Foreigners often say, “It is indeed a country of Samurai! Samurai Nippon! Samurai is a word of praise for Japanese people. For foreigners, Japan is a country of Samurai.
However, the image of Samurai that foreigners have is a little different from what Japanese people think of Samurai.
It is important to understand the image of Samurai held by foreigners.
This is the following, This is also a hint to discover what foreigners are looking for in Japan. to discover what foreigners are looking for in Japan.
In this article, we consider the image of the samurai as seen from abroad.
- Why are Samurai so popular with foreigners?
- Samurai Dramas and Films: Images of the Samurai from Foreign Perspectives
- Samurai Experiences Popular with Visitors to Japan
to the following.
Please read this article to the end to unravel the mystery of foreigners’ love of samurai!
What is a Samurai to a foreigner? Actual Reactions.
First, let’s look at the reaction of foreigners about the samurai.
More than 70% of foreigners believe that samurai still exist today.
In fact, many foreigners believe that the Samurai still exist today.
According to a survey conducted by Aichi Prefecture, about 70% of foreigners still believe that there are samurai in Japan today. According to a survey conducted by Aichi Prefecture, about 70% of foreigners still believe that there are samurai in Japan. The survey was conducted in four countries (Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and Italy), with a total of 600 respondents (150 men and 150 women from each country).
Especially in Vietnam, about 90% of the respondents believe that samurai stillexisttoday, and more than half of the respondents in Singapore and Italy also believe that samurai still exist in Japan.
In fact, please also see the video of foreigners talking about the Samurai.
It seems that movies, anime, and manga have a strong influence on why people think “samurai still exist today.”
Many responded favorably, “I like samurai” and “I’m interested in Japanese swords.”
For those of you who are interested in foreign reactions about Samurai, you may be wondering whether foreigners like or dislike Samurai.
Answer, Foreigners like samurai. The answer is that foreigners like Samurais.
Of course, there are individual differences, but many responses, especially among men, include “I like samurai” and “I am interested in Japanese swords.
At the previously held “SAMURAI festival,” it was reported that many foreigners enjoyed the samurai experience.
It is impressive to see foreigners wearing armor and enjoying the experience of iai with Japanese swords.
We found that Japan’s unique “Samurai” is recognized as a good thing even by foreigners.
Let’s take a look at why foreigners like samurai.
Why do foreigners like Samurais?
The Samurai is a popular Japanese icon that is respected and popular among foreigners. So what is it about the samurai that attracts foreigners?
From here, Why do foreigners like Samurais? We would like to introduce you to the following.
Samurai are full of Japanese aesthetics.
For the Samurai, Japan’s unique culture and ideology and thought unique to Japan.
To begin with, the term “samurai” refers to people of the samurai class who existed in Japan from the Middle Ages to the modern era, based on the spirit of bushido (the way of the samurai). Samurai trained in martial arts such as swordsmanship and archery and participated in battle to protect their lord, family, comrades, and themselves.
Samurai also acquired etiquette, poetry, tea ceremony, and spiritual training based on the teachings of Confucianism and Buddhism.
In other words, samurai are the embodiment of good old Japanese culture and thought.
Samurai, who carry the culture and ideology of good old Japan, are seen by people from overseas as an attractive presence that concentrates the spirit and culture unique to Japan. From a foreigner’s point of view, the samurai are a fascinating presence that is a condensation of the spirit and culture unique to Japan. and culture that can only be found in Japan.
Samurai in film, anime, and manga are fascinating.
Overseas, “Samurai” is known through Japanese movies, anime, and manga.
The image of the samurai that foreigners have is therefore strongly influenced by the image of the samurai in movies, anime, manga, and video games. In particular, the popularity of the Samurai in Japan and abroad has been fueled by the production of many video games, anime, and Samurai-themed movies that have spread abroad since the 1980’s.
For foreigners, samurai in movies, anime, manga, and video games are attractive to foreigners as mysterious beings. as mystical beings. Samurai in video games also seem to be attractive as heroes. (Reference: “True Samurai” in Japan Attracts Foreigners, “Samurai Tours” Increase Tourists (September 23, 2024)
Samurai “bushido” and “virtue” are attractive.
