Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô yûyake koyake

Listed on Guiness' Book of World Records as the series with most movies to is name, Otoko wa Tsurai yo series is the signature masterpiece for both director Yoji Yamada, and actor Kiyoshi Atsumi.

Tora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) befriends an old drunk (Jyukichi Uno) at a yakitori restaurant not knowing that he's a famous painter. Everyone at Torajiro's house thiks he's just an old bum, and can't wait for him to leave. The "old bum" scribbles a small picture in about a minute, and gives it to Tora telling him to go and sell it at an art shop in Jimbo-cho. Tora reluctantly obeys but is in for a surprise when the picture is sold for over 700 dollars (equivalent of about 3000 dollars present day money). By then, the entire family has figured out that the old man is famous painter Seikan Ikenouchi. But auntie has already sent him away. Tora then goes out on a trip to Tatsuno in Bansyu (Tatsuno city in Hyogo prefecture) where Seikan was also visiting his birth place. By coincidence they meet, and Tora is treated like royalty by the city's officials who are looking to have Seikan draw a picture for the city. Tora also meets his old acquaintance Botan (Kiwako Taichi) - a geisha working in town of Tatsuno at a restaurant.

By far this is my favorite episode of Otoko wa Tsurai yo series. I like the story, and I'm a big fan of the late Kiwako Taichi. She always looks great in any role, but her performance as a small town geisha was so fantastic. I think she's one of the greatest female actor to come out of Asia, if not the greatest.

The funny part is Jyukichi Uno's real life son Akira Terao appears together in this movie with son being the city official that's catering to the father.

If there's one episode of Otoko wa Tsurai yo you should see, this one is it.