Japan Still Loves The Last Samurai

The popular negative interpretations of the Last Samurai are not inherently wrong, they're just complicated by how well the film was received in Japan by certain people. I mean, would the USA be opposed to a foreign film that glorified our history? I doubt it.
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[@studioneet7800]

This video has been completed for some time but was not uploaded in case the algorithm would push it rather than AAPI voices. While debating if I should just let it disappear I decided that a deep dive into how US White Supremacy has left a mark on Japanese people’s portrayal and understanding of themselves could be my contribution to this moment. While researching for this video I came across Japanese reviewers whom praised Koyuki’s portrayal as “Taka” because of her elegant submissiveness and reserved nature. When I eventually found Dr. Chun’s article, I saw that he had also come across Japanese men praising the film’s portrayal of Japanese womanhood. As the discussion surrounding the hyper sexualization of Asian Women continues it is important to recognize that Hollywood films have fed depictions of Asian women to the point where it has become internalized within Asian countries themselves. Attempting to fit this topic into the scope of this video would have demeaned its importance, as far more than just this one film is necessary as evidence. Namely, Japanese films should be the crux of such a video.

[@perfectopubg7320]

Nice

[@Sinekyre14]

Our white ancestors are amazing and white history is amazing. We have nothing to be ashamed of - we have created modern civilization and all the luxuries you enjoy. You should praise white history and the acts of white men, before you speak any ill of them. You have been brainwashed, it's sad to see

[@hia5235]

This in no way was a White savior film.

[@KickerH]

You’re the worst type of person. Thinks and moves but has no clue what they are saying while they think theyre right. Smh

[@Alte.Kameraden]

Honestly, I would argue that The Last Samurai isn't a white savior film. 1. Tom's character really doesn't do anything that actually saves anyone, he didn't introduce them to new fancy white man technology or tactics, he was just well... there. Similar to fictional characters like Rose/Jack from Titanic, he existed so they could build that world around them, as someone who had no idea what to expect, was genuinely foreign. Though I think Shogun TV series did a better job. It's interestingly enough a similar plot in my opinion. 2. They didn't win. You really can not be a savior if those you're saving lose, quite brutally at that. All the samurai die, they're defeated in battle, and Tom really contributes nothing to it outside of being a friend/confidant to the one really leading the Samurai. I would argue the movie The Three Amigos was more of a white savior film than this and it wasn't even. He is literally just there, along for the ride. He is literally the rollercoaster chair for the viewer. 3. Unlike say Dances with Wolves which an outstanding individual of high moral character comes along and saves the day. Tom's character is a broken shell of a man, of low moral character, you wouldn't even want to associate with him if you ran into that person in real life, smelling of boozes, acting rude, and being pretty much a jerk. If anything it isn't a story about a White man saving a "LESSER" people, but an inspiring people saving a White Man from himself. So when saying that, I find it hard to call it a "White Savior" story. It may seem like that but it really only has that outward veneer of such a story, but once you look at the film beyond that it's honestly not even close to being such a story. I mean, I used to have that very opinion when I first saw the film, but the more I've seen it the more I've realized that isn't really the case. First impressions can be misleading, and to be honest, the fact I think people see this when they view the film, comes from some racist vibes toward white people. Similar to the "It isn't Personal, it's just Business" Trope that has programmed people to hate business men, always assuming the business man is the baddie in movies no matter what, people I think just expect it, so even when it isn't there, they see it. Being the Trope of White Savior was literally a trope for years, but when a film comes along that has said veneer but isn't actually a savior like story, but actually quite the reverse, it's still called that. It would literally be like having the Businessman be the good guy instead of the villain, but people still think he's the villain because they assume all business men are evil.

[@ericsantucci6934]

I agree with all of this. The most significant thing Algren does in the film from a savior standpoint, really, is saving Katsumoto from the ninja attack, and him MAYBE convincing Katsumoto that the way of the samurai is still worth fighting for, after he had nearly given up hope after the death of his son and his failure to get through to the Emperor. Other than that, I think the rest of the film would've played out pretty much exactly the same way if Algren was absent.

[@bluesdealer]

Exactly. This video was laden with incorrect assumptions, such as how he implied that “white supremacy” was the driving force behind imperialism, as if Western Europe hadn’t learned it from all the other civilizations who were dominant before them? Japan didn’t need anyone to teach that to them. They already understood well before the Mongols, and even better afterwards. White supremacy was a product of the bad pseudoscience of academics and intellectuals, most people tend to forget. The drive to expand is much older and more universal.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@bluesdealer Their invasion of Korea from the 16th century is a good example. Totally before ever seeing western Imperialism were they influenced by the west to conquer and colonize another land/peoples? No. Just ask the Anu as well being they were the original inhabitants of the Islands centuries before the first east Asians set foot there from what is known today as Korea.

[@carlabunn1134]

@@ericsantucci6934 I agree and would add that Algren’s experience saved him.

[@pyry1948]

From my point I think the retinue of Katsumoto actually saves Algren, not the other way around. He manages to regain lost honor and find peace in life.

[@overthewebb]

The whole movie is about Japanese culture and Bushido saving a Westerner, rather than the other way round

[@caomhan84]

I was in college when it came out. My Asian history professor, a Japanese woman, offered us extra credit if we went to see it. I went to see it and for the longest time it remained on my personal top 5 favorite movies. I absolutely loved it and I still love it today. I remember that she told us that yes it was inaccurate, but it was still a good representation of Meiji era Japan, and she still thought it was a beautiful film. And personally I don't really care about people saying that it embraces the "going native" trope.... Because where do they think that came from? A bunch of people did that in the 19th century. It was a known thing. People were sent over on foreign service and just fell in love with the local culture and completely immersed themselves in it. And there's nothing wrong with that. These modern ideas get so tiresome sometimes.

