The Last Samurai: Fiction versus Reality

The Last Samurai (2003) takes place after the Meiji Restoration against the backdrop of
the internal struggles the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate created. Using your knowledge
of Japanese history, watch the film and answer the following questions that combine facts
and fiction.

Objectives:
 Critically analyze the historical accuracy of “The Last Samurai”
 Illustrate how history (“fact”) and film (“fiction”) overlap
 Review key events in the Meiji Restoration (as reflected and/or illustrated
in the film)

Keep these issues in mind:

1. the film takes place less than 10 years after the
restoration
2. the Meiji leadership had no “clear cut” plan of
action
3. the Meiji leadership initiated policies that clearly
broke with Japanese history and experience
4. there were samurai revolts against the Japanese
government
5. the struggle between tradition and modernization
was a strong one

Chapter 3: Captain For Hire

1. What are the Japanese interested in from the Americans?

2. How does the U.S. Army colonel refer to Japanese efforts?
3. When did Japan “open up” and why?
4. Why does Japan look overseas for assistance and advice?
5. For what reasons did the Japanese consider others to be “barbarians”?

Chapter 4: Arrival in Tokyo

1. What is the cultural struggle going on in Japan?

2. Why would the samurai be upset with the government?
3. What does “Eastern ethics, Western science” mean?

Chapter 6: Scalping

1. Who makes up the new Japanese army?

2. Who used to make up Japanese “armies”?
3. Who is Katsumoto? How do he and his men fight? Why is their approach
unique at the time?
 4. What does “sonnō-jōi” mean?
Chapters 7 & 8: “They are not ready.” & Deployed to Yoshino

1. Why might the Japanese army not be ready to fight in a modern way yet?
2. Why are Katsumoto and his men called “savages”?
3. According to U.S. officers, why should the new Japanese army win the
struggle?
4. To the Japanese, what events (in the early 1850s) were viewed as an
extreme threat and representative of the influence of the West?
5. At what point would the West consider Japan to be developed, or at least
more of an equal?

Chapter 9: The Fog Battle

1. What happens to the losing Japanese leader?

2. What is “bushido” or “shido”?

Chapter 28: Fight to a Draw

1. Who is more believable as a samurai, Tom Cruise or Ken Watanabe?

Chapter 22: The Emperor’s Teacher

1. According to Katsumoto, what motivates Meiji Restoration leadership?

2. In reality, what motivated the Meiji leaders?
3. How does the Emperor talk about the situation he finds himself in?
4. What is “osei-fukko”?
3. Who, according to Katsumoto, does the Emperor owe his attention to?

Chapter 23: A New Contract

1. What happens when the American representative pressures the Japanese

government to sign the treaty?
2. Why is Ohura afraid of Katsumoto and his movement?
3. Why do the Japanese army men mock the young samurai? (What does this
tell you about developments in Japanese society at the time?)

Chapter 25: The Emperor’s Council

1. Why does Katsumoto get in trouble at the meeting?

2. What is the debate between Ohura and Katsumoto?
3. Why doesn’t the Emperor order Katsumoto to relinquish his sword?
4. How much political power did the Japanese Emperor have during the
Meiji period?
5. Who really was in charge of the Japanese government during the
Tokugawa Shogunate?

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Chapters 32 - 38: “I’ll look for you on the field.” – “They are all perfect.”

1. Why does Katsumoto commit “seppuku” at the end of the battle?

2. Do you think that this film did a good job presenting what the struggles were
in Japan at the time?