lyric, fire house. i live my life for you

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Song lyrics | I Live My Life For You lyrics

Sakura Haruno

Sakura Haruno
(春野サクラ)
Sakura Haruno by Masashi Kishimoto
Debut	Manga Chapter 3 Naruto Episode 1
Seiyū	Chie Nakamura
Voice actor(s)	Kate Higgins
Profile
Age	12-13 in Part I 15 in Part II
Birthday	March 28
Blood Type	O
Height	Part I: 150.1 cm Part II: 165 cm
Weight	35.9 kg
Information
Current rank	Chunin
Current affiliation	Konohagakure
Current team	8-Man squad (Kakashi Hatake, Yamato, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sai, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka)
Previous team	Team 7 (Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno) Team Kakashi (Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sai)

Sakura Haruno (春野サクラ, Haruno Sakura^?) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is a member of Kakashi Hatake's Team 7, originally consisting of herself, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha. She is also considered part of the Konoha 11.

The name "Haruno" means "spring field" and "Sakura" means "cherry blossom," which is cherished in Japan due to its beauty and short life span (sakura blossoms have historically been associated with samurai). In China, the cherry blossom is a symbol for feminine beauty, and love in the language of herbs. Her name in full means "the spring of cherry blossoms".

In the June 2006 issue of the American Shonen Jump, Masashi Kishimoto (in the voice of Kakashi) stated that Sakura would make the best ninja instructor, because "she has flaws in her personality, like stalking Sasuke, but Sakura is the closest to being normal".^{[issue # needed]} He also has stated that Sakura and Rock Lee were meant to symbolize human weakness (at least in the beginning of the series).^{[issue # needed]}

In Shonen Jump's character popularity polls, Sakura is frequently in the Top 10, making the Top 5 once.^{[issue # needed]}

Background

Unlike her teammates, Sakura's childhood was devoid of any actual tragedy, only being marred by her early years in the Academy, where her sensitivity about her large forehead caused her classmates to tease her. Ino Yamanaka befriended her and gave her a ribbon that could accent her face and show others that her forehead didn't bother her. With Ino's friendship, Sakura came to develop her own identity and self-confidience. As Sakura's confidence in herself grew, she developed a crush on Sasuke, who Ino also had a crush on. When Sakura found out about this, she ended their friendship so that the two could properly compete for Sasuke's affection, beginning a bitter rivalry between the two. The two maintain this rivalry until the end of their match in the Chunin Exams, after which they begin to rekindle their friendship. Nevertheless, the two maintain a competitive relationship and constantly attempt to outdo the other.

Personality

At the series' start, one of Sakura's notable characteristics is her infatuation with Sasuke Uchiha. Initially this consists of following him everywhere in an attempt to help him and valuing his opinion and abilities above all others. Once Sasuke begins to be put in more dangerous situations, Sakura's display of her emotions shifts to concern for his well-being, first seen when he appears to have died and she goes against the Shinobi Code by crying for his loss. While his death turns out to be an illusion, Sakura maintains this method of showing her feelings for Part I's duration. The most long-standing example of this is the Cursed Seal Sasuke receives from Orochimaru as a source of power. In addition to worrying for Sasuke when he is left bedridden after the seal's use, Sakura also worries about the seal's potential to draw him away from Konoha. In time, her fears are realized and Sasuke abandons the village to seek out Orochimaru. Before he leaves Sakura attempts to stop him at the village exit, expressing her love for him and begging him to stay. She fails at this and changes tact, saying she will go with him, willing to do anything to be with him. Rather than leave her with words of parting, Sasuke gives her a simple "thank you" before knocking her out.

During Sasuke's long absence Sakura's driving force in life becomes a need to bring him back to Konoha. While it is unknown if her feelings for him have changed, her determination to bring him home overrides any other feelings she may have for him. As such, during their reunion after the timeskip, she willingly attacks him to make this task easier and to protect others from his attacks. Despite this new mentality in regard to Sasuke, Sakura still worries about his well-being, worrying about the lengths he has gone to get stronger and fearing what Orochimaru plans to do with him. Regardless of her conflicting approaches to Sasuke, Sakura is still unwilling to let anyone speak ill of him and readily beats anyone who badmouths him in an instant.

Sakura's opinion of Naruto is also one of her earliest personality traits. In Naruto's case, however, Sakura initially holds him to be a talentless idiot whose goal in life is to annoy her endlessly. While she continues to call him an "idiot" from time to time, Sakura abandons many of her convictions about Naruto as the two spend more time together. During each of his battles Naruto proves able to use numerous complicated jutsu in many ingenious ways, causing Sakura to value him as a teammate more with each passing mission. She even begins to find herself envious of Naruto's rapid progression and partly fearful that even he has surpassed her, and tries to replicate his methods of getting stronger. Once Sasuke leaves Konoha, Sakura, unable to join the retrieval team, asks for Naruto to bring him back, believing him to be the only person capable of getting through to Sasuke. Naruto promises that he will bring Sasuke back, making it his promise for a lifetime. It is with this that Sakura realizes the lengths Naruto will go to for those close to him, and she cries for him when he is left in the hospital after his failed attempt. While Naruto maintains that he will bring Sasuke back someday, Sakura resolves that next time they will bring him to Konoha together.

Sakura in Part II

In Part II, Sakura begins to learn of the various hardships in Naruto's life, particularly that he is the container of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox and that Akatsuki seeks to capture him because of it. Furthermore, should Akatsuki succeed in capturing Naruto and remove the demon fox from his body, Naruto will die. Because of these revelations, Sakura has acquired a worrying mentality for Naruto, and cries over the various difficulties he faces. To help him in overcoming these obstacles, Sakura has become very protective of him and does whatever is necessary to keep him safe. Upon finding that the medical abilities she has learned over the timeskip are ineffective in overcoming the demon fox, Sakura tries to see if there are other things she can learn to be of more use to Naruto. As the two spend more time together, she starts to see Naruto more than a very reliable comrade and a trusted friend. As a result of these newfound feelings, Sakura is generally more accepting of Naruto's personality traits and is much more capable of working well with him. She draws the line at his growing perversion, though, despite being aroused by Konohamaru's transformations into naked versions of Sasuke and Sai.