[@akodaah13-e32]

and even that "adapting to another culture" thing is still present in our society. I've known a lot of people that come from different countries (i live in mexico and i was born in here) that just fell in love and adapted to mexican traditions, celebrations and overall culture and way of living. And no, this is not a "white savior", because the main character doesn't even save anything per se, he just fought until the end and went back to the village

[@dillonlboyer]

@@akodaah13-e32 You could absolutely say the Japanese saved Tom Cruise's character, rather than vice versa.

[@auslandermercury972]

@@dillonlboyer That’s how I’ve always interpreted it. He was able to finally, in some way, make right what he had felt guilty for, and like they say at the end. Find some small measure of peace, that we all seek, but few of us ever find.

[@expressrobkill]

My brothers father in law is japanise , quite serious allot of the time though is very entertaining to be around, he has a whole samurai outfit and likes pretending he’s ken watanabi from last samurai its really fun and funny, its fair to say the film was really well received in japan, i think allot of the bad words about the film actually don’t come from Japanese people. (Even though its inaccurate its more about the message of the film than being purely accurate.)

[@robwalsh9843]

I mean, isn't The 13th Warrior about an Arab Muslim man "going native" amongst a group of Norse vikings?

[@miketrujillo3677]

I dont care what anyone says, this movie is one of the greatest i have ever seen and i rewatch it often, im part Spaniard and part Native and i love the realistic exploration of war and genocide and the effects that it has on people while playing fast and loose with direct historical accuracy.

[@studioneet7800]

Phew, I put Dr. Chun's article in here expecting to have to fight people that don't think that historical dramas are more about the audience currently enjoying them than the time period they're using to tell their story. Don't read into the time period, follow the story and how it connects with its audience and then find out WHY it connects. :)

[@perfectopubg7320]

Then you'll love 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'American Gangster'.

[@grimarasikan8149]

It is worth noting that "samurai" is also considered the correct plural form. So "the last samurai" can refer to all the samurai that fought Omura's forces.

[@TheBongReyes]

My Japanese friends and their parents literally loved this movie. Their parents pointed out the historical inaccuracies but, as the older generation, loved the themes of the movie. The fact that many Japanese actors were in the movie they pointed clearly. I told them about the criticisms by Westerners and their response was, generally….. “We liked it and the film honored Japanese in spirit. That’s all that matters.”

[@user-uq4gr5nl5o]

The name "The Last Samurai" is of course open to interpretation. It doesn't necessarily even have to refer to one person.

[@2svx1]

It is not open to interpretation, the title refers to Katsumoto's clan, them being "The last Samurai" with "Samurai" being plural.

[@Tyler_W]

This is one of my favorite movies my dad and I like to watch together. I'm not Japanese, but still. The way you described the unappreciative response to The Last Samurai reminded me very much of how the exact same scenario played out only two years ago with the release of the excellent Sucker Punch video game Ghost of Tsushima. Japanese critics and both Japanese and non-Japanese audiences loved a piece of fictional media about Japanese history and culture while many jaded and pretentious American media critics turned their noses at it. I'd just like to point out that for people to claim this was a "white savior film" is objectively false, and the only people claiming this are those looking to cater to a particular narrative and or those who simply weren't actually paying attention to the story. If anyone thinks "The Last Samurai" refers to Tom Cruise's character, Nathan Algren, you're already off on the wrong foot. It's about a guy who experienced the horrors of war who found peace and solace through an appreciation of a warrior tradition that gave him a broader perspective about his life and experiences. If anything, the belief that the traditional Japanese were nothing more than savages is a perspective that the film ultimately rejects, and the realization that they aren't what he was lead to believe about them is why Algren aids them in trying to preserve elements of a culture that their leadership was quick to toss aside out of the mistaken believe that their traditional culture was a culture of uncivilized savages.Is it idealized and technically inaccurate in some aspects? Yeah, but like Ghost of Tsushima, it is sincere, appreciative and respectful, and does speak to something true about it (as I wish more western media about itself would be). There is absolutely nothing that says you can't acknowledge the brutal realities of history while finding reason to take pride in your nation, your people and the virtues of your culture. No country and no culture should be compelled to despise itself.

[@carlabunn1134]

Well said Tyler.

[@redwa11er]

This movie is single handedly responsible for my now obsession with Samurai history. I've seen many professors who hate the movie, as you said because of its inaccuracies. But I argue that if a movie can inspire someone to go on and learn more about the truth and history of the subject, then it should be applauded. I am now scratch building my own suits of samurai armour out of steel, trying to keep it as authentic looking as possible, given the tools I have access to. I've learned so much, and I know I have much much more to learn.

[@khususgabut5727]

Why people think this is white savior movie? Its clearly about a veteran with a ptsd who got forgetten by his own country and treat him like a trash until he find a peace in other culture which is end up of him being functioning again as the human being

[@saurelius5217]

How the hell is this a "white savior" movie when the Samurai ended despite his efforts? So what exactly was he the savior of?

[@drbelli]

that is a great script, done very well into a film... as cooky as cruise is as a person, he earned my endless love as an actor, his complete devotion to tell that tale, and be Nathan A. in full colors, from a broken warrior, into a whole spirit and body agent of pure and ageless honored defender of life and peace, the plot, i truly adore all of it, thanks those responsible for this cinematic art work. (sorry about my crappy english)

[@Dandalore]

The Last Samurai is not a "white saviour" film. Algren doesn't save anyone. He's a massively tragic, PTSD sufferer who ends up along for the ride during Katsumoto's rebellion. The Japanese characters are what makes this film great. Algren is just the set of eyes through which we get to see them. There's one bit where he goes to stop Katsumoto committing seppuku, but he's not doing it alone and clearly couldn't have done it without Ujio, Nobutada and the other Samurai present in those scenes, especially Nobutada. There's a lot wrong with the film re its historical inaccuracies, but it is anything but your average "white saviour" flick.

[@thesongoflunch]

Sounds like a white supremacist to me /sarcasm 😅

[@Jibril_UwU]

"They are all perfect" ~ Moritsugu Katsumoto

[@wade6523]

People who get upset about inaccurate movies are dumb. It's not meant to be a documentary. The show has less to do with getting Japanese culture perfect and more to do with honoring the roots of your own culture and history and not forgetting how you got to where you're at.

