The Last Samurai: I Will Tell You How He Lived

[samurai231000]

at 3:00 is where the crying begins

[samurai231000]

"you where with him... at the end

[samurai231000]

i have seen this like 50 times still gets me in the heart

[ashtray0belief]

"Tell me how he died."

"I will tell you how he lived." The part I burst into tears...

[aCroatianSensation]

3 Imperialists disliked.

[Trailermaker001]

@aCroatianSensation

hahaha, why are so many people hoping for the thumbs on youtube?

I mean, let's be honest it isn't originial

[aCroatianSensation]

@Trailermaker001 Did I ask for thumbs up? you troll. i didn't remember asking for your opinion

[Trailermaker001]

@aCroatianSensation admit, you did ask for it (indirectly ofcourse, before you take me wrong). And if not, please tell me what you meant with your 'serious observation'.

And please, do not rebuke, but give me an answer if I'm wrong.

[samurai231000]

japanese movies are the best

[Hikarilover123]

@samurai231000 This movie wasn't made in Japan...

[DJayye]

@sadlobster1

He was offering that sword to Omura for him to commit seppuku/suicide for his disgrace. He backed away as he did not want to kill himself.

[nyctasiaselesq]

@DJayye I think that by offering Omura the sword, the Emperor was also forcing Omura to chose between the west and his on ancestry. If I recall correctly, death is preferable to shame in Bushido. Omura chose to live in shame, then die with honor.

[sadlobster1]

@nyctasiaselesq And just as it's shown in the movie 300, living with your own shame can be even worse than dying in a dishonorable fashion

[sadlobster1]

One thing I always wondered about this scene; why did Omura back away, when the Emperor offered him Katsumoto's katana?

[tjoolder8]

@sadlobster1 Accepting it would be a shame.

[sadlobster1]

@tjoolder8 Shame of what, exactly?

[tjoolder8]

@sadlobster1 Because it was the sword of Katsumoto.

The Last Samurai of Japan. Accepting that sword would be a shame.

[JMKenobi2007]

@sadlobster1 Because Japanese preserve their code of Honor... Once, their honor is gone, it is a shame for them. Suicide is the option in the Code of Bushido

[thundercraker1993]

You know, even though most of this is more or less fabricated/astro-turfed. It is poignant.

[LucasSchaaf]

seriously the emperor english, is retarded..

[miguelvelarde10]

who's the leading lady of tom cruise here??? i want to know coz i have feeling for her..!

[ZamfirChannel]

@miguelvelarde10 Lead actress "Taka" was played by actress Koyuki Kato.

[miguelvelarde10]

@ZamfirChannel oh thanks..!

[tharleyify]

We live with the nightmare of history.

[thomascapitalmgt]

Algrensan was Katsumotos, Kaishaku 

[groovyred34]

@thomascapitalmgt

How did you get to know the word "kaishaku"? Even many of Japanese don't know it these days.:(

[thomascapitalmgt]

Perfect ending. Fine acting.

[N0hN4me]

I never said that Japan had a Renaissance, I was stating that in Europe, the end of their Dark Ages occurred long before the time depicted in this movie. It was an end to Europe's time of feudalism whereas Japan's continued, making it last longer than what Europe had, which seemed to be what parallels were drawn from.

No offense taken, but after studying my culture for some time, I realize that it's hard to understand the samurai, even then they seemingly lived in their own little world.

[Shishaismelife]

@N0hN4me they were proud people and all their power was based on their culture just like the floor you stand on. If I destroy the floor under you, you will fall down. Culture wasn't destroyed but simply was modified (way better than China and Korea imo) just to survive. If Samurai tried to live within that culture they would no longer be Samurai they would be 'common' people. for many centuries they didn't even listen to their emperor and ruled the country.

[N0hN4me]

@Shishaismelife That continued on alright, that same pride ended up being twisted into the ultra-aggressive, ultra-nationalistic sentiments that fueled the Imperial war machine. But do you want to know something funny? When samurai became socially moot in the Meijijidai, many educated samurai men moved to the United States, particularly the kashi-type (lowest-ranking mercantile type). Surnames found in California like Sugiura, Abe, Yamada, and Adachi, have samurai roots.

