Did You Know?
The exhausted woman who is married to the running man is suffering from "karoshi", which means, "worked to death". Many people suffer from overwork in Japan, and many more die from it.
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Slurping noodles is considered polite in Japan. It is a way for the customer to show his appreciation to the cook.
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Many elements of the film closely parallel a classic Western. Goro is the mysterious stranger who rides into town; he saves the pretty girl from harassing bad men, and even has a brawl with another man at the edge of town.
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The noodle cook in the train station is quite realistic. Japanese train stations are filled with small noodle-shops, diners, and lunch-stands, especially since many trains do not offer food for sale on board.
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The gangster dressed all in white seems comedic, but many young Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) do dress in flashy clothes. Older Yakuza bosses prefer dark, conservative suits.
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The pearl diver carries no air tanks, which is true to life. Traditional Japanese pearl divers use only their lungs, but have phenomenal breath control. Some can stay underwater for up to seven minutes.
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When Goro is washing his truck he dumps a bucketful of water on it, but uses no soap. This is actually a washing ritual which is part of the Shinto religion.
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When Pisuken drives over to challenge Goro to a fight, he pulls up in a Chevrolet Camaro. Since Japanese cars have the steering wheel on the right, an American car with a wheel on the left is a sign of wealth and status, since it means you had to import the car yourself.
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When the junior executive orders something different from his bosses, his immediate superior kicks him. This is meant to put him in his place. In the Japanese corporate hierarchy, the lower echelon workers are supposed to follow their leader's direction at all times.
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