Tampopo
“The first Japanese Noodle Western.”
Cast
Nobuko MiyamotoCredits
Written by: 
Jūzō Itami
Plot
A truck driver, Goro, helps Tampopo, the widowed owner of a struggling noodle shop, to turn it into the best ramen restaurant in town. Interwoven with their story are many comic vignettes on food and desire, including a gangster who dies in a restaurant. Juzo Itami's 1985 comedy, which he called a "noodle western", is a celebration of eating and a cult favourite.
Sinekatalog’s take
Juzo Itami's 'ramen western' follows a widow trying to make the perfect noodle soup, interrupted by food-related vignettes. Funny, sensual and joyful, it is one of cinema's best food films.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.
Awards
- Japan Academy Film Prize 1985: Best Director (Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year) — Jūzō Itami
- Japan Academy Film Prize 1985: Best Film (Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year)
Ratings
IMDb: 7.9 / 10 (27,568 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.
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