The samurai spirit and virtues of bushido are internationally recognized and have influenced many people.
| What is Bushido? | Moral concepts and norms to be followed by the samurai class in Japan |
| What are the virtues of the samurai? | A spirit based on loyalty, sacrifice, courtesy, frugality, thrift, and nobility |
Bushido, in particular, spread worldwide after Inazo Nitobe published “Bushido” during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). From there, more and more people overseas became interested in Japanese history and culture, and the existence of Bushido spread.
Such bushido and samurai virtues seem to be attractive to foreigners as a fresh mentality that they do not have in their own countries.
Now that we know the reactions to “samurai” abroad and the reasons for their popularity, let’s get a little more specific about foreigners’ image of the samurai.
Five samurai dramas and movies that show foreigners’ image of the samurai.
In order to concretize the foreigner’s image of the samurai, we will introduce dramas and movies about the samurai.
The Last Samurai” movie
The fight scenes are, The fight scenes are so powerful that even foreigners and are popular even among foreigners.
The movie that captivated people around the world with its sword fighting scenes is the Hollywood movie “The Last Samurai” starring Tom Cruise.
The story features Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), who is hired to modernize the government army in 1870s Japan, soon after the Meiji Restoration, and is famous for the great performances by Japanese actors Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada.
The film has been especially praised for its sword fighting scenes, and the abundant use of Japanese sword fighting techniques in Hollywood’s own flashy action sequences has captivated people around the world with its sense of speed and power.
Samurai sword fighting is still attractive from a foreigner’s point of view.
The Last Samurai” has become a worldwide samurai movie. I see so many foreigners abroad who consider the samurai in this movie as actual samurai. It is clear that this movie has had a strong influence on the world.
Seven Samurai” movie
Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” is a well-known Japanese masterpiece, and it has a deep-rooted popularity overseas. Even today, people say “Kurosawa” when they think of samurai, and “Mifune” when they think of famous actors.
In 2018, the BBC released its list of the 100 best foreign films of all time. The first place in the list was awarded to “The Seven Samurai,” a 1954 Akira Kurosawa supervised production.
In fact, none of the Japanese film critics who were present during the screening had voted for “Seven Samurai”. In other words, The Seven Samurai” won the first place only by the evaluation of foreign film critics. The fact is, no Japanese film critics who participated in the screening voted for “Seven Samurai”.
In a BBC Culture article on the Akira Kurosawa films, there is an article titled “Why is Seven Samurai so good?” I would like to share with you an interesting part of the analysis.
The popularity of “Seven Samurai” in the West was no doubt due in part to the fact that it was one of the first Japanese films many audiences saw in the pre-video era. For audiences accustomed to Hollywood westerns, it introduced them to a culture that was both foreign and fascinating.
In later years, Kurosawa was devoted to the films of John Ford, who, to his credit, combined the western tradition with the new Japanese genres of chambara and period drama.
Quoted in BBC Culture, “Why is Seven Samurai so good?”
As this critique shows, many foreigners are attracted to the action in Seven Samurai and are impressed by the samurai (hired ronin) bushido.
And at the end of this article there is an even more interesting critique.
If Westerners find Kurosawa’s films attractive, it may mean that they are not as authentically Japanese as the quieter works of Mizoguchi and Ozu.
Quoted in BBC Culture, “Why is Seven Samurai so good? “
As can be read here, there seems to be a slight difference between the image foreigners have of Japan and the image of Japan that Japanese people want to express. It is important to know that “the image foreigners have of Japan and samurai is a little different” rather than that either one is good or bad.
In these areas, too, there may be hints of hospitality hidden when offering traditional Japanese cultural experiences to foreigners.
The movie “Kill Bill”
The 2003 film “Kill Bill” is a violent action movie about The Bride (Uma Thurman), a woman whose husband and pregnant child are killed at her wedding by Bill (the hitman’s boss).
The film is set in Tokyo and features a large Japanese cast, including Shinichi Chiba and Chiaki Kuriyama. It is a representative film of the early 2000s, when Japanese culture was attracting the most attention from around the world.
This film is not a Japanese samurai film, but Japan and bushido (the way of the samurai) appear throughout the film.
The battle scene between Uma Thurman and Chiaki Kuriyama in the film was modeled after the izakaya ” Azabu Gonpachi” in Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo.
Today, this izakaya “Gonpachi” is still popular among Hollywood celebrities and other foreign visitors to Japan, and is also known as the location where the izakaya meeting between former Prime Minister Koizumi and former President Bush took place.
