This film incorporates the rules and expectations a samurai is supposed to obey. This is illustrated through the problematic relationship that arises between a farmer’s daughter (Shino) and a samurai (Katsushrio) (Yoshimoto 2000). They are forbidden from being together due to their social ranks. This depicts the social hierarchy that existed within the Japanese society where a farmer cannot be with a samurai, as he has a higher rank and is devoted to the ideals of bushido (Martinez 2007). Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai incorporates three different groups, the seven masterless samurai, peasants and bandits (Yoshimoto 2000). This film establishes these three distinct groups in order to critique the class division, which was implemented in the Tokugawa …show more content…
Kurosawa critiques this fixed positions of social classes that were present during the Tokugawa period through the faux samurai, Kikuchiyo (Yoshimoto 2000). He was born a farmer and lacks the mannerisms of a samurai, such as self-discipline (Yoshimoto 2000). Kikuchiyo’s character is made fun of by the other six samurai and told at first that he cannot join them in battle, but eventually they allow him (Yoshimoto 2000). Although, as the film progresses he proves to be a fearless soldier, and in his death he is acknowledged as a samurai as he is buried next to the three other samurai who died in battle (Yoshimoto 2000). Kikuchiyo’s flux social status at the end of the film serves as a critique of the strict social classes and customs that were present during the Tokugawa period (Yoshimoto 2000; Honjo 1928). Additionally, Kikuchiyo’s character serves as a connection …show more content…
These factors affected collective and individual identity as Japan tried to redefine itself (Slater 2011). There was a move away from wartime discourses such as, “personal sacrifice for traditional Japan, understood as a moral, hierarchical sociopolitical order” (Slater 2011:104). Rather, a new construction of social identity was emerging which was associated with personal achievement in a meritocratic society (Slater 2011). Additionally, Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) addresses issues surrounding Japanese identity, class structure and nationhood (Yoshimoto 2000). Japan’s disorientation over their national cultural identity is emblematic of Kikuchiyo’s character (Yoshimoto 2000). He is born a farmer but aspires to be a samurai, his struggle with his identity symbolizes Japan’s struggle with defining themselves after the war (Agatucci 2006). Additionally, during the American Occupation Japan’s traditional beliefs were being replaced by modern beliefs (Agatucci 2006). Thus, Kurosawa set Seven Samurai during the Sengoku period which was defined by civil wars in order to say something about the present (). He depicted the seven samurai going to teach the farmers how to defend themselves against the bandits in order to illustrate Japan’s traditional beliefs being replaced (). This is evident in the film as the seven samurai teach the farmers
In the ancient Japanese culture, one great aspect was on how they emphasized on the intrinsic themes of loyalty and honor. They had fierce warriors known as samurai’s. A samurai was a traditional warrior who would protect and be loyal to their masters no matter what. They were known to be skilled soldiers, benevolent men, self-sacrifice, sense of shame, along with other major characteristics that embodied them as a samurai. While this class of warrior no longer exist today, the remembrance of a samurai is present in the minds of the characters in the novel, The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. Tsukiyama does a fascinating piece of work by really elaborating and describing the great attributes that Matsu possess of a true samurai. In the
Joseph Conlans “State of War; The Violent Order of Fourteenth Century Japan” is an depth look at Japans emerging warrior class during a time period of constant warfare in Medieval Japan. His work however doesn’t revolve around the re-fabrication and in-depth analysis of battles sieged like many contemporary examinations of wars and battles won and lost. Instead the author vies to navigate the reader on journey into the warrior class’s lives and how they evolved through a statistical analysis of records. This illustrates how warfare changed and transformed with the constant evolving of the Samurai, but it also includes how their actions affected their Political environment as well as the society in which they dwelled from the bottom up. Through his survey of records and documents, Conlan is able to give readers a compelling look into the Warrior class and at times shatters in the process many of the pre-conceived general notions that one may hold about this ancient class of professional warriors. Many of the notions & common misconceptions debunked in this scholarly piece include the idea that the Samurai was a male only fraternity, reserved for those of impeccable candor and loyalty. When truth be known, woman and young men (boys) were also trained in the art of war and thus were as likely to be found on the battle fields as men when times were tough and solider numbers were depleted. Further, another misconception (Generally thought to be caused by the popular and well known; “The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai”) of the warrior class is that all of these men were truly Samurai which translated to “one who serves” when really, loyalty for the warrior class as Conlan points out only went as far as ones right to ...
Akira Kurosaw’s Seven Samurai is a film that encompasses various ideologies in order to allow the audience to understand the lives of Japanese people during the 1600’s. The film delves deep in social issues of the roles of the people within the society, the expectations as well as the obligations within the respected castes and elements within groups of ; suffering, working together, protecting family and working for the better good of the community.
Musui’s Story is the exciting tale of a low class samurai’s life towards the end of the Tokugawa era. Although one would normally imagine a samurai to be a noble illustrious figure, Musui’s Story portrays the rather ignominious life of an unemployed samurai. Nonetheless, this primary account demonstrates the tenacity of samurai values and privileges present at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The social status of samurai had been elevated to such a state that even someone like Musui was easily able to gain influence in everyday affairs with his privileges. Not only that, but he had retained his values as a warrior and still kept great pride for his arts in weaponry.
