The Last Samurai

I saw a glimpse of the world politics with reference to Japan and Western countries. And a glimpse of Samurais!

What I did not like-

Samurais were wrong :(-

- Even though they were brave, simple, simple, disciplined, pure, loyal, honour-bound everything noble, it is important to be smart. The weightage given to life by warriors in general is something I understand but cannot agree with! They should hold life above all. Only then, can they contribute most. How do they contribute by dying?

- They should have embraced the modern weapons- They should have and that would have made them stronger.

- This was true- Even if Omura said it and they should have been so-

“We must resist the Western powers by becoming powerful ourselves. Our army and our economy must be strong.”

- They had a great culture! But a perfect culture is made by taking positives from everywhere. You need to be the strongest to survive and they were the strongest, only if they were more broad minded and open to changing times. As Katsumoto said and engraved on Algren's sword-

"I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new."

- Japan was wrong- in having a weak emperor- and the incompetent attitude! Only if they had a capable ruler- they could have been saved. Such power positions should go to competent and capable people-otherwise it wreaks havoc. Well, we still see this havoc today all around us!

- Even if the word Samurai means to serve, someone like Algren- a person who could blend their ways with new should have been at the helm of affairs, with advisors like Katsumoto. Ideal case!

My heart went out for

- For the samurais who died- Katsumoto, his son- Nobutada, Hiroyuki- for all of them.

I loved

- The Samurais of course! Their world, their ways- everything about them!

- I thought I would fall in love with Algren, I did. I was relieved he had a happy ending- the one I wished to see! I especially liked his recording his thoughts in his diary like me! :p I loved his pure conscience and glad that he survived :)

“Katsumoto: You believe a man can change his destiny?

Nathan Algren: I think a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed.”

I wish-

I am happy that I got a happy ending, even when so many of them died. At least Algren lived. The emperor only if on the end, did something worthwhile.

I loved the way the writer in the end said- There could have been many ends to it but I would like to believe- that he found peace! And happiness that was rare!

“I like to think he may have at last found some small measure of peace, that we all seek, and few of us ever find.”

I still wish there was half an hour of happy ending instead of half a minute though- how the samurais didn’t end. I wish Algren continued the culture!

I wish and hope that even today, in Japan this culture lives! And I get to see that world someday and have conversations with Katsumoto and Algren and make plans for a beautiful global village.