Hiroshi Inagaki’s 1954 film Samurai 1: Musashi Miyamoto and Kenji Misumi’s 1972 film Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance are both characterized by fluid panoramic shots that show men that are at once dwarfed by their surroundings yet simultaneously in control, showcased in breathtaking sword-fighting scenes where they seem to defy the laws of gravity. Samurai films, “much like the American Western,” feature “tales of loyalty, revenge, romance, fighting prowess, and the decline of a traditional
Miamoto Musashi and Bushido During the ancient period of Japan there existed a time of war and power struggles. There were many people who followed the Bushido code or way of the warrior. These people were called samurai. Of the countless men who devoted their lives to the Bushido code there were none greater than Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi was one of if not the most famous samurai to ever walk the lands of medieval Japan. He was a legend in his own time. Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584 in
The jidaigeki samurai film genre has been through a significant change in the pre World War II and post World War II periods. Due to the social circumstances, the earlier samurai films were more dramatic, with more dialogue than action. Post World War II films diverted towards action based, producing more violent characters with darker themes. The samurai is usually seen as a physically or psychologically damaged fighter, with dramatization of death and violence. In addition, the protagonists are
Samurai vs Knight Many people often see little similarity between the country of Japan and Europe. However, there are actually several similarities between these two countries. In fact, Reischauer and Jansen note that Feudal Japan had departed so far from East Asian norms that it was more similar to medieval Europe than it was to China. Thus, the knight of Europe and the samurai of Japan despite a lack of contact with one another shared several common elements. This was a result of
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over.” Personally, I prefer the definition given by Takuan Soho in his book of three essays on the philosophies of Samurai sword-handling, The Unfettered Mind, written in the 1600’s. Soho describes mediation as “The place at which the mind stops.” He elaborates on this definition throughout the first essay in the book, titled