Tampopo (1985)

Tsutomu Yamazaki: Gorô

Photos 

Quotes 

• Tampopo : How do I look?

  Gorô : Like something out of a French film. I feel like calling you Jeanne.

• Gorô : Why are you working so hard?

  Tampopo : Good question. How can I explain? Everyone has their own ladder. Some do their best to climb to the top, while others don't even realize they have a ladder. You came along... and helped me find my ladder.

  Gorô : What was your husband like?

  Tampopo : He was a good man. He liked his liquor. Always in a hurry. In a soba shop he'd be ordering sake as he took off one shoe and soba as he took off the other.

• Tampopo : What about your wife?

  Gorô : She left with the kids.

  Tampopo : Why?

  Gorô : I don't know. I grew up in a miserable family, so I wanted to make my own home the warmest there was. I got married. We had kids. And we had a warm home. But I never felt comfortable there. I don't know how to act in a happy home. Before I knew it, my wife was gone... Maybe I'm just a cold-hearted guy.

• Gorô : The thing to watch here is how the owner remembers who ordered what and when. Right? That's how you do business.

• Gorô : The broth is the soul of ramen.

• Gorô : What's he doing?

  Tampopo : Sipping the broth.

  Gorô : Isn't that odd? It's very odd! It should be too hot to sip, yet he's slurping it down! That's a fatal flaw! Lukewarm ramen isn't ramen!

• Pisuken : Here's a recipe from my own repertoire. Slice the scallions diagonally. Chop the pork very thin. Lightly stir-fry, then place on noodles and add sesame oil.

  Gorô : This is good.

• Gorô : There's no shortage of customers for good ramen.

• Rude owner of competing ramen shop : What the hell? Why didn't you finish it?

  Tampopo : Sorry. I'm just full.

  Rude owner of competing ramen shop : Don't give me that shit! Who orders ramen when they aren't hungry? Wait a minute. You run the Lai Lai shop! Why are you here? Slinking around, trying to steal our business! We've been here since the postwar black-market days! We won't be insulted by a couple of rank beginners! Bow down and apologize, or finish every last drop!

  Gorô : If you put it that way, I'll have to spell it out. I couldn't finish it because it's inedible.

  Rude owner of competing ramen shop : How dare you!

• Gorô : Tampopo, come look. Watch closely. See how they change the water and trade places? No wasted motion. Not a word, either. Good shops are like this. They convey that focus to their customers.

• Master of ramen making : What about the name of the shop? The food's changing. Maybe it's time for a new name.

  Gun : Let's change it!

  Shôhei : Yes!

  Tampopo : Yes, let's.

  Master of ramen making : Any good ideas?

  Shôhei : Something unique.

  Gun : Easy to remember.

  Master of ramen making : Feminine...

  Shôhei : And appetizing!

  Gorô : I think it should be Tampopo.

  Master of ramen making : Tampopo! Yes!

  Gun : Clever!

  Tampopo : Tampopo.

  Gorô : Yup. Tampopo Ramen.

  Tampopo : Tampopo Ramen.

• Tampopo : So... how was my ramen?

  Gorô : Well... it has some solid, honest flavor... but it lacks pizzazz.

  Gun : Basically it sucks.

• Rude owner of competing ramen shop : You think your ramen's so special?

  Gorô : No, we just make normal ramen the normal way.

  Rude owner of competing ramen shop : Fine! We'll come try your 'normal' ramen. Be ready tomorrow morning. It better be good... or else!