Independent of her feelings for her teammates, Sakura's holding of herself sees a change during Part I. While she does not realize it at the time, Sakura's initial role is guarding Team 7's object of interest while Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi fight off any hostile forces. It is not until the second phase of the Chunin Exams that Sakura realizes how unfavorable this role is, as she is the sole protector of her defeated teammates during an attack by the Sound Genin. Although she attempts to fend them off with a series of preset traps, her efforts prove futile against the Genin team and Kin Tsuchi is able to grab Sakura by the hair and immobilize her. As Kin condescends her for putting more effort into her appearance than her ninja abilities, Sakura becomes distraught that people are always fighting for her because she can't fight for herself. Deciding to change this, Sakura cuts her hair with a kunai to free herself from Kin's grasp and does all in her power to battle the Sound Genin, buying enough time for reinforcements to arrive. This new resolve remains constant throughout the rest of the series, as Sakura readily comes to the aid of a teammate in need of protecting.

Within Sakura resides an "Inner Sakura", a manifestation of her inner emotions that, aside from comic relief, serves as a representation of Sakura's actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something opposite. Inner Sakura's appearances are typically marked by an exclamation of "Shānnarō" (しゃーんなろー). The phrase has no literal meaning, but is usually translated as "hell yeah", "hell no", or "damn it" depending on the situation. VIZ replaced the phrase with "Cha!" in the English anime, similar to what they did with Naruto's "dattebayo" to "Believe it!". Inner Sakura's appearances are fairly infrequent, her last appearance being Sakura's fight during the Chunin Exams (where it is implied that Inner Sakura may be similar to a separate entity in Sakura's mind). Inner Sakura briefly resurfaces later on during one of the anime's filler arcs, in which she fears that she is less observant than even Naruto is, and again at the start of Part II. This large gap between appearances is likely due to Sakura becoming more comfortable with herself, and no longer having what she says contrast how she actually feels.

Abilities

At the start of the series Sakura has few defining abilities, the only notable trait being her intelligence. Having honed the art of memorization and taking tests during her time in the Academy, Sakura can answer questions others in her age group cannot. This is most immediately apparent during the written portion of the Chunin Exams, where Sakura is the only Genin capable of answering the test's questions without cheating. Aside from this, Sakura's talents are initially lackluster, her overall skill and stamina being below average. As such she acts as the final defense for Team 7's objective, fending off any opponents that get past Naruto, Sasuke, or Kakashi. Soon after one of Team 7's first missions, however, Sakura discovers that she has excellent control over her chakra, allowing her to use jutsu to their maximum efficiency.

Sakura's chakra control is put to little use in Part I, due primarily to nobody training her in how to use it in battle. The only contribution it makes is during Konoha's invasion, where her chakra control allows her to become one of the few Genin able to repel the genjutsu that befalls the area. After Sasuke leaves Konoha and Naruto proves unsuccessful in bringing him back, Sakura becomes Tsunade's apprentice and begins to receive training that will put her chakra control to use. While the things she learns are seen in practice during the anime's filler arcs, they do not begin to play a big role until Part II.

With Tsunade's training, Sakura becomes an excellent combat medic-nin. Her medical abilities have thus far allowed her to heal the fatal injuries of others with relatively little effort and, as seen in the anime, reconstruct dead bodies. Her skills are greater than that of many experienced medic-nin, as she is able to cure injuries others would deem a lost cause with little effort. This is first seen when she uses Poison Extraction Technique (毒抜きの術, Dokunuki no Jutsu^?) to utilize chakra to pull some poison from Kankuro's body without doing bodily harm to him, and then proceeds to make an antidote for the poison that no others have managed to create. In her training Sakura has also learned to pick up on an enemy's movements in a short period of time, as good medics need to be able to avoid damage and survive a battle if they are to fulfill their purpose.

In battle, Sakura can rely on the strength taught to her by Tsunade. By building up and releasing her chakra with precise timing, Sakura can easily decimate most obstacles and turn them to rubble. Over time and through repeated use, Sakura has become able to use this strength instinctively and does not need to put any effort into using it. Creating this strength is an impossible task to do without precise chakra control, as noted by Kakashi. This strength, coupled with her medical expertise, her quick temper, her new disposition, and the beauty she gains over the timeskip has caused many to see Sakura as another Tsunade, and even capable of eventually surpassing Tsunade herself.

Plot overview

Although Sakura is present for many of her teammates' actions during Part I, she does not begin to play a key role in the plot until Part II. Her newfound place in the story is first seen during her battle with Akatsuki member Sasori whom, with the help of Chiyo, she is able to defeat. As congratulations, Sasori tells her of a spy within Orochimaru's ranks, which gives her and the rest of Team 7 a chance to find Sasuke. Despite their efforts and the help of new team member Sai, they are unsuccessful in bringing Sasuke back. Once learning of Sasuke's defeat of Orochimaru, however, Naruto and Sakura decide to try again, and after assembling an 8-man team they set out to find Sasuke or, Sasuke's target, Itachi Uchiha.

Other media

Sakura has appeared in all three Naruto movies. In the first movie she frequently encounters Mizore Fuyukuma. After numerous encounters, Sakura manages to defeat him with Sakura Blizzard Technique (桜吹雪の術, Sakura Fubuki no Jutsu^?, English "Sakura Blizzard Jutsu") by throwing numerous kunai attached with bags of exploding tags at him that, once covering Mizore, Sakura detonates with an additional exploding tag to catch him in a large explosion. In the second she battles the wolf-like Fugai, whom she kills by using metal pillars to reflect Fugai's ear-splitting howl, which causes the pillars to collapse in on her. In the third she fights Karenbana, and by breaking a chandelier to cover the floor in glass, Sakura is able to pick up on Karenbana's high-speed movements and deliver a finishing blow to her face, instantly defeating her. Sakura will also appear in the upcoming fourth movie, which takes place during Part II. In Jump! Ultimate Stars, Sakura is able to use Tsunade's Painful Sky Leg.

She has also been in many of the games based on the series. While she is a versatile character in these games, her health is low. In games based off of Part I, she has several non-canon techniques due to having relatively few known techniques, such as moves involving Inner Sakura attacking her opponent or Kurenai Yuhi's Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind.

