Tora-san alert!


Since November 2009 Animeigo has released the first four Tora-san flicks as a boxed set (available through Amazon). They are also available through Netflix individually as rentals. Although I've been trying for years to find these films with good English subtitles, I have only just now seen the first one (Otoko wa tsurai yo [1969])entitled here as "Tora-san: Our Lovable Tramp". It's an ideal package in that it has something for everyone. There's a sub-title choice that has a number of different ways for one to experience these films-as a novice who needs clarification of the Japanese cultural allusions to someone with a working knowledge of Japanese culture and cinema. There's also a way to watch the film with a running commentary explaining the cultural aspects as well as the historical background of the series, actors and so forth.
I look forward to seeing the rest of the set, then hopefully more episodes.

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