[Shishaismelife]

@N0hN4me exactly Meiji period was when modern japan became modern japan lol. Its true many people started emigrating, especially to Hawaii. However, it is still a fact that Samurai who stayed in japan who come to be called Shizoku caused many problems for Japanese government as they tried to hold a firm grasp on politics. It failed as most become other artisans or labor. At least they had the pride to not burn schools unlike farmers after 1868 who didnt have money to send kids to school

[Shishaismelife]

@Shishaismelife I am not saying samurai is not cool. i am saying samurai of 19th century is less cool than the samurais of Minamoto no Yoritomo. Even Hideyoshi.

[N0hN4me]

@Shishaismelife I thought you were trying to say that the samurai never fell, even though they were officially abolished and many merely turned to humble livelihoods as workers.

[Shishaismelife]

@Shishaismelife lol nah...i guess i am really sad that this has never happened. This amazing story of being proud and following the way of the Samurai.

[masterlessmaster]

I have no eyes. I make the lightning flash my eyes. I have no parents. I make heaven and earth my parents. I have no legs... no arms... no mind... (no ego so nothing is mine). I have no enemy. I make the sleep of the mind my enemy. (Bushido Creed)

[SAMURAIHEARTX3]

大村益次郎を侮辱するなぁあああ

[groam6666]

Let's not forget though, Bushido was responsible for the torture and brutal mutilation of hundredths of thousands of Asians, some of these being westerners.

The movie portrayals Bushido as a noble code of honor, but in practice it's very brutal and cruel. There are examples where that's not the case, but if you want to know about Bushido, fight the Japanese during WW2.

Great movie, but don't get trapped in the whole honor thing. I'm just saying.

[ShovelHorse]

@groam6666 I beg your pardon but torture is a part of every war even the Americans tortured people to get information or just killed people for fun you know how they say the victor wrights history

[GermanConquistador08]

@groam6666 "The movie portrayals Bushido as a noble code of honor, but in practice it's very brutal and cruel. There are examples where that's not the case, but if you want to know about Bushido, fight the Japanese during WW2" - Actually, the Japanese military elite's version of Bushido during WWII had nothing in common with the Bushido of the Samurai. The main differences include making warefare sacred through ritual, class differentiation of warriors, and individualism.

[GermanConquistador08]

@groam6666 The WWII Japanese honor code only taught self-sacrifice and person honor by any means neccesarily, and the shame of death, of which wasnt even in the original code of samurai bushido. Sorry man, you're wrong on that.

[groam6666]

@GermanConquistador08 Japan was riddled with cruelty even before they had any contact with westerners, much like westerners in the medieval ages, etc. European knights had a code of honor too, a large portion were still butchers.

Japan was a practiced feudalism and despotism, with a caste system (which is still there in little ways). Just because someone says Bushido is about honor, loyalty, etc, doesn't mean they can't follow a warlord who butchers peasants.

[GermanConquistador08]

@groam6666 Butchers would be the wrong term for both European knights and Japanese samurai."Japan was a practiced feudalism and despotism" -Yes, most countires did even at the time of The Last Samurai, except for feudalism obviously. Despotism as in what? Enlightened despotism of the 18th century in Europe and Constitutional monarchy in BOTH Europe and Japana (to a lessor extent Japan obviously) Im sorry, but you're historically incorrect on pretty much every level here.

[Shishaismelife]

@GermanConquistador08 you are correct. Japan at this point didn't even have a shogun but the "unified" japan was a bit out of the question at this point of history, people still wanted a piece of their hereditary cake. And no Europe OBVIOUSLY didn't have any feudalism at this point of history. It is after the industrial revolution lol. that's why America and all those European countries can enforce unfair treaties on Asian countries.

[N0hN4me]

@groam6666 The policies and actions of Tojo's Fascist faction were a shameful facade that hid its misguided intentions, but let's not forget that if it hadn't been for the Western world's meddling with Japan's affairs during the Meiji Restoration, then Japan would not have become the imperialistic-expansionist power that caused such atrocities. Believe me, great men like Saigo Takamori would have demanded Tojo be refused the honor of seppuku and have him beheaded instead.

[SmokebuoyII]

I have concruded that this treaty is not in the best intrest of 3 peoper!

[TeamDX929]

a scene and a film where a man is allowed to cry

[shamanizing]

favorite scene from the awesome film

thanks for posting :)

Heyoka Ken

[guitarhamster102]

So is Tom Cruise the last samurai?

