Jarinko Chie is a movie directed by Takahata in 1981. Based on the very popular manga by Etsumi Haruki, it is about ten year old Chie, "the most unfortunate girl in Japan," who manages her family diner while her unemployed yakuza father and her mother are separated. This sounds really depressing, but it's actually a very funny comedy. 
The story is set in Osaka, which has a totally different culture from Tokyo.

[Wiki (jp)](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/西川きよし)

Jarinko Chie is a movie directed by Takahata in 1981. Based on the very popular manga by Etsumi HARUKI, it is about ten year old Chie, "the most unfortunate girl in Japan", who manages her family diner while her unemployed yakuza father and her mother are separated. This sounds really depressing, but it's actually a very funny comedy. 
The story is set in Osaka, which has a totally different culture from Tokyo. After the success of the movie, a TV series was made, and Takahata worked as the chief director. 
(Source: nausicaa.net)

He was represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society and after by Aoni Production.

He passed away on January 27, 2014 at the age of 82 due to ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease.

[Profile](https://www.aoni.co.jp/search/nagai-ichiro.html)

Kotetsu