[@theoutlawking9123]

Screw the Haters, BADASS MOVIE!!!

[@inquisitivealbertan1712]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing!!

[@For_the-Emperor]

Anyone who hated this movie and cried white washed obviously didn’t watch it or was paying attention. This is a masterpiece movie that honors a cultures ancient warriors while exploring the ptsd of our own soldiers. He didn’t force American history on to them or white man saves everyone. He was more a spectator to these events at first and found peace through the old ways.

[@goldmind9399]

If the guy was black y’all would be complaining so stop the cap

[@Godzilla00X]

Amazing video! This has been one of all time favorites films for years so it's fantastic to see its reception and reaction in Japan.

[@miked5834]

The acting was superb, story telling through facial expression and no unnecessary speaking.

[@kennethcalimpong7919]

Hi Studio NEET, liked & Subscribed, enjoyed your video, look forward to all your content ❤, Aloha, Kenneth 🤙🏽

[@Chris-ch1oy]

I moved to Japan nine years ago-and I was surprised how many people I met here love this movie. That being said, your video gave me a much better understanding of why that is so. Great video, mate.

[@Mitch4243]

We’ll done! When I finished the vid I was surprised to see it only had 8k views. Deserves a lot more.

[@timbarnett3898]

Not just Japan, I love the movie!

[@blacklegion2531]

why do you like insulting japan

[@sallymccoy6286]

I absolutely love this movie. The chemistry between Algren and Taka made me wanting more scenes of them together. But, the ending was the way it was supposed to. This movie is right there with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". True to Japan history, culture and lifestyle. Thank you for such a fantastic international film.. Excellent cast and storyline.

[@alexfrost2799]

This movie is great for many reasons. For one, it has really good production value, with great actors and authentic props. It also portrays a very interesting point in Japanese history, one I'm not sure any other country can say for certain has experienced. Thirdly, I think this movie simultaneously pays homage to old Samurai movies as well as Japanese WW2 movies because of the contrast between samurai and the Imperial Army. It may not be historically accurate, but if can convince a viewer to look up Japanese history and take an interest in it then, in my mind, it has succeeded in what it wanted to be.

[@thetrison]

I petitioned my college professor to have a screening of the Last Samurai for our Japanese history class, too! He was repulsed by the film being historically inaccurate, too! My Japanese friends loved how it portrayed their culture, too!

[@Zekegedd]

Nice video, I'm surprised it doesn't have more views. It randomly showed up in my feed today.

[@studioneet7800]

Thanks for watching! I had to leave out so much about this film and cultural points that appear in the film that Japanese people were able to recognize. I had to cut an entire section on the idiomatic expressions invented during the Meiji that still define Japanese culture and can be used to explain much of the third act's dialogue between Watanabe and Cruise. They'll be in a different video though.

[@allysinlombard]

Great content!

[@studioneet7800]

Thank you! :)

[@Ton369]

it's historical accuracy was of secondary concern. As a film it was really beautifully shot and acted.

[@cyb-m]

20 years on.. I still watch it (at least the interesting bits) once a month.

[@jonnylak3856]

do people whove watched the movie not understand that katsumoto is the last samurai

[@ThePeteriarchy]

I'm watching a serious video essay on why the Japanese love The Last Samurai when it's been heavily criticized in the West, and suddenly I get blasted in the face with Anime Matthew Perry. I was not expecting this. This is not what I signed up for. But I'm all for it.

[@adeelliftsstuff]

8:15 - This is the conversation where Katsumoto loses the war- The leaders advisors weren’t there and he was genuinely asking for his advice on what to do.

[@MarySanchez-qk3hp]

This movie is the classic storyline of spiritual redemption.

[@00Spiral007]

People in here are saying to rethink your points -- sure, go nuts. But definitely don't stop! This was an interesting watch, and people overestimate the difficulty in bringing a topic like this to life. To bring culture together and to see ourselves through the eyes of others. It always gets a little fuzzy, and you can never truly know how other people feel, but the attempt is noble and creates empathy. And that's a big W. Thanks for sharing!

[@jamie_d0g978]

Fun fact: Bushido was translated to Spanish by order of the creator of the Legion before it was translated to Japanese. That guy was obsessed by it and he really use it as a code for the Legion. They call themselves the boyfriends of death

[@carlabunn1134]

The Last Samurai was a very good movie but I also remember the stories of abuse of the commoners by the Samurai. I recognize the the pride of of an industrious and proud peoples. I am the descendant of a warrior peoples and realize that such a culture is eventually ended. Having said that, I will add that I love the Japanese people.

[@studioneet7800]

Yes, the reality of the Samurai is that the public was glad to see them go. That's why Dr. Chun knew that there was something much deeper going on with Japanese audiences' loving the film.

[@pamelahermano9298]

I still love The Last Samurai. Out in the west, people are calling it racist. It’s the farthest thing from racist and I hope everyone involved in making the film is proud of it.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

That was fascinating, man! 👍 I subb'ed right away - something I rarely ever do . - and was shocked to see you only had a few hundred subs! Then, when you realise what type of vapid channels get loads of the subs, you start feeling like pulling a Tom, and going native in the East...! 🙆‍♂️❕ Lol

[@NoneMcNobody]

So the book on Bushido and the Shogun keeping tabs on the West; Those two clever, wise and SMART tactics prove Japanese people and culture to be worthy of deep admiration and respect. the book on Bushido, proactively 'shaped the battlefield of the mind' of a potential adversary, America, into an Admirer, and PROVES the reality of Bushido and Japanese warfare strategy, fighting etc. The act of writing the book was an act of Bushido and strategy, itself. And now this video shows some critical Westerners telling the Japanese what to think. Post modernism irony. One last point; if americans didn't respect Japanese people or culture before this film, why has Japanese martial arts and food been so wildly popular in America since the 1950s and 60s?

