The Big Picture
- The Last Samurai is a fictionalized account of Japan's past, blending entertainment with historical events.
- The film follows an American military officer who embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy.
- While loosely based on real characters and events, the movie takes creative liberties and isn't entirely historically accurate.
When you see a movie poster that says the film is "based on a true story," it's fairly understood that there are going to be at least some Hollywood changes made, rendering the film less than 100% historically accurate. However, before it was easy to research on the internet what was fact from fiction, it was tough to know whether you were watching an accurate history lesson or a blend of Hollywood and an encyclopedia. One film that left many moviegoers wondering was 2003's The Last Samurai. Although this movie was constructed to resemble a first-hand account of Japan's past, the truth was that plenty of it was created for entertainment purposes. This leads to the question of what was the real story behind The Last Samurai.
The Last Samurai
RActionDramaAn American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.
Release Date December 5, 2003 Director Edward Zwick Cast Ken Watanabe , Tom Cruise , William Atherton , Chad Lindberg , Ray Godshall Sr. , Billy Connolly Runtime 154 minutes Website http://www.lastsamurai.comWhat Happens in 'The Last Samurai'?
The depiction of the Samurai is nothing new in TV and film. This Edward Zwick-directed movie starred Tom Cruise as an American military officer who was hired by the Japanese government to train their army to combat the rising rebellion led by a group of outcast Samurai warriors. These warriors fought to resist Japan's rapidly growing modernization, which had been influenced by Western cultures. Cruise's character, Captain Nathan Algren, is there for a paycheck with no allegiance to the Japanese government whatsoever. In fact, Algren is facing his own demons with his involvement in the American-Indian wars.
The leader of the Samurai warriors is Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), a compassionate yet deadly swordsman who heads the rebellion. In the first battle between the Algren-led Japanese forces and the Samurai, the American leader defeats a prominent warrior, resulting in him avoiding execution when captured. However, during his time with the Samurai, Algren learns to not only respect and understand the reasons for this rebellion but also how to fight like a Japanese warrior. Eventually, he joins the rebels to fight alongside them against the Imperial army. All of this makes for a highly entertaining film, yet it only somewhat borrows from the actual events that occurred during that time period.
The Samurai Helped Unify Japan
CloseHistory, as well as many old and new Samurai productions, like FX's Shōgun, has taught us that the Samurai were highly skilled warriors from Japan, emerging during the Heian period, which fell between the years of 794 to 1185 AD. Following a strict code of conduct and ethics called Bushido, the leading warrior faction at the time focused on loyalty, self-discipline, and especially honor. Contrary to what many might believe, the Samurai were not only swordsmen but also served as protectors and guards, possessing many other skills such as archery and horse riding. There is no doubt that the Samurai were a force to be reckoned with.
By the mid-1300s, the Samurai had become a well-established military elite culture separate from the commoners. They grew so powerful that they began to obtain political influence during Japan's period of government instability. Somewhere between 1400 and 1600, known as the Sengoku period, the Samurai reached the peak of their political and physical strength, possessing significant influence over the country. Their will and discipline helped unify Japan and brought stability to the nation.
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With this new stability, the Samurai became more involved in government and civil issues as battles became less frequent. The combination of politicians and Samurai brought about a period of more cultural and intellectual pursuits. However, in the late 19th century, Japan underwent rapid modernization under the influence of Western powers. Intensely focused on preserving their culture and heritage, The Samurai rejected this expansion and change, resulting in them becoming outcasts of rebellion and ultimately leading to the Boshin War. This type of conflict is nothing new, as there have been plenty of Japanese stories depicting wars and battles.
Tom Cruise’s Character in 'The Last Samurai' Is Based on Jules Brunet
It's important to point out that the story of The Last Samurai was mostly fictionalized, and, although they did play a part in Western influence accessing Japan and what led to this story, America played little part in this chapter. While Tom Cruise's character, Captain Nathan Algren, is based on a real person named Jules Brunet, he was a member of the French military that came over to Japan during the Boshin War. The Boshin War was a clash between the Japanese government and the Samurai rebellion in response to the West's influence on modernizing Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate, who'd previously held a centuries-long grip on Japanese rule, needed assistance in combating the Meiji Emperor. Having a positive relationship with the French and Napolean III, the Shogunate reached out to their allies, leading them to acquire Brunet, a highly decorated artillery expert, to help arm and advise their military.
