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Trailers & Clips
04:50
About
Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.
Theatrical
Dec 5, 2003
Box Office
$456.8M
Budget
$140.0M
Return
3.3x
DVD / Blu-ray
May 4, 2004
Director
Writers
Producers
Music
Studio
Radar Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions, Cruise/Wagner Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures
Keywords
japan
loss of loved one
war crimes
sense of guilt
swordplay
general
samurai
war veteran
katana
sword
arms deal
homeland
emperor
language barrier
self-discovery
mountain village
foreign legion
mercenary
campaign
insurgence
war strategy
gettysburg
slaughter
soldier
period drama
alcoholic
u.s. soldier
japanese army
warrior
meditative
19th century
war trauma
racial harmony
inspirational
celebratory
Quotes
See all →Legacy of the Samurai's Strength
Nathan Algren
This is Katsumoto's sword. He would have wanted you to have it, that the strength of the Samurai be with you always.
[presents a sword]
Omura
Enlightened One, we weep for Katsumoto, but...
Algren
He hoped with his last breath that you would remember the ancestors who held this sword and what they died for.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Fate of Warriors Discussed
Katsumoto
What happened to the warriors at ]?
[[w:Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]
Nathan Algren
Dead to the last man.
[smiling]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Cast
Full credits →
Tom Cruise
Nathan Algren
K
Ken Watanabe
Moritsugu Katsumoto
T
Timothy Spall
Simon Graham
T
Tony Goldwyn
Col. Benjamin Bagley
H
Hiroyuki Sanada
Ujio
K
Koyuki
Taka
S
Shin Koyamada
Nobutada
B
Billy Connolly
Zebulon Gant
T
Togo Igawa
General Hasegawa
S
Shichinosuke Nakamura
Emperor Meiji
M
Masato Harada
Omura
W
William Atherton
Winchester Rep
C
Chad Lindberg
Winchester Rep Assistant
S
Scott Wilson
Ambassador Swanbeck
R
Ray Godshall Sr.
Convention Hall Attendee
M
Masashi Odate
Omura's Companion
J
John Koyama
Omura's Bodyguard
S
Satoshi Nikaido
N.C.O.
S
Shintaro Wada
Young Recruit
S
Shun Sugata
Nakao