[@psychedelicshacksnycshelte2171]

A Japanese woman gave me a ring before the movie started.

[@brother44444]

Your making too much assumptions and presenting them as facts. The example of that TV show asking westerners how they think about Japan, I can guarantee you every single Asian country has a show exactly like that. Speaking as a Vietnamese.

[@studioneet7800]

Yes, this kind of TV show is common across Asia. This specific Japanese show began as a short 2 episode mini-series which led to it becoming a full show due to popularity. It then immediately took over a prime time spot because of its ever increasing popularity. The extreme popularity is why it is curious. There's also the show "This is so Bizarre, You Japanese" which has an American comedian portraying normal everyday Japanese culture as being "exotic" and "weird" to him. The entertainment value is in watching a foreigner (with perfect Japanese) scream about how weird he thinks Japan is to a Japanese audience nodding their heads. Clips from this show can get a video taken down so I omitted them. These kinds of stories appear time and again on forums like Reddit with Americans asking what's weird about us, but gaining prime time TV spots shows a deeper cultural phenomenon. The American Equivalent would be our comedy shows that report the news. There's a reason why this content has become so popular, and it's always important to analyze that.

[@scottwallace5239]

People who call it 'white savior' are just wrong, he doesnt save the samurai, he observes their last stand if anything they save him from his ptsd and alcoholism

[@Tyrod22]

Tony Goldwyn plays a great asshole One of the best movies ever btw

[@Peekingduck]

Nitobe Inazo was a quaker and wrote the book bushido borrowing/changing some parts and some wording from Christianity to fit a western reader better. He wrote it to explain how Japan used military pricipals and values to foster children's character, not religious

[@MM-zo1zw]

My father said that the westerners would have looked down on all Asians if they have not known about the Japanese. And my father fought them as a teenage guerilla fighter during WW2 in the Philippines.

[@nick.flowers]

It's kinda impressive how this droves parallels when films now days are trying to appeal to chinese audience. Also I see that foreshadowing at the end... Great video as always!!

[@studioneet7800]

I like to connect them and when there's enough I plan on having playlists to make it easier. Thanks for checking it out. The vids are pretty hyper focused right now cuz of using only one film.show each but I might swap to an "idea" based format.

[@user333-us4qz]

Masterpiece Movie 🦾 ❤

[@Daggz90]

What in the Seven Hells does White Supremacy have to do with Imperialism? The colonization of other continents outside of Europe wasn't due to any supposed self idealized racial superiority, it arose out of necessity to find new resources, flee starvation and war or at least combat local starvation at home by trading and sending back surplus's from the colonies. These was most often mutually beneficial agreements between the colonized lands and their locals, and the Imperialistic European Colonizer. But Colonization and Imperialism, this isn't exclusive to Europeans. Chinese Dynasties have been Imperial Conquerors for thousands of years, enslaving and erasing entire populations of other cultures. I don't understand why everyone's so focused on "the horrors of the white man" several hundreds of years ago when the world itself was much more brutal and violent, in general. Not just in the West, but everywhere. Perhaps maybe even less in the West, than anywhere else. Which allowed us to make technological advances which gave us severe progress and an edge over isolated nations, such as Japan. Which had these isolated nations realize they needed to open up and collaborate to partake in these technological advances in order to further their own existence. Self-preservation not out of fear of another race, but out of not having the same technological advantages in order to expand, grow and prosper. Stop making everything racial. White Supremacy is something completely different and is a modern concept which arose after the misconceptions of WW2 and Nazi Germany. Read more f-ing books before you make ludacris statements as in this video. It's insulting to all the people who lived their lives throughout these time periods, to all those who sacrificed so much, for you to sit here today and make this video where you insult the memory and heritage of hundreds of millions of people and their incredible hard work to realize your life and the level of comfort you enjoy in it, right now. Don't be so ungrateful and hateful.

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

Let me guess, you voted for Bush twice lmao.

[@captaindestruction9332]

The people who claim its a “White savior” film have clearly not watched the film. Sure it has some cliche moments that typically go with a WS movie but outside of those few things it isn’t anywhere close to being a WS movie. Its literally a man finding himself, discovering another culture, fighting to protect said culture and ultimately showing the lives of the Samurai. The movie uses Cruise as a means to an end not a savior.

[@bb1111116]

Japanese Samurai films have a very wide range, from realistic to semi fictional to almost complete fantasy. Last Samurai has a few bits of accurate history and the rest is fantasy. Lots of people like historical fantasy. It all comes down to personal taste.

[@ToxicallyMasculinelol]