Throughout history artists have used art as a means to reflect the on goings of the society surrounding them. Many times, novels serve as primary sources in the future for students to reflect on past history. Students can successfully use novels as a source of understanding past events. Different sentiments and points of views within novels serve as the information one may use to reflect on these events. Natsume Soseki’s novel Kokoro successfully encapsulates much of what has been discussed in class, parallels with the events in Japan at the time the novel takes place, and serves as a social commentary to describe these events in Japan at the time of the Mejeii Restoration and beyond. Therefore, Kokoro successfully serves as a primary source students may use to enable them to understand institutions like conflicting views Whites by the Japanese, the role of women, and the population’s analysis of the Emperor.
The rise of the samurai started in japan around 900 B.C. to 250 A.D. They had developed weapons, armor and a code and this evolved into a model for the medieval samurai. Their weapons included bows, arrows and swords. Their armor was made up of a designed helmet, a breastplate, arm, chest and shoulder plates and a belly plate. They used these to either protect or fight against others. they also had multiple religion beliefs and they honored each one. Although their not samurais all the time they also had paintings and different art styles.
The Seven Samurai directed by Akira Kurosawa uses many film techniques and features of the Japanese samurai film genre to engage and influence the viewing audience. The Japanese samurai film genre focuses on the physical martial arts, and is very similar to American westerns. These films are usually set in the Tokugawa era and the main characters are samurai, or Ronin. The Seven Samurai is a stereotypical Japanese samurai movie set in the Tokugawa era about a village full of farmers who hire seven samurai to protect their village from a group of bandits. Kurosawa has used many features of a typical samurai film in The Seven Samurai such as the use of the katana, the samurai were usually clean cut and are seen as socially superior and that the endings were usually described as ‘bittersweet’ as life goes on in the face of tragedy.
Seven Samurai, directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa is a grand tale and a pioneer film for its genre. The story takes place in 16th century Japan and focuses on a rag tag group of master less samurai known as 'Ronin' who ultimately come together to come to the aid of a poor farming village under the attack of plundering bandits. The film follows the farmers needing to find samurai who are willing to work for three meals of rice a day. They come across an elder samurai who accepts their offer and goes to recruit six other members to help the village.
Everything You Need to Know About The Samurai Magnus Chenel Social Studies Mrs.Nebel Sunday, May 14 2017 Everything You Need to Know About The Samurai In ancient Japan, there was a warrior class called the samurai. They were the greatest warrior class of all! They followed a specific code called the Bushido!
The Last Samurai opens with a representation of an American hero and the internalization that this hero holds. For example, Captain Algren steps in front of a large crowd the recreate what his time was like in the war. The Captain was dirty, he smelled bad, and he had a bad relationship with alcohol. His uniform looked worn and his personality was a reflection of the pain he felt.
This film opens up on that thought and it expands on it showing that though they were widely respected there was an age of samurai that never knew war and just held a title. Most people don’t understand that the age of samurai during this time of peace were not warriors but shifted to a different role. From the basic knowledge from what society knows of the samurai this is not widely known. Samurai’s were still respected but they did not have the experience of war but still held themselves in the same
Although it seems like the movie is simply showing respect to Japanese culture, it really just shows that it just can’t survive without the help from the white man. “The Last Samurai”, directed by Edward Zwick, is about a retired army general, Nathan Algren played by Tom Cruise, who fought in the American Indian War. He is hired by his former commanding officer to train the Imperial Japanese Army and simply takes the job
In fact, most of the film was fictional and an enormous amount of factual evidence had been removed from the film in order to make the Samurai seem more honourable. The Samurai glorified as heroes of war who fought for their honour and traditional values. The film further romanticised the Samurai as placid warriors whose wisdom is boundless and valuable, when in actuality, the Samurai class were greatly feared. Other aspects of exaltation of the Samurai image was in the way the film portrayed the Samurai’s ultimate goal as to purely send the message that traditions are important. However, in actuality, the Samurai only fought against the Imperial Army in an attempt to prove their worth to the Daimyo and to ascend the hierarchy of the Japanese social order.
Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), was considered to be the source of amusement for those considered to be the real samurai. He is portrayed to be this angry and comedic character that follows the samurai. However, as the film progresses, the audience is able to see the depth Kikuchiyo has. A memorable scene where Kikuchiyo becomes viewed differently is when he is expressing the hate e has for the farmers and how they hide and have so much more then they let on, but its is the samurai fault they are the way they are and they act the way they do. It is in this scene when it becomes discovered that Kikuchiyo is the son of farmers and he speaks from personal experience.
In the era of rising use of guns, Japan depended on their protectors, the Samurai. As shown in the educational film “Warrior Graveyard: Samurai Back From the Dead,” the Samurai were fearsome warriors who left horrific wounds on their enemies. The Samurai followed a strict behavioral code and were expected to show reckless courage, discipline, reverence of the gods and fairness. The main weapons of these warriors included a long sword called a katana and a short blade called wakizashi.