Watanabe particularly enjoyed the confluence of East and West that the production fostered, both on and off camera. "It was interesting," he says, "the juxtaposition of Japan and the West getting involved historically and also literally, in terms of this film – an American director and actors with Japanese actors and crew. We all learned from each other."
Indeed, highly skilled and impressively credentialed Japanese professionals filled key positions behind the camera. "There are people on the crew who have devoted their whole lives to the presentation and celebration of the Samurai culture," says Zwick. "There’s a whole film industry in Japan based on Samurai movies and some of our production team even worked with Kurosawa. They bring what they have studied and researched their whole lives as artists, prop men, set decorators, costumers or actors. It’s not as if we’re trying to imitate one of the Japanese Samurai movies; we are trying to do something uniquely our own, and yet to feel invested in that tradition is very important."
Hiroyuki Sanada attests that he and his colleagues were equally impressed by Zwick’s work and look forward to his interpretation of their country’s history. "He really knows this subject, we are truly amazed," says the actor, who plays consummate warrior and Algren’s potential nemesis Ujio. "He appears captivated by the spirit of Bushido and this era, which is rarely depicted even in Japanese movies. He has a respectful but fresh perspective and I hope that this will be a new discovery for Japanese films."
Sanada, who began acting and performing his own stunts at age 13, has applied his talents in over 50 Japanese films, including the popular Ring thrillers. Famous not only for his acting and stunt work but for his brilliant swordsmanship, he has played innumerable Samurai and so served as the film’s unofficial consultant, working with stunt coordinator Nick Powell to choreograph the Kendo drills and various martial arts Katas, or ritual routines. Both on and off-screen, he served as leader of Katsumoto’s cadre of Samurai, men who Powell hand-picked in Japan.
As Ujio, the Samurai sword-fighting master, Sanada frequently sparred with Cruise and found him to be a worthy opponent. "Ujio is the most old-fashioned of Katsumoto’s Samurai," says Sanada. "He particularly dislikes foreigners, resists foreign culture and especially loathes Algren, who is brought to his village as a captive. However, through swordsmanship, a bond is born between them. Because Ujio is the best swordsman in the village, the duels between Algren and Ujio had to be convincing, had to be intricate and dangerous, and we devised routines that, we hope, conveyed that. Tom was a great collaborator and I was very impressed by his skill and concentration and his willingness to try anything that was right for the scene."
Additional significant roles were cast with highly regarded Japanese actors.
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