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Kakashi Hatake

Kakashi Hatake
(はたけカカシ)
Kakashi Hatake by Masashi Kishimoto
Debut	Manga Chapter 3 Naruto Episode 3
Seiyū	Kazuhiko Inoue
Voice actor(s)	Dave Wittenberg
Profile
Age	26-27 in Part I 29 in Part II
Birthday	September 15
Blood Type	O
Height	181 cm
Weight	67.5 kg
Known relatives	Sakumo Hatake (father, deceased)
Information
Current rank	Jonin
Current affiliation	Konohagakure
Current team	8-Man squad (Kakashi Hatake, Yamato, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sai, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka)
Previous team	Team Fourth (Fourth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, Rin) ANBU (Kakashi Hatake, Yamato, other ANBU) Team 7 (Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno)

Kakashi Hatake (はたけカカシ, Hatake Kakashi^?) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the leader of Team 7, originally consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. After Sasuke defects, Team 7 receives Sai as a replacement.

Though his name is written in the manga using kana, Japanese syllabic scripts that carry no particular meaning, the family name "Hatake" can be written in kanji (Chinese characters) as 畑, or 畠 which means "field" or "farmland". The name "Kakashi" can be written in kanji as 案山子, which means "scarecrow". Understandably, Naruto uses a scarecrow look-alike of Kakashi to practice on the day before Team 7's first test, since he then considered Kakashi as the main one to defeat. Also, when Sakura spies on Kakashi so he would take off his mask, he replaces himself with a scarecrow to get rid of her.

Kakashi is a popular character, consistently ranking in the Top 6 in Shonen Jump magazine's official polls.^{[issue # needed]} He has taken 1st place in these polls twice.^{[issue # needed]}

Background

Kakashi's first team under the Fourth Hokage

Like his father, Sakumo Hatake whose skills have been compared to that of the Legendary Ninja, Kakashi is considered a genius shinobi, graduating from the Ninja Academy at age 5 and achieving the rank of Chunin at 6. A few years after these accomplishments, Kakashi's father was disgraced by the village for abandoning a mission in favor of saving his comrades, which cost the Land of Fire dearly. Deeply ashamed and ostracized even by those he had saved, Sakumo committed seppuku, leaving Kakashi to bear witness to the event. After his father's suicide, Kakashi began to adhere strictly to the rules of the shinobi – in particular the rule dictating that the success of the mission must come before the well being of one's teammates, causing him to become arrogant, humorless, and by-the-book.

At the age of 13, Kakashi achieved Jonin status. As a reward for his accomplishment, he was assigned to lead his team on a sabotage mission to blow up a bridge in order to prevent enemy forces from attacking Konoha. Shortly after the mission started, Kakashi's teammate, Rin was captured by enemy shinobi. Kakashi's other teammate, Obito Uchiha immediately stated his intention to save her, but Kakashi said they had to focus on completing the mission, opting not to make the same mistake his father had. Though Kakashi believed that they had to complete their objective and they parted ways, a little reflection on Obito's words and Rin's prior kindness eventually convinced him that his father had done the right thing in saving his teammates. This revelation prompted Kakashi to turn back to join Obito in the rescue effort, although he initially claims that he did not believe Obito could survive on his own—a statement that is more or less supported by how his arrival coincided with saving his oblivious teammate from a ninja's attack.

During their attempt to save Rin, Kakashi lost his left eye as a result of taking an enemy ninja's attack for Obito. To protect Kakashi in return, Obito managed to awaken his Sharingan and killed their assailant. Soon after saving Rin, a rockfall technique was triggered and a rock struck Kakashi on his blind side. He would have been buried beneath the rocks had Obito not pushed Kakashi out of the way, getting the right side of his body almost completely crushed in the process. Shortly before he died, Obito had Rin (a medical ninja) implant his Sharingan eye in Kakashi's damaged eye socket as a gift. As his first act with his new eye, Kakashi avenged Obito by killing the enemy ninja with his now-perfected Chidori technique, bringing the Kakashi of today into being.

Years later Kakashi would become a member of the Konohagakure ANBU where he served as a squad leader. During this time, he had several kōhai, named Yugao Uzuki and Tenzo, and recognized the latter as the most successful of his kōhai. It is unknown when or why he left ANBU, but he still wears iron guards on his gloves, a characteristic of ANBU uniforms.

Personality

Obito's death profoundly changed Kakashi, and Kakashi adopted many of Obito's traits. One such trait was Obito's concept of teamwork, which is most clearly seen in the way Kakashi tests newly-graduated students hoping to become a squad under him. He uses the bell test to test his students, which requires the three students to get the two bells he keeps on his person. Only those who get a bell get to pass, which would be difficult even with teamwork, as at least one ninja would fail regardless. However, the rule is only a ruse; the point of the test is to foster teamwork and to teach the students that teamwork is more important than the rules. Team 7 is the only team to realize this, and as such becomes the only team Kakashi passes into Genin-status. Kakashi also inherits Obito's chronic tardiness, due primarily to losing track of time during his frequent visits to Konoha's memorial site, where Obito's name is engraved. Ironically, this very habit is one that Kakashi was often annoyed at Obito about. Obito was supposedly late due to random good deeds.

Despite these changes, some of Kakashi's previous personality remains. He is fairly dispassionate compared to his subordinates and fellow Jonin, almost never showing emotion. He often says things that sound harsh but mean well, such as suggesting that Rock Lee brought his career-ending injuries on himself by using forbidden taijutsu techniques. While Kakashi is willing to help his students, he remains somewhat aloof and unwilling to let anyone too close to him, noting that he no longer has anyone important to him.

Kakashi's personal life appears to be as much of a mystery as the face behind the mask he has worn for most of his ninja career. He has no living family, or at least none he cares to acknowledge, and he's confirmed that everyone he loves is already dead. He is immediately recognizable as the son of (or mistaken for) his father, the "White Fang of Konoha" (木ノ葉の白い牙, Konoha no Shiroi Kiba^?). Though his face has never been seen, episode 101, which is devoted to Team 7 trying to remove their sensei's mask, implies that he is in fact quite handsome. He takes off his mask in front of Team 7 only to reveal another mask, suggesting that his face, like much of the rest of his personality, is something he does not readily share.

Kakashi has an ongoing, albeit slightly one-sided, rivalry with Might Guy, with Guy constantly proclaiming that Kakashi is his rival, and considering his and Kakashi's subordinates rivals. Kakashi, however, seems indifferent to their rivalry, which annoys Guy to no end. Guy randomly challenges Kakashi to contests of skill, and Kakashi has acquired a record of 49 wins and 50 losses in doing so. Given that the contests that make up this figure are so varied (ranging from Rock, Paper, Scissors to sumo-wrestling), this is not much of an achievement on Guy's part. Nevertheless, Guy is proud of his record.

