Tokyo Sonata as a Reflection of Japan

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Tokyo Sonata as a Reflection of Japan
Introduction
The film Tokyo Sonata is one that speaks to the Japanese culture and the shifts in the social order. This is relative to the middle class and most importantly, the way that roles between the men and women change. Previously, the man was the most powerful and made all the judgment calls in their families and even at work. However, this changes in the period after the war when there is a boom in the economy. As is indicated in the family of the Sasakis, there is a shift in the roles of the breadwinner between the men and the women (McCalmont, Jonathan). When Sasaki is laid off relative to the downsizing that was taking place in the country, his role as a breadwinner is also lost. His influence over the family matters is also reduced. The period before the 1950s, was a tough one for most of the families. This is relative to the struggles that most of the families had to endure as the economic times were tough. Most of the companies had to let go some of the employees to survive the tough times. This is such a time as indicate in the film where the Sasakis are faced with loss of income as their father is retrenched (McCalmont, Jonathan). However, there a twist in the story as the woman in the family takes on the major roles in the family (Economic And Social Transformations). This is a situation that is reflected in the wider Japanese society. Having been a society where women were considered as second-class citizens, there is a change as women are seen to take more important roles in the society.
Thesis statement: The film reflects significant change in the social norms along with changes in the societal cultural values and standards within Japan and reference to the middle class.
Tokyo Sonata
Released in the year 2008, the film, Tokyo Sonata, is about a middle-class family that is struggling with the social shifts in the society. In the film, the father is Ryuhei Sasaki, his wife Megumi and they have two sons, Takashi the older one and Kenji the youngest. At one point Sasaki loses his job but he does not want to tell his wife and family about it (McCalmont, Jonathan). As such, he is seen to leave every morning in a suit as if leaving for work. He had been lad of as their company had started hiring cheaper labor. Devastated, the family is seen to experience shifts in the social order that they have had in the past. This is with reference to the fact that the father was the bread winner. As such, he held much of the authority and power around the house. However, this then shift after his wife realizes that her husband was no longer working. They all struggle to find meaning in their new reality where the wife is the bread winner and the husband is now a struggling jobless person among many in the society (McCalmont, Jonathan). The children in the family are also have challenges of their own as they seek structure and order in their own lives separate from the family, the oldest son is seen to enlist in the American Army, while the youngest take piano classes.
Japan before the 1950s
This was a period before and during the second world war. For the women in the society, life did not involve much as they largely looked forward to the...