The world-renowned masterpiece 'Tokyo Story' is a life clock that changes how you feel as you grow older 😌

When I watched 'Tokyo Story' in my teens, I didn't understand its appeal at all.

When I watched it again in my 20s, the feelings toward my parents seeped into my heart a little.

When I watched it again in my 30s, it hit home and made me feel down.

Now in my late 40s, I feel like I am living my life alongside this film.

[Overview]

A timeless masterpiece by the legendary director Yasujiro Ozu, it depicts the changes in family relationships in post-war Japan through the story of an elderly couple visiting their children living in Tokyo.

Using unique techniques described as the 'Ozu style,' such as low-angle shots and fixed camera positions, the film carefully portrays the relationship between parents and children.

Shukichi and Tomi, an elderly couple living in Onomichi, travel to Tokyo for the first time in a long while to visit their children.

However, their eldest son Koichi, a doctor, and their eldest daughter Shige, who runs a beauty salon, are both busy with their own lives and cannot spend much time with their parents.

Only Noriko, the widow of their son who died in the war, shows them kindness and consideration.

Directors’ 100 Greatest Films of All Time (A ranking based on votes from 480 directors worldwide)

1st: '2001: A Space Odyssey' by Stanley Kubrick
2nd: 'Citizen Kane' by Orson Welles
3rd: 'The Godfather' by Francis Ford Coppola

And...
4th: 'Tokyo Story' by Yasujiro Ozu

It is truly a world-class masterpiece that transcends Japanese film history.

[Cinema Essay]

We are born, we grow up, we become independent, we start families, we see our parents off, we grow old, and we die.

I didn't intend to neglect my parents, but

before I knew it, I had a family of my own and was caught up in the busyness of our daily lives.

I was stunned to realize that I had become like the older brother and his wife (played by Chishu Ryu and Haruko Sugimura) in this film, whom I had viewed critically when I was younger.

Since then, I feel that the way I look at my parents and my state of mind have changed a little.

I still watch it every few years, but

I think it is a mysterious film where the way you feel changes with age.

Chishu Ryu, who plays the grandfather, looks at least 70 years old, but it is surprising to learn that he was only 49 at the time and was wearing aging makeup.

The sight of the elderly couple looking so lonely in Atami makes my heart ache.

And the beauty and kindness of Setsuko Hara overflow from the film.

Her words, 'I am selfish,' strike a chord in my heart.

This work is frequently chosen as one of the all-time best films overseas as well,

and I believe that is because it deeply depicts the universal themes of 'life,' 'family,' and 'aging.'

Also, there is something about Yasujiro Ozu's films that feels refined.

While cherishing that sense of refinement that drifts about a person,

the themes of loneliness and views on life and death seep into the heart deeply and naturally.

I think this is a film I will surely continue to watch for the rest of my life.

And every time I watch it, I will likely feel its depth expand and it will touch me even more.

It is an irreplaceable film, much like a life clock.