is a series of ten Japanese

action comedy Action comedy is a genre that combines aspects of action and comedy. The genre is most prevalent in film with action comedy films, though several TV series fit this genre. Film The action comedy film is a film genre that combines aspects of acti ...

films produced by Toei and released from 1975 to 1979. All ten films in the series were directed by

Norifumi Suzuki , was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is best known for the '' Torakku Yarō'' series. Biography Suzuki was born in 1933 in Shizuoka. He dropped out of Ritsumeikan University's Department of Economics, and subsequently joined To ...

and starred

Bunta Sugawara was a Japanese actor who appeared in almost 200 feature films. Dropping out of Waseda University, he worked as a model before entering the film industry in 1956. After years of work, Sugawara finally established himself as a famous actor at the ...

as Momojiro Hoshi ("Ichibanboshi" or "first star") and

Kinya Aikawa Kin'ya or Kinya (written: 欣也, 欣哉, 欽也 or キンヤ in katakana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese fencer *, Japanese actor and voice actor *, Japanese actor *, Japanese singer and acto ...

as Kinzo Matsushita, also known as "Jonathan". The title ''Torakku Yaro'' means "truck guys" or "truck rascals", and the films involve two

trucker A truck driver (commonly referred to as a trucker, teamster, or driver in the United States and Canada; a truckie in Australia and New Zealand; a HGV driver in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the European Union, a lorry driver, or driver in ...

s and their various escapades as they travel around Japan in highly decorated trucks. The plot formula is similar to the ''

Otoko wa Tsurai yo is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as , a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. The series itself is often referred to as "Tora-san" by its fans. Spanning 48 installments released between 1969 and 1995, all of the ' ...

'' films. Each time Momojiro falls in love with a woman (the "Madonna") and then ends up having to help her romance with another man. The stories end with Momojiro having to race his truck to meet a deadline to rejoin the couple.

Regulars

Momojiro Hoshi, nicknamed "Ichibanboshi", played by

. Kinzo Matsushita, nicknamed "Yamome no Jonathan", played by

. Kimie Matsushita, the wife of Kinzo Matsushita, played by

Masumi Harukawa , born , is a Japanese actress. Filmography * 1963: ''The Insect Woman'' * 1964: '' Unholy Desire'' * 1964: ''Kunoichi Keshō'' * 1967: ''Zatoichi's Cane Sword'' * 1968: ''The Human Bullet'' * 1968: '' Curse of the Blood'' * 1974: '' Pastoral: T ...

Films

Theme music

All the films have the same theme song, ''Ichibanboshi Blues'' by

Ryudo Uzaki is a Japanese musician, composer, and actor. His group, the Down Town Boogie-Woogie Band, was one of the most prominent 1970s Japanese rock music bands. He also composed many of Momoe Yamaguchi's songs with Yoko Aki. He is married to lyricist a ...

and

Yoko Aki Yoko may refer to: People * Yoko (name), a Japanese feminine given name; variants include Yōko and Yohko * Yoko Gushiken (具志堅用高, born 1955), Japanese professional boxer * Yoko Taro (横尾太郎, born 1970), Japanese video game di ...

performed by the Down Town Boogie Woogie Band.

References

* Japanese film series Trucker films 1970s Japanese films {{1970s-Japan-film-stub