What do Japanese think of The Last Samurai?

But among all these, The Last Samurai [Zwick 2003] received the most positive Japanese audience reaction. This film, about an ex-Civil War American soldier who takes up arms to fight with the last of the samurai, played to mixed reviews in the U.S. but enjoyed a wildly popular reception in Japan.

Does Japan like last samurai?

The mixture of flattery, national pride and sentiment seems to have aroused many Japanese to watch The Last Samurai, possibly overriding even Tom Cruise as box office bait.

What did Tom Cruise think of The Last Samurai?

He did. He's tough, he's good. He worked with me. I worked many months before shooting but then when I came in he was always very supportive and very helpful.

How inaccurate is The Last Samurai?

It is important to note that the movie is not intended to be historically accurate in the sense of portraying an exactly specific time or historical figure. Instead, it compresses and blends together many aspects and characters from the time prior to the Restoration until the end of the Samurai.

Who is considered to be The Last Samurai?

Saigō's association with traditional values in a modernizing Japan is why he has been called the “last samurai.” Just 12 years after his failed rebellion, he was pardoned by the Meiji government, and in 1898 a famous statue of Saigō and his dog was erected in Tokyo's Ueno Park.

What JAPANESE think of LAST SAMURAI? etc.

Are there any Samurais left?

The samurai warriors do not exist today. However, the cultural legacy of the samurai exists today. The descendants of the samurai families also exist today.

Are there any samurai families left?

Sixteen generations have passed since the first feudal Sakai clan leader presided over Shonai, but his legacy lives on. Today, 71-year-old Tadahisa Sakai — whom locals refer to as “the last descendant” — is a revered man in the Shonai region, which is a two-hour flight or four-hour train ride from Tokyo.

Why did Japan get rid of the samurai?

Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period. As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868, and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards.

Is the story of 47 Ronin true?

The film is based on an actual historical event during the Edo Period known as “Chushingura.” It involved a lord who was wrongfully put to death and his followers — ronin — who sought revenge. Rinsch said he took on the film subject and sat down with Keanu Reeves about two years ago.

Was there a White samurai?

Anjin Miura or William Anjin was the first and possibly only white man to ever be knighted a Samurai.

Was there a real last samurai?

Saigo Takamori of Japan is known as the Last Samurai, who lived from 1828 to 1877 and is remembered to this day as the epitome of bushido, the samurai code. Although much of his history has been lost, recent scholars have discovered clues to the true nature of this illustrious warrior and diplomat.

Was The Last Samurai a box office hit?

It grossed $111,127,263 in the United States and Canada, and $345,631,718 in other countries. It was one of the most successful box office hits in Japan, where it grossed ¥13.7 billion ($132 million).

Is The Last Samurai worth watching?

A fascinating and inspiring epic, The Last Samurai is a powerful film. The story follows a disillusioned Civil War veteran who's recruited to train the Japanese army in Western warfare as they prepare to take on a Samurai rebellion. Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe lead the cast and give excellent performances.

Is Tom Cruise fluent in Japanese?

Tom Cruise is well known for his role in The Last Samurai. You can see Tom Cruise speaks Japanese in the movie, but is that really him speaking his lines? The answer is yes!

Does Japan still have an Emperor?

The current Emperor of Japan, Naruhito is the eldest son of former Emperor Akhito and his wife former Empress Michiko. Seen here at the opening of a session of Japan's parliament in 2020, he has served as the official head of Japan's imperial family since 2019.

Where are the 47 ronin buried in Japan?

Sengakuji (泉岳寺) is a small temple near Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. The temple is famous for its graveyard where the "47 Ronin" (also known as Akoroshi, the "masterless samurai from Ako") are buried.

Can a ronin become a samurai?

A rōnin who came from a defeated clan where his master has been killed can attach himself to another clan and serve as a samurai.

Is Kai a real character in 47 Ronin?

Keanu Reeves as Kai, a half-Japanese, half-English outcast adopted by the household of Lord Asano who joins the Ronin. The character was created for the film.

Do samurai still exist in Japan?

Although samurai no longer exist, the influence of these great warriors still manifests itself deeply in Japanese culture and samurai heritage can be seen all over Japan - be it a great castle, a carefully planned garden, or beautifully preserved samurai residences.

Why was Japan closed off for 200 years?

It is conventionally regarded that the shogunate imposed and enforced the sakoku policy in order to remove the colonial and religious influence of primarily Spain and Portugal, which were perceived as posing a threat to the stability of the shogunate and to peace in the archipelago.

Are swords still banned in Japan?

Carrying a knife with a locking blade, or a folding blade longer than 5.5 cm (around two inches), is illegal in Japan. The same goes for swords, which are also illegal to carry in Japan without a special permit.

Was Jin Sakai real?

1 Jin May Be Fictional, But His Life Is Authentic

These people did not exist in Japan, and one person did not defeat the Mongols. However, the way these two lived was pretty authentic to the time. The development team enlisted the help of two real-life, modern-day samurai to bring Jin's story to life.