Tokyo's Shibamata district has preserved much of its townscape, which is reminiscent of old downtown Tokyo.
The Katsushika Ward district located in the eastern-most part of Tokyo, a 20-minute train ride from Asakusa Station on the Keisei Line, is perhaps best known as the hometown of Torajiro Kuruma, the hero of the "Otoko wa Tsuraiyo" ("It's Tough Being a Man") film franchise starring the late Kiyoshi Atsumi.
In fact, walking out of Shibamata Station, you are greeted by a bronze statue of the films' hero, better known as Tora-san, who became the symbol of the district after director Yoji Yamada's series grew into a long-running hit. After the first installment was released in 1969, 48 episodes of the series were created until 1995.
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