Though he evasively says that he has "many hobbies" when asked about himself, he is commonly seen reading of "Icha Icha Paradise" (イチャイチャパラダイス, Icha Icha Paradaisu^?, literally "Make Out Paradise"), an adult and probably pornographic novel authored by Jiraiya that is a runaway bestseller in the Naruto world. Kakashi most prominently reads it while training and speaking with his team, and is later seen reading the second known volume in the series, "Icha Icha Violence" (イチャイチャバイオレンス, Icha Icha Baiorensu^?, literally "Make Out Violence"). In Part II Naruto gives him the new "Icha Icha Tactics" (イチャイチャタクティクス, Icha Icha Takutikusu^?, literally "Make Out Tactics"), which, during their second bell test, Naruto manages to use against him by attempting to spoil the ending and thus distracting Kakashi long enough for him and Sakura to grab the bells.

Abilities

Kakashi's Sharingan.

Kakashi's Sharingan eye gives him a significant advantage in battle, as he can copy enemy techniques and use them as his own, as well as track and predict his opponent's movements flawlessly. Because it is a transplanted eye, his Sharingan eye is always active. While this would not be much of a problem for an Uchiha, his non-Uchiha blood causes it to use much more chakra than it should. Because of this, he covers it with his headband and only utilizes it in the most dangerous battles. Kakashi's use of the Sharingan is as good as that of Itachi Uchiha, though the aforementioned handicaps brought about by the nature of his eye make him somewhat weaker in comparison. In Part II Kakashi is able to develop his own Mangekyo Sharingan. With his variant he is able to manipulate space-time to conduct long range attacks, and in its two uses has been capable of severing another's arms and otherwise sending things to different dimensions. Much like the standard Sharingan, the Mangekyo Sharingan tires Kakashi considerably, and after using it only three times he was hospitalized for a week due to its chakra usage.

With his Sharingan Kakashi has been able to copy more than one thousand jutsu, giving him the nickname "Copy Ninja Kakashi" (コピー忍者のカカシ, Kopī Ninja no Kakashi^?) or "Sharingan Kakashi" (写輪眼のカカシ, Sharingan no Kakashi^?). As a result, Kakashi's arsenal most prominently features ninjutsu abilities and has led to him becoming a specialist in the field. Many of the jutsu he has been seen copying in the series are water-based attacks, though most of these he only uses against the person he copies them from. He does, however, use Water Release: Water Encampment Wall on occasion as a way to block attacks. He less frequently uses other elemental attacks such as Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique to attack opponents or Earth Release: Inner Decapitation Technique (土遁・心中斬首の術, Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu^?, Viz "Groundhog Technique Decapitation", English TV "Headhunter Jutsu") to pull opponents below ground and immobilize them. He can also create shadow clones, though because he lacks Naruto's chakra reserves, he exercises the ability with caution, rarely creating more than one at a time.

While Kakashi specializes in the use of ninjutsu due to his Sharingan he is fairly adept with other jutsu types, though his use of them is rarely seen. Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique (魔幻・奈烙見の術, Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu^?) causes his opponent to see what they would find a horrifying vision, keeping them preoccupied until they can overcome the illusion. Thousand Years of Death (千年殺し, Sennen Goroshi^?) consists of Kakashi forcefully plunging his index and middle fingers into an opponent's rectum. While only capable of launching the opponent humorous distances in typical uses, the fingers can be replaced with kunai attached with exploding tags to actually do damage to an opponent. He has also started using sealing jutsu, as seen when he attempts to use Evil Sealing Method (封邪法印, Fūja Hōin^?, English TV "Curse Sealing") to seal Sasuke's cursed seal. His proficiency with this ability seems to be in its beginning stages, as the aforementioned jutsu is reliant on the user's will to keep the seal active. He is also quite adept at taijutsu and often matches taijutsu skill with his rival, Might Guy. Because of his well-rounded prowess in jutsu, Kakashi is the highest-ranking technique specialist and one of the strongest ninja in Konoha, as indicated by both Sakura and the manga databooks.

When he was younger Kakashi was taught how to use the Rasengan by the Fourth Hokage. Because the Rasengan is meant to have the user's chakra nature mixed with it, Kakashi attempted to add his lightning-based chakra to it, though was ultimately unsuccessful. In time he instead created the Chidori, which has since become the only jutsu that he has not copied from someone else. After the jutsu's initial creation Kakashi was unable to use the Chidori to its full potential as the sheer speed of the attack left his normal eyes unable to see any form of an enemy counterattack. After acquiring the Sharingan, however, he was able to overcome this shortcoming. Through repeated use and increased proficiency with it, Kakashi's Chidori has been upgraded and renamed to the Lightning Blade due to him having cut through a bolt of lightning with it.

Kakashi has his own personal pack of Ninken, which he calls into battle with the Summoning Technique. The dogs were apparently trained by Kakashi, and most are even able to speak. Kakashi typically uses the dogs for tracking purposes and summons them whenever he is in need of finding someone. The dogs can communicate with Kakashi via howls. If need be, the dogs can hold someone in place while Kakashi catches up.

Since being defeated by Itachi Uchiha in Part I, Kakashi has apparently trained to increase the speed at which he forms hand seals. Naruto and Sakura both remark upon this speed during their second bell test in Part II.

Plot overview

While he makes frequent appearances throughout Part I, Kakashi's role largely deals with protecting his students and keeping them unified. Most prominently he tries to steer Sasuke away from seeing Orochimaru as a source of power, even teaching him how to use the Chidori so that he will not rely on the Cursed Seal for power. In time, however, Sasuke begins to turn against his team and readily attacks them, which, despite Kakashi's protests and attempts to convince him that revenge should not be pursued, ultimately leads to his betraying Konoha. As Naruto and Sasuke carry out a final battle Kakashi rushes to their location to prevent them from killing each other. He arrives too late and Sasuke escapes, and Naruto and Sakura go their separate ways to find their own methods of getting stronger.

Kakashi begins to take part in more battles in Part II as he no longer needs to focus his attention on his students, who have improved greatly over the timeskip. As Akatsuki becomes increasingly more active, Kakashi joins the various battles in defeating its members. Likewise, Kakashi joins Naruto and Sakura's efforts in bringing Sasuke back to Konoha and has since organized an 8-man team that is in part dedicated to this cause. Still, Kakashi has not fully outlived his role as guidance for his students, and he helps Naruto in creating the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken.

