The Last Samurai (2003)

Ken Watanabe: Katsumoto

Photos 

Quotes 

• Katsumoto : The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.

• Katsumoto : You believe a man can change his destiny?

  Algren : I think a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed.

• [Katsumoto hands a samurai sword to Algren, it has a message written on it] 

  Algren : What does it say?

  Katsumoto : "I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new."

• Algren : There is Life in every breath...

  Katsumoto : That is, Bushido.

• Katsumoto : What happened to the warriors at Thermopylae?

  Algren : Dead to the last man.

• Algren : [shouting]  What do you want from me?

  Katsumoto : What do you want for yourself?

• Katsumoto : I have introduced myself. You have introduced yourself. This is a very good conversation.

• Katsumoto : You do not have to die here.

  Algren : I should have died so many time before.

• Algren : What else has she told you?

  Katsumoto : That you have nightmares.

  Algren : Every soldier has nightmares.

  Katsumoto : Only one who is ashamed of what he has done.

  Algren : You have no idea what I have done.

• [With his dying breath] 

  Katsumoto : Perfect... They are all... perfect...

• Katsumoto : The Emperor could not hear my words. His army will come. For nine hundred years, my ancestors have protected our people. Now... I have failed them.

  Algren : So you will take your own life? In shame? Shame for a life of service? Discipline? Compassion?

  Katsumoto : The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore.

  Algren : Necessary? What could be more necessary?

  Katsumoto : I will die by the sword. My own, or my enemy's.

  Algren : Then let it be your enemy's.

• Algren : I killed her husband?

  Katsumoto : It was a good death.

• Katsumoto : When I took this, you were my enemy.

• [Algren and Katsumoto ride up to Bagley, who sees that Algren has turned against him] 

  Colonel Bagley : Good God... Sir, the Imperial Army of Japan demands your surrender. If you and your fellas lay down your arms, you will not be harmed.

  Katsumoto : This is not possible, as Mr. Omura knows.

  Colonel Bagley : Captain Algren. We will show you no quarter. You ride against us, and you're the same as they are.

  Algren : I'll look for you on the field.

• Katsumoto : And who was your general?

  Algren : Don't you have a rebellion to lead?

  Katsumoto : People in your country do not like conversation?

  Algren : He was a lieutenant colonel. His name was Custer.

  Katsumoto : I know this name. He killed many warriors

  Algren : Oh, yes. Many warriors.

  Katsumoto : So he was a good general.

  Algren : No. No, he wasn't a good general. He was arrogant and foolhardy. And he got massacred because he took a single battalion against two thousand angry Indians.

  Katsumoto : Two thousand Indians? How many men for Custer?

  Algren : Two hundred and eleven.

  Katsumoto : I like this General Custer.

  Algren : He was a murderer who fell in love with his own legend. And his troopers died for it.

  Katsumoto : I think this is a very good death.

  Algren : Well, maybe you can have one just like it someday.

• Algren : There was once a battle at a place called Thermopylae, where three hundred brave Greeks held off a Persian army of a million men... a million, you understand this number?

  Katsumoto : I understand this number.

  Algren : For two days, the Greeks made them pay so dearly that the Persian army lost all taste for battle and was defeated soon after.

• Katsumoto : You fought against your Red Indians?

  Algren : Yes.

  Katsumoto : Tell me of your part in this war.

  Algren : Why?

  Katsumoto : I wish to learn.

  Algren : Read a book.

  Katsumoto : I would rather have a good conversation.

• Algren : What do you want?

  Katsumoto : To know my enemy.

  Algren : I've seen what you do to your enemies.

  Katsumoto : The warriors in your country do not kill?

  Algren : They don't cut the heads off defeated, kneeling men.

  Katsumoto : General Hasegawa asked me to help him end his life. A samurai cannot stand the shame of defeat. I was honored to cut off his head.

• Algren : How's your poem coming?

  Katsumoto : The end is proving difficult.

• Algren : I have questions.

  Katsumoto : Questions come later.

• Katsumoto : Many of our customs seem strange to you. And the same is true of yours. For example, not to introduce yourself is considered extremely rude, even among enemies.

• Katsumoto : If I am no use, I will happily end my life.

  Emperor Meiji : No, I need your voice in the Council.

  Katsumoto : It is your voice we need, Highness. You are a living god. Do what you think is right.

  Emperor Meiji : [ruefully]  I am a living god, as long as I do what *they* think is right.

  Katsumoto : What sad words you speak.

• Katsumoto : This is my son's village. We are deep in the mountains, and the winter is coming. You cannot escape.

  Nobutada : Jolly Good.

• Katsumoto : [Algren has just walked into Katsumoto's house, after being beaten thoroughly by Uijo]  Uijo is teaching you the way of the Japanese sword.

  Algren : [Flatly]  Yes indeed.

• Algren : [shouting]  What the hell am I doing here?

  ['Bob' rushes up, about to draw his sword and kill Algren, but Katsumoto gestures for him to stop] 

  Katsumoto : In spring the snows will melt and the passes will open. Until that time, you are here.

• Algren : Who sent those men to kill you? Was it the Emperor? Omura?

  Katsumoto : If The Emperor wishes my death, he has but to ask.

  Algren : So it was Omura.

• Katsumoto : Well, they won't surrender.