“Otoko wa Tsurai yo (It’s Tough Being a Man)” is a beloved Japanese film series released from 1969 to 1995, starring Kiyoshi Atsumi. The main character, Tora-san, played by Atsumi, is a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. He works as a street vendor, traveling from place to place, where he meets beautiful “madonnas” and causes innocent ruckuses.
Tora-san is an unlikely hero — lazy, poorly educated, yet deeply human. Despite his flaws, he is loved by local people for his warmth and sincerity. His family home was in Shibamata, located along the Keisei Kanamachi Line. In front of Shibamata Station, you can find a bronze statue of Tora-san (see the photo below).
Last year, Shibamata celebrated the 55th anniversary of Tora-san. To commemorate the occasion, Keisei Electric Railway has been operating a special anniversary train until March 23, 2025. On the front of the train, you can see a commemorative plate marking “The 55th Anniversary of Tora-san.” This plate also celebrates “The 115th Anniversary of Keisei Electric Railway.” The four-car train, set 3668 of the EMU 3600 series, slowly passes through Tora-san’s hometown (see the top photo).
Incidentally, the Keisei 3600 series EMU is a standard commuter train first introduced in 1982. A total of nine sets (54 cars) were built by Tokyu Sharyo and Nippon Sharyo. Today, only two sets (10 cars) remain in service. The trains were originally equipped with a field chopper control system, but set 3668 was later converted to a GTO-VVVF (Gate Turn-Off Thyristor Variable Frequency Drive) system in 1999. It’s quite a rare train to see nowadays.
