The Last Samurai...

[Wing Nut]

If you haven't seen this movie, I would definitely recommend it.  The story is fantastic, and I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture.  I thought the ending was a bit cookie cutter, but Tom Cruise may actually get an Oscar for this one (God knows he got screwed over for Jerry MaGuire!).  Just be forewarned, a LOT of people get killed in this movie!

[JBaymore]

Pippin,

If you liked that "Last Samurai" movie and are interested in Japanese culture......... go to your local video store and have them get you a copy of the ORIGINAL TV mini-series production of James Clavelle's "Shogun".

Do NOT get the single cassette 2 hour-ish version..... that is absolutely TERRIBLE  :-/.  Awful!  Pathetic!!  You want the original WHOLE program....... which will be about 4 cassettes long.

It is incredibly well done, the attention to detail is supurb, and is a pretty good "snapshot" of Japanese culture, architecture, fashion, decorative arts, warfare, political intrigue, and so on from that time period.

You'll likely pick up a few words of Nihongo (Japanese) by watching too  ;).  The first part of the movie is almost all in Japanese with NO subtitles...... you are "thrust" into the position of the protagonist, Major John Blackthorne.  As he learns Japanese from context and some translations....... you tend to also.

best,

...............john

[Polynomial]

how does tom play an asian?

[russ]

how does tom play an asian?

Hhhmmmmm.......
You see, the thing is that he does not play an asian.

[Wing Nut]

He doesn't play an Asian, he plays an American Calvary officer hired to train Japanese military to fight with American tactics and weapons to put down a rebellion by the Samurai.

John, I can do you one better, go out and get Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" or pretty much any film by him.  He is Japan's version of Stephen Spielberg.

I do have to small qualms about the film.  One is that Japan has alway been pictured as a closed society.  While their leaders might try to adopt western ways, would the Samurai?  The whole point of the film is that they are fighting to keep the old ways alive, so would they adopt a forienger into their culture so easily?

The second involves an attack on the Samurai by a group of Ninja assasins.  I thought by 1877, the Ninja were pretty much gone and even then would they attack Samurai who are basically the ideal all Japanese held themselves up to?

Still an excellent movie though...  :)

[Polynomial]

well now that i know that i might just wanna see it

[Hagar]

I too was very impressed by "Shogun". I believe that the original 1960 western "The Magnificent Seven" was based on "Seven Samurai".
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005J9P4/202-8911391-4841417
It's quite true that there are very few orignal stories.

[JBaymore]

Pippin,

Yeah... all of Kurosawa's films I have seen are great.  

There is a book that you might like.  It is called "Learning to Bow".  It is by an American school teacher who spends a year on an international exchange program teaching in Japan.  Great insight into Japanese culture.

The "Shogun" story was based on a historical event.....but they of course took a lot of licence with it.  One of the best aspects of the mini-series is it's adherence to Clavelle's book.  It is one of the few times that the movie and the book bear much resemblence to each other.    

I am not sure..... but I think I heard that the "Last Samurai" is also based on a historical event?


Ninja were paid professional assassins.  If they were contracted to kill someone..... they did.  Or killed themselves if they were caught.  But you are basically right about the dates for the "heyday" for the most part.  However there are still martial arts schools both in Japan and the USA that trace the lineage of the masters back to fuedal Japan.  So in that sense.... there still ARE Ninja.


As to the Japanese "accepting" a Westerner in that time period.... that is a tough one to evaluate.  There is a saying amongst foreigners living in Japan...... "Forever gaijin."  No matter how long you live there as an expatriot...... you will never "be" Japanese.  On the other hand, when I have been there I have found them to be the most friendly, polite, open, warm and giving people I have ever met.  They literally would give you the shirt off their back.

Nihonjin (Japanese) do seem to like to "test" you to see "what you are made of" though.  If you "measure up" you earn great respect.  But the "measureing up" yardstick is often different than a Westerner would expect.  It is interesting to understand their culture to look at one of the worst "insults" that you can "call" a Japanese person (bakayaro) translates roughly to "uncultured brute".  :(

In my professional life (potter) my work has been very warmly recieved and they seem genuinely interested in what Americans are doing with clay.  Potter to potter there is a great two way respect and basis for commonality.  So in the Tom Cruise character....... one wonders if "warrior to warrior" there might not have been the basis for eventual acceptance from that factor.  Particulary as he "became more Japanese".  Ditto for how Blackthorne was "accepted" in "Shogun".


BTW...... I get NHK on my satelite system in order to try to keep my Japanese language skills (totemo heta desu) going a bit.  You can get it through Dish Network if you are interested.  It is $25 a month.


de wa mata,

................john

[Poseidon]

If you can find it you must also see AKira Kurosawa'a "The Seven Samurais".

[Wing Nut]

I too was very impressed by "Shogun". I believe that the original 1960 western "The Magnificent Seven" was based on "Seven Samurai".
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005J9P4/202-8911391-4841417
It's quite true that there are very few orignal stories.

Actually, several of Kurosawa's films were remade as American films.

[JBaymore]

Pippin,

I know a little bit about Chado (Way of Tea).  I have attended many as a guest.  I have never hosted one.......... not really a "practitioner".  But I am by NO means an expert.  A "dabbler".  I do make some teawares (chawan, chaire, mizusashi) and a few poeple in Japan have said that they are good.......  ;D.

Matcha (tea ceremony green tea) really has a wonderful smell and taste..... and has quite a caffeine kick too  ;).

"Ran" (War) is another good movie.  And as a potter....... "Ugetsu" is a great one..... since the protagonists in the story (morality play....... don't aspire to be above your "station" in life) are potters.

best,

............john