17.2.06
When the Last Sword is Drawn (壬生義士伝)
When the Last Sword is Drawn (Mibu Gishi Den) – 2003
Yoshimura is a lower level Samurai who very much loves his family, but cannot take their poverty anymore. He is so determined to bring them a better life he leaves his small unimportant clan (a great dishonour to the clan and his family). He joins the Shinsengumi (a famous police group of Samurai in the last days of Tokugawa shogunate that really existed) who eventually must turn on the Emperor as the Meiji era approaches, to protect the Shogun. It is the story of the beginning of the rapid modernisation of Japan.
Yoshimura stands out within the Shinsengumi due to his potent skill with blades and his rather odd appreciation of money (which he is constantly sending home to his beloved family) due to his low standing background. He has a profound effect on the harsh Hajime Saito, the other main character in this film, played by Koichi Sato (Gonin). The film's greater power lies in its focus on these two men and their relationship and ultimately the very power within love and honor. Many of the characters are based on real people of the same names. The viewer will soon warn to Yoshimura! 8.5/10
Yoshimura stands out within the Shinsengumi due to his potent skill with blades and his rather odd appreciation of money (which he is constantly sending home to his beloved family) due to his low standing background. He has a profound effect on the harsh Hajime Saito, the other main character in this film, played by Koichi Sato (Gonin). The film's greater power lies in its focus on these two men and their relationship and ultimately the very power within love and honor. Many of the characters are based on real people of the same names. The viewer will soon warn to Yoshimura! 8.5/10
