Had a famous brother-in-law, Nobel Laureate
Kenzaburô Ôe, who was married to Itami's sister Yukari. Mr Oe mentions his brother-in-law affectionately in his essay collection titled A Healing Family (Kaifuku suru kazoku; 1995). In one section, there is even a discussion between the two on what Itami called the "grammar" of American films.