Saigō Takamori

A major underlying issue within many cultures in the world is the struggle to either hold on to traditions and values or to move forward with modernization. In the novel Keeper N’ Me by Richard Wagamese, the cultural traditions of the Anishanabe become very important to Garnet Raven who is a disconnected member of the tribe. The major theme in the Movie, The Last Samurai, directed by Edward Zwich is this very issue: tradition versus modernization. The protagonist of this movie Nathan Algren played by Tom Cruise, become disillusioned with using war to suppress tradition and gains appreciation for the values of the Samurai. While there is a difference between the settings in the novel and the movie there are some strong similarities between the novel and the movie. These include the change that each protagonist undergoes and then resolves. And the values of the Anishanabe and the Samurai. Keeper N’ Me is set on the Whitedog reserve in Ontario Canada in the 1950’s. Whereas the Last Samurai is set in a Samurai camp in China in the late 1800’s. There is a contrast in the nature of the two places, the Whitedog reserve is set in the Canadian Shield with plenty of lakes, rivers, pines and rocks whereas the Chinese setting is in the mountainous region. What is similar about this settings though is that they are both isolated from the rest of society. Another similarity between the two settings is the respect given to the women and the recognition that women have a major role within…

The Last Samurai Review: Set in 1876, The Last Samurai is about American mercenary Nathan Algren (played by Tom Cruise) who goes to Japan to help train and modernise their army. Along the way, Algren is taken in by the very samurai rebels he had been sent to help destroy. Algren adopts traditional Japanese ways and is soon fighting alongside his former enemy against the imperial forces. The film's samurai leader Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) and his rebellion against the Japanese government are…

Step inside the arena and grab a seat. We have a great show for you tonight! Prepare yourself because the most anticipated fight in Edo era Japan begins immediately. This fight will involve the supernatural, in one corner, and societal norms, in the other. Tonight, the term supernatural refers to anything that exists beyond scientific understanding or natural laws. Furthermore, the term, “myth,” interchanges with the term, “supernatural,” throughout the night. The setting of this bout occurs…

The last samurai, Takamori Saigo (1827 to 1877) Takamori was born the eldest son of a lower ranking samurai family. Takamori saigo, the Japanese rebel and samurai (1828 to 1877) was the military leader of meji restoration. Takamori was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history guided by his beliefs and values. He is now referred to as the last true samurai. Takamori grows up influenced by his culture As a child, Takamori was influenced and showed much interest in Wang Yangming…

Saigō Takamori was born on on 1827/12/7 in the Castletown of Kagoshima, an isolated area within the Satsuma domain under the control of the Shimazu clan which had established themselves as the oldest living clan in Japan at the time of his birth. The Shimazu clan were of notable prestige in that they were the only clan that received foreign ambassadors in a time when, under the orders of the Tokugawa Shogunate (the shogunate was a council of military commanders led primarily by a single domain),…

The samurai were regulated into two classes; the lower social standing samurai were combined with the commoner while the ones with higher social standing maintained their status. This was until the government of Japan prohibited samurai from wearing two swords in 1876, and with that ending the samurai special rights. During this time many samurai felt the government had gone too far and actually rebelled against Japan and other samurai that still stood by the government. The samurai against…

Loosely based on the Satsuma rebellion, the revolt of a traditionalist band of disaffected samurai, “The Last Samurai” does provide historical groundings. Led by the pivotal Saigo Takamori, this rebellion was the culmination of dissent towards a changing Japan, emblematic of conventional mannerisms, and their dying place in contemporary society. Edward Zwick, director, was bent on affirming the Samurai’s position as idolized heroes, wanting to further bolster their position in the ranks of…