Original subtitles

Turn him upside down.

Good, we've done it.

In thanks for saving my life...

I'd like to treat you to some special suppon.

Just a touch more salt today, Shohei.

Yes, sir.

Want to watch?

Is it from Lake Hamana?

No, the Kuma River. Finally I got a wild one.

Watch out, ma'am.

Be careful. Suppon have teeth like razors.

They can bite your finger clean off.

See that? Unless you kill it in one stroke...

the muscles contract, the blood congeals and it won't taste as good.

Since my rescuer is having trouble, I feel I must do something.

Will you let this old man help?

Shohei, come here!

Yes, sir. Nothing special, but...

please sample my noodles.

Where did you acquire such skill?

When I was young, an old man at the local noodle stand taught me.

What do you think? If he'll be of use, take him.

Today we start making Lai Lai a "three-star" noodle joint.

Master, you handle the soup.

Shohei, starting today, you're responsible for the noodles.

Gun and myself, we will take charge of the atmosphere.

We will create rich depth and a clear, shoyu -flavored soup.

We'll only add roast pork, shinachiku roots and spring onions.

The menu will only offer plain noodles and pork noodles.

Agreed?

Agreed!

What about a new name?

Since the noodles will change, maybe we should change the name.

- Right. - Let's.

Yes, let's.

Any good ideas?

- Something different. - Easy to say.

- Feminine too. - And taste-tempting.

Uh...

Why not Tampopo.

Tampopo! Yes!

- Clever. - Not bad at all.

Tampopo...

Yeah, Tampopo Noodles.

Tampopo Noodles!

"Tampopo"

Take a look. Chicken, pork, kombu and dried sardines.

Unusual. They use fish heads too.

The noodles are superb. So smooth, but with great body.

You're right. Smooth but strong.

Noodles can be so different.

When you make noodles, you must have a precise recipe.

An exact combination of different flours, kneadings, everything.

To make noodles this smooth, they must do an extra rolling.

They probably let the dough sit before they roll it.

But the key question is exactly how long.

The soda water may be a bit different too.

I'll ask.

They'll never tell you.

It won't hurt to try.

Say, did you make the noodles I just had?

Yes, I did.

They weren't as good as usual.

No good?

They're the same as always.

Maybe you didn't let the dough sit long enough.

Nonsense! I kneaded it yesterday, and let it sit overnight.

Strange. Maybe you skipped a rolling.

No. Three times, as usual.

Did you change the soda water?

No. I use the very best soda water, the same as back home in Guangxi.

No. 1 Chinese Spring Water from Guangxi.

Really? Maybe it was just me.

It must be.

Thank you!

Hey, I hear you're hanging out at Tampopo's place these days.

Listen, big-mouth.

It's none of your business where I hang out.

I guess not.

Got a minute?

Last time I was drunk so I forgot to stop my boys from helping.

Basically I'm a fair guy.

I felt bad about it. Probably worse than you did.

What do you say? How about fighting one-on-one now?

Oh? You changed the noodles.

The soup's new too.

You noticed? How is it?

Pretty good.

Right?

You okay?

Yeah. You're pretty good.

A long time ago I boxed welterweight.

That's not fair. I thought your left hook was too good.

Yours is fast too.

Are you sweet on Tampopo?

I just want to make her place a good one.

Let me help.

What can you do?

I'm a contractor. I do interiors too.

Bars and nightclubs mostly.

Okay. You do the interior.

I'll do my best.

Make sure she pays for it, okay?

Okay. My name is Pisken.

I'm Goro.

Oh, no! Not again!

Relax. He's going to redecorate.

That's why I brought him.

Really? Pisken will?

I like the name Tampopo. It'll do.

We grew up together, you know. I'll do my best.

Thanks.

Do you have any savings?

A million yen.

It'll cost two million.

That's more than I have.

If you sell 200 bowls and net 200 yen each, you'll make 40,000 yen a day.

A million a month.

You can pay me in no time.

We'll rebuild all these to fit the lady's size.

Hey, Goro. Give me a bowl.

This is too high.

The counter is too narrow.

Noodles need the right space too.

You need 40cm.

But make it 45cm to be safe.

Out of my way!

She's just fine as she is.

- What are you doing, you idiot? - I'm no idiot.

Can't you see. She needs redecorating, too.

Don't bother! She's fine as she is.

But...

She's pretty enough.

She may be pretty to you because you're...

sweet on her.

Stop joking. I'm not...

No, no. You may think she's pretty but...

to other people she's just a dowdy old middle-aged woman.

A mouse, to be frank.

Shut up!

Just sit back and watch.

Let's get started.

Come on, Tampopo.

She's finished.

I'll stay here.

What do you mean "stay here"?

She's all done. Take a look.

But I...

Oh, come on.

Hi.

How do I look?

Like a film star...

...in a French movie.

Do you like it?

I see you don't.

Not that.. but you look hard to talk to now.

Let's go out somewhere, Goro.

Am I trying hard enough?

- Sure you are. - Am I good?

- Sure. - You really think so?

- Sure. - I'm so glad.