[LSKennedy78]

@guitarhamster102 Nope. The producers did their best to make it clear, that Katsumoto (and technically since the word Samurai is both singular and plural) and his fellow men were the last samurai. A lot of Japanese people were angered until the producers cleared the matter up, but as Cruise is I believe featured prominently on the video casing and posters, people thought his character was meant as such.

[n1ghtb3h3m0th]

stupid emperor, why he had to kill their own brothers, he could use samurai as his personal bodyguards or elite soldiers

[itak365]

@n1ghtb3h3m0th

In reality, he did, sort of. A lot of the daimyo that supported the emperor became governors, and the elite class of the imperial period were basically from the provinces that supported the Emperor's authority. The samurai that were wiped out were essentially those supporting the Shogun, and even then, they used mostly modern weaponry as well.

The movie more or less highlights the themes, rather than what actually happened, which is much less black-and-white.

[abejitha]

god, I love this scene

one of the best scenes in Hollywood...

[papagunz45]

Damn Hollywood could rewrite and twist History with movies such as this.As I read some of the comments on here I bet more than half the people who have commented on here believe this movie to be true and factual. lol smh...

[bbenjoe]

@papagunz45 It's based on historic facts and moments, otherwise you're right. Hollywood can make a movie from a single line...

[Railriderchris]

@bbenjoe The movie is based on historic facts? Well not quite. For example: The Samurai fought on both side during the Meiji restauration, some for the Shogun the others for the emperor. They were using firearms, contrary to what is said in the film. They are depicted as loving rulers of their people whereas in reality the Samurai were a tyrannic nobility. They didn't disappeared in battle but became administrators of the new regime. What else...?

But well, still a very pleasant movie ;-)

[bbenjoe]

I don't want to debate about this at all. So, just don't forget that in the first half of the movie, that old general (or what) of the forming japanese army was a samurai himself. In truth former samurais had a large role in making a the japaenese army a formidable one, and let it to victory multiple times.

About the samurai's reputation in the movie: The village were fully samurai; but in Tokyo the soldiers (former peasants mostly) humilated Katsumoto's son

[Railriderchris]

@bbenjoe ''in Tokyo the soldiers (former peasants mostly) humilated Katsumoto's son'' yes i remember the scene. Another historical inaccuracy since to wield a sword was forbidden after the restauration was completed which of course couldn't be the case in the movie. But whatever, we both agree that it is a nice film, but it is completely ridiculous from a historical point of view. So please don't refer to it if you're really interested in Japan's history ;-)

[bbenjoe]

@Railriderchris

Hah, don't worry I never said it's historically accurate.

[N0hN4me]

@Railriderchris Actually, many samurai families moved to the United States and Europe during the late 1890's and early 1900's. This is because samurai, as an educated and noble class, possessed the capacity to read and write, thus giving them the means to travel about. Many sought to obtain success overseas since Japan no longer held a place for them. Also, I wouldn't assign the label "tyrannic nobility" to them so easily. There's not enough room to explain, but just be careful.

[Railriderchris]

@N0hN4me In the 1900ies the Samurai class as sword wielding nobles had already disappeared to become more like the european noblemans. Before that, leaving Japan or even travelling without permission was severly punished.

Well, i admit ''tyrannic nobility'' might be a little bit harsh, but my point is that they were not the peace loving protectors of their people like seen in ''the last Samurai'', but rather like the feodal rulers in medieval Europe...

[N0hN4me]

@Railriderchris Uh, I'm not sure where you're getting your information from, but after having done some work on Japanese-American genealogy for the paper and having done reports on it for class, the immigration of Japanese to America did occur in the very late 1800's.

"The arts of war and arts of peace are like two wheels of a cart which, lacking one, would have difficulty standing." ~ Kuroda, Nagamasa

As illustrated here, peace has its place just as much as war.

[Railriderchris]

@N0hN4me Well, my point was precisely that before that time, which precise date ever, until the opening by the foreigners the japanese couldn't travel like they wanted - another way of the tyrannic Tokugawa regime to ensure control over the people...

Look, it seems i offended you which wasn't my goal. I apologize, i just wanted to say that the japanese were neither ''better'' nor ''worse'' than other cultures. People who've seen the last Samurai but know few about the true history of Japan (...)

