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1. Sab Espino
Sir. Nogin Bunda
APS 3
May 9, 2019
The film ​The Last Samurai directed by Edward Zwick manifests the ideals of Western
influence along with the preservation of Japan and their culture during the Meiji Era. Captain
Nathan Algren, the main protagonist in the film, was asked to train Japanese soldiers for 6
months in order to go against the soldiers of Katsumoto, who was first considered the antagonist
in the film.
Amidst the process of training these soldiers, Algren was subjected to prepare the soldiers
for immediate war, despite the protest of how the soldiers were not ready- shown by a scene in
the film where Algren instructed a soldier to shot him if not, he himself, will kill the subjected
soldier, and the soldier missed. Although given the situation, Algren was still forced into war
against Katsumoto. After evident defeat of the soldier’s of Omura, Algren chose to continue
fighting, where he later ended up captive by Katsumoto’s people.
During captivity, Algren was called ​barbaric ​due to evident Western culture which varies
from the culture practiced by Katsumoto’s people, Japanese. Throughout Algren’s captivity, it is
slowly shown how Algren learns the ways and means of living life like these people- He also
slowly accustomed himself to the people he was surrounded with, especially the wife of
Hirotaro, Taka.
A few instances which highlights the adaptation of Algren into the culture of
Katsumoto’s people were : (1). The sword scene which involved Algren and Ujio, from the first
few instances of sword fighting, Algren lost a number of consecutive times, though the more he
fought the more he learned the techniques and beliefs of the way Ujio fought. Algren was told
not to use his mind while fighting with a sword, it was said that the reason why Algren kept
losing was due to how much he thought about winning which made him focus less on the
techniques Ujio used against him. One day while fighting against Ujio, Algren surprised the
people watching by making a draw in the sword battle. This made him earn Ujio’s respect. (2).

2. The scene where Algren began interacting more with the children of Taka : Nabotada, Majorio,
and Higen. They started teaching him phrases or words in Japanese, and even gave Algren a
Japanese name. (3). The scene where Algren approached Taka in order to apologize for killing
her own husband, Hirotaro. Taka began to cry due to how she appreciated Algren’s apology, and
later explained that it was okay, Hirotaro was just fulfilling his duties as a ​Samurai​. And Algren
was just fulfilling his duty of going against Katsumoto’s people. (4). Algren began to live life
more spiritually, in reflection to what Katsumoto’s people taught him. Algren began changing
his ways and habits, and began questioning ​what it means to be a samurai? ​. And lastly (5). The
scene where Algren chose to fight alongside Katsumoto rather than Omura. And also when he
wore Hirotaro’s armor for war, which greatly represents a Samurai in battle.
The rawness and solitude Algren found with Katsumoto’s practiced culture, made him
rethink a lot of his choices and ways. This also made him fight hand-in-hand with Katsumoto,
rather that Omura’s people due to how unreasonable, profit-seeking, and mediocre Omura’s
beliefs were.
The film ended with Katsumoto’s people dying with honor, including the most noblest
part where Katsumoto asked Algren to stab him in honor of not dying in his enemies hands. This
made even the soldiers of Omura bow down in respect.
In correlation to the film explained above, the era when the film took place was under the
governance of Emperor Meiji, called the Meiji Period. Where Japan restored the power to the
emperor. (“The Meiji Period in Japan”).
Emperor Meiji, perfectly portrayed in the film, was a 15 year old royalty who was not
accustomed to the ideals of governance. He barely had any experience in authorizing the people
of Japan, to the point that other people from the film, such as Omura, swayed the way Emperor
Meiji thought and decided, which resulted to a number of conflicts.
In addition to the period from which the film took place, the Meiji Era was the age of
reformation in terms of Western economy, Western social institutions, and Western politics in
hopes of achieving diplomatic equality, military strength, and building a path towards
democracy. (“The Meiji Period in Japan”). In totality, Japan was undergoing the process of

