Educational Media Reviews Online

Fascination with the samurai, the mysterious ancient warriors of Japan, has always been strong, but few non-Japanese living on this side of the Pacific Ocean are well versed in the details of their lives and culture. This film by Bernard Guerrini goes far to explain the samurai code of honor and lifestyle as well as some of the arts and crafts on which they depended.

Similar to Europe's knights, the samurai were a warrior class made up of members of the nobility. Each one swore lifelong loyalty to his lord and, like knights, was dedicated to rigorous discipline in perfecting his skill at the martial arts. The samurai particularly developed swordsmanship, equestrian skills, and the art of psychological mastery over their opponents.

Today in Japan, interest in the code of the samurai and their skills continues to thrive, as evidenced by the numbers of people who participate in classes, games, and tournaments involving martial arts. Descendants of the original sword makers still forge samurai swords, or katana, as their ancestors did, using secret processes passed on from one generation to the next. Members of the original warrior families still don intricate armor, mount their steeds, and "joust" in the manner of their forebears at events that draw large audiences. Such things as the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and flower arranging, which require great discipline, profound knowledge, and total concentration, began in the days of the samurai and are closely identified with their culture. All are still highly respected and lovingly practiced by modern Japanese and, in fact, are hallmarks of Japanese culture.

Since the 19th century, the martial arts practiced by the samurai have been used to develop the values of honor, truth, and virtue as well as strength and discipline among the Japanese. Mr. Guerrini likens Japanese nostalgia for the samurai to American nostalgia for the Wild West. In playing "Kendo," a sword-game played with sticks, people of all ages capture the thrilling sense of strategy and control in conflict like the samurai, perhaps, in somewhat the same way that modern day rodeos evoke the disciplines of riding, roping, and mastery over dangerous animals originated by the American cowboys.

Modern samurai events exhibit the kinds of pageantry westerners associate with knightly tournaments-colorful costumes, flags, and parades, along with exciting tests of skill and strength. All of this is portrayed here with beautiful camerawork and seamless editing. Scenes from films such as The Seven Samurai, which recreate the original warriors and their battles, and interviews with several eminent Japanese historians and artisans, round out a presentation that is bound to please its audience as well as instruct them. English subtitles would have helped with the translated portions. Nevertheless, this can be used as an excellent teaching tool and enrichment in classes on Japanese history and culture.