[Railriderchris]

@N0hN4me (...) are eager to believe the Samurai were kind of ''more honorful'' than, say, the medieval knights. But like the knights who had their code of chivalry, the Bushido while surely having good parts didn't prevented many Samurai to abuse of their function of leading class in Japan.

The only thing i don't agree with you is seeing the Tokugawa period as a Renaissance. Yes, until then there were many wars, but since the unification of Japan they lost nearly all developement and had (...)

[Railriderchris]

@N0hN4me (...) to live under even more rules, and fear of the governement... Not quite a Renaissance in my way of thinking...

[N0hN4me]

@Railriderchris To be fair, I agree that the hierarchy systems used in Japan does have some parallels with the Dark ages, but we're talking about a difference of centuries. The movie takes place in the mid-1800's, the Renaissance was surely underway 300 years before that. The most violent and popularly "feudal" of times was the Sengoku era, which occurred 1500's-1600's, and by then samurai had learned a lot about how to make war and keep peace. Humans aren't killing machines.

[kkk1468]

死亡才是最後的 歸宿..這就是武士之道

[Palmakoy]

gotta love japan

[Alphawolf212]

this movie changed Tom Cruise for me!

[RemyVaz]

This part... oh man. Manly tears.

[tamweiwen]

I agree the comment from below where we were born when our race grow and how did it all happen and honor and love and compassion never forget who you really are.

[GermanConquistador08]

"..but we cannot forget who we are, or where we come from." - The ultimate message of the movie, for all peoples of the world.

[ShovelHorse]

@GermanConquistador08 Yea Americans seem to forget that

[GermanConquistador08]

@GermanConquistador08

[festdir]

@GermanConquistador08 Huh. I always thought the ultimate message was "We won the war, now a white guy was the last samurai...suck it, Japs"

[sadlobster1]

@GermanConquistador08 Sadly, some people are quickly forgetting their heritage in order to adapt to the new and "more civilized" world. Look at some Native American people, a few of them are running establishments for casino gambling.

In my eyes; I'd rather live in a world of swords, armor and old philosophies than this world of computers, money grubbing tycoons and IPads

[GermanConquistador08]

@sadlobster1 Rather have the sanitation technology and easy access to food but those are really more economic ideas along with technology. The ideals of yester era combined with modern technology perhaps I'd go for. But I wish I could live in those days.

[sadlobster1]

@GermanConquistador08 I highly agree with the one point you made. Why can't there be a balance between the ideals and traditions of old and our modern tech and society?

From personal opinion, I think too many "high class" people think that using old, traditional methods of living makes one appear like a savage. But in all honesty, I'd rather live and old-fashioned, "savage" lifestyle than the empty feeling, lethargic and filthy lifestyle we have today

[jaytolbert9]

u could see the regret the emperor felt when tom gave him the sword...and then u see him finally BECOME A LEADER....great fucking movie

[maturay]

Tom Cruise may be mental. But he's a fucking brilliant actor.

[piousone]

This is a very poignant and powerful scene, and one of the reasons this movie is definitely on my favorite list. However, if I were Emperor Meiji, I would have ordered Omura to commit seppeku for sending the clan of ninja to murder Katsumoto-sama. A very, very dishonorable act on the part of Omura.

[derkommissar1917]

Best part of the movie for me, when the Emperor dismisses Omura and then offers him Katsumoto's own sword to commit seppuku with. He shouldn't have offered him a choice in the matter, though.

[piousone]

@derkommissar1917 You're so right. He should have had him ritually-executed. He tried to murder the emperor's teacher, a man for whom the emperor had a great respect. That would never have been tolerated had the emperor known the truth.

[388095]

@piousone Seppeku is only for Samurai and is an honourable death, Omura cannot be allowed Seppuku as he has no honour.

[piousone]

@388095 Thank you for the correction. However,there are records of women committing seppeku after they've been defiled. Omura is lower than a dog, and it is truly sad that our world is run by so many men like him. The best line of this movie is when Captain Algren said, " Emperor, if you believe me to be your enemy, command me and I will gladly end my life".

[mobeenkhan]

I like this, best scene of movie!!!!

