"tokyo story" was inspired by the 1937 american film "make way for tomorrow", directed by leo mccarey. noda initially suggested the plot of the older film to ozu, who hadn't seen it. noda remembered it from its initial release in japan. both films depict an elderly couple and their problems with their family and both films depict the couple travelling to visit their children. differences include the older film taking place in depression era us with the couple's problem being economical and "tokyo story" taking place in post-war japan, where the problems are more cultural and emotional. the two films also end differently. david bordwell wrote that ozu "re-cast" the original film instead of adapting it.