Other media

In the first Naruto movie, Team 7 encounters numerous Yukigakure ninja that seem to know Kakashi from prior encounters, though this is never elaborated upon. Towards the movie's end, Kakashi encounters Nadare Roga and defeats him using a variant of the Front Lotus.

Kakashi also appears in the third Naruto movie, acting as the leader of Naruto, Sakura, and Rock Lee. He fights Ishidate during the course of the movie, and has his arm turned to stone by his ability. He is later restored by Sakura. Near the end of the movie, Kakashi provides a distraction for the rest of his team by using a water jutsu to ward off Shabadaba's soldiers.

Kakashi is also playable in most of the video games for the series. in the fighting games, he is a fairly strong character, and his sharingan can also be utilized. This is most noticeable in the clash of ninja series, where he can use the sharingan to copy an opponent's special move.

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Common Questions regarding orchid

In the world of flowers, orchids are the undisputed champions. Once the expensive interest of the wealthy, orchids today are within reach of all. One of the oldest and best organized of plant hobbies, orchid culture now enjoys worldwide popularity. Their incredible beauty and diversity captivate men and women of every walk of life.

If you haven't grown orchids, you are missing one of nature's finest offerings.

WHO CAN GROW ORCHIDS

If you can grow houseplants, you can grow orchids. With some attention to light and temperature, there are many popular and satisfying species and hybrids that will do well in the home or out-of-doors. Like any other plant, an orchid must have the growing conditions it needs to survive. But they are amazingly sturdy and resilient.

ARE ORCHIDS ARE CHALLENGING

Because there are so many of them, there is always more to learn about orchids. New discoveries are made every day, giving the world of orchids an ever-widening horizon. It is an interest that provides as much of a challenge as you like.

ARE ORCHIDS HARD TO GROW?

No. They are no harder to grow than many flowering popular plants. Like any plant, an orchid needs water, food, light, and air. If you can grow other garden and house plants, you can grow orchids. All it takes is a little understanding and care.

AREN'T ORCHIDS PARASITES?

Absolutely not! Of the 20,000 species of orchids that grow around the world, not one is parasitic. In nature, many orchids cling to trees and bushes as a growth habit; but they take nothing from the host plant and do not injure it in any way. Orchids that grow on trees are called epiphytes or, more commonly, air plants.

DO YOU NEED A GREENHOUSE?

Not necessarily. Many popular orchids can be grown in your home in a window or under lights. Some are able to withstand a light frost. When selecting plants, choose those that will survive in the environment you have to offer.

AREN'T ALL ORCHIDS THE SAME?

To the contrary. No plant family is more diverse. After all, the orchid family is the largest plant family in nature. From the thimble-sized Mystacidium caffrum to the 20-foot-tall Renanthera storiei, orchids take amazingly different shapes, forms, and growth habits. Some orchids produce blossoms no larger than a mosquito; some orchid flowers are as large as a dinner plate. Your familiar corsage orchid is just one of thousands of attractive types that can be grown in this area, given the proper environment.

DO ORCHIDS COME FROM THE JUNGLES?

Some do. But every country in the world, and every province in Canada, has its orchid species, including the Arctic. Ontario, for example, has more than 60 species of native orchids.

ARE ORCHIDS FRAGRANT?

Some are powerfully scented, others less so. A few orchid fragrances defy description, while others resemble familiar fragrances - raspberry, coconut, lilacs and citrus. Others have no scent, but rely on shape and color to attract insects or birds for pollination.

HOW LONG DO BLOOMS LAST?

It depends on the type, plus factors of culture and care. Blooms of hybrids of the Cattleya family may last from one to four weeks on the plant. Those of the Phalaenopsis family commonly last from one to four months.

WHAT SORT OF SOIL DO THEY NEED?

Most require none. In nature, orchids can be divided into four types according to growing conditions. Most are classified as epiphytes, or air plants, which grow on trees. The rock growers, or lithophytes, cling to the surfaces of rocks. Saprophytes are those that grow in mulch, often on the forest floor. Finally, there are the terrestrials which anchor themselves in soil or sand. As most orchids are epiphytes, they can be grown in tree bark, crumbled charcoal, pebbles, or on wooden or cork plaques.

AREN'T ORCHIDS TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE?

Not any more. Once a rich man's hobby, orchids are now within the reach of any income. Modern reproductive methods make it possible for growers to enjoy the finest plants for a few dollars. You can spend as much or as little as you like on your hobby. But you should know that trying to own just one orchid is like trying to eat just one peanut.

SHOULD THEY BE PROTECTED FROM DRAFTS?

By no means. As a matter of fact, orchids require moving air. They do best where there is a steady breeze. After all, in nature, orchids are subject to all kinds of weather.

MUST ORCHIDS BE KEPT HOT?

Like most plants, orchids prefer a middle range of temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold. Some warm-growing species can take hot weather; some cool-growers are not harmed by subfreezing temperatures. It depends on the plant. Generally, however, the climate in the home favors the intermediate species. Orchids from more severe climates that are accustomed to cool or warm temperatures year-round do not do as well.

ARE ORCHIDS SHORT LIVED?

Most are very long-lived. In fact, some species are virtually immortal, given the proper attention. Divisions or propagations of orchids discovered in the 19th century are still growing and blooming today... a botanical heritage from an earlier century.

HOW OFTEN DO ORCHIDS BLOOM?

Again, it depends on the plant. Some bloom once a year; others bloom several times a year; some bloom continuously.

WHEN DO ORCHIDS BLOOM?

The most popular types bloom in winter and spring, but orchids may be found that bloom in any month of the year.

CAN YOU TRANSPORT ORCHIDS?

Yes. That's one of their greatest assets. Orchids are portable. Because they grow in pots or baskets, they can be carried anywhere. Many growers use blooming plants as living centerpieces in their homes. Orchids are routinely mailed and shipped across country and around the world.

