MovieChat Forums > Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Tsuioku Hen (2000) Discussion > Is it too Asian to you guys?

Is it too Asian to you guys?

posted 15 years ago by sqchen_0-1
15 replies | jump to latest

I browsed several topic threads here. No offence, but it seems that all of these topics are not very deep, most of which I have seen like one million years ago. I am Chinese, and I have seen a lot of posts on Chinese Forums discussing this masterpiece quite thoroughly, but nobody is so academic in here. Some questions seem not properly understood by you guys, (I mean, people not from East Asia), like "Why did Tomoe cut Kenshin's face in the end?" For us the answer is simple, it is a symbol of revenge. Why revenge? Because it is an obligation for us, to avenge your family, friends and lovers. Even if you can't or don't want to revenge any more, you have to do something to show that you have done something. Of course it can be interpreted by Western individualism or psychology of feelings and love too, but I think it is simpler to put it onto the Confucianism's account.

And the theme of this Anime is not just about "Trust and Betrayal". In the context of East Asia, it also shows the tragedy of our history for the recent 200 years. China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, ... Bloody revolutions have occurred in all these countries during this time. The Meiji Restoration in Japan was actually the mildest one, but still triggered a civil war in which thousands of Japanese died for both sides. In the case of my country, the death toll reaches millions. This movie can easily remind us of our similar history. In all of these wars, both sides were promising that they can give their people a better future, a powerful nation, which (yes, that's the real selling point) will not become then Western Powers' colonies. But it seems none of them have really succeeded. It is a pity that nobody mention that in here. Ordinary people suffered the most in the storm of history. Even you are the strongest warrior, the best fighter, like Kenshin, you still can't protect what you love. And Tomoe, she is just a woman, the much weaker gender in Japanese society, having been deprived of a peaceful life, and has to choose between 2 men she both loves, with the price of her own life. The author and director want to tell us, it is not worthwhile, even for the best purpose, to start or join a war.

OK, it sounds a little off topic, but still, Stop the war, Obama!

[–] smb3264 15 years ago

I fully agree on all accounts of what you said. You have a very good intellectual input through all of your details that you made.

[–] sqchen_0-1 15 years ago

Thanks, dude.

I am living in Japan now so I have a better understanding of Japanese culture than before. And I have visited all the real characters' graveyards in Kenshin series. Actually Shinsen-gumi, Kenshin's enemy, has got more popularity then Meiji government among Japanese people. I don't know how this happened, and how the current emperor would think of the people rebelling his great-grandfather. But I can see that they are having a very peaceful life there, and sometimes naively pacifist. I think it is good, and that's why the rest of the world nowadays could enjoy their great and massive Anime/Manga production. LOL

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[–] praisedivinemercy 14 years ago

After I got into the Rurouni Kenshin series I studied a good bit of the history online. My friends joke after hearing me go on about it that I could give a college lecture on the Bakumatsu. While this movie can be enjoyed on its own, it is much more meaningful when you know some of the history.

At the same time, the Meiji Restoration is why Japan never became an imperial colony of the west. Some wars do need to be fought.

I think Kenshin had to learn that people are more important than ideals.

In the manga, reflecting on this Kenshin states:
"I finally arrived here, at the one truth I can't throw away. I want to protect the people I see here. I want to help those in pain, or who are suffering...and there was one smile I wanted to see. But to do that, I had to defeat my enemies; I had to take lives, not realizing that those I killed were fighting for the same reason. It was my fault, so I'll accept my punishment. But I'll live on, bearing my sins and the sins of those I've killed."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Speak softly and carry a sakabatou."

[–] sqchen_0-1 14 years ago

It is very hard to tell whether a historical event, like a war or a revolution, is necessary or not. The Meiji Restoration stopped the west's attemp to make Japan an imperial colony. But it also led Japan to become a military tyranny. Millions of my people died in its invasion and occupation during the Second World War. Japanese people themselves suffered hard too. Also, the reason why the Meiji Restoration could be organized and succeeded is very complicated. You can say the civil war was "needed to be fought", but there would be a lot of people, both Japanese and foreigners, don't agree.

Anyway modern Japanese people have already become pure pacificist and reject any kind of violence, even it is the necessary evil. I think some so-called "world leaders" really should learn something from them.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] OmegaWolf747 14 years ago

Thank you for your insight. It's always good to get an Asian perspective on anime, as much of the depth and symbolism is often lost on a Western audience. I have read some about Eastern symbolism and history, but probably still not enough to fully understand it.

Oh, and please ignore the trolls. Some people don't have enough foresight to see beyond the tip of their nose.

--
"House. My room. Can't walk. My medal. My father. Father, don't!"

[–] sqchen_0-1 14 years ago

I think he is just lazy to think deeply about all these stuff. But thanks anyway.

One interesting thing is that cross, a western symbol is very much exaggeratedly used in this movie. Kenshin's scar is cross-shaped, which might be some coincidence. After all only 2 sward/dagger strokes cannot make so many difference shapes. But Japanese people definitely don't use any cross made of wood or stone or anything else on their graveyard (not at least if they are not devout Christian).

[–] OmegaWolf747 13 years ago

That's sort of one of the few complaints I have about the story. Instead of using a Western symbol to mark the graves, they should have either been stones, like the three sisters, or just mounds.

--
"House. My room. Can't walk. My medal. My father. Father, don't!"

[–] autumnsoliloquy 14 years ago

Interesting take, but I think you're missing the point here. The reason why Tomoe cut Kenshin's face is to remind him forever of what she sacrificed in order to prevent him from going back to the ways of hitokiri battousai ever again. In a maudlin, romantic sort of way.

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[–] sneakyrose 14 years ago

When I first saw this movie in my teen years it made me cry. Its so tragically romantic. The music is so wonderful, I can still remember the pieces. Its great Tomoe existed because I dislike Karou, she is just another typical loud mouth hot headed girl. She became more likable later on.

And I absolutely refuse to watch that last movie where kenshin dies, this totally ruins my dream of happy ending.

Yes I want happy endings for characters I love. =) *shrug*

[–] LittleImp 13 years ago

Frankly I don't agree with you. Western people can easily interpret the happenings in this movie: In the end Tomoe saves Kenshin's life by sacrificing herself. She cuts Kenshin's face to always remind him of her.

I think it is also pretty clear to any western viewer, that it shows the bad side of war, but also that you have to stand up for yourself, even if it means using violence. That's why the movie is so good, it is not cliche like most Hollywood movies.

[–] bthr 11 years ago

this movie is deep because first of all it many many scenes have meanning if you know JAPANESE culture.

one of the things in it that westerns can interpert this movie in extremely different way than the japanese people.

also what you do is take each idea individually and says the movie is not deep as a whole.
it is true that a scene by itself is just example of japanese culture(flowers for example), but in the whole connecting it to the characters and scenery, you will find something special that you cant find in many movies.

after awhile of spending time with kenshin she dreamt a dream of red apple hanging on a tree without any leaves. then she woke up scarily like its a nightmare.
(i think there was a figure outside on the light).

thats just one example how they used the japanese philosophy to express Tomoe feelings.