The Japan in this film is quite exaggerated from a Japanese point of view, but it also gives us a hint of the image of Japan that foreigners are looking for. Japan in this film is quite exaggerated from the Japanese point of view, but it is a hint to know the image of Japan that foreigners are looking for, so this film is worth a look. It is a work of art at first glance. The fact that it is exaggerated can be said that it is attractive and we want to expand on that part of the image.
Perhaps there is a hint of the image of Japan that foreigners are looking for hidden in this area.
Drama “Westworld Season 2
Westworld is an American sci-fi thriller TV drama series that started in 2016. Many Japanese actors have appeared in the series, and it has become a hot topic in Japan.
The story takes place at Westworld, an interactive theme park.
Androids called hosts live in a western cityscape, and guests who pay a hefty admission fee act according to their own desires without fear of retribution from the hosts. The androids are manufactured based on such advanced technology that they are indistinguishable from humans, and they are also self-aware. Each time a guest arrives, their memories are reset and they repeat their daily routines based on a new scenario.
引用元：Westworld wikipedia
In “Westworld Season 2, Japan’s Edo Period” will be selected for the interactive theme park will be selected for the interactive theme park.
It is called “Shogun World,” where scenarios are played out by samurai and geisha android hosts in the streets of the Edo period. In addition to recreating the streets of the Edo period in considerable detail, the world of Shogun World was created using Japanese actors (Hiroyuki Sanada, Rinko Kikuchi, TAO, and Kiki Yuma) instead of Asian-American actors, which was also a hot topic.
The story of Westworld Season 2 is set up as “the world you want to experience, but in a theme park. In other words, The Edo period in Japan was chosen as the world that foreigners would like to experience The Edo period in Japan was chosen as the world that foreigners would like to experience.
This work shows that many foreigners want to experience the world of Japanese period dramas and samurai.
Drama “SHOUGUN
The drama series SHOGUN was broadcast in the United States in 2024. It is a very popular series that won 18 awards in the U.S. in the same year.
Furthermore, once it was made available on streaming services, it surpassed 9 million views in just 6 days, which shows that it is a work that is attracting attention from overseas.
It was a time when the feudal lords who ruled various regions trembled with power in their respective fiefdoms. The “Five Great Rulers” were to maintain peace without dividing Japan, but in 1600, after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, conflicts among the Five Great Rulers surfaced. The feud among the Five Elders surfaced, and Kazunari Ishido, the leader of the Five Elders, and the other Five Elders, including Sugiyama, Kiyama, and Ohno, united and called on Toranaga Yoshii, the lord of Kanto, to seize power in Osaka Castle.
Reference: Historical background explanation｜”SHOGUN Shogun” official special site SHOGUN’s Castle｜Disney Plus
Toranaga, now isolated and alone, decides to confront Ishido and the others as the enemy siege looms.
SHOGUN is produced by and stars Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, and is as faithful as possible to the Japan of the time.
It is a work that shows that the true image of the samurai is appreciated abroad, not the image of the samurai as perceived by foreigners. It is a work that proves that the appeal of the samurai can be conveyed to foreign audiences even without the addition of special effects.
Many foreigners have learned about the true samurai culture and appearance through the drama, and the number of foreigners interested in Japanese history seems to be increasing. (Reference: “Amazing Drama,” American viewers talk about the overwhelming appeal of “Shogun,” and some say, “What America needs now is Toranaga.)
It is not only correct to present the “samurai” as foreigners imagine them to be, but it may also resonate with foreigners to convey the profound charm of the samurai as it is, in its true form.
Finally, here are some of the samurai and bushido experiences that foreigners like.
5 Samurai and Bushido Experiences that Foreigners Love
What kind of samurai experiences are popular among inbound visitors to Japan?
We will also introduce the actual Samurai experience that was well received in Motenas Japan.
Iaiai experience
Iaijutsu is a Japanese martial art that has been handed down from ancient times to the present, Iaijutsu is a Japanese martial art that has been handed down from ancient times to the present, and is known overseas as “iai = swordsmanship. Iaijutsu is a Japanese martial art that has been handed down from ancient times to the present.
The iaido experience for inbound visitors to Japan is popular for a wide range of reasons, including workshops, entertainment, and team building. This is probably due to the fact that Japanese swords are attracting worldwide attention as an art form. This is why many foreigners request an “iaido experience” where they can touch a Japanese sword for themselves.