[TheDeviantLord]

Long live the Emperor of Japan 

[bbenjoe]

Oh I so love the japanese emperor, as a matter of fact the perfect actors were selected to all these perfect characters.

[Pnoyby1999]

"I have dreamed of a unified Japan, of a country strong and independent and modern. And now we have railroads and cannon, Western clothing. But we cannot forget who we are, or where we come from."

[MrLantean]

@Pnoyby1999 The young Meiji Emperor realized what his late mentor was trying to preach. It was alright to embrace new ideas but one must never forget or forsaken his or her own roots and origins.

[FunOrNotFun]

"And now we have rairroars... Sorry your highness can you repeat that?" :D

[SpidermanInLondon]

I love how when presented with the honour of having Katsumoto's sword, Omura bows his head in shame and stumbles down the step and away. (A powerful reaction to the dignity the sword imbues.)

[hikarissanctuary]

Oh my god so emotional.

[yungdrumma2011]

Katsumoto would have been proud of the emperor in this scene

[amaybury4672]

Probably get booed for this, but I couldn't help feeling ever so slighly sorry for Omura at the end

[markymark4114]

SO sowy you may not

[411doug]

Not a Cruise fan but he was more than excellent in this movie!

[411doug]

Fav scene in amazing movie!

[SAMURAIHEARTX3]

このアメリカ人全権ってタウゼント・ハリスっぽいね

[Kazevura]

6:20 RIP

[kiliandjfilms]

beautiful scene

[KosaiAvonej]

Progress at the cost of your history, progress at the cost of your traditions, progress at the cost of your culture. With this very act Japan confounded it's pinnacles and staples of culture to the history books, my only regret is someday when I goto Japan I will never be able to ask a Samurai what his greatest honor is, the legacy of his people and his story. It's not to say we've lost tradition, but the very ones to tell us the story are now only a memory. I'm not asian, but this is sad.

[ninuxy]

Of course, Japanese came back 70 years later and started butchering the rest of the Asia. Who can forget operation Rape of Nanking and their atrocities up and down the Pacific Rim.

This is on my top 10 movies of all time, and I've watched over 2,000 so far.

[stndrds79]

This is an outrage!! Cool line

[michelletheory]

*sobs pathetically*

[rahulpnq]

Just one dialogue says it all - 'and now we have railroads, canals and western clothing. But we cannot forget who we are or where we come from.' As an Asian it makes me remember my roots. Many of our traditions do not fit in today's world in the modern sense, but that's all we have to remind us of who we are.

[TheHipster15]

so what was this treaty about that made the emperor say no? just curious

[2wingo]

@TheHipster15 Something about giving the US a monopoly on trade with Japan, I think.

[pdebeky]

he lived and died with honor all of us know it

[TensaZangetsu2222196]

i cried the first time i watched this

[Suthek]

The emperor has the most epic way of saying: "I just owned you. If you don't like it, go die!" Simply because he MEANT it. Literally.

[T6m6u6]

Not many movies these days can make you feel what you feel when you watch this movie...One of the best if not THE best movie ever made.

A movie about Honor...these days not many people seem to have it or dont know about its true meaning...

[sadlobster1]

@T6m6u6 Too true, too true; some people these days only care about the almighty dollar (economics) and power than they do about their own moral integrity. Both money and power fade away in time, only true virtues like honor and compassion should last forever.

[benter1978]

@sadlobster1

The best known export product from Japan is not technologie, but the culture, the swords and the martial arts. 

[sadlobster1]

@benter1978 I'm happy to say that I am a proud owner of three Samurai swords and a Kimono. Granted, I got some of those things either from Ebay or a local Renaissance Faire but I'm still glad that the image of Traditional Japan is still within the hearts and minds of people

[VonFurs]

@sadlobster1 omg i want one too :)

[sablehhh]

@sadlobster1 Very well said; I feel kinda the same way; dollars and power is the thing on peoples mind atm.. But honor, love, compassion and such is a thing you can't find in todays civilization. Its sad but as you said, true virtues willo last forever and that is a sentence and a thought to hold on too.

[Junokaii]

Mr. Ambassador.. I have concluded.. that your treaty is NOT in the best interest.. of my PEOPLE.

Sir, if I may -

- So sorry... But you may NOT..

[animeFAN00111]

@Junokaii I loved that part of this scene.

