Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernisation of Japan. Civil War veteran Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) arrives in Japan to train the new troops of the Emperor Meiji (Shichinosuke Nakamura) to defeat the last of the country\'s samurais. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honour code from their leader, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on.