of the iconic Tora-san series, a warm and humorous portrait of a free-spirited traveller.
Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp (男はつらいよ, Otoko wa tsurai yo, 1969), is the first film in the long-running Tora-san series, one of Japan’s most beloved and enduring cinematic franchises. The story follows Torajiro "Tora-san" Kuruma, a kind-hearted but impulsive travelling peddler who returns to his family home in Tokyo’s Shibamata district after years away. As he attempts to reconnect with his relatives and find his place in the world, Tora-san’s good intentions often lead to comic misunderstandings and heartbreak, particularly in matters of love. Blending humour with touching moments of human drama, the film explores themes of family, belonging and compassion, while introducing the charming and unforgettable character who would captivate Japanese audiences for decades.
Yoji Yamada (1931-) is one of Japan’s most acclaimed and prolific film directors. Best known for creating and directing the long-running Tora-san series, he has made more than 80 films over a career spanning six decades. His work is celebrated for its warmth, humanism and sensitive portrayal of everyday life in Japan. In addition to the popular Tora-san films, Yamada received international recognition for his samurai dramas, including The Twilight Samurai (2002), The Hidden Blade (2004) and Love and Honour (2006), as well as for family dramas such as Kabei: Our Mother (2008) and the What a Wonderful Family! series (2016, 2017, 2018). His latest film Tokyo Taxi was released in 2025 after he turned 94.