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The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai
Promotional Poster
Directed by	Edward Zwick
Produced by	Tom Cruise Tom Engelman Marshall Herskovitz Scott Kroopf Paula Wagner Edward Zwick
Written by	Story: John Logan Screenplay: John Logan and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
Starring	Tom Cruise Timothy Spall Ken Watanabe Billy Connolly Tony Goldwyn Hiroyuki Sanada Koyuki Kato Shin Koyamada
Music by	Hans Zimmer
Cinematography	John Toll
Editing by	Victor Du Bois Steven Rosenblum
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	December 5, 2003
Running time	154 minutes
Language	English Japanese French
Budget	$100 million USD
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Last Samurai is an action/drama film written by John Logan and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz based on a story by Logan. It was directed by Edward Zwick and released in the United States on December 5, 2003. The plot deals with American soldier Nathan Algren (played by Tom Cruise) whose personal and emotional conflicts bring him into contact with samurai in the wake of the Meiji Restoration in the Empire of Japan between 1876 and 1877.

The film's plot is loosely based on the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion led by Saigō Takamori, and also on the story of Jules Brunet, a French army captain who fought alongside Enomoto Takeaki in the Boshin War. The historical roles in Japanese westernization by the United Kingdom, Germany and France are largely attributed to the United States in the film, and characters in the film and the real story are simplified for plot purposes. While it is not an accurate source of historical information, the film illustrates some major issues in Japanese history.

Plot

Captain Nathan Algren, a disenchanted ex-United States Army captain (once under the command of George Armstrong Custer and a veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg), is tortured by the guilt of his past transgressions against Native American civilians. He is recruited by his former commanding officer Colonel Bagley on behalf of a Japanese businessman, Mr. Omura, to help the new Meiji Restoration government train its first Western-style army.

Algren, under the command of Bagley, trains an army of peasants and farmers in firearm techniques, and is forced to take them into battle, despite lack of sufficient training, against a group of samurai rebels led by Katsumoto, to defend Omura's investment in a new railway. During the battle, the samurai slaughter Algren's poorly trained and inexperienced soldiers, Bagley withdraws from the field, and Algren is captured. Algren, after killing some samurai himself with pistol and a saber, is taken as a prisoner to an isolated village, where he gradually recovers from his wounds. He lives with the family of the samurai he killed, namely his widow Taka, her two sons and Katsumoto's son Nobutada. Over time, Algren's mental and emotional state improve as he learns "the way of the samurai" (Bushido), develops romantic feelings for Taka, studies japanese swordsmanship from a skilled swordmaster (Ujio) and converses with the local residents, gaining their respect.

One night, as the people watch a comic play, a group of ninja assassins attack the village, intent on killing Katsumoto. The Samurai succeed in defeating the ninja, but suffer losses. Algren wins the respect and admiration of the samurai by fighting alongside them, and distinguishing himself in the battle by his defense of Katsumoto. Katsumoto confides in Algren that he believes that Omura is responsible for the attack.

With the arrival of spring, Nathan is taken back to Tokyo, where he learns that the army, under Bagley's command, is now better organized and outfitted with howitzers and Gatling guns. He declines Omura's job offer to lead the army against Katsumoto, to crush the Samurai rebellion. He also witnesses the brutality of the Japanese soldiers who enforce the new laws forbidding samurai to publicly carry swords and wear their hair in chonmage.

At the same time, Katsumoto offers his counsel to the Emperor, to whom he was once a teacher. He learns that the young Emperor's hold upon the throne is much weaker than he thought, and that he is afraid to challenge men like Omura, who control vast wealth and political power.

The samurai leader Katsumoto is arrested and confined to his quarters in Tokyo when he refuses to remove his sword in the Emperor's presence, but Algren, having learned that Omura has ordered his assassination, and narrowly escaping an assassination attempt on his own life, decides to rescue him with help from several of Katsumoto's loyal followers. During the rescue mission, Katsumoto's son Nobutada is killed while allowing Algren and Katsumoto to escape.

Katsumoto is still mourning the loss of his son when he receives word that a large Imperial army unit is marching out to battle the samurai. A force of warriors, numbering only 500, are rallied. Algren receives a katana of his own. He is also given, by Taka, the armor of the samurai he killed. She dresses him into the armor, and they share a kiss just before Algren leaves.

The samurai plan, with the assistance of Algren, is to make their final stand. When a large Imperial Army, under the command of Omura and Bagley confronts the samurai's forces to put down the rebellion, the samurai fall back to higher ground. Omura immediately orders the infantry to pursue them. The samurai lead them into a trap, setting a fire to cut off their escape routes. The samurai then unleash volleys of arrows on the infantrymen, killing many.

Drawing their swords, the samurai, Algren and Katsumoto amongst them, charge the confused and wounded infrantymen. A second wave of Imperial infantry follows behind and quickly joins the battle. After a savage melee that leaves many samurai and infantrymen dead, the surviving samurai resolve to make a final charge. They charge by horse, and up being cut down by Japanese cannons and then by another unit of infantrymen. During the battle, Bagley attempts to shoot Katsumoto but Algren throws his sword into Bagley, killing him, saving Katsumato's life. Against all odds manage to make it through the enemy lines, only to be cut down by Gatling guns the soldiers had brought with them. Katsumoto and Algren are badly wounded from the encounter. Katsumoto, obeying bushido in order to keep his honour, commits seppuku (ceremonial samurai suicide) with help from Algren, ending his life. The Imperial troops, many of whose comrades have also been killed, show their respect by bowing to the fallen samurai. Omura storms off the field in disgust at the behaviour of his subordinates and troops. Algren, who survives the battle heavily wounded, stays at Katsumoto's side.

Later, as American ambassadors prepare to have the emperor sign a treaty that would give the US exclusive rights to sell firearms to the Japanese government, an injured Algren offers Katsumoto's sword as a present to the Emperor and urges the emperor to turn away the American ambassadors' offer. The Emperor agrees and tells the American ambassador that the deal is not in the best interest of Japan. Omura objects, and the emperor - realizing he does not need to live in fear of Omura - confiscates his estates and fortunes. Omura is greatly distressed at this, so the emperor offers him Katsumoto's sword to commit seppuku if the dishonor is too great to bear. Algren then returns to the samurai village where he was imprisoned earlier, and to Taka.

