In the movie 'the last samurai' what are the reasons why the samurai were eventually defeated?

Answer 1

The movie did not seek to duplicate actual historical events accurately. The reasons the Samurai were defeated was because of the difference in weapons, and the lack of support from the Emperor who was too young, and being manipulated by Omura and the council to make changes that would improve Japan's standing in the World. The political leaders had decided to move Japan into modern times, and saw the Samurai as clinging to out-dated traditions, and a threat to a peaceful transition. Therefore, the Japanese government outlawed the practice of carrying swords, essentially disbanding the Samurai as a warrior class.

They were also training their soldiers in the use of modern weapons, and western combat tactics. The Japanese military had purchased a Gatling gun - a long range, hand cranked, six-barrel, rapid-fire (400 - 1,200 rounds per minute) machine gun. Conversely, the Katana (Japanese long sword), and wakizashi (short sword) are close range weapons. The Samurai's arrows were effective at medium range, but still no match for the devastation of the Gatling gun. While the Samurai leader, Katsumoto, knew that they were out-numbered, and likely to lose, he and former U.S. Army Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) decided to go out in one last valiant charge to make a statement about the tragedy of Japan losing touch with its traditional culture. When the Samurai charged the guns on horseback, across an open field, they were simply outmatched in the area's of technology and military strength.

The final battle depicted in the movie is somewhat similar to the final battle of the samurai rebellions of the 1870's, the Battle of Shiroyama. Saigo Takamori, the figure Katsumoto is based off of and also a previously important person in the Emperor's court, was leading the last remnants of his forces after a series of defeats at the hands of the Imperial army. Unlike in the movie, the rebel samurai regularly used firearms. However, they had run out of ammunition for their muskets and had lost their cannons in previous engagements. The hand-to-hand suicide charge that inspired the movie battle occurred on Sept 24th 1877. Takamori was wounded and, according to legend, was assisted in his seppuku by his associate and fellow Satsuma samurai Beppu Shinsuke during a lull in the battle. Like in the movie, all of the rebels are believed to have been killed or suicided.