The Last Ronin (2010)

"Be happy"

The Last Ronin was inspired by the story of the 47 Ronin, featuring the 47th ronin, Terasaka Kiechimon and the loyal retainer Seno Magozaemon. The story picked up 16 years after the 47 ronin avenged their lord and subsequently committed seppuku. Both men had carried out orders from the 47’s leader, Oishi, which caused many to think of them as deserters and cowards. This samurai film had almost no fights, but rather delved into the emotional makeup of what it meant to be one of the surviving ronin and their ideals of duty and honor.

Terasaka visits an old woman, the last on his list of Asano retainers, to tell her the story of the 47 and to give her monetary assistance. As a messenger, Terasaka had seen most of the battle and had been tasked with sharing the story and rendering any help he could give to the now scattered Asano clan. As the 17th year ceremony commemorating the loyal samurai approaches, Terasaka heads to Kyoto to wait. Along the way he catches a glimpse of his dearest friend, Magoza, who was thought to be a deserter. What Terasaka and the rest of the world don’t know is that Magozaemon changed his name and appearance and has been raising Oishi’s surviving child, Kane. The 16-year-old girl has caught the attention of a wealthy merchant’s son meaning her days as Magoza’s ward may soon be coming to an end.

This film was on the long side for a slice of life samurai film. Thanks to Yakusho Koji’s stellar performance as Magozaemon, it didn’t feel too long. The story was a feel good ending for the survivors and retainers of the doomed house. But keep in mind, a samurai happy ending may not be the same as a viewer’s happy ending.

While the story was solid, if predictable, the primary reward for sitting through this film was watching Yakusho at his best. He put on a master class of how to convey a wealth of human emotions without overacting and without words. There were times his facial expressions broke me. I rarely cry watching movies, but tears welled up halfway through this film and continued for twenty minutes afterwards. Yakusho reached into my heart and expertly persuaded me to care about Magoza. Miyauchi Hitomi’s gentle manner conveyed how attached Kane was to the old servant. “Will I love anything as much again?” The rest of the actors were all top tier as well, though poor Sato Koichi was stuck with a truly awful and distracting wig.

If you are looking for a samurai film filled with sword fights, this isn’t it. Most of the film revolved around Magoza and the girl he’d tenderly raised for 16 years. Letting go is never easy, for the “parent” or the child. His mission had been to see that Kane was happy and well taken care of and in that, he completed the assignment beyond what any parent could have hoped. I can’t say that I agree with or fully understand the unwavering loyalty to a lord, even beyond death, but if there ever was an excellent example of the samurai spirit, Seno Magozaemon was it.

“Footsteps that vanish one by one
A dream within a dream, alas”

16 April 2025

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