Cast

• Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren, a Civil War and Indian Wars veteran haunted by the massacre of Native American civilians at the Battle of Washita River. He has a penchant for languages and drinking alcoholic beverages, especially whiskey, to drown his guilt and sorrow. He decides to help the new Meiji Restoration government train its first Western-style conscript army for a hefty sum. During the army's first battle he is captured by the samurai Katsumoto and taken to the village of Katsumoto's son, where he soon becomes intrigued with the way of the samurai and decides to join them in their cause. His journal entries reveal his impressions about traditional Japanese culture, which almost immediately evolves to admiration.
• Ken Watanabe as samurai Lord Katsumoto, a warrior-poet who was once Emperor Meiji's most trusted teacher. He is displeased with Mr. Omura's bureaucratic reform policies which leads him into organising a revolt against the Imperial Army.
• Tony Goldwyn as Colonel Bagley, Capt. Algren's commanding officer in the 7th Cavalry Regiment, who was to train the Imperial Army. Algren dislikes Bagley for his role in the Washita River massacre of the Native Americans that Algren cannot get over. His facial hair is very similar to the way Custer wore his and is intended to evoke that image. Bagley is then killed by Algren in the climactic battle.
• Masato Harada as Omura, an industrialist and pro-reform politician who despises the samurai. Coming from a family that like many merchants was repressed during the days of Samurai rule, he assumes a great deal of power during the Meiji Restoration and takes advantages of Meiji's youth to become his chief advisor (wielding power similar to those of the Shoguns).
• Shichinosuke Nakamura as Emperor Meiji. Credited with the implementation of the 1868 Meiji Restoration, the Emperor is eager to import Western ideas and practices to modernize and empower Japan to become a strong nation.
• Shin Koyamada as Nobutada, Katsumoto's only son who is lord of the village that the Samurai are encamped in.
• Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio, one of the most dedicated and vicious samurai under Katsumoto. He teaches Algren the art of Samurai swordfighting, not very gentle, either.
• Timothy Spall as Simon Graham, a British translator for Captain Algren and his non-Japanese speaking soldiers. Initially portrayed as a typical practical-minded Englishman, he later comes to understand the Samurai cause.
• Seizo Fukumoto as the Silent Samurai, an elderly man assigned to follow Algren (who later calls the samurai "Bob") as he travels through the village. He bears a marked resemblance to Kyuzo from Seven Samurai.
• Koyuki as Taka, Katsumoto's sister and the wife of the red-masked Samurai Hirotaro, whom Nathan Algren kills earlier.
• Billy Connolly as Sergeant Zebulon Gant, a former cavalry soldier who served with Algren and talked him into coming to Japan. He is later killed in the opening battle by Hirotaro (Taka's husband).
• Shun Sugata as Nakao, a tall judo and naginata skilled samurai, takes part in Katsumoto's rescue, and considers Algren ugly.

Reception

The film received an enthusiastic reception among the moviegoing public in Japan, with box office receipts higher in that country than in the USA. ^[1] Critical reception in Japan was generally positive. Tomomi Katsuta of The Mainichi Shimbun thought that the film was "a vast improvement over previous American attempts to portray Japan", noting that director Ed Zwick "had researched Japanese history, cast well-known Japanese actors and consulted dialogue coaches to make sure he didn't confuse the casual and formal categories of Japanese speech." However, Katsuta still found fault with the film's idealistic, "storybook" portrayal of the samurai, stating that "Our image of samurai are that they were more corrupt." As such, he said, the noble samurai leader Katsumoto "set (his) teeth on edge." ^[2]

Reviews were harsher in the United States, with numerous unflattering comparisons to Kevin Costner's film Dances With Wolves. Motoko Rich of The New York Times observed that the film has opened up a debate, "particularly among Asian-Americans and Japanese," about whether the film and others like it were "racist, naïve, well-intentioned, accurate — or all of the above." ^[3] Tom Long, critic for The Detroit News, wrote that "The Last Samurai pretends to honor a culture, but all it's really interested in is cheap sentiment, big fights and, above all, star worship. It is a sham, and further, a shame." Reviewer Todd McCarthy from Variety calls The Last Samurai “ rich in period and historical background,” a “physically impressive” film with costumes that are “rich in eye-catching detail but not self-consciously exotic.” However, he states that the film is “deficient in fresh dramatic and thematic ideas,” and that the end of the movie “feel[s] phony and tacked on as a contrived sop to conventional audience expectations.” ^[4]

Other actors have displayed some bitterness at having missed their chance to be cast as Captain Algren. Most notably, Steven Seagal stated:

I was raised in Japan. I was schooled in martial arts. I was given the title of master. They take a movie The Last Samurai. They have a five foot two inch little guy, whether he was straight or gay, I don't know. I don't care. He had never been to Japan. He doesn't speak Japanese. He has never held a sword. They make him the last samurai. ^[5]

Soundtrack

Composed by Hans Zimmer, the score for The Last Samurai makes use of traditional Japanese instrumentation and compositional techniques, as well as the Western equivalent. The Taiko drum features prominently in the action cues. Vocal shouts and chants are featured in the "Red Warrior" cue. The score was nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe (Best Original Score), and won an ASCAP award.

Track listing

• A Way of Life
• Spectres in the Fog
• Taken
• A Hard Teacher
• To Know My Enemy
• Idyll's End
• Safe Passage
• Ronin
• Red Warrior
• The Way of the Sword
• A Small Measure of Peace
• The End of the beginning

Miscellaneous

• Although many of the film's cast members are Japanese, the production crew is almost entirely American, and most of the movie was filmed in New Zealand.
• Although filmed in New Zealand, to give the appearance of a Japanese setting, actual shots of Mount Fuji were superimposed using CGI.
• Several of the village scenes were shot on the Warner Brothers Studios backlot in Burbank, CA.
• The movie is almost unrelated to the novel The Last Samurai written by Helen DeWitt.
• The golden, circular ring painted on Ujio's black armor is in fact not a tribute to his previous movie Ringu, but is actually the Enso, the Zen circle, commonly seen in Hitsuzendo and various martial arts like Aikido.
• Cruise has stated in interviews that Lord Katsumoto is the "Last Samurai" of the film's titles (against complaints of claiming an untrained Caucasian as the last of the samurai). His character is simply the focal point of the plot.
• Although Cruise has stated that Katsumoto is the "Last Samurai", the title has spawned debate in some circles on the many references the title could have - there is the obvious Cruise or Katsumoto reference, but also the plural "Last Samurai"... as in the end of the warrior caste entirely.
• Algren discusses The Battle of Thermopylae with Katsumoto, explaining how 300 Spartans stood against One Million Persians. The opening manoevers against Omura's forces mirror the tactics used in the early stages of Thermopylae; allowing the advance force beyond a certain point and then trapping them- the Japanese with firewalls, the Spartans with shields in phalanx; This 'duplication' may be a tactical ploy on their part, although it is more likely it was as logical a strategy to the Samurai as it was to the Spartans.