Japanese should be proud of their ancestors just as whites should be proud of their ancestors. It's possible to be proud of what they created and sacrificed to pass down to you without endorsing every wrong turn they ever took. I think people of every race should venerate their ancestors, even if their ancestors didn't do much to be proud of, since you owe respect to those who literally gave a piece of themselves to give you life. That's true even if your ancestors never achieved much of anything. But if your ancestors created temples and castles that are still visited and awed at by foreigners to this day, you have even more reason for pride. And the criticism that you shouldn't be proud for things you didn't personally accomplish is wrong on its face. Wouldn't you rather be proud of your father than ashamed of him? Of course you would, because your father reflects upon you, just as you reflect upon him. He gave half of himself to you. That means you are half him in essence. If you turn out bad, that means half of him turned out bad. If he's a loser, that means you're half loser. This is rather obvious and intuitive, isn't it? People don't need to be taught to make the connection between parent and child, it just comes naturally to us, because it's obvious and it's true. So if your father reflects upon you, and his father reflects upon him, that means your grandfather reflects upon you as well. And all your other ancestors too. Their accomplishments aren't your accomplishments, but their traits are your traits, to a certain extent. And whatever traits they had were responsible for whatever achievements they made, so your ancestors' achievements tell a story about the traits you inherited. And so you should be proud of them. You should also cultivate a feeling of closeness to your ancestors. Think of them as a spiritual army standing behind you, watching over you, waiting with bated breath to see what kind of person you will turn out to be. Try to remember that you're not just an island, an atomized individual responsible only to himself. Just as each cell in your body is but one part of the greater organism, each person is part of a community and just one representative of a bloodline. Each Japanese person is an individual with his own unique personality, but he's also heir to something far greater than himself that stretches back into prehistory. He carries with himself the entire history of his people, written on his DNA. Every epic story, from the shoguns all the way back to the migration and settlement of Japan, and even before that, they're all just chapters in the story of his creation. And when he has children, his story will become just a chapter in the story of the creation of his child. It's easy to criticize idealism, romanticism, chivalry, etc. Cynics never have to suffer embarrassment, seeming so aloof, never taking a real position and making themselves vulnerable to criticsm. They just stand by and mock the rest of us for being so naive. But at the end of the day, you need a philosophy and a code to live by. If you don't consciously choose one, it will be chosen for you, by the unconscious force of habit. If you hesitate to adopt practices like ancestor veneration because they seem outdated and vulnerable to rational criticism, you'll end up adopting a cynical, individualistic mindset instead. The pure rationalist may appear to win many arguments, but he rarely achieves anything of lasting significance. Teddy Roosevelt has some great quotes about this. And besides, ancestor veneration is not outdated anyway. It's not like the last 200 years of science has changed anything significant about our understanding of ancestry. The only relevant thing that's changed in the last 200 years is our culture. It has become progressively more cynical and materialistic. Anything that can't be justified from first principles (where the first principles are physicalist, rather than spiritual or humanist) is automatically assumed to be a backward prejudice or superstition. If you told a samurai or a medieval knight that silly argument about only taking pride in things you personally accomplished, he would not have been shocked, as if the notion was totally foreign to him. It's not like that idea relies on new empirical knowledge or complex philosophy. It's not even a novel idea. But in his day, the culture had a kind of self-confidence. It did not allow itself to be bullied around. The onus was on the critic, not on the norms and customs he criticized. This film is not just popular in Japan. It's popular everywhere, except among film critics and other species of cynical intellectual. It's popular not merely because it promotes Japanese national and ethnic pride (though that certainly gave it a boost in Japan, as well it should), but primarly because it evokes the latent masculine urge to sacrifice ourselves to save something worth saving, and because the thing that's worth saving in this film is ancestral tradition. It's pretty rare in cinema of the last 50 or so years to see ancestral tradition not just portrayed positively, but portrayed as the central object of the film. Men still nobly sacrifice their lives pretty often in fiction, but usually for individualistic reasons. There's something quite different about dying to preserve your forefathers' warrior culture. I'm not Japanese, but I can still relate cathartically because the Japanese people mirror my own people in this respect (and others). "The underdog representatives of an ancient martial bloodline must lay down their lives to save the traditions of their forefathers, using nothing more than their katanas and their indomitable spirit. Along the way, they are joined by a member of a different martial bloodline who respects their traditions and accepts a place among their rank." That synopsis alone could tell you the film was going to succeed. It's exactly the kind of movie most men want to see, and yet exactly the kind of movie that film studios refuse to give us (whether because they're too preoccupied with making biopics about fashion designers or because they have an ideological objection to the values I'm describing). So, it's in high demand and in low supply. That's what generally gives a film lasting significance. The reason the Lord of the Rings films are still beloved and making tons of money today is because there's nothing else available to scratch the particular itch they satisfy. And it's no coincidence that they scratch an itch pretty similar to The Last Samurai's.

[@meroweg2685]

Like many others said in the comments, it's not even a good example of the "white savior" trope for many reasons. But even if it was, I'm wondering why it's supposed to be a bad thing in the first place? Like it or not, we White people have the right, and so do the Japanese, to feel proud and good about ourselves.

[@plok742]

you know I swear something similar happened with kung fu panda and china

[@studioneet7800]

It did and Accented Cinema has a great video on that! His thesis is pretty accurate for this film too. For 2003, this film loved Japan more than Japan loved itself.

[@insanitypepper1740]

This is an important film if for nothing else, shows the hand-wringing critics and pseudo intellectuals their world view matters little in the face of regular ticket-buying people.

[@Noctuam734]

No one hates this movie, like at all. I don't understand the implication that negative reviews for it are "popular"

[@GoblinxChild]

I've never understood the "white savior" critisism of this movie. Tom Cruise's character is used as vehicle to tell Katsumoto's story. He doesn't inspire the samurai but is instead inspired by them. Nor does he "save" their people, but is instead saved himself by their way of life. The title itself isn't even referring to Tom Cruise as "the last samurai", its referring the samurai (plural) that we follow throughout the film and how their way of life is changing...you know, like what the entire story is obviously tell us. This movie is a far cry from what its detractors want it to be.

[@joernone]

It was a great movie. Those who think otherwise can stuff it!

[@zeck8541]

I think it’s ironic how a feature film receives your disdain as misrepresentation of Japanese culture to the West, when the greatest misrepresentation and greatest reasons Japanese culture is stereotyped and inaccurately represented, is anime and manga. They all contain artful expression that isn’t wholly accurate. Yet, anime and manga are consumed in immeasurably greater quantities. Where are your videos highlighting these facts? Instead, you cherry pick a feature film and lace your videos with what is obviously your own political opinions? Blah.

[@studioneet7800]

I was warned about the commenters that don't watch the video first. I start and finish this by saying I love this film, on top of that I explain in detail why the inaccuracies meant nothing to Japanese people who also loved the film. This is an Anime channel. All other videos are on Anime. lol You are invited to fact check the sources I gave for the political opinions at any time, but yes my own opinions are also in the video. My video on Hayao Miyazaki goes into detail about how he wanted to shape public perception through his films precisely by challenging the inaccurate portrayals made in other Anime. Fair warning, he is unapologetic with how very political his opinions are.

[@billybussey]

You make some horrible and embarrassing points in this video. I think you need to rethink your attitude towards the USA and western movies. Your own biases are showing badly.

