Is The Last Samurai Historically Accurate? What It Got Wrong

The Last Samurai is probably one of the most underrated historical fiction movies out there. One might not think of it as a film that would feature any reference to the American military, but it actually does have some elements that touch on the topic. But are these elements up to snuff when it comes to their historical accuracy? Let’s take a look.

Set in the 1870s, the Last Samurai’s central plot revolves around Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), who is an American Civil War Veteran and 7th Cavalry Captain. Algren is petitioned by the Emperor of Japan to take part in a militaristic campaign. This is in the effort to train the country’s first ever modern Army, breaking away from the traditional approach to warfare. When Algren encounters a traditionalist, rebel samurai clan and bests one of their finest warriors in single combat, he is taken hostage. Throughout various moments and personal reflection, Algren begins to integrate into the rebels’ lifestyle. This allows him to understand their desire to remain true to their peoples’ roots. Ultimately, this leads him to turn his back on the imperial forces and fight alongside the traditionalist rebels.

The Last Samurai’s intriguing plot is only further bolstered by an impressive collection of actors who really bring the characters to life. Action movie star Tom Cruise spearheads the film as the protagonist, Nathan Algren. He brings the usual level of dedication to the role that we’re to expect from Cruise. Alongside him is Ken Watanabe, who plays the honorable and stalwart Lord Katsumoto, leader of the samurai. Watanabe is best known for his roles in films such as Letters from Iwo Jima, Inception, Batman Begins, and Godzilla. The supporting cast includes, Hiroyuki Sanada who plays Ujio, a samurai serving under Lord Katsumoto. Sanada is most well known for his roles in various films and television. This includes: Mortal Kombat, 47 Ronin, Lost, John Wick Chapter 4, and the TV series Shogun.

Since the Last Samurai takes place in a historical setting, there are certain elements that need to be gotten right in order for a film of this genre to stick its landing. Let’s take a look at some of the things that it gets right, and some others that it doesn’t.

In the film, the Emperor hires Nathan Algren to train the Japanese military. His goal is to move away from traditional warfare. This is partially true, but true nonetheless. The difference in real life history was that the military wasn’t the only foreign experts who were brought in to help modernize Japan, but individuals from various fields such as history and law. It was a from top to bottom re-envisioning of Japan’s way of life during that time, not just their military.

The Satsuma Rebellion that we see in the Last Samurai did indeed happen in real life, but not for the reasons that we see in the film. The real life historical rebellions by the samurai did not begin because the samurai were wanting to cling to their honor and tradition. This was rather out of the idea of not being able to envision their honor and duty without the status that came with it. Samurai were not just warriors as our romanticized Western media depicts them; they were also a social class. The real samurai who took part in the Satsuma Rebellion did so out of their selfish desire to hold onto their class status. They also didn't want to take part in a changing nation centering itself around equal growth and equality for all citizens. If anything, the Last Samurai painted them in a far more honorable light than they actually were.

There was no such man by the name of Nathan Algren present during the Satsuma Rebellion, but his real-life counterpart, a man by the name of Jules Brunet, was. Jules Brunet went to Japan to train Soldiers in the art of modern tactical warfare. However, he unfortunate enough to be present during the war between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Imperial forces. Once the fighting broke out, the Emperor ordered the French forces to return home. This was due to them training the Shogunate, who are now an enemy of the nation. The French forces withdrew and headed home, but Brunet chose to stay and fight on the side of the Tokugawa. This was an act that would be of the highest degree of treason. Historians are not entirely sure the reason as to why Brunet chose to make this decision that would have cost him everything he had worked for as a military officer. Over time, the Tokugawa Shogunate began to lose ground. Ultimately, the remaining fighters had to flee to the island of Hokkaido, which became the Ezo Republic under the Shogunate. In the end, however, the Shogunate was wiped out during the battle of Hakodate. Luckily for Brunet, he was evacuated out of Japan just in the nick of time aboard the Coëtlogon, a French warship, where he was escorted back to French controlled Saigon. Brunet’s absurd choice to stay and fight for a war that he had no personal investment in still baffles historians. However, it was his actions that ultimately inspired the plot for the Last Samurai.

The Last Samurai is a film that obviously has a love for the culture and source material that it is inspired from. It romanticizes the samurai in a way that deviates from their actual cultural roots. Additionally, it pays homage to the real-life events that unfolded due to the Shogunate not giving in to industrialization. It captures the fighting spirit of the samurai quite well in that regard. This is even if some other details are only there to entertain. If you haven’t seen the film yet and are wondering, “where can I watch the Last Samurai?,” there’s plenty of options. Various streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, Vudu, Netflix, Paramount Plus, and Fandango at Home all offer the Last Samurai to watch on demand. As someone who has watched the movie on their own time, I highly recommend you give it a try. From the plot, the characters, music, and overall aesthetic, there is a lot of intrigue.