Dhaka: Popular private satellite television channel NTV in collaboration with the Japan Foundation is airing three selected episodes of famed Japanese film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo ("It's tough being a man"), often referred to simply as 'Tora-san' after the main character, dubbed in Bengali for the first time in Bangladesh.

The aim is to introduce various aspects of Japan as well as familiarise Bangladeshi viewers with Japanese culture and personalities.

The 38th episode of the series titled 'Tora-san Goes North' will be aired on NTV at 8.45am on 11 March. 

The other two episodes "Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset" and "Tora-san's Many Splendored Love" have been broadcast respectively on the same channel.

The lives and sentiments of the characters depicted in the film made it a long-running hit since its first screening in 1969, spanning 48 episodes till 1995 and one special episode in 1997.