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Modern Media

As much as the term might sound
unfamiliar to you, you have
probably been exposed to it more
often than you would think. North
American media often reference
iconic elements related to Kendo
such as Samurai and Katana. From
the classic historical period drama
“The Last Samurai” to the bloody
cult epic “Kill Bill”, even in crime
action lms such as “Ghost Dog”,
Kendo has made its way into to the
American pop culture and
subculture without people realizing.
On the other hand, some directors
take their approaches di erently
by adapting the legendary
Samurai tales into North American
settings such as the Wild West, in
case the two have a lot in common.
This way preserves much of the
essence. The famous names I could
think right now include “Last Man
Standing”, “The Magni cent
Seven”, “The Master Gun ghter”.
Movies like these could be seen as
“Samurai movies” in their western
skin. On the surface level, lms
associated with Kendo mainly
advocate the traditional Eastern
values and moral codes. Deep
inside, they are the incarnation of
the Japanese aesthetic view –
Wabi-sabi. It is the endless inner
search for peace and equilibrium
while accepting the transience and
imperfection of life. Not only in
lms, but Kendo also appears even
more in animation and video
games. A Samurai or Ninja - like
character that wields a Katana is
a must-have in all most all of the
popular franchises.