1988年,正值改革开放的大时代,张尚儒在台湾的工厂面临人事成本问题难以继续经营,经评估决定带弟弟张弘圣前往中国大陆追求中国梦。张尚儒在大学时期有个铁哥们赵长城,两人因同时爱上刘千荭,兄弟间的感情从此生变。经多年磨练,赵长城在优式集团担任总经理,前往广东设厂后,遂运用自己的资源抢走张尚儒的客户,让张尚儒兄弟两的事业风云变色,面临经营危机。张尚儒在最沮丧的时候,身为儒学大师的村书记张念文,传授张尚儒许多儒家思想,让张尚儒在面临产业危机及赵长城的打压时,均能调整心态产生正能量,度过对手打压、经济危机难关,并让赵长城自食恶果被优式集团解雇。最终,书记张念文才表明身份,原来,张尚儒的父亲张又文在40年前去到台湾前已结婚生子,生下的儿子就是张念文,张家一家人总算团聚。。山田日後承認在開拍此片之前,已心諳渥美清的肺病步入末期,決定此章為最後一章,並安排由淺丘瑠璃子演的莉莉送寅次郎踏上人生的最後一程。分別15年後,兩人於如詩如畫的奄美大島重逢,感情依舊,鬥氣繼續,沒完沒了似的。正如山田所想,雖然系列必須完結,但始終不想為寅次郎的故事/人生劃上句號。結局如常開放,代表寅一直繼續他的旅程,日本人依然有夢。
公映後翌年,渥美清病逝,享年68歲,本片亦成為他的遺作。
Yamada knew before production began that Atsumi's health has deteriorated to such an extent that Tora-san to the Rescue would be the last film in the series. He decided to let Lily accompany Tora on his last trip. The lovers reunite after fifteen years in the picturesque Amami O Shima, and the affections as well as the bickering remain. Although the series must come to its conclusion, Yamada has deliberately left the film's ending open, so as not to let the curtain fall on "Tora-san". Atsumi Kiyosh passed away at the age of 68 in the year following the film's release, making this film his last.。