Discussion: Tōkyō Monogatari (Tokyo Story) (Yasujirô Ozu, 1953, Japan)

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Consider the following questions about Yasujirô Ozu’s Tokyo Story (1953) and share your comments in the thread below. Continue checking the discussion threads to read your classmates comments. Find opportunities to reply with your thoughts to their posts, so we can have a mutual exchange of ideas and engage in discussion together about the film. At the end of the week, your instructor will post additional research from various critics and film reviews, so be sure to view those as well.

How would you apply the tenets of the Japanese Golden Age to this film? Cite specific examples from the film to support your conclusions.

Describe how the train ride to Tokyo in the film’s opening as well as Shige’s beauty salon both symbolize westernization vs. traditional Japanese culture.

How is family dynamic and the theme of acceptance portrayed in the film? What is the symbolism in Koichi’s son being so upset that his desk was moved?

What questions, if any, do you have about the material from this unit?