東京物語
"As long as life goes on, relationships between parents and children will bring boundless joy and endless grief."
Tokyo Story - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Isn't life disappointing?
— Kyōko Hirayama
Context:
This exchange occurs in Onomichi after their mother's funeral. Kyōko is angry and hurt by her older siblings' selfish and hasty departure. She confronts Noriko, who gently explains that children inevitably drift away, leading to Kyōko's heartbreaking question.
Meaning:
This poignant question, posed by the youngest, most idealistic daughter to the kind Noriko, encapsulates the film's central philosophical sentiment. It is a moment of profound disillusionment, recognizing the gap between how life should be and how it is. Noriko's simple, affirmative response, "Yes, it is," validates this feeling, suggesting that accepting this disappointment is a mark of maturity.
Living alone like this, the days will get very long.
— Shūkichi Hirayama
Context:
Shūkichi says this to Noriko in his home after the funeral, as they reflect on Tomi's life. He prefaces it by saying that if he'd known things would come to this, he would have been kinder to his wife, expressing a universal regret.
Meaning:
This line, spoken by Shūkichi after his wife's death, powerfully conveys his profound sense of loneliness and the emptiness of the future that stretches before him. It is a quiet, understated expression of immense grief and the daunting reality of facing the rest of his life alone.
Children don't live up to their parents' expectations. Let's just be happy that they're better than most.
— Shūkichi Hirayama
Context:
Shūkichi and Tomi are talking alone at the Atami spa. They quietly reflect on how their children have changed, acknowledging their flaws but ultimately choosing to focus on the positive, however faint it may be.
Meaning:
This statement reveals Shūkichi's deep-seated disappointment with his children, but also his pragmatic decision to accept them for who they are. It reflects a common parental experience of adjusting expectations and finding a way to be content, even if dreams for one's children haven't fully materialized.
They're selfish. Demanding things and leaving like this.
— Kyōko Hirayama
Context:
This is said to Noriko after the funeral, as Kyōko vents her frustration about Kōichi and Shige's behavior, particularly Shige asking for their deceased mother's clothes as keepsakes before promptly returning to Tokyo.
Meaning:
Kyōko's angry outburst serves as the film's most direct condemnation of the older siblings' behavior. She voices the audience's feelings of indignation and provides a moral counterpoint to Noriko's more accepting perspective. It highlights the stark difference in values between the youngest daughter, who remains in the traditional hometown, and her urbanized siblings.