Houhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun (My Neighbors the Yamadas)

Contents

Questions answered on this page:

1. How can I see it?
   
2. Is it coming to my country?
   
3. Will it be dubbed? Subbed?
   
4. Who did the voices in the Japanese version?
   
5. Who are other staff members?
   
6. Is it based on a manga or on a novel?
   
7. Did it use computer graphics?
   
8. What does "Houhokekyo" mean?
   
9. When and where does the story take place?
   
10. What are Bosozoku?
    

How can I see it?

It has been released on video in Japan; information on the videos is available on the Yamada Availability page. The Japanese theater run has ended.

By contributing 10 percent of the cost of production, Buena Vista International (BVI) obtained the worldwide distribution rights to the film. Plans for release elsewhere in the world have not yet been announced.

Is it coming to my country?

As of 9 February 2001, BVI currently has not yet announced a release schedule for "Yamada-kun" outside of theaters in Japan. It has played at selected film festivals in subtitled form, though.

Will it be dubbed? Subbed?

The Japanese DVD release contains English and French subtitles, as well as Japanese audio and subtitles. Again, it has played at selected film festivals in subtitled form.

Who did the voices in the Japanese version?

Please see the Credits page for the list of cast members.

Who are the other staff members?

We are currently working on the staff section of the Credits page.

Is it based on a manga or on a novel?

It's based on a 4-panel gag comic strip titled Tonari no Yamada-kun. By Hisaichi ISHII, it is serialized in the Asahi Shinbun (see a sample of the comic), and is about the daily lives of the Yamada family: Takashi and Matsuko (the father and mother), Shige (Matsuko's mother), Noboru (the son), Nonoko (the daughter), and Pochi (the family dog). It was recently renamed Nono-chan. The manga compilation information is on the Books page.

Did it use computer graphics?

Yes. The entire film was created using computers. Because Takahata wanted to achieve a watercolor-picture effect throughout the entire film, there are no traditional hand-painted cels for this movie. This is the first 100 percent digital movie created by Studio Ghibli.

There were even some 3D computer graphics used in the film, though it's very difficult to see them. One example: In the opening scenes where the Yamadas launch in a bobsled (you can see this in the trailer linked from the Related Media page), the wedding cake on which they are sledding is a 3D computer model. Because of the way they painted it, though, it is difficult to see that.

What does "Houhokekyo" mean?

"Houhokekyo" is the sound made by the uguisu, the Japanese bush warbler. This sound is specific to the uguisu. An example of this in English would be "Caw caw", which is specific to the crow.

Ryoko TOYAMA posted this to the Miyazaki Mailing List:

"All the Miyazaki films at Ghibli have 'no' in their titles, and all the Takahata films at Ghibli have 'ho' in their titles. (In Japanese, 'ho' and 'po' are put in the same category, as 'po' is written as 'ho' plus a handakuten). They are:

• Hotaru no Haka (Grave of the Fireflies)
  
• Omohide Poroporo (Only Yesterday)
  
• Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pompoko (Pom Poko)
  

"So they wanted to put 'ho' in the title, and somehow, they came up with 'Hohokekyo'. I think that it has an effect of telling people that this is not a movie that you take seriously, but a movie that you watch with a relaxed feeling.

"An Uguisu appears at the beginning of the movie." [note the bird in the title screen, left]

When and where does the story take place?

Modern Japan, somewhere in a typical Japanese suburb. Matsuko and Shige (Matsuko's mother) both speak with a Kansai (around Osaka) accent, but most of the other characters speak in "standard" Japanese, so the location could be in or near any large Japanese city.

What are Bosozoku?

"Bosozoku" can refer to a member of a biker gang, the biker gang as a whole, or both. A good example of a (somewhat) reformed "bosozoku" is Onizuka-sensei, from the popular anime & manga series "G.T.O.". He has better intentions than most "bosozoku", though he does occasionally lapse back into the stereotype.