[@bootyspoon4675]

cope and seethe rightoid

[@KickerH]

@@bootyspoon4675yeah watch Trump win woke joke

[@teslawolverine7009]

I'm so very confused

[@jackl4349]

Objective distance through fiction

[@joshuasebo563]

Still a great movie.

[@KenJames9911]

Damn! And I thought it was just a good movie....

[@Powerhaus88]

Awww, were someone's ancestors not very good at war?

[@nolongeramused8135]

It's a great movie. I just wish they'd found someone other than Tom Cruise to co-star in what was obviously a Ken Watanabe movie.

[@ChilledTarnished]

If people actually watched it, they would have seen that the white man didn’t save anyone lol

[@chandie5298]

you make a lot of assumptions in your interpretation. Incorrectly thinking that your viewpoint speaks for western audiences. I saw Tom Cruise' character as the protagonist however the "hero" of the film was Katsumoto. Maybe you don't understand the difference.

[@kellyturner920]

While I love the film, it should be partnered with a deep dive into history, especially 20th century history. The Japanese feel shame over the atrocities of 1905-1945, as well they should. There's nothing wrong with a people feeling an affinity and respect for (even romanticized) portions of their national spirit, but the crime committed by Germany and Japan cannot be easily forgiven, and should still not be forgiven any time soon. American 'colonialism' for Japan has looked nothing like Japanese colonialism did for Korea and China. To compare the two, even briefly, is an insult to the millions of civilian dead, and hundreds of thousands of girls taken into sexual slavery. By contrast, of every country that America goes into, it asks for only a small piece of land in which to bury its dead.

[@user-lc2kb8ut3l]

I feel that Japan has no more to be ashamed of than America has for its treatment of the Native Americans or African Americans. Which is to say... ALOT. 🤔 THAT I felt was the message that was being conveyed by this historically inaccurate yet still very relevant fairytale. I don't think that it is trying to make Tom Cruise a "white savior." In fact, I think his character is the one being saved by learning of a different culture. It shows viewers that we might all find common ground! I understand your criticism that is one way of understanding this films many depths, but there are many positive vantage points in which this tale can be interpreted. Both cultures have wronged others in their lengthy historical failures, and for any rational person, those mistakes may easily and readily be brought to mind. However, this film goes a long way to explain that no one person can be represented by his or her government and its foolish decisions. Instead, we should each be judged not by our government or the color of our skin but the content of our character. There is much common ground that can be found if we all give ourselves the opportunity to. There is much we can learn from one another if we try to open ourselves to a "good conversation" (an open dialog). Our governing bodies don't really care for its people. Yet, somehow, we still find patriotism in both cultures. As well as shame. I may be speaking only for myself but just as Japan,I am ashamed that my forefathers disregard and disrespect nearly destroyed an entire culture of native American people and took ownership over the African people it brought here as slaves. Japan's wartime mistakes are more recent in people's minds but no less impactful. I'm inclined to go write a thesis paper and better organize all of the many concepts that this film tries to interpret. It is really an incredible story no matter the historically inaccurate but perhaps the fact that history is not properly being represented should be more clearly stated to better educate any audience members who might still be fooled into believing that they are viewing history instead of fantasy.

[@luvslogistics1725]

Your connections and conclusions aren’t correct or fair. But, Watanabe and Sanada were the real stars. Japan supporting America the country that protects and rebuilt Japan is what an ally does.

[@thebombayracer969]

Just found this channel but seems you might of given up. Should keep at making videos, great content

[@FirstLast-yc9lq]

Nah, he sucks. Good riddance.

[@mattchiles4182]

White savior, colonizer, white supremacy…If I hear another cliche university buzzword I’ll be sick. It was a good movie.

[@Frooqi786]

This is a great critique

[@fabriziocamisani5477]

I understand the criticisms, but I do find them futile, the problem is taking movies in general and action movies in particular, far too seriously. The 'white Saviour'' criticism is becoming a bit too trite and frankly inaccurate, this guy doesn't save anybody to begin with, everybody dies, if I remember correctly and the Samurai culture is wiped off. Same for Costner in Dancing with wolves, where it's quite clear that the Dakotas are doomed, so what are we talking about? The film, is historically inaccurate and idealizes a culture? So what? Again, give it a rest, it's a movie. It's like people getting mad or being proud of James Bond, it's ridiculous. You want to learn more about a specific culture and are really, truly serious about it? Do some serious reading, perhaps travel there and definitely learn the language but don't take it out on entertainment and don't expect to be educated by something which is basically a cloak and dagger movie, it's really a low fruit for people who want to feel better about themselves and slightly superior. Perspective, people, perspective.

[@benjaminlazaro344]

It's not a white savior film. Algren didn't save the Samurai. Katsumoto died. And the Samurai era ended.

[@rossvecchio3299]

I'm talking about The Last Samurai.

[@alexns]

You make the argument as if Japanese folks can’t think for themselves and then you use old prejudices to support your claim….give me 5 bucks for making me listen to this while having my breakfast damn it.

[@James-rm7sr]

You lost me as painting the age of exploration and the colonization as white supremesist. That term is one created and used here in America. Were you aware that Chinese were considered white almost up until WW2. The film isn't so much about demonizing our own culture as all cultures makes mistakes. However, the Japanese cutlure is very respected for several factors. Maybe the book being published linking Japan to the same style as Europe that was actually known by most outside of America. We were more focused on growth until we ended the civil war all we had was water on both sides. We weren't going to push around Europe. So it went west into Asia.

[@gmaacentralfounder]

Exactly. This was literally a "stop" moment for me. Interesting until now, after - no, I will not entertain a bigot, a racist and an ignorant. And the best part ever is that - which is not surprising, as being mal-educated is the norm now - biggest and longest-surviving colonizer (also including most brutal, which after Belgian Congo is LITRALLY AND ULTRA-HARD ACHIEVEMENT) is Ottoman Empire, which is not even white. Not to mention the colonization done by Mayas and Incas, as well as Sudan and Western Sudan expansion by Islamic states, which shortly after establishment re-adjusted for jihad and slave-trade (Africa lost at the very least 150 MILLION souls to slave trade facilitated by Islamic slavers ( of which a lot were black themselves) mostly for Middle Eastern Arabic Islamic states (who dealt mostly with eunuchs, where survival rate was about 10% and women for sex slave). Japan was arguably more interested in Ottoman Empire than in USA (due to number of factors, of course), but of course none of it will be mentioned here...