Why are you doing this for me?

Well...

Why do you try so hard?

Well...

It's like...

everybody has their own ladder.

Some climb the rungs to the top.

But some don't even know they have one.

You helped me find my ladder, Goro.

What was your husband like?

A good man.

Liked drinking, always in a hurry.

In restaurants, he ordered sake while walking to the table...

and ordered food while sitting down.

And your wife?

She left with the kids.

Why?

Don't know.

I grew up in a bad home.

I wanted to make my own home the best there was.

I got married.

We had kids.

I finally built a decent home.

But I was never comfortable.

I don't know how to act in a decent home.

Before I knew it my wife was gone.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm really human.

Hey, taxi! Hey!

It was raining the day I met you.

Damn it, we're wet.

Got a cigarette?

Here.

I'll fill the bath.

I'm so happy. It's been fun tonight.

Not at all, sir. It is my honor to be doing business with you.

More sake?

I'm very interested in this investment opportunity.

I don't know the details but if you say so, it must be good, and safe too.

Can I leave everything to you?

Certainly, sir.

I'm honored to be helping such a famous professor.

But if word gets out, everyone will buy, so we must act now.

Yes, I understand.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

But first thing on Monday I'll withdraw all my savings.

Mind you, it's not all that much.

I'm just a professor.

If you'll excuse me, I must call the office.

It'll be Monday.

He has millions.

Have the getaway car ready.

He's a famous professor.

He's retiring. So he's trying to...

Yeah, that's right.

A real sucker.

Kumada, you're playing the college professor again?

Don't you ever get tired of that role?

The other hand too.

Please, sir.

One more taste of this before I go. I'll miss it so.

Hurry up.

That's odd. I wonder where your victim went?

What'll happen to me?

Come on, darling!

Don't die! We need you!

Come on! Don't sleep! Or you'll die!

Say something! Sing!

Do something! Anything.

Get up and cook!

Go get dinner ready!

Here.

Thank you, Mom.

Good!

It's delicious.

I'm sorry. She died at 9:22.

Keep on eating.

It's the last meal Mom cooked!

Eat, eat while it's hot.

How is it?

Better luck next time.

How can you guys be so mean?

Can't you taste the difference? I think it's much better.

Can't you encourage her?

I see improvements...

but we want customers to queue up for them.

They're beginning to have depth, but they still lack substance.

They're not alive enough. They lack vigor.

And they still lack profundity.

I'm sorry.

Don't look so sad, Tampopo.

You're making something good, right?

When you do that you should look happy.

You're right.

Okay. Now I'll show you my secret recipe.

Cut the onions like this.

Shred the pork.

Fry them lightly, put them on the noodles. Add a dash of sesame oil.

Um. It's good.

- Yes, very good. - Wonderful.

Let's sell it.

We should name it. How about Spring Onion Noodles?

Or Spring Onion Special?

Spring Onion Special. That's good. Customers will love it.

Do you feel better now?

With pork, please.

That was good. Thanks.

Thank you very much.

With pork for me, please.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome.

You're looking serious, Mom.

I'll pass their test today.

After they eat these noodles and...

if they drink all my soup at the end, then I've won.

Let's begin.

Please!

This is perfection.

- Wow! - At last!

- Superb! - Perfect!

Congratulations, Tampopo. You've won!

Come on, darling! Don't die!

Darling!

Have I told you about it?

What?

About hunting wild boars in...

winter.

There's nothing much for them to eat, so...

they dig up yams.

That's all they eat.

When you shoot a boar...

you immediately...

slit its belly...

and take its guts...

and grill them over an open fire.

The intestines are full of yam.

Yam sausages, you see?

You grill them.

And then slice them and eat them hot.

Sound good?

Yes. They'd be nice with soy sauce and horseradish.

What's wrong, darling?

Please sit up!

I would have loved to eat them with you.

We'll do that someday.

We'll go hunt boars in the winter.

Darling, come on!

Please don't die!

Shhh. Be absolutely silent.

My last movie is starting.

Good morning.

Good morning. And congratulations.

Thanks to you.

I don't believe this.

And look at this beautiful counter.

The lighting is perfect.

Tabo, did you write the menu?

Uh-huh.

It's great too.

Hey, Tabo.

Hi, Ryuta, Yohei, Uchida. Let's go. Bye, Mom.

Bye, Tabo.

Are you comfortable working here?

I feel like a master chef.

Frankly, I never thought a woman could become a good noodle cook.

But look at her.

She's doing great.

Yeah, and she looks so beautiful too.

We'll drift away when the customers start coming.

Thank you so much.

I feel like starting a noodle business myself. Goodbye.

Here they come.

Welcome.

Tampopo Noodles for me. Lots of spring onions.

Welcome.

Plain noodles, please.

Same for me.

With lots of shinachiku.

Thank you for all your help.

He can't have roast pork. So a plain one for him.

I'll be at the bank.

Come on, Shohei.

Welcome.

Welcome.

A Spring Onion Special.

Pork noodles for me.

We did it, didn't we?

Yeah, we sure did.

So long... partner.