3. Western influence without deviating from Japan’s original culture and beliefs. (“The Meiji
Period in Japan”).
This was shown in the film through a contrast between the people of Omura and the
people of Katsumoto.
The people of Omura subjected themselves to the changes Western influence brought
about, these were seen through instances of the use of machinery, fire arms, and etc. Which
proved the upgrade these people wanted from the very beginning with the consent of losing
one’s own original culture and ideals. In contrast to that were of the people of Katsumoto, who
preserved the Japanese culture all throughout the film, in instances such as the use of sword and
shield in battle, the use of Japanese armory, and the techniques and practices acquired- all in all,
their way of living.
The significance and impact of the Meiji Era to the film allowed the viewers to get a
better scope of some of the themes portrayed in the film : (1). Manifest Destiny or America’s
superiority in terms of culture, (2). The effect of western influence, (3). Captain Nathan Algren’s
character development, and (4). Katsumoto’s influence.
Manifest Destiny or America’s superiority, was first evinced when Captain Algren and
Colonel Bagley was asked to take part in the war between Omura and Katsumoto’s dispute. The
people of Omura believed in the superiority of America’s ways- most especially in the
technologies and advantages they had in terms of power and connections.
America’s superiority was brought about their ability to bring modernization into
countries they wanted to rule over. (Lim, 39). An exemplar from the film could be how America
brought new firearms, machines, and explosives to to use for Omura soldiers in battling
Katsumoto’s people. Which also reflected the irony, wherein at first, Omura’s people who was
trained by Algren came unprepared the first time they went against Katsumoto, but in later
scenes, The soldiers of Omura appeared to have been a few steps ahead of Katsumoto’s in terms
of equipment to be used in battle.
The effect of western influence, as evinced in the film attempted to demean the value of
Japanese culture- but the complete irony happened. The Japanese culture, as shown by
Katsumoto’s people, flourished every further, grew even better, and influenced a significant

4. individual in the film- Captain Nathan Algren. Where the idea of modernization and growth no
longer mattered when Algren finally understood ​what it means to be a samurai. ​Algren found
peace, something he hasn’t been in touch with after the incident with ​Sake ​(a character he
seemed to be mourning and traumatized over).
Captain Nathan Algren character development, as evinced in the film, Algren was first
introduced as an incompetent drunkard who was making impulsive decisions made by his
trauma. But once he accepted Omura’s invitation to train soldiers for battle against Katsumoto’s
people, he didn’t know how deeply this may develop his character and heal his deep seated
issues and trauma that occured in war before.
During captivity, Algren was subjected to train soldiers ready for battle against
Katsumoto, to Algren learning the ways and means of Japanese culture, experiencing a change of
heart, and fighting for what he truly believed was just. This made him rethink a lot about his
choices and how he’s been going on living. This also made Algren aware of his duties as a
Samurai ​in process, which completely gave him a shift in perspective on his outlooks in life.
Personally, i find this a reflection of how Algren went from merely going through the
motions, to finding meaning in life. Where a change or state of realization takes place.
Katsumoto’s influence, was evinced in the film from the moment he held Algren captive
to the day of spring where he was then allowed to go back to Omura’s.
The first chance Algren and Katsumoto met, Katsumoto immediately made Algren feel
more like a visitor rather than a prisoner, which was shocking considering Algren killed
Hirotaro, one of Katsumoto’s right hand in battle. Katsumoto even practiced his skills in
speaking in English in order to communicate with Algren. Those were the first few moments
where Algren felt skeptical as to why he was held captive in Katsumoto’s territory but was
treated with honor and respect.
From here on, Algren decided to go through the motions with the way it was in the
village, and as time went on, he had more chances to talk and spend time with each character in
the film including Katsumoto. He began picking some of their habits and began practicing their
means to life.

5. A significant change in the relationship of Katsumoto and Algren was found evident
when Algren helped and saved Katsumoto during the time that their village was under attack.
This was a reflection of how strong and willful Katsumoto’s influence on Algren was. Where
someone who was once seen as an enemy, now fought as comrades hand-in-hand.
To synthesize, the film ​The Last Samurai particularly epitomizes the contrast between
western superiority and influence and preservation of Japanese culture. This appears to have
been the point of conflict in the film, where the people of Omura reflected the ideal of
modernization, whereas the people of Katsumoto reflected the principles of Japanese culture.
Through these two ideas Captain Algren, the protagonist of the film, advanced towards character
development, along with accepting and growing from past trauma.
The following themes were also depicted in the film : (1). Manifest Destiny or America’s
superiority in terms of culture, (2). The effect of western influence, (3). Captain Nathan Algren’s
character development, and (4). Katsumoto’s influence. Where each stirred and influenced the
idea and concept of each characters introduced in the film.

6. Works Cited
“Boundless US History.” ​American Imperialism,
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/american-imperialism/
“​Facing History and Ourselves.” ​Meiji Period in Japan,
https://www.facinghistory.org/nanjing-atrocities/nation-building/meiji-period-japan
“Dukespace.lib.duke.edu.”
https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/582/7Last%20Samurai.pdf
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