A Night at the Izakaya: Late-night drama and moving reviews

"A Night at the Izakaya": The appeal and background of a classic Showa anime film

■Overview of the work

"A Night at the Izakaya" (Izakaya no Ichiya) is a Japanese animated film released in 1935. It was a theatrically released film, and was based on an original anime story by Kon Junta. It was directed by Murata Yasuji and produced by Yokohama Cinema Shokai and Riken Eiga. This film was produced as the first winning entry in a "talkie manga story" contest held in May 1935 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the founding of Kinema Junpo. It was released on May 1, 1935, and is an eight-minute short animation. It only has one episode.

■ Story

The story of "A Night at the Izakaya" is about a homeless man who gets drunk at a tavern. He is intrigued by an advertising flyer he picked up in town during the day for a "fundraiser for salvaging a sunken ship," and dreams about it. In the dream, he goes out to search for the sunken ship near the bottom of the sea. On the way, he is aroused by a samurai's suspicions, but when they discover they are both Japanese, they decide to search for treasure together. However, the sunken ship, the "Mononai," is guarded by soldiers from an enemy country, and they cannot get close. He comes up with a plan, gets a samurai on his side to board the ship first, and tries to steal the treasure during the duel, but becomes greedy and tries to keep it all for himself. He is found by the samurai, who grabs him by the neck, and when he wakes up, he realizes that the man he thought was the samurai is actually the owner of the tavern, and it was just a sign. This story depicts the pathos of the homeless man well.

■Explanation

"A Night at the Izakaya" was produced as the first winning story in the "Talkie Manga Story" contest held in May 1935 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Kinema Junpo's founding. There were 357 stories submitted, and from them, the first prize was "A Night at the Izakaya," the second prize was "Totoko and Momoko," "The Tale of Sarutobi Sasuke's Heroic Tale," and the third prize was "Pechikoko's Conquest of Men," "Mako-chan's Undersea Souvenir," "Hachi," and "Animal Festival." However, only the first prize story was made into a video. Also, after making many videos at Yokohama Cinema, Yasuji Murata left Yokohama Cinema after this work and became independent and started his own production company. There are two types of sound for "A Night at the Izakaya," and the music for the reprint is performed by Miki Toriro and his group. In particular, the song in the scene where the homeless dance to scoop loaches at the bottom of the sea has a feel of the time just after the end of the war, with the lyrics "When will we build a house? Not for me! Not for me! Everyone blames the war." This reflects the social situation at the time and is an important point in gaining a deeper understanding of the background of the work.

■ Main staff

The main staff of "A Night at the Izakaya" are as follows:

• Illustration: Yasuji Murata
• Composer: Masao Koga
• Arrangement and Conductor: Ryozo Sugita
• Music: Teichiku Orchestra, Toriro Miki and his group

■ Background and historical significance

"A Night at the Izakaya" occupies an important place in the history of Japanese animation films in the early Showa period. Considering the historical background of 1935, when talkies (films with sound) were still a new technology, it is very significant that this film was made. In particular, the attempt to solicit stories from the general public in the form of a Kinema Junpo contest and turn them into animation was one of the newest efforts in the film industry at the time. Also, the fact that Yasuji Murata left Yokohama Cinema after this film and went independent had a major impact on his career and the history of Japanese animation.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

The appeal of "A Night at the Izakaya" lies in the uniqueness of its story and its reflection of the social situation in the early Showa period. By depicting the sadness of the homeless, it highlights the social issues of the time. The story also has the power to draw viewers in, as it intertwines the fantastical element of a treasure hunt at the bottom of the sea with real-life scenes at an izakaya. Furthermore, the music in the reissue reflects the social situation immediately after the end of the war, adding to the depth of the work. Although this work is short, it is packed with many elements, making it a masterpiece.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"A Night at the Izakaya" is a must-see for anyone wanting to learn about the history of Japanese animation films in the early Showa period. Furthermore, the uniqueness of the story and its reflection of the social situation will surely impress even modern audiences. The film is currently available to watch on DVD and online streaming services. It is highly recommended, especially for those who are interested in the history of Japanese animation films and those who want to learn about the social situation in the early Showa period. It is also an important work for fans who follow the work of Yasuji Murata. Please watch it and experience its charm.

Related works and references

Works related to "A Night at the Izakaya" include "Totoko and Momoko," "Sarutobi Sasuke's Tale of Heroism," "Pechikoko's Conquest of Boys," "Mako-chan's Submarine Souvenir," "Hachi," and "Animal Festival," which were also selected in Kinema Junpo's contest. These works are also important for understanding the history of Japanese animation films in the early Showa period. Another reference is "History of Japanese Animation Films." This book contains a detailed explanation of "A Night at the Izakaya" and a description of the social situation at the time, which will help you understand the work in depth.

Conclusion

"A Night at the Izakaya" is a work that symbolizes the history of Japanese animation films in the early Showa period, and its unique story and content that reflects the social situation will leave a fresh impression on modern viewers. This work had a major impact on Yasuji Murata's career and the history of Japanese animation, and is one that you should definitely watch to experience its charm. You can gain a deeper understanding by checking out related works and references.