Much like other characters featured in other Samurai films, there are often as many untruths as there are facts. For example, true is the fact that Brunet developed sympathy for the Samurai’s cause and eventually sided with them to fight against the imperial Japanese forces. However, despite the epic conclusion of the film’s last stand, the alignment of the fates of Algren and Brunet is hit-and-miss. Brunet fought alongside the Samurai through the Battle of Hakodate, where the Samurai, led by Saigao Takamori, made their last stand, but he fled back to France with some comrades following their defeat. The Japanese Empire, having re-established their power, sought to have him pay for opposing them. Still, Brunet was protected by the French government and put back in their military, where he continued his tenure through the Franco-Prussian War and the French Commune of 1871.
Ken Watanabe’s ’The Last Samurai’s Character Is Based on a True Samurai Leader
As for the leader of the Samurai rebellion, Ken Watanabe portrayed the character Mortisugu Katsumoto, who held a significant role in both the movie and history. Similarly to Algren, this character was also loosely based on a real Samurai warrior. Katsumoto can be directly linked to the iconic Japanese Samurai Saigō Takamori. Takamori strongly opposed and resisted the Japanese government's sudden transition from traditional culture and feudalism to Western-like modernization. His vocal opposition was a major wedge between the traditional faction and the Meiji government. Like the film's character, Takamori wouldn't budge from his commitment to traditional Samurai culture, values, and an intense sense of honor. He and the rest of the rebels believed that preserving Japan's traditional culture was paramount, even over the growing influence of Western powers on the country's government.
Katsumodo's eventual demise at the end of The Last Samurai was that of a leader fighting to a dramatic death to defend his people and his beliefs. However, in reality, Takamori's death took place long after the events the film depicts. Following the Battle of Hakodate, Takamori joined the Meiji government, where he rose to lead their military as a general by 1873. This wouldn't last as he'd retire in protest of the Meiji government. According to Mark Ravina's work in his book "The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori," Saigo returned to his hometown of Kagoshima and opened schools called Shi-Gakko, where he trained former Samurai. After leaving his position, the political pressure dissolving the Samurai class continued, causing a desire to rebel among his students. As a result of the mounting pressure and actions taken by the Meiji, Saigo was forced to declare war, taking 15,000 soldiers into a final stand during 1877's Satsuma Rebellion. Although the specifics of his death aren't clear, by the end of this brutal battle, Saigo was critically wounded and committed Seppukku.
While Not Completely Accurate, ‘The Last Samurai’ Has Historical Merit
When comparing the real-life main characters of The Last Samurai to actual history, it's also interesting to examine the reality of the Japanese conflict itself. The Meiji Restoration, which occurred from roughly 1868 to 1912, marked the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the rise of imperial control under Emperor Meiji. The government, previously connected with the Samurai and their traditional values, was replaced by military rule focused on modernization. With increasing Western influence in the Meiji Empire, the Samurai felt they had no choice but to separate and form a rebellion to reclaim their rapidly changing country. In contrast to what The Last Samurai portrayed, the clash between the government and the rebels lasted longer than a few uneven battles.
Despite the efforts of the Samurai, they were eventually defeated by the Meiji Imperial forces, and the focus on modernization and industrial progress continued to shape Japan's government. The real Samurai rebellion was much more complex than what The Last Samurai depicts. The rebels were not just warriors who broke away from the Japanese imperial government; they were also advocates for preserving the country's centuries-old values and culture. Focusing back on the film, The Last Samurai has faced criticism due to it being racially insensitive and a historically inaccurate film. However, Watanabe, himself, has come out in defense of it, saying "I just thought we had the opportunity to depict Japan in a way that we were never able to before. So we thought we were making something special." Regardless of the side one argues, it's unfortunate that the movie doesn't make much light of the history it's based on and instead casts Cruise as its Great White hero.
The Last Samurai is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S.
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