[@studioneet7800]

hmm, I never mentioned the age of exploration. I said that by the time of Emperor Meiji (1867) White Supremacy was the dominant force. Also the modern American term "White Supremacy" encapsulates "Scientific Racism" or "Biological Racism" which began in the 1600's during the Age of Enlightenment and ended with WW2. The great youtube channel "Voices of the Past" reads passages from the Iwakura Embassy to the USA and Europe in a much more soothing voice than my own so I encourage you to see what the first Japanese Ambassadors wrote home to the Emperor about American race hypocrisy. In 1897 "The Yellow Peril" by French Essayist Ernest Renan was a best seller in Europe. Angry that the essay portrays Russia as the Peril, Kaiser Wilhelm II used the phrase when he joined The Triple-Intervention alongside Russia as well as France to take Japan's Chinese colonies after the first Sino-Japanese war. The Triple Alliance did not believe an Asian power had a reasonable claim to colonies as only the "White Race" was civilized. He then hoped to have Russia prove itself to the rest of Europe by rallying his cousin, Tsar Nikolai of Russia, into the Russo-Japanese war. One pretty straight forward line comes from April 16th, 1895 " For that is clearly the great task of the future for Russia to cultivate the Asian Continent and to defend Europe from the inroads of the Great Yellow race". These are called the "Willy-Nicky Correspondence" which are provided for free across several internet archives should you google them. Russia's defeat made the term universally known and eventually led to the book "The Yellow Peril - or the Orient versus the Occident" (1911) by G.G. Rupert, available for free via the Internet Archive. I'm sure you'll take the time to read it, just like the other primary sources I provided in the top right corner of my video, but in it Rupert claims that Japan is a threat because all "yellow races" will unite under them and replace the "White Race" as leader of the world. This book was a best seller in the US because the 1870's had already seen the massacres of Chinese Americans in California as well as the Chinese Exclusion Act. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you believe Chinese were accepted as White during the 1930's when American Journalists as well as President Roosevelt tried to garner sympathy for China. The method didn't work but the sentiments still persist within the model minority myth alongside what I added in my video. While you're at it, you may also be interested in "The Rising Tide of Color Against White World - Supremacy" (1920), available for free at Project Gutenberg, where Lothrop Stoddard singles out Japanese and Chinese people as a threat to the "White Race". Stoddard's work would influence the Nazi's who would translate his term "Underman" to "Untermensch" which inlcuded Chinese and Japanese people. The path of Germany from rallying Europe to defeat Japan into allying with Japan is difficult to explain but will make its way into a video. The film goes to great lengths to connect the subjugation of Indigenous Americans to the subjugation of Japanese traditions and those that uphold them. I added the cute story about the Shogun asking about the Mexican American war because it was his very subtle Japanese way of letting the US Navy know that he was aware of how the USA came to the Pacific. The source I cited in the video is still available via the New York Times' Archives. Being one of the more prolific thinkers of the Meiji and Taisho periods, Nitobe Inazo has his works and opinions freely available across the internet. I source the criticisms of his book in the video, as well as the academics who criticized Shinto. He will also be making another appearance in a future video where race relations are his main concern :)

[@KnIf0rTITAN]

@@studioneet7800 I will disagree on this point, White Supremacy was not a driving factor in the Imperialism of the time as "white" was not even a unifying factor, in fact it's still not, only modern Americans think as simply as "white" and "black" back then as is still the case in Europe today nationality and culture, not skin colour is the decisive element in determining how a people are seen in general. Saying "White Supremacy" was a factor as in the 1800's Imperial expansion of European nations is like saying "Black supremacy" did during 700AD when the new Muslim empires expanded and dominated Asia and Africa, the expansion of China or the BC era expansion of many of Africa's Empires.... you can't say skin colour was a factor when they did not see themselves in those terms or seek expansion for those reasons, the closest you could come to it would be to say the Dominant cultures of the time just happened to be what we new consider "white" but there was no "White Supremacy", most white nations of the time considered the others their enemies not allies, skin colour or not.

[@saurelius5217]

@@KnIf0rTITAN He wants to believe a false narrative. Nothing you, or I will say will convince him otherwise.

[@user-ev8po2wt3o]

