Family In Tampopo

The concept of family is a fascinating facet, connecting unique individuals with common interests. Whether these individuals are united by blood, by work, or by common interests, they make up different kinds of families. When peering into traditional Japanese households, three pieces of works stood out – Tampopo, Out, and Tokyo Sonata. Tampopo is a 1988 comedy film directed by Juzo Itami, which follow several characters and different forms and aspects of family. Out is a 1997 novel by Natsuo Kirino that follows four women who work the night shift at a bento box factory. Tokyo Sonata is a 2008 film directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa focuses on the internal and external interactions of the Sasaki family. In the traditional Japanese household, it starts …show more content…
Money is a constant in anyone’s life, being a necessity. In these Japanese families, finance decisions are conducted economically with the thought of their salary and bonuses. Japanese families, blood or not, in Tampopo, Out, and Tokyo Sonata revolve around food, money, and the traditional patriarchy household.
Food brings people together and can showcase how stable a household is. In Japanese families, food is a centerpiece, bringing people together for any number of reasons. In Tampopo, there are several examples of families. The group of vagabonds is a family-like community, joint perhaps by necessity of food and admiration for the old master. In a glimpse, the audience can recognize that the men love food. They can tell the change of a restaurant’s choice of meat, the right balance of leftover sakes found, and how to cook a perfect omelet in a borrowed commercial kitchen. It is implied that the old master taught them all they know, being serenaded as he goes off on another journey to help Tampopo with her ramen restaurant. On one hand, Tampopo uses food to bring people together, whereas Out and Tokyo Sonata also showcase how a household stability could be showcased through meals. Throughout Out, the reverse