[timthedramatic2011]

It is our fortune that this movie did come out in the era of Brenda Song

[jd1060]

It is sad... to suddenly realize you had the power to save your mentor and lifelong friend, and prevent further bloody violence if you had only spoken for yourself.

[TheXtremGame]

-Tell me how he died.

-I will tell you how he lived...

[pdebeky]

@TheXtremGame with honor

[RaspalaKrava]

2:44 Mirko! Jaoo Srbendeeee...

[veggito]

Old Japan is the most honourable country in the age of men...

[bayuush]

Asia rules

[NBR010]

"Your highness... if you believe me to be your enemy, command me, and I will gladly take my life"

True definition of honor and loyalty.

Definitely in my Top-10 best movies.

[goku21060]

@NBR010 ... its so much more then that .....

[vtran31]

@NBR010 no, that's just stupidity

[sadlobster1]

@vtran31 No, I understand what NBR010 means. What Algren meant by his words was; since he fought alongside Katsumoto and his men, he was willing to take full responsibility for his actions.

To me, that is considered taking honorable actions

[emeraldtiger777]

He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times. Johann Friedrich Von Schiller

[Volf99]

the character Kastumoto was the last samurai, not Tom Cruise's character

[bayuush]

@Volf99 mmmhm

[ferrucciog]

"This is Katsumoto's sword. He would of wanted you to have it. Let the strength of the Samurai be with you always. ... He hoped... with his last breath, that you would remember the ancestors who held this sword, and what they died for."

[HotaruZoku]

@ferrucciog Beautiful writing. Beautiful acting. Beautiful sentiment.

Beautiful humanity.

[ferrucciog]

"I have dreamed of a unified Japan, of a country strong and independent and modern. And now we have railroads and cannon, Western clothing. But we cannot forget who we are, or where we come from."

[sadlobster1]

@ferrucciog A pity that not that many people in today's Japan care too much about who they are or where they come from. If I ever visit Japan in the future, I'd prefer to see a kimono, an ancient shrine or a Samurai or Geisha training school than tacky Lady Gaga t-shirts, a stupid Starbucks or a Wal-Mart.

[Redflowers9]

@sadlobster1 Hello Kitty! lol

[sadlobster1]

@Redflowers9 What do you mean by that?

[Redflowers9]

@sadlobster1 ohh its a japanese brand of girls clothes and accessories and I just thought the irony went well with what you were saying as a joke.

[sadlobster1]

@Redflowers9 No, I'm afraid I'm not joking. In almost every book I've read about 20th-21st century Japan, I've mainly seen pictures of stuff I've already seen here like a Mcdonald's or a Wall-Mart. I'm only saying that if and when the day comes I go to visit Japan, I hope to see some of the temples, Samurai martial art training schools or the Imperial Palace and not another American brand building like we have here

[Redflowers9]

@sadlobster1 Sorry, I should of explained better, I was joking. I really admire what you are saying about visiting the tradition rather than the western influence of the country. This is a little off subject but I've been reading about Tony Wright and he proposes that we have been- and are mentally and physically degenerating on foods that we weren't designed to eat. It really does make sense when you look at all the western rubbish and all the traditions that try to revive our natural mind.

[sadlobster1]

@Redflowers9 That's okay; it was all just a misunderstanding, on my part. I've read a lot of other comments on other videos involving old cultures or music saying that others feel like they were born in the wrong era.

I was actually one of them, wishing to have been born during the Renaissance. But some people point out how bad of an idea that would actually be.

That being said; today's world should have a perfect, well-balanced blend of the old traditions and the modern way of life

[Redflowers9]

@sadlobster1 Yes, I think the main purpose of humanity is to balance surviving and generating positive emotion because it is the underlying reason behind all of our thoughts and actions. I believe the rubbish stems from confusion on how to achieve this. Old tradition holds good information. i.e. The reasons why I am talking to you ultimately goes towards generating positive emotion and survival. Negative action always has good intention but confusion.

I wish I was born in 1900 ha ha.

[razor1394a]

Tom Cruise :) <3

[homecoolmods]

This is an outrage!

[krisnib85]

beautiful. thanks for the upload

[MegaDobar]

So beautifull thank you

[bigboi41992]

i love this scene. it is so powerful