@@studioneet7800 ⬛The "Letter for Roosevelt" was discovered by US Marines in the bodies of two people. War correspondent Emmet Cloger sent the details of the discovery and the text of the letter to his home country on April 4. And "Calligraphy" was introduced in various media in the United States and was highly acclaimed all over the United States. The ideal written in the book changed its shape to become the ideal of the United States. The victory or defeat for military personnel is, of course, to win the battle. If it is an island garrison, it is the mission as a soldier to protect the island without putting it in the hands of the enemy. But a national war is the last resort to resolve a dispute when a nation's purpose and purpose collide. When it comes to the Greater East Asia War, the values ​​that "excellent Caucasians" should absolutely dominate, overrun, and rob "inferior colored races" ... It is a battle against the ideal of seeking to prosper together with racial equality. ⬛Rear Admiral R. Ichimaru of the Japanese Navy sends this note to Roosevelt. I have one word to give you upon the termination of this battle. (translated by Sgt. Hirofumi Mikami, a Nisei soldier born in Hawaii serving under Ichimaru on Iwo Jima) 「A Note to Roosevelt」 Rear Admiral R. Ichimaru of the Japanese Navy sends this note to Roosevelt. I have one word to give you upon the termination of this battle. Approximately a century has elapsed since Nippon, after Commodore Perry’s entry to Shimoda, became widely affiliated with the countries of the world. During this period of intercourse Nippon has met with many national crises as well as the undesired Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War, the World War, the Manchurian Incident, and the China Incident. Nippon is now, unfortunately, in a state of open conflict with your country. Judging Nippon from just this side of the screen you may slander our nation as a yellow peril, or a blood thirsty nation or maybe a protoplasm of military clique. Though you may use the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour as your primary material for propaganda, I believe you, of all persons, know best that you left Nippon no other method in order to save herself from self-destruction. His Imperial Highness, as clearly shown in the “Rescript of the Founder of the Empire” “Yosei” (Justice), “Choki” (Sagacity) and “Sekkei” (Benevolence), contained in the above three fold doctrine, rules in the realization of “Hakko-ichiu” (the universe under His Sacred Rule) in His Gracious mind. The realization of which means the habitation of their respective fatherlands under their own customs and traditions, thus insuring the everlasting peace of the world. Emperor Meiji’s “The four seas of the world that are united in brotherhood will know no high waves nor wind” (composed during the Russo-Japanese War) won the appraisal of your uncle, Theodore Roosevelt as you yourself know. We, the Nippon-jin, though may follow all lines of trade, it is through our each walk of life that we support the Imperial doctrine. We, the soldiers of the Imperial Fighting Force take up arms to further the above stated “doctrine”. Though we, at the time, are externally taken by your air raids and shelling backed by your material superiority, spiritually we are burning with delight and enjoying the peace of mind. This peacefulness of mind, the common universal stigma of the Nippon-jin, burning with fervour in the upholding of the Imperial Doctrine may be impossible for you and Churchill to understand. I hereupon pitying your spiritual feebleness pen a word or two. Judging from your actions, white races especially you Anglo-Saxons at the sacrifice of the coloured races are monopolizing the fruits of the world. In order to attain this end, countless machinations were used to cajole the yellow races, and to finally deprive them of any strength. Nippon in retaliation to your imperialism tried to free the oriental nations from your punitive bonds, only to be faced by your dogged opposition. You now consider your once friendly Nippon a harmful existence to your luscious plan, a bunch of barbarians that must be exterminated. The completion of this Greater East Asia War will bring about the birth of the East Asia Co-Prosperity Area, this in turn will in the near future result in the everlasting peace of the world, if, of course, is not hampered upon by your unending imperialism. Why is it that you, an already flourishing nation, nip in bud the movement for the freedom of the suppressed nations of the East. It is no other than to return to the East that which belongs to the East. It is beyond our contemplation when we try to understand your stinted narrowness. The existence of the East Asia Co-Prosperity sphere does not in anyway encroach upon your safety as a nation, on the contrary, will sit as a pillar of world peace ensuring the happiness of the world. His Imperial Majesty’s true aim is no other than the attainment of this everlasting peace. Studying the condition of the never ending racial struggle resulting from mutual misunderstanding of the European countries, it is not difficult to feel the need of the everlasting universal peace. Present Hitler’s crusade of “His Fatherland” is brought about by no other than the stupidity of holding only Germany, the loser of the World War, solely responsible for the 1914-1918 calamity and the deprivation of Germany’s re-establishment.　 It is beyond my imagination of how you can slander Hitler’s program and at the same time cooperate with Stalin’s “Soviet Russia” which has as its principle aim the “socialization” of the World at large. If only the brute force decides the ruler of the world, fighting will everlastingly be repeated, and never will the world know peace nor happiness. Upon the attainment of your barbaric world monopoly never forget to retain in your mind the failure of your predecessor President Wilson at his heights. -Rear Admiral Ichimaru ⬛Ronald Campbell, then British Minister to the United States, wrote about Roosevelt in a letter to the British Foreign Ministry: "US President Roosevelt wants to create a new Asian race by mating talented whites with Asians and build a fine civilization and society in Asia. However, the president excluded Japanese with a skull that was 2,000 years behind whites from this target. I'm thinking of isolating it into the original four islands and gradually declining it. " ⬛"Rooseveltni's Full Book" was handed over to the US military and was published in a newspaper in the United States on July 11. It argued that the United States was partly responsible for the war between Japan and the United States, and struck a contradiction in the cause of the Allies, which advocated the overthrow of fascism. (Since Roosevelt died on April 12, it seems that he did not see "Roosevelt Niyo Full letter".)

[@jim8574]

I don't like watching cartoons because the first thing I think of is the Simpsons or South Park.

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

Anime is not cartoons ffs.

[@cheerful_crop_circle]

​@@lelouchvibritannia4028Do people speak Japanese in The Last Samurai?

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

@@cheerful_crop_circle Yes.

[@cheerful_crop_circle]

@@lelouchvibritannia4028 To me it sounds like they speak Japanese in a foreign accent or without the pitch accent. I cant understand some of their words because it sounds unclear

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

@@cheerful_crop_circle Interesting. I can't tell the difference. Are you Japanese?

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

Just like how "white guilt" eventually runs dry after enough Hollywood portrayals of how they treated African Americans, the Japanese will eventually feel less and less guilt too, although they should not censor their crimes, especially Nanking. Excellent video!

[@bootyspoon4675]

Very telling from the comments the number of people who heard the word "white supremacy", immediately shut their brains off and started regurgitating thought-terminating clichés.

[@rossvecchio3299]

This film makes me want to throw up. Bad bad film making.

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

Your opinion makes me want to throw up. Bad bad commenting.

[@sig7948]

hey buddy. if they made a passing reference to Japan in mission impossible, it would get banned in china. get your head out your back end for one second and think about it.

[@sig7948]

he didnt save them. anyone saying white savior, has a babies perspective on life

[@skitariisoldier7367]

I tuned out at part two. I'm fucking sick of people bitching about "white supremacy".

[@alessandrorinaldi842]

This channel is for sure shadowbanned. There is NO WAY that this wholesome content doesn't get a chance to reach a wider public. Ops, i guess that KZbin would not want to wide spread those notions. Awesome video. really informative.