WMU HOME > ABOUT WMU > WMU NEWS 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@wmich.edu>. Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News Office of University Relations Western Michigan University 1903 W Michigan Ave Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA 269 387-8400 www.wmich.edu/wmu/news