Why was this filmed in Canada?

Holy Cow! The movie was filmed in Canada?

The wide open spaces of the Plains of Kawanakajima just isn't the way it used to be, and the much of the Japanese skyline has skyscrapers or telephone poles.

Morley Flats in Alberta Canada, came close to what Kawanakajima looked like in the 16th century. Alberta Canada is also horse country. 1,000 horses and riders were needed for the film.

Several documentaries of the making of the film were shown in Canadian TV. Many of the samurai in armour were teen-age Canadian girls, the right size for a samurai. A weird sight seeing girls with blond braids in full armour, but without their helmets, sitting on horses, waiting for their cue to charge into battle.

Two buffets were catered for the Canadian and Japanese actors. The Canadians ate the Japanese cuisine, while the Japanese went for the burgers and fries.

Canadian actors learned to say in Japanese, "I don't know" or "I don't understand".

2,000 Canadian extras were hired as footsoldiers, paid 75 dollars a day. 1,000 Canadian extras were hired as cavalry, paid 120 dollars a day. Those hired as footsoldiers had to learn Buddhist chants as they advanced into battle.

Canadian native Indians performed a ritual to bless the film. They also acted as samurai cavalry. Director Haruki Kadokawa was made into an honorary chief of the tribe.

At the end of the shoot, the weapons, armour and banners were left behind. They were sold to the locals. Samurai began appearing in Canada during Halloween. Red and Black samurai armour used in the film appeared in an episode of 'Highlander', a series that was shot in British Columbia, Canada.