Top 10 Historical Samurai Movies and TV Shows from Old Japan

As a Japan lover, I have watched a lot of historical movies and shows about Japanese history. Let me share with you which ones I found the most interesting and profound and regard them as must-watch films about Japan.

10. The Last Samurai (2003)

People call this a blockbuster western movie but to me, this movie is very special. I have watched this movie as a child and it has left an unforgettable impression in my mind for a long time. The plot might not be extremely deep, but there are many interesting moments that I recall quite often. Bushido, the way of warrior, can be felt in every breath we take, in every cup of tea we drink. What does it mean to be a samurai? Does samurai spirit have a place in a modern society?

9. Gohatto 御法度 (1999)

A film about a famous group of Tokugawa shogunate samurai called Shinsengumi. The main focus of this movie is the relationship between samurai in this group. Friendliness and even love can appear in the dojo.

8. When the Last Sword Is Drawn 壬生義士伝 (2002)

Another movie about Shinsengumi. This one looks at the samurai as humans and focuses on their priorities. What is more important, family, fame, wealth, loyality?

7. Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai 一命 (2011)

Harakiri or seppuku is an infamous ritual suicide that samurai usually do when they were sentenced to death or lost their pride for some reason. Committing harakiri was regarded as a noble death. But honor alone cannot feed the family. This is a story of a samurai who decided to use his death to help his beloved ones.

6. 13 Assassins 十三人の刺客 (2010)

Not all samurai value their pride. Some simply use their position to torture others and gain even more power. Can a bunch of brave men stop someone like that?

5. Seven Samurai 七人の侍 (1954)

The most classic samurai movie of all time. A bunch of samurai decide to help those in need. The story itself is a classic heroic tale of faithful warriors prepared to sacrifice their lives for a good cause. What I found the most interesting were the separate stories of each of the main protagonists. Each had a unique background, different personality, and motivation.

4. The Twilight Samurai たそがれ清兵衛 (2002)

This movie is not a story of a famous samurai. This is a story of an ordinary man who, more than his samurai pride, has to take care of his family. Being a samurai, however, still involves carrying a sword which is a weapon meant to kill people. The main protagonist has to decide how will his sword be used.

3. Silence (2016)

Japan was closed for a long time and when it was forced to open by the westerners, the cultural clash between the Europeans and Japanese was fierce. This movie is very deep and profound and tells the story of a catholic priest who came to Japan to spread his faith. Political repression of the foreign culture is one obstacle, but the completely different mindset of the people seems to be even more difficult to overcome. The main protagonist himself stands before a decision to lose his faith or to keep it despite a great suffering.

2. Atsuhime 篤姫 (2008)

Princess Atsu was an important person who wielded a great power in the Tokugawa clan at the end of shogunate. She became shogun's wife and even after his death she worked hard to protect the Tokugawa family. Originally coming from Satsuma, being a disobedient and headstrong village girl, she was dragged by others to the top of the samurai society. She had to find out a way in her life where she would be able to protect not only her belowed ones but also the whole Japan. This TV show is interesting also for the reason that it follows a demale protagonist and shows the viewer a different look at the shogunate where ladies of Ooku were sometimes more powerful than the proud warriors.

1. Ryoumaden 龍馬伝 (2010)

This TV show folows a life of Sakamoto Ryouma, the famous samurai who actually played a key role in the abolishment of old ways and the end of the samurai class. Ryouma was an extraordinary person who could reach other people's hearts and inspire them. His modern and unique views on the Japanese society turned his life into a dangerous but fascinating adventure. This show is very heartwarming and focuses a lot on the conflict between rational changes and traditions.

There are also many other legendary samurai movies, for example, by Akira Kurosawa who is the father of samurai cinematography. I prefer more modern films and I really value modern movies that are not generic like most titles nowadays. For example, the famous book Shogun by James Clavell got two TV show adaptations. I really like the newer, 2024 one. I also liked The Legend & Butterfly which told the story of Oda Nobunaga but more focusing on his personal life and relationship with his wife. I hope you will find a good film in this list that will make your day more epic! A good list of the historical samurai Taiga drama that Japanese TV produces every year is available here.

Keywords: asia, J-drama, Japanese, bushido
#samurai #japanese #historicaldrama #jdrama