Japanese films continue with 'The Last Samurai'
Oct. 1, 2004
KALAMAZOO--The Japanese Samurai and Anime Film Nights series at
Western Michigan University continues with "The Last Samurai"
starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe Thursday, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m.
in Room 210 of the Bernhard Center. The event is free and open to
the public.
In the 2003 movie, Cruise plays Civil War hero Capt. Nathan Algren,
who goes to Japan to fight the Samurai and ends up pledging himself
to their cause. Watanabe plays Katsumoto, a Samurai leader facing a
vanishing way of life whose destiny becomes intertwined with that of
the American captain. The film also features William Atherton and
Koyuki.
Members of Battle Creek (Mich.) Kendo kai will attend the event and
give a demonstration of actual Kendo technique after the movie.
All films in the series are shown on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in Room
210 of the Bernhard Center. Remaining films fall semester are in
English.
Other films remaining in the fall series are:
Oct. 21--"The Castle of Cagliostro" (PG-13; animation)
Nov. 11--"Castle in the Sky" (G; animation)
Those attending will receive complimentary LOTTE-brand chewing gums,
cookies, or samples of the English versions of the popular Japanese
comic book "Shukan Shonen Jump." Complimentary items are provided by
the product distributors and will vary from show to show.
Japanese Samurai and Anime Film Nights is sponsored by WMU
Japanologists and by the Japan Club, a WMU registered student
organization. Five more films are tentatively scheduled for dates
during spring semester.
For more information, contact Dr. Takashi Yoshida, WMU assistant
professor of history, at <
takashi.yoshida@...>.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400,
thom.myers@...
WMU News
Office of University Relations
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Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
269 387-8400
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