Itami Juzo (1933-97)

Itami Juzo DVD collection - Woman

Saw this beautiful boxset when I was in Japan last year. Bought it in a Hong Kong discounted store for almost one-tenth of the listed price this April.

This DVD collection (Region 2) included 5 Itami Juzo directed 'no onna' movies, starring Nobuko Miyamoto (Itami's wife):

1 Marutai no onna (1997)
2 Sûpah no onna (1996)
... aka Supermarket Woman
3 Minbo no onna (1992)
... aka Minbo - or the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion
4 Marusa no onna II (1988)
... aka A Taxing Woman 2
5 Marusa no onna (1987)
... aka A Taxing Woman

The best Itami Juzo movie was 'A Taxing Woman'. The sequel was still strong. By the time of Marutai no onna (Acting Woman), it felt like Itami was running out of steam. That said, Itami's movies were still highly watchable in comparing to what's playing in the Japanese cinemas now.

The acclaimed The Funeral and Tampopo were part of the Itami Juzo DVD collection - Man. However, the 'Man' collection was not available at the time of purchase.