Historical background

The Last Samurai combines real but disconnected historical situations, rather distant in time, into a single narrative. It also replaces the key Western actors of the period (especially the French) by American ones. Finally, it portrays a radical conflict between ancient and modern fighting methods, but in reality all sides of the conflict (the Satsuma Rebellion, and before it the Boshin War) adopted modern equipment to various degrees. Many thematic, and visual elements of the film parallel the films of Akira Kurosawa, specifically Seven Samurai.

Military modernization and Western involvement

Training of the Shogunate troops by the French Military Mission to Japan. 1867 photograph.

The French military advisers and their Japanese allies in Hokkaido during the Boshin war (1868-1869). Front row, second from left: Jules Brunet, besides Matsudaira Taro, vice-president of the Ezo Republic.

The kind of military modernization described in The Last Samurai was already largely achieved by the time of the Boshin War ten years before, in 1868. At that time, forces favourable to the Shogun were modernized and trained by the French Military Mission to Japan (1867), and a modern fleet of steam warships had already been constituted (Eight steam warships, Kaiten, Banryū, Chiyodagata, Chōgei, Kaiyō Maru, Kanrin Maru, Mikaho and Shinsoku formed the core of the Bakufu Navy in 1868). The Western fiefs of Satsuma and Chōshū were also already highly modernized, supported by British interests and expertise. Even the appearance of Gatling guns in Japan goes back to that time (the Gatling guns were invented in 1861, and deployed during the 1868-1869 Boshin War by both sides, at the Battle of Hokuetsu and the Naval Battle of Miyako). Modernization had already advanced at a fast pace during the Bakumatsu period, many years before the installation of the Meiji Emperor.

Although Commodore Perry is credited with opening Japan to foreign contacts in 1854, American involvement in Japan was minimal thereafter. In depth interaction, mainly commercial in nature, only started from 1859 with the Harris Treaty, and from 1861 American influence waned due to the demands of the American Civil War (1861-1865). The main powers involved with the modernization of Japan up to the 1868 Meiji Restoration were the Netherlands, (initiation of a modern navy with the Nagasaki Naval Training Center and the supply of Japan's first modern ships, the Kankō Maru and the Kanrin Maru), France (Construction of the arsenal of Yokosuka by Léonce Verny, the 1867 French Military Mission), and Great Britain (in supplying modern equipment, especially ships, to a variety of domains, and in training the Navy with the Tracey Mission).

Meiji restoration

Reception by the Meiji Emperor of the Second French Military Mission to Japan, 1872.

Following the Meiji restoration in 1868, the early Imperial Japanese Army was essentially developed with the assistance of French advisors again, through the second French Military Mission to Japan (1872-1880). An army of conscripts, mostly peasants replacing the former samurai class, was put in place with French assistance for the first time in March 1873. These troops were further modernized and their officers trained in military academies set up by the French, and would intervene against former samurai in the Satsuma rebellion in 1877. The Haitorei edict in 1876 all but banned carrying swords and guns on streets.

The Satsuma rebellion

Saigo Takamori (seated, in Western uniform), surrounded by his officers, in samurai attire. News article in Le Monde Illustré, 1877.

Both sides used guns at the final stand of the Battle of Shiroyama.

The Satsuma Rebellion, the historical event described in The Last Samurai, was even more one-sided than in the movie, although the military techniques employed by each side were less contrasted. It occurred in 1877, ten years after the Boshin War, and ten years after the establishment of the Imperial Japanese army. The Imperial troops sent a huge force of 300,000 soldiers under Kawamura Sumiyoshi, modern in all aspects of warfare, using howitzers and observations balloons, to the island of Kyūshū to fight Saigō Takamori.

Saigō Takamori's rebels numbered around 40,000 in total, until they dwindled to about 400 at the final stand at the Battle of Shiroyama. Although they fought for the preservation of the caste of the samurai, and officers often wore samurai cuirasses, they did not neglect Western military methods: they used guns and cannons, and all contemporary depictions of Saigō Takamori represent him wearing the uniform of a Western general. At the end of the conflict, running out of material and ammunition, they had to fall back to close-quarter tactics and the use of swords, bows and arrows. In a parallel to the movie, they also fought for a more virtuous form of government (their slogan was "新政厚徳", "New government, High morality").

In contrast to the Boshin War, no Westerners are recorded to have fought on either side of the Satsuma rebellion. Specifically, Saigō Takamori did not fight side-by-side with foreign soldiers during the Satsuma Rebellion. During the Boshin War, Saigō may have been supported by British and American military advisors,^[6] but the only documented case of foreigners actually fighting for a Japanese cause was that of the French soldiers supporting Enomoto Takeaki.

Further foreign assistance

A third French Military Mission to Japan (1884-1889) was later sent. However, due to the German victory in the Franco-Prussian War, the Japanese government also relied on Prussia as a model for their army, and hired two German military advisors (Major Jakob Meckel and Captain von Blankenbourg) for the training of the Japanese General Staff from 1886 to 1889. Other known foreign military consultants were the Italian Major Pompeo Grillo, who worked at the Osaka foundry from 1884 to 1888, followed by Major Quaratezi from 1889 to 1890, and the Dutch Captain Schermbeck, who worked on improving coastal defenses from 1883 to 1886.

Japan did not use foreign military advisors anymore between 1889 and 1918, until again a fourth French Military Mission to Japan (1918-1919), headed by Commandant Jacques Faure, was requested to assist in the development of the nascent Japanese airforce.

Westerners fighting alongside Japanese

Jules Brunet fought for the Shogun in 1868.

The French Navy officer Eugène Collache fought in samurai attire.

Historically, the only major case of foreigners taking an active role in a Japanese civil war is that of the French military advisers under Jules Brunet (initially members of the 1867 French Military Mission), who joined the forces favourable to the Shogun under Enomoto Takeaki, during the Boshin war. They were deeply involved in the military organization of the Shogunal forces, and fought (several of them were heavily wounded) almost to end of the conflict. A few days before surrender, when the situation had become desperate, they left on the French frigate Coëtlogon which had been waiting at anchor in Hakodate. Some of these French officers did wear the samurai attire (such as the French Naval officer Eugène Collache), although most officers in the armies of the Bakufu, as well as of course their French colleagues, wore French military uniforms.

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