And we also recommend watching iai as entertainment. You will experience a realistic iai show, a samurai experience different from other cultural experiences.
However, since real Japanese swords are used, great care must be taken to avoid accidents and injuries. For safety, instruction should be provided by a professional iai practitioner, and an interpreter should be prepared for deeper understanding.
sword dance experience
The sword dance is, The sword dance is a dance that is said to have been performed by samurai to inspire to inspire them.
Due to the influence of anime and manga, more and more foreigners are becoming interested in sword dances, even among the younger generation. It is a Japanese cultural experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
The sword dance experience is “learning how to handle a Japanese sword and actually performing a sword dance.
The benefits of offering sword dance experiences to foreigners are
- Learn how to hold, draw, and deliver the iaido sword and experience Japanese swordsmanship.
- Swinging and dancing with a sword in a sword dance gives you the experience of living as a samurai.
- By putting on the costume, you can feel like a samurai from the outside.
The experience of watching sword dances is great, but the most important point is that by actually dancing, you will feel as if you are a samurai. It is a memorable experience for foreigners.
sword battle (staged for television, etc.)
When you hear the word “sword fight,” what comes to mind is probably the scene in a period drama in which samurai are cutting each other with swords.
At first glance, it may seem that this killing style is very difficult and can only be mastered with specialized training, but in fact it can be done by those who have never held a sword before. However, in fact, even those who have never held a sword before can experience the art of sword fighting. In fact, even those who have never held a sword before can experience it.
In Motenas Japan’s Killing Fighter Experience, you will wear a hakama (traditional Japanese male dress) and take on the role of a samurai, and receive instruction from a professional swordsmith. This is a dream come true for foreigners who long to become a samurai.
Professional photographers are available to take photos so you can relive your samurai experience in Japan even after you return home.
Killing show (Samurai Restaurant)
At the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku, Japanese drum and nebuta performances, as well as a show of sword fighting by actors and other Japanese cultural experiences in a pop-up setting.
Originally there was an amusement restaurant popular among foreigners called “Robot Restaurant,” but it was renovated as “Samurai Restaurant. It continues to be a popular spot for foreigners.
The neon lights in the restaurant are sure to leave a lasting impression on foreigners. However, this is a spot recommended for friends rather than for entertaining guests or VIPs.
Address: Shinjuku No.4 Building B1F, 1-7-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021, Japan
Access: 4 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station and Seibu Shinjuku Station
Phone: 03-6205-6100
Hours: 10:30-18:10
Payment information: Please contact the store directly
Official website
Samurai experience at a theme park (Nikko Edomura)
At the theme park “Nikko Edo-mura” where the streets of Edo period are reproduced, visitors can dress up in samurai costume and spend time in the streets of Edo You can dress up in a samurai costume and spend a day in the streets of Edo.
The theme park also has a theater, an oiran’s mansion, and a restaurant, all of which are said to have been enjoyed by people of the Edo period (1603-1868) , making visitors feel as if they have stepped back in time to the days of the samurai.
Depending on the season, visitors can also experience traditional Japanese events such as Dragon Boat Festival and mizukake-mikoshi (portable shrine).
Because it is fun for both children and adults, This is a recommended samurai experience for foreigners with their families. It is also recommended for foreigners with their families.
Address: 470-2 Karakura, Nikko-shi, Tochigi 321-2524
Access: 10 minutes by cab from Kinugawa Onsen Station and a short walk from the bus stop “Nikko Edomura”
Phone: 0288-77-1777
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (varies according to season)
Payment Information: Credit cards accepted
Official Website
Deepen your understanding of Japanese culture through the Samurai
Many foreigners are interested in samurai because of the influence of TV dramas, movies, anime, and manga.
The deeper you learn about the world of the samurai, including the spiritual aspects such as bushido, the more fascinating it becomes. It is a good idea to offer a samurai experience to your friends or business associates, as it can be a chance to introduce them to Japanese aesthetics and culture.
The Samurai experience organized by Motenas Japan has also been well received by foreigners, and it is clear that the event is actually attracting a lot of attention from foreigners.
Motenas Japan can also organize and support special Samurai experiences in addition to those described in this article. We can also organize and support special Samurai experiences Please feel free to contact us. Please feel free to contact us.
We are working day and night to spread Japan’s unique hospitality culture to people around the world. Please feel free to contact us for any inquiries regarding the reception and hospitality of guests visiting Japan.
