A Samurai, but only speaks English


How can a man who claims to be a samurai, not even know Japanese. He tells the little girl he only knows English. Seems to me he would learn the language of the Samurai. Someone already mentioned the whole training like a Samurai, but only using guns.

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It's natural - he's American, therefore cannot speak any other language than English which is his mother tongue.

Does Troy's heroes speak in Greek in the movie?

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He doesn't try to be samurai; he lives by the codex of samurai. Hagakure was his inspiration.

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you're an idiot. *homer's* heroes spoke greek, it was anglicized in movies for an international audience. the analogy is completely wrong and stupid. typical of a fan of this type of movie.

i bet you enjoyed that wu tang clan movie about a black ironsmith in china.

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That's like claiming to follow or study ancient Greek philosophy and not even speak ancient Greek!


Not necessarily. The analogy doesn't totally fit, and I'd also like to add that I myself have studied Asian cultures and history quite a lot and can't speak anything beyond simple phrases, and many of my friends are knowledgeable about Greek and Roman cultures and are unable to speak a word of Latin.

But that's all beside the point. One of the other posters had in right in saying that Ghost Dog isn't trying to be a Samurai like a Live Action Roleplay-Anime obsessed teenager, he lives his life as a contract killer through the principles and philosophies of Bushido and guides himself with it's words. Modern day Christians don't speak the languages where their religion originated from, nor do they wear out of date robes.

"Bulls**t MR.Han Man!!"--Jim Kelly in Enter the Dragon

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[deleted]

True in every sense and why would someone waste their time on the original source anyway? Since that's why we've involved and have comforted better in age. Knowing it from the source isnt going to change your appreciated and belief in it. Most being unhelpful as if even we did it wouldnt help survive in our living conditions or environment. Imagine a real Japanese in a city? He'd be recognized a mile away and thus he's ninja suit wouldnt be suitable. If it was a Japanese sleek guy this film wouldnt work as its in the hood and with Italian mobsters.

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Being American and deciding to learn and speak Japanese just because your subject of interest hails from Japan is silly...


"I've been living on toxic waste for years, and I'm fine. Just ask my other heads!"

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He follow the code of a samurai. Does not mean he has to speak Japanese. Do you have to speak a particular language to be a basketball player? Do you need to speak Japanese to be a master karate practitioner?

"Cool will get ya dead." -Former NBA Power Forward, Karl Malone

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He never even claimed to be a samurai. He talked about samurai, quoting from his books but even when meeting Louie he referred to himself as his "retainer". This is technically true.

If you knew anything about samurai, which I imagine ghost dog did, the first thing you would know is that you can't just be one. It a formal title granted by the imperial or shogunate ruling families. It doesn't matter how many swords you swing, horses you ride or haiku you compose. You become a samurai because some royal people give you the title or you inherit it from your father.

To throw my hat in the analogy ring, Christians follow the way of Jesus, but it's damn near impossible to find one that speaks both Hebrew and Aramaic like the people from Jesus' time and place would have.

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He's a Samurai obviously, but what does language have to do with it?

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Who the *beep* cares if he don't speaks *beep* japanese?

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[deleted]

To quote Ghost Dog:

"It is said that what is called the Spirit of an Age is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to the world's coming to an end. In the same way, a single year does not have just spring or summer. A single day, too, is the same. For this reason, although one would like to change today's world back to the spirit of one hundred years or more ago, it cannot be done. Thus it is important to make the best out of every generation."

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Who would he speak Japanese to?

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

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