Meiji

"Then you will not mind when I seize your family's assets and present them as my gift to the people."

- Meiji, having enough of Omura.

Meiji was a minor hero in the movie The Last Samurai. He served as the Emperor of Japan.

He was portrayed by Nakamura Shichinosuke II.

A young man in the 1870s, the samurai Katsumoto served as a mentor. During the first years of his reign his advisors ruled in his name. These advisors wanted the Emperor to sign a treaty with the United States, and to suppress traditional Japanese culture in favor of western culture.

Following the death of Katsumoto, Nathan Algren presented Meiji with the late samurai's sword. Algren offered to tell the Emperor how Katsumoto had lived. Realizing that his advisors were acting against him and the Japanese people, the Emperor told the American ambassador that he had decided not to sign the treaty, seeing it as not in the best interests of Japan.

His chief advisor Omura protested the Emperor's newly independent streak. However at this point Meiji felt Omura had done enough, and told Omura that he shouldn't mind when Meiji seized his assets and presented them to the Japanese people. When Omura accused Meiji of shaming him, the Emperor offered him Katsumoto's sword and told him to use it to him, at which point Omura backed down.

Meiji then listened to Algren as the American told him the story of Katsumoto's last stand against Omura.