Comedy

Tampopo (1987): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Name: Tampopo
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1987-05-22
Duration: 1 h 54 min
Cast: Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken Watanabe, Nobuko Miyamoto

Tampopo is a 1987 comedy directed by Jûzô Itami, starring Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken Watanabe and Nobuko Miyamoto. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best International Film at the Spirit Awards 1988. Critics gave it 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

IMDb rating: 7.9/10
award nomination: 1
Metascore: 87

Loading streaming availability…

Watch the trailer Read the plot summary

Released: May 22, 1987
Runtime: 1h 54m (114 min)
Director: Jûzô Itami
Genre: Comedy
Original language: Japanese
Studio: New Yorker Films
After the credits: Yes Extra scene during or after the credits

The story

What Is Tampopo About?

The premise of Tampopo without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A compassionate truck driver and his harmonica-playing companion help a young widow revive her deceased husband's beloved ramen shop. Along their journey, they encounter a quirky group of noodle enthusiasts, each offering unique and unconventional advice. The film blends humor, romance, and a deep appreciation for Japanese cuisine, exploring themes of grief, passion, and the art of creating the perfect bowl of ramen.

Tampopo Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags

ramen
food
waitress
japanese food
sensuality
noodles
breaking the fourth wall
long take
yakuza
mother son relationship
symbolism
applause

+38 more

lust
supermarket
bathtub
train
nudity
breast feeding
fainting
panties
sexuality
character name in title
voyeurism
character name as title
written by director
noodle shop
sushi
talking to the camera
eating sushi
man wears sunglasses
outburst
hysterical outburst
black and white scene
film within a film
flower in title
storm
rainstorm
voice over narration
disembodied voice
narrated by character
narrated by protagonist
downpour
heavy rain
mentor
absent father
truck
boy
bullying
bully
name as title

Loading streaming availability…

Cast & crew

Tampopo Cast

Tsutomu Yamazaki leads the cast, with Ken Watanabe and Nobuko Miyamoto. Directed by Jûzô Itami.

Director Jûzô Itami

From the director

More from Jûzô Itami

More films directed by Jûzô Itami: Supermarket Woman, A Quiet Life, The Last Dance and Minbo, or the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion.

Full filmography

Ratings

Tampopo Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Tampopo 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

IMDb

7.9 /10
See on IMDb
Metacritic

87 Metascore

User score 8.5
See on Metacritic

Plot

Tampopo Plot Summary

What happens in Tampopo from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A duo of truck drivers, the seasoned Gorō and his junior colleague Gun, make a stop at a run-down roadside ramen noodle shop. While outside, Gorō heroically intervenes to save a boy named Tabo, who is being bullied by three classmates. Tabo is the son of Tampopo, the widowed owner of the struggling eatery known as Lai Lai. When a troublesome customer named Pisken pressures Tampopo to sell the shop, Gorō stands up for her, igniting a physical altercation. Although Gorō fights valiantly, he ultimately loses to Pisken and his goons, waking up the next morning in Tampopo’s home.

Full summary

The whole story of Tampopo, scene by scene

Read the full summary