Tampopo: Food is Life episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 24, 2025

Tampopo: Food is Life

from Tales of Our Time

Today I'm talking to my friend Rich Mattias about Juso Itami's 1985 film "Tampopo". Potentially one of the most food-loving films to date, this movie loveingly explores Japan's food culture through vingettes and a main stoyline in a way that keeps it enduringly relatable and familiar. We discuss how Itami's use of non-sequitor shorts adds levels and variety to the film, while making it stand out in a way that has yet to be replicated, while also helping to further the message of the film that food is something everyone can connect on and appreciate. 

Today I'm talking to my friend Rich Mattias about Juso Itami's 1985 film "Tampopo". Potentially one of the most food-loving films to date, this movie loveingly explores Japan's food culture through vingettes and a main stoyline in a way that keeps it enduringly relatable and familiar. We discuss how Itami's use of non-sequitor shorts adds levels and variety to the film, while making it stand out in a way that has yet to be replicated, while also helping to further the message of the film that food is something everyone can connect on and appreciate.

NOW PLAYING

Tampopo: Food is Life

0:00 0:00

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Tales of Our Time?

Episode duration information is not available.

When was this Tales of Our Time episode published?

This episode was published on July 24, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Today I'm talking to my friend Rich Mattias about Juso Itami's 1985 film "Tampopo". Potentially one of the most food-loving films to date, this movie loveingly explores Japan's food culture through vingettes and a main stoyline in a way